Case Study -
Overview: The purpose of this case study is to make connections between and demonstrate your understanding of the different topics we have covered this semester. As you may have noticed, media outlets often provide a rich context for exploring the application of management and organizational behavior theories and themes in a variety of contexts. One such media outlet is cinema, or more specifically, Hollywood's interpretation and portrayal of people as they relate to their jobs and personal lives. While there are many movies that are directly relatable to management and organizational behavior, one exemplar is The Devil Wears Prada.
Assignment: The Devil Wears Prada touches upon several topics we have discussed thus far. This assignment involves watching the Devil Wears and Prada and answering the questions below. The case study should be a maximum of 5 pages in length, double-spaced, using 12-point font and 1" margins all around.
One suggestion for successfully completing this assignment is to read and re-read the questions, and then takes notes while you watch the movie. This will help in answering the questions and being able to relate this movie to the topics we have covered both in class and in the book. You may use quotes to support your responses, but remember to use quotation marks; and, do not overuse quotes from the movie.
Individual Differences and Fit
1. On which personality characteristics were Andy and Miranda different? Identify at least two personality factors and provide at least two examples from the movie to support each of your answers.
2. In your opinion, did Andy experience person-job or person-organization misfit and why? Use at least three specific examples from the movie to support your argument.
3. In class, we discussed the relationship between job attitudes (i.e., satisfaction, commitment), stress, and behavior (e.g., performance, turnover). Please discuss the relationship between these three factors and how it changed throughout the movie. Please use specific examples from lecture and the movie to support your response.
Leadership
1. Drawing on two contingency and contemporary leadership theories (see below), discuss how Miranda was effective and/or ineffective as a leader? For each theory you choose, please select three examples from the movie to support your answers.
Leadership theories: Authentic Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Servant Leadership, LMX, Moral Leadership, Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership, House's path-goal leadership theory.
Motivation
2. Drawing on two motivation theories, suggest specific strategies you think the company could implement to increase the work motivation of a person in Andy's role. Discuss how they would be implemented or applied.
Motivation and Job Design Theories
- Needs: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg's Two-factor Theory, McClelland's Acquired Needs Theory
- Job Characteristics Model
- Equity Theory
- Expectancy Theory
- Reinforcement Theory