Atlantic Store Furniture

1745 Words7 Pages
ATLANTIC STORE FURNITURE CASE ANALYSIS Organization Behavior 530 October 8, 2013 Words: 1684 The Atlantic Store Furniture case depicts a hostile work environment composed of woodworking and metalworking employees. The former entity is belittling the other by means of intimidation and harassment. The relationship between the two groups of the company Atlantic Store Furniture (ASF) has plummeted. The employee’s negative and non-constructive behaviors have escalated to a level uncontrollable by management. Previous efforts by management to find a solution to these issues were unsuccessful. Frustrated with management's inability to contain emotions, the woodworkers have allowed the metalworkers’ demeaning actions to create negative synergy, deteriorating elements of their job performance. In analysis of the conflict, tensions between the two divisions of the company stem from cultural differences, a biased managerial viewpoint, and poor management communication on behavioral expectations. The cultural difference between the woodworkers and the metalworkers is one cause of tension between the groups. The metalworkers are primarily francophone Canadians, while the woodworkers are primarily Anglophone Canadians. Stereotypically, French-speaking Canadians feel superior to non-French-speaking Canadians; such views of superiority in status are bound to develop tension. The metalworkers have become a close group that frequently socializes outside the workplace. Several subgroups have formed within the metalworkers predicated on shared interests; they sit together at lunch and some share season tickets to a sporting event. Conversely, the woodworkers have very few common interests and rarely socialize outside of the workplace. In addition, the separation of the groups is even more prominent due to the building’s set up with each group residing in separate

More about Atlantic Store Furniture

Open Document