Fall Weekly Blog Post 3

Step 1: Determine the facts in the situation – obtain all of the unbiased facts possible

• Jack is an American student who is working on a social venture at a youth center in Kenya
• On a Saturday evening, kids are receiving gifts from an international donor organization 
• The gifts were picked up from an international donor a week before
• Jack was picked to help with the passing out of the gifts
• There were four children who did not receive gifts and instead they received black hats 
• The kids who received the hats were upset that they were not given the gifts in a ceremonious fashion
• One of the kids who received the hat gave jack a stare that indicated he was not happy
• Jack met with the staff discuss the kids that felt left out and they did not want to get involved

Step 2: Define the problem and the stakeholders – those with a vested interest in the outcome

Problem: Jack needs to find a way to repair his relationship with the kids who seem to blame him for not getting gifts while not degrading his relationship with the staff.

1. Kids
2. Staff at the center / the youth center
3. Jack
4. The University Jack Works for
5. The International Doner 

Step 3: Determine and distinguish between the personal and professional motivations of the stakeholders.

1. There are no professional motivations for the kids
   1. Personally, the kids all want to receive a gift. Those that did not are probably embarrassed
2. Professionally they are motivated to earn some sort of income
   1. Personally they are motivated to give back to the community and help the children at the youth center
   2. They want to improve the lives of the children
3. Professionally: Wants to save face and establish future relationships with kids and staff, wants to take care of kids. 
   1. Has to save face with both groups: he can’t just flat out tell the kids that the staff didn’t get them enough gifts and he can’t just get them a gift without hurting his relationship with the staff members.
   2. Personally, Jack feels bad that some of the kids didn’t get a present, he wants all the kids to be happy.
4. Professionally: Wants Jack’s work to help improve their reputation
   1. Personally, I’m sure there’s an employee of the university who has a personal tie to this specific youth center, so that individual does not want Jack to ruin relationships that they established.
5. Professionally: The donor organization is increasing their philanthropic reputation
   1. Personally: They want to make these kids happier

 

Step 4: Formulate (at least three) alternative solutions – based on information available, to have a win-win situation for your relationship and your venture.

Potential Solution 1: Make a game that makes having one of the hats special

1. 1.  Pros
      • The kids are happier because their gift means something after all
      • The staff is happy because they do not have to get involved and they can take credit for the hats
   2. Cons
      • It is still unfair because the hats are not as good as the gifts
      • Takes up time for Jack and the staff members to think up of a game 
      • Making the hats special can make the other kids feel worse about their gifts
   3. How does it save face of those involved?
      • It makes Jack and the staff look better because the four kids who received hats will be less upset
      • The kids who receive the black hat won’t feel as bad or left out, they no longer have a reason to be embarrassed 
      • Jack and the staff also no longer look like they forgot gifts
   4. Implications on relationships
      •  Short-term
        • Kids won’t be upset at Jack/staff
        • Jack can now build trust in his relationships with both the kids and the staff
      • Long-term
        • Kids will feel more comfortable talking to Jack and the staff because they see the effort they are putting into them

 

Potential Solution 2: Buy other gifts for the kids

1. 1. Pros
      • Kids feel special because they got gifts afterall
   2. Cons
      • Jack has to spend his own money on gifts 
      • Doesn’t fully solve the problem because the staff still originally forgot gifts and the four kids probably realize that
      • Staff might not like it because Jack is going over their heads to buy gifts
   3. How does it save face of those involved?
      • Jack/staff will not feel as guilty because the gifts receive the gift
   4. Implications on relationships
      •  Short-term
        • Kids are happy to receive gifts and like Jack more
        • Staff could be upset
      • Long-term
        • The kids will probably appreciate jack for getting them gifts even though it’s late
        • Staff will not trust Jack for future events 

 

Potential Solution 3: Buy himself and the entire staff the same black hats

1. 1. Pros
      • Makes the kids who received the hats feel better about their gift
      • Builds stronger relationships between the kids, the staff and Jack
      • The staff members probably wouldn’t mind getting a free hat
   2. Cons
      • Jack has to spend money 
      • Kids who don’t have hats may feel left out 
   3. How does it save face of those involved?
      • Saves face for Jack, the kids will probably be less angry at him
      • Saves face for the staff since they are also participating
      • The kids may (or may not) feel less embarrassed about receiving their hat
   4. Implications on relationships
      • Short-term
        • Kids will be less upset about not receive gifts 
        • Staff would be happy and more accepting of him
      • Long-term
        • Jack would have a better connection with those kids who do receive the black hats (common ground)

Step 5: Seek additional assistance, as appropriate – previous cases, peers, reliance on personal experience, inner reflection

• Peers – asking help from other volunteers at the center on how to approach the situation 
• Inner reflection – Previous experiences with children or siblings
• One-on-one conversations with staff members to ask what they would do, might be easier to get them to help if he approaches them this way
• Talk to the children, inquire about how they feel/how they can feel better

 

Step 6: Select the best course of action – that solves the problem, saves face and has the best short- term and long-term implications for your relationship and venture. Explain reasoning and discuss your solution vis-a-vis other approaches discussed in class.

I think buying the hats for himself and the staff is the best option. It saves face for Jack and the staff as the kids will like their black hats more. The kids who were embarrassed about not receiving a gift will feel less embarrassed about it, so it saves face for them as well. In addition this option has the best short-term and long-term implications for Jack’s relationship with the staff and the children. The staff will appreciate his efforts of fixing the problem without them getting involved and also receive a free hat. The children will also be much happier with Jack as now they all have matching hats. The biggest con I could see happening is Jack has to spend money on these new hats and the kids who don’t have the hats might get a little upset.

This option is ideal because it also builds a sense of  comradery between the staff members, Jack and the kids. I think if Jack puts in this extra effort the kids will learn to love him and the staff members will be super appreciative of his actions. It seems to me that buying the hats would probably not pose a major financial burden on Jack as well.

Step 7: List the sequence of actions you will take to implement your solution.

• Jack buys the hats
• He distributes the hats to the staff and they start wearing them around more
• The children notice Jack and the staff wearing their hats
• The four children become more satisfied with their hats
• Jack could even talk to the kids about how much he likes the hat as well
• Could incorporate the hats into a game after all (combine potential solutions)