Question

CASE STUDY

Syd Gilman read the latest sales figures with a great deal of satisfaction. The vice president of marketing at Hy Dairies, Inc., a large midwestern milk products manufacturer, was pleased to see that the marketing campaign to improve sagging sales of Hy’s gourmet ice-cream brand was working. Sales volume and market share of the product had increased significantly over the past two quarters compared with the previous year.
The improved sales of Hy’s gourmet ice cream could be credited to Rochelle Beauport, who was assigned to the gourmet ice-cream brand last year. Beauport had joined Hy less than two years ago as an assistant brand manager after leaving a similar job at a food products firm. She was one of the few women of color in marketing management at Hy Dairies and had a promising career with the company. Gilman was pleased with Beauport’s work and tried to let her know this in the annual performance reviews. He now had an excellent opportunity to reward her by offering her the recently vacated position of market research coordinator. Although technically only a lateral transfer with a modest salary increase, the marketing research coordinator job would give Beauport broader experience in some high-profile work, which would enhance her career with Hy Dairies. Few people were aware that Gilman’s own career had been boosted by working as marketing research coordinator at Hy several years earlier.
Rochelle Beauport had also seen the latest sales figures on Hy’s gourmet ice cream and was expecting Gilman’s call to meet with her that morning. Gilman began the conversation by briefly mentioning the favorable sales figures and then explained that he wanted Beauport to take the marketing research coordinator job. Beauport was shocked by the news. She enjoyed brand management and particularly the challenge involved with controlling a product that directly affected the company’s profitability. Marketing research coordinator was a technical support position - a “backroom” job - far removed from the company’s bottom-line activities. Marketing research was not the route to top management in most organizations, Beauport thought. She had been sidelined.
After a long silence, Beauport managed a weak “Thank you, Mr. Gilman.” She was too bewildered to protest. She wanted to collect her thoughts and reflect on what she had done wrong. Also, she did not know her boss well enough to be openly critical. Gilman recognized Beauport’s surprise, which he naturally assumed was her positive response to hearing of this wonderful career opportunity. He, too, had been delighted several years earlier about his temporary transfer to marketing research to round out his marketing experience. “This move will be good for both you and Hy Dairies,” said Gilman as he escorted Beauport from his office.
Beauport was preoccupied with several tasks that afternoon, but she was able to consider the day’s events that evening. She was one of the top women and few minorities in brand management at Hy Dairies and feared that she was being sidelined because the company didn’t want women or people of color in top management. Her previous employer had made it quite clear that women “couldn’t take the heat” in marketing management and tended to place women in technical support positions after a brief term in lower brand management jobs. Obviously Syd Gilman and Hy Dairies were following the same game plan. Gilman’s comment that the coordinator job would be good for her was just a nice way of saying that Beauport couldn’t go any further in brand management at Hy Dairies. Beauport now faced the difficult decision of whether to confront Gilman and try to change Hy Dairies’ sexist and possibly racist practices or to leave the company.
Discussion Questions
1. Apply your knowledge of stereotyping and social identity theory to explain what went wrong here.
2. What other perceptual error is apparent in this case study?
3. What can organizations do to minimize misperceptions in these types of situations?

Answer 1

In this case study, Rochelle Beauport feels sidelined in her career at Hy Dairies due to stereotyping and social identity theory. Organizations can minimize misperceptions by promoting diversity and inclusion, providing training on unconscious bias, and creating an open and inclusive work environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer Summary:

In this case study, the problem arises due to stereotyping and social identity theory, as well as perceptual error. Rochelle Beauport feels sidelined because she is a woman of color in marketing management and assumes that the company doesn't want women or people of color in top management. Organizations can minimize misperceptions by promoting diversity and inclusion, providing training on unconscious bias, and creating an open and inclusive work environment.

Detailed Answer:

1. Stereotyping and Social Identity Theory:

In this case, Rochelle Beauport believes that she is being sidelined in her career because she is a woman of color. This perception is influenced by both stereotyping and social identity theory.

Stereotyping occurs when individuals generalize characteristics and behaviors to an entire group based on the actions or traits of a few individuals. In this case, Beauport may believe that the company doesn't want women or people of color in top management based on her personal experiences or observations of others.

Social identity theory suggests that individuals derive a part of their self-worth from their group memberships. Beauport's identity as a woman of color may lead her to interpret her career setback as a result of discrimination. Additionally, she may perceive that her previous employer's practices of placing women in technical support positions after a brief term in brand management jobs are being replicated at Hy Dairies.

2. Perceptual Error:

The perceptual error apparent in this case study is the failure to consider individual competence and potential. Syd Gilman assumes that the marketing research coordinator position is a great career opportunity for Beauport because it had benefited his own career. However, he fails to recognize Beauport's interest and potential in brand management and assumes that she would not be interested in or capable of performing well in a technical support role.

3. Minimizing Misperceptions:

Organizations can minimize misperceptions in situations like this by promoting diversity and inclusion. By creating a diverse workforce and ensuring equal opportunities for all employees, organizations can challenge stereotypes and create a more inclusive work environment.

Training on unconscious bias can also help employees become aware of their biases and make more informed and fair judgments. This can help in reducing discriminatory practices and decisions based on misperceptions.

Creating an open and inclusive work environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their concerns can also help in minimizing misperceptions. Regular communication and feedback sessions can provide an opportunity for employees to address any misunderstandings or biases and work towards resolving them.

Answer 2

Answer:Apply your knowledge of stereotyping and social identity theory to explain what went wrong here.

Stereotypes are characteristics imposed upon groups of people because of their race, nationality, and sexual orientation. These characteristics tend to be oversimplifications of the groups involved, and while some people truly do embody the traits of their stereotype, they are not necessarily representative of all people within that group. Stereotypes are not always accurate and even if positive, can be harmful. Social identity theory was proposed in social psychology by Tajfel and his colleagues (Tajfel, 1978; Tajfel & Turner, 1979). Social identity refers to the ways that people's self-concepts are based on their membership in social groups. Examples include sports teams, religions, nationalities, occupations, sexual orientation, ethnic groups, and gender. Social identity theory addresses the ways that social identities affect people's attitudes and behaviors regarding their ingroup and the outgroup. Social identities are most influential when individuals consider membership in a particular group to be central to their self-concept and they feel strong emotional ties to the group. Affiliation with a group confers self-esteem, which helps to sustain the social identity. Rochelle Beauort had a feeling that market research coordinator is not her main course. She was on the top management in Branding. Research coordinater is in operation line. She likewise developed discernment that as result of her shading, she was set aside for some other times. Syd Gilman misperceived that Rochelle Beuport would welcome the new position that he encountered before his position. He believed that by offering that position will help her gain new experience in her work just like others but Rochelle Beuport really demotivate about her new position but cannot say anything in front of Syd Gilmaan

2.

What other perceptual errors are apparent in this case study?

The other perceptual mistake that is apparent for this case study is the Halo Effect. The Halo Effect happens when strong information about the clear target is missing or we are not enough pushed to chase down it..We also develop a general impression of the individual of condition. An individual is considered average in one category, we are obligated to make a near evaluation too in other categories. It is as if we can't without a lot of a stretch separate classes .It may in like manner be connected with disharmony avoiding, as making them awesome at one thing and ghastly at another would make a general appraisal troublesome. As communicated above, Rochelle felt that she was side lined and was set aside as a consequence of her incongruities furthermore her social character. The new proposed position was not in the top organization and that is the thing that Syd Gilman required. She just responded "Thank you, Mr. Gilman" with hesitations. She expected to accumulate her contemplations and consider what she had done wrong.

3.

What can organizations do to minimize misperceptions in these types of situations?

In this case, communication is the key to minimize misperception. Communication is really important to succed in any organization. Even practicaly, company do very well in organization, but miscommunication is they main key to deliver any process in organization. In this case, Rochelle Beuport didn’t tell Syd Glman that she is not happy about her new position . she not willing to able to work as research coordinater. At the same time. Syd Gilman need to study and discover the right postion to place his employee. She was on top management, but when she got the new position whch is lower than previous position, she demotivate. She was really unhappy about it. Syd Gilman ought to give vigilant thought to what Beauport is commucating. In case need be, he should have the eargerness to discuss . Soo communication is really important for both side understand need for each other. Listen to the employee and express the feeling in professional way will create a good organization. This is to understand each other so that organization will allies to the work.