Organizational Communication Failure and Leadership Crisis Management: Analysis of Executive Decision-Making in Crisis Situations
Overview
This paper analyzes a case study of communication failure in an organization where CEO Howard Tannenbaum sends inappropriate emails to managers regarding an information leak about design specifications. The paper examines the underlying communication mistakes, evaluates alternative approaches Tannenbaum should have taken, and proposes specific recovery steps to mitigate negative organizational impacts.
What this coursework covers
- Analysis of underlying communication mistakes and CEO's panic-driven decision making
- Evaluation of appropriate communication channels and professional crisis management approaches
- Specific recovery steps and recommendations for rebuilding organizational trust and morale
Preview
LDR620 Topic7 DQ2
Name
Institution
- What is the underlying communication mistake in this case? Why do you think Howard Tannenbaum sent those e-mails?
Communication is a process that should be flawless so that the targeted outcome can be realized effortlessly. Organizations and management teams ought to think about solutions that can give them seamless and transparent channels within their systems (Keyton, 2011). In this case, the CEO seems to have been sent into panic mode because he believed that the information leak on the expected design was an inside job. Change in any organization is supposed to be handled professionally because there are some rumors that might be peddled. However, in this context, the CEO, Howard Tannenbaum, is confused about how to handle the situation. The prejudgement that the CEO had was his greatest undoing because he went ballistic by sending other managers emails that they should conduct their investigation to get to the root of the matter. The wording and tone of the message sent to the managers were inappropriate. He was pushed to send them because he had limited options based on how the communication framework of the organization has been modeled. Consequently, he was desperate to solve the stalemate, but he had limited options in his hands to help him.
- How do you think Tannenbaum should have communicated his concerns about the information link? Why?
Tannenbaum's role as a CEO is to steer the toy enterprise to success by creating an excellent environment where employees and managers can work harmoniously.