Jack is an American working at a youth center in Kenya for 5 months
4 children were left out of the ceremonious gift giving
The children blamed the gift failure on Jack
The staff told Jack that if he thought there was a problem he should deal with it
The staff doesn’t want to be seen as child right’s activist and did not care about the gift issue
Define Problem and Stakeholders
Problem 3
The four kids who received hats afterwards feel like they weren’t given the same treatment as people who received hats ceremoniously
Jack is afraid that this situation will hurt his reputation with the children, which could make his 5 months a lot more difficult
The youth center workers do not believe that the four kids receiving hats afterwards isn’t a problem
The youth center thinks that Jack is being a “child rights activist” and is going to start problems by pursuing this situation
Stakeholders
Jack
The youth center
The kids
Determine and distinguish between the personal and professional motivations of the stakeholders.
Youth center employees don’t see the exchange as being unfair. They may not want to be bothered an effort to make everyone happy. Personally, they likely care about the kids and for their well-being but potentially think there are bigger issues within the center. Professionally, they may not want to be criticized by an outsider.
Jack wants to help the kids as much as possible and be viewed positively during his time here. He also wants to maintain a good relationship with the staff.
The kids don’t want to be seen as in a lower social group than everyone else or made fun of.
Formulate (at least three) alternative solutions – based on information available, to have a win-win situation for your relationship and your venture.
Administer the same gifts to the 4 children who did not get them originally
Make sure this is in a public place to ensure that they feel respected and the “ceremony” aspect is achieved
Pros
Equality is achieved
No difference in what the kids are getting or how they are getting it
Cons
The other kids might get mad that these 4 kids get the same gifts they got + a hat and another ceremony
The youth center workers might get mad for working without them ruining necessary relations
Saves face for the children, Jack and the youth center
Implications on relationships
The relationships between the kids would be salvaged because they would see each other as equals (short term and long term)
The relationship between the kids and Jack would be fixed because the kids would believe Jack cares about them all (short term and long term)
The relationship between the youth center and Jack could be fixed too because Jack would have taken the advice the youth center said and fixed the issue on his own (short term and long term)
Implications on the venture
Long term – Jack could show the initially hurt kids that he went out of his way to make an effort which, in the short term, would get him in better standing with those specific kids and also, long term, strengthen his relationship with all of them, allowing him to be more effective in his work
Short term, his colleagues may be surprised that he took charge which they could potentially view poorly. However, it could show that Jack takes initiative and could be positive for his relationships with his colleagues in the long term.
Give the kids some type of a leadership role in some event in order to make them feel as though they are on the same social level.
Pros
The kids feel equal
Might seem to the staff as though Jack did not see a problem with their opinion and preserve the relationship
Cons
The other kids may feel slighted for not receiving a leadership role
Maybe the kids actually just care about the gifts and will still be upset
Saves face for the kids, Jack, and the youth center
Implications on relationships
Hopefully the relationship between Jack and the children would be fixed because they would know Jack cares about them. However, the children who do not get a leadership role may feel to be second tier.
The relationship between the youth center and Jack may be fixed because Jack solved the solution but it also may be worsened if they feel Jack went behind their backs.
Implications on the venture
Long term– May be extremely helpful to figure out this situation in the beginning so that it does not spiral into something bigger affecting the actual venturelater on
Short term- There may be some upset between the youth center and Jack because the youth center did not think that this was an issue to begin with.
Work in collaboration with the youth center workers to educate them about the problem in the situation and then plan something nice (but can be small) for the 4 children.
Pros
Not backdooring the youth workers, they will appreciate Jack prioritizing working with them
Teaches the youth workers to better understand and deal with situations like these in the future
The 4 children are receiving something special, and could improve their relationships with both Jack and the workers
Cons
Other kids may be mad bc the 4 kids are getting extra events for them
The youth center staff may tell Jack to “fuck off”
Saves face for Jack, the youth center workers (even though they might not care about that) as well as kind of patching up the relationship with the children
Implications
Short Term
Makes 4 kids feel important/at the same level as the other children, could help them integrate themselves back into the rest of the group
Kids will appreciate Jack doing something for them
Rest of the kids may be mad the 4 kids are getting another event
Long Term
All kids may respect Jack & workers, make the 5 months easier
Workers may appreciate you trying to work with them on that situation, helps your time with them
The health workers may treat the kids better and have better relationships
Seek additional assistance, as appropriate – previous cases, peers, reliance on personal experience, inner reflection
In general people care more about social standing and how others perceive them than they do material objects of minimal monetary worth.
