Case Synopsis

Frank Choy recently joined Resonus Corporation, a hearing aid designer and manufacturer, as director of engineering. Over the first eight months, he has experienced several problems of coordination and cooperation with other work units and individuals. In particular, CEO Bill Hunt supports Doc Kalandry's (the research director) request for last-minute technology changes to the product in development. These delays cause Choy's engineering services group to increase their costs and ultimately fail to achieve their time deadline for completing the engineering specifications for this product.

Case Study Questions

1. What sources and contingencies of power existed among the executives and departments at Resonus?
2. What influence tactics were evident in this case study? Would you define any of these influence activities as organizational politics? Why or why not?
3. Suppose you are a consultant invited to propose a solution to the problems facing this organization's product delays. What would you recommend, particularly regarding power dynamics among the executives and departments?