In-basket Decision Task #6 (for leaders)

Screen 1

Your department will soon be implementing a new software system. Senior leaders have let you know that as the pilot group, it is important that this initial implementation go smoothly and on schedule. If you do a good job on this project, your reputation will likely improve – this is a significant opportunity. If you do a poor job, your reputation will suffer – this is a significant danger.

You are aware that co-workers can influence each other in terms of how to accept this change. Some of your employees have suggested that you talk to certain employees to ensure that motivation levels are as high as possible. Talking to employees takes time and may stir things up in unexpected ways. You may have to justify to your boss why you spoke to some people and not others. Some of your employees have sent messages regarding to whom you should speak. They may have information from the front lines that you do not have.

Before you make your decision you will have the option to consider different types of messages sent by one or two randomly chosen employees. The information they send may be important to make a good decision. Since you hold the authority to make this decision, you can choose whether or not to be influenced by the recommendations. Your task is to make a good decision with the limited data you have available.

Followers who are able to influence you will be entered into a draw to win a prize worth $100.

INDICATE INTEREST BY ASSIGNING POINTS TO EMPLOYEES AND/OR TYPE OF VOICE

Screen 2 – SAME AS IN-BASKET - DECISION TASK #1

INSTRUCTIONS ON READING OF MESSAGES

Screen 3 - SAME AS IN-BASKET - DECISION TASK #1

Screen 4

Leaders were able to click on each of the following lines to access a message*:

 (NAME OF HIGH OR LOW LMX EMPLOYEE) has some information about a possible opportunity that could make the work situation better (THIS IS PROMOTIVE VOICE)

If clicked, this was revealed: Message from (NAME OF HIGH OR LOW LMX EMPLOYEE): Employee L has a lot of influence on the other employees. If this person is on board, the whole implementation will go a lot smoother. I think you should try to get Employee L excited about this software. If you talk to this person, we will be better off.

 (NAME OF HIGH OR LOW LMX EMPLOYEE) has some information about a possible threat that could make the work situation worse (THIS IS PROHIBITIVE VOICE)

If clicked, this was revealed: Message from (NAME OF HIGH OR LOW LMX EMPLOYEE): Employee M has a lot of influence on the other employees. If this person is not on board, the whole implementation will suffer. I think you should try to get Employee M excited about this software. If you don’t talk to this person, we will be worse off.

 (NAME OF HIGH OR LOW LMX EMPLOYEE) has another piece of information about a possible opportunity that could make the work situation better (THIS IS THE SECOND PROMOTIVE VOICE MESSAGE WHEN THE FIRST MESSAGE IS PROMOTIVE ALSO)

If clicked, this was revealed: Message from (NAME OF HIGH OR LOW LMX EMPLOYEE): Employee S has a lot of influence on the other employees. This person has already been doing a lot to get people excited about this software. I think you should ask Employee S to keep doing this. If you talk to this person, we will be better off.

 (NAME OF HIGH OR LOW LMX EMPLOYEE) has another piece of information about a possible threat that could make the work situation worse (THIS IS THE SECOND PROHIBITIVE VOICE MESSAGE WHEN THE FIRST MESSAGE IS PROHIBITIVE ALSO)

If clicked, this was revealed: Message from (NAME OF HIGH OR LOW LMX EMPLOYEE): Employee T has a lot of influence on the other employees. This person has already been doing a lot to get people discouraged about this software. I think you should ask Employee T to stop doing this. If you don’t talk to this person, we will be worse off.

*NOTE: ONLY TWO OPTIONS WERE OFFERED. WHEN THE OPTIONS WERE FROM DIFFERENT FOLLOWERS, THE OPTIONS GIVEN WERE MATCHED BY ISSUE (E.G. OPTIONS 1 AND 2 GO TOGETHER; OPTIONS 3 AND 4 GO

TOGETHER)

INDICATE DECISION BY ASSIGNING POINTS TO RECOMMENDATIONS BY EMPLOYEES OR NOT

Screen 5

Again you have 100 points to distribute across these options. An option to which you are fully and solely committed should receive 100 points (while the others receive 0 points). An option to which you are not committed at all would receive 0 points, with varying amounts given to options to which there is partial commitment.

You must use your best judgment in deciding whether or not to be swayed by your employee(s). If you decide to add certain items to the agenda, you may be asked to justify this decision. The employee(s) who affect your decision may be rewarded by the researchers.

____ Talk to Employee (L or S) as per the message sent by (HIGH OR LOW LMX EMPLOYEE)

____ Talk to Employee (M or T) as per the message sent by (HIGH OR LOW LMX EMPLOYEE)