1.3 What problems do you think an open-door policy creates? Do you think many employees are reluctant to use it? Why? The president of WA Manufacturing, Richard Langston, wanted to facilitate upwards communication. He believed an open-door policy was a good place to start. He announced that his own door was open to all employees and encouraged senior managers to do the same. He felt this would give him a way to get early warning signals that would not be filtered or redirected through the formal chain of command.

Langston found that many employees who used the open-door policy had been with the company for years and were comfortable talking to the president. Sometimes messages came through about inadequate policies and procedures. Langston would raise these issues and explain any changes at the next senior managers’ meeting.