The Blast in Centralia No. 5: A Mine Disaster No One Stopped Based on your readi

Question

The Blast in Centralia No. 5: A Mine Disaster No One Stopped Based on your reading of the case, what do you see as the central causes of the tragedy in "The Blast in Centralia No. 5"?

a) This section requires you to identify embedded theories, concepts and terms within the context of the case study. You must identify four (4) different concepts and/or theories from the case, and then associate them relevant facts from the case. They should be done so one at a time but is should be part of a free flowing essay.

Thus, for the first theory or concept you identify you must first define it fully, and then immediately associate specific facts from the case illustrating those theories or concepts in action. You must then do this in sequence for the remaining three. Keep in mind that, the specific facts from the case may either support or invalidate theories or concepts in the context of the case. For example, one concept studied under the chapter content area of organizational theory is leadership. Thus, if the facts of the case indicate a leadership issue you must clearly state this and define leadership fully as noted in Stillman casebook. Once that is completed provide an example drawn from the specific from the case facts. The facts may indicate good, bad or average leadership and you are free to make that determination in the context of the case you have read.

Please do not comment on theories, which may have contributed to resolving an issue in the case if they are not clearly embedded within the case. In other words, don’t tell me why another theory would have been better to use given the facts and circumstances of the case. This type of comment should be used in your general conclusion and recommendation section. This section of the case brief should take up most of your energy as it has the highest point value associated with it.

Explanation / Answer

Answer:The specific case can be looked upon from multiple perspectives:

1. Managerial approach issue: There are 2 types :

-Traditional approach in which emphasis is given to business profitability over humane issues.Cost benefit approach is applied for budget allocation and apolitical stance is maintained.

-The new public administration/management theory in which performance measures are focussed , more result oriented and antagonistic to bureacracy

The management of the coal company applied cost benefit analysis for decision making related to their investments. They were insensitive to the labors and the work environment. The sole motivation to increase profitability without any attention to ensure safe and hazard free working place for the labors might have triggered the incident and could have been avoided if management had taken a more humane approach keeping aside their vested business interests.

Leadership approach: Depends on how the leader behaves and what values are uphold by the leader. Also influences the organizational structure and strategy.

Due to a strict hierarchical structure information flow to the top management/leadership was delayed and the response of the leadership was also mostly reactive rather than proactive. The leadership never encouraged active participation from lower management and the organizational fabric was knitted in this such a fashion that leadership was not approachable. The leaders were were interested in increasing the shareholder and employee welfare took a backseat.

Political approach:It advocates representation from all stakeholders, full accountability , assignment of responsibility and high sensitivity to political environment, decisions based on common interests of the groups of individuals.

There was political run around, lack of accountability , Labor Union's complaints were mostly overlooked and neglected, the coal business was intricately linked to molitical motivations. The public safety officers were not result oriented, they were more focussed on dispensing their obligation to report rather than enforcing the safety measures to ensure safety of the workers.Lot of bureacracy and political middle men were involved which resulted in diminishing the sense of urgency and impact of the issues by the time the escalated issues reached the right person .

Legal approach: Emphasis on rules and processes,implementation of equal rights,protection of interests and rights of the individuals.

Most of the statutory rules and regulations were not implemented.Although inspectors had reported and sought the management to take immediate actions to secure the mine ,there was no management will to implement safety measures in the mine in order to save on cost even though it may be at the exponse of the lives of numerous workers.

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