You are the chief prosecutor heading an office with a number of assistant prosecutors, support staff, including paralegals and interns. Your paralegals are well-trained in legal research and in building databases for trials. You have to compile data on cases relating to the death penalty as part of a new tracking program that has been implemented by the state’s attorney general’s office. This is an unfunded mandate that does not provide any additional funds or resources to your office to establish a database. The project requires that you analyze cases prosecuted by your office over the previous 50 years, focusing on issues of racial and economic disparity.
Your assistant prosecutors seem to feel that data collection is mechanical work, fit only for fresh interns. However, you view it as an activity that is too important to delegate to your part-time interns or your paralegals without strong supervision.
Therefore, you decide to assign this duty to two of your senior prosecutors. They will have to devote 50 percent of their time to building the new database and performing the required analysis. You have chosen two prosecutors with the most experience prosecuting capital cases, knowing that they will be most familiar with the data. However, neither prosecutor has a strong background in data collection or computer-based statistical analysis. Both have expressed reservations about overseeing the project.
Which strategies do you think are most effective for influencing employees to undertake new tasks? Why? Assess the advantages and disadvantages of these strategies in the context of this scenario.
Should you use rational persuasion or the tactic of exchange strategy to influence the attorneys you selected for creating and maintaining the new database? Why? Explain how you might combine both, if necessary, to achieve the desired objective.
What are the inspirational appeals you could make to the attorneys? Explain. Will inspirational appeals work better than pressure tactics? Why?
As a leader, was it appropriate for you to select the two attorneys who would be assigned to this project? Would it have been better to request volunteers? Do you think this would lessen the need to persuade employees to take on this additional responsibility? Would the use of the paralegals change the dynamic as well as the work assignments?
How much credence should leaders give to employees’ expressions of concern over assigned tasks? Under what circumstances might it be inappropriate for a leader to continue to apply persuasion tactics with employees who appear resistant to performing certain tasks?
Which combination of the various proactive influence tactics would be most successful in influencing the staff? Why?
Rational persuasion: This strategy involves using logic and evidence to convince employees that a new task is necessary and beneficial. For example, you could explain to the attorneys that the new database will help the office to better understand and address racial and economic disparities in the death penalty.
Exchange strategy: This strategy involves offering employees rewards or incentives in exchange for taking on a new task. For example, you could promise the attorneys that they will be given credit for their work on the database in their performance evaluations.
Inspirational appeals: This strategy involves appealing to employees’ values and emotions to motivate them to take on a new task. For example, you could talk to the attorneys about the importance of using their legal skills to make a difference in the world and to promote social justice.
Advantages and disadvantages of these strategies in the context of this scenario
Rational persuasion:
Exchange strategy:
Inspirational appeals:
Whether to use rational persuasion or the tactic of exchange strategy
I would recommend using a combination of rational persuasion and exchange strategy to influence the attorneys to take on this new task.
Rational persuasion
I would start by explaining to the attorneys the importance of the new database and the benefits that it will bring to the office. I would also give them the opportunity to learn more about the project and to provide input.
Exchange strategy
I would then offer the attorneys rewards or incentives in exchange for taking on the project. For example, I could promise them that they will be given credit for their work in their performance evaluations, or that they will be given the opportunity to present their findings to the state attorney general’s office.
Combining both strategies
By combining both rational persuasion and exchange strategy, I can increase the chances of convincing the attorneys to take on the new task. I am also showing them that I respect their time and expertise, and that I am committed to their success.
Inspirational appeals
I could also use inspirational appeals to motivate the attorneys to take on the project. For example, I could talk to them about the importance of using their legal skills to make a difference in the world and to promote social justice. I could also share stories of other attorneys who have made a positive impact on the criminal justice system.
Whether inspirational appeals would work better than pressure tactics
Inspirational appeals are more likely to work better than pressure tactics in this situation. Pressure tactics can make employees feel resentful and demotivated. Inspirational appeals, on the other hand, can help employees to see the value in the new task and to feel motivated to take it on.
Whether it was appropriate to select the two attorneys without requesting volunteers
It is appropriate to select the two attorneys without requesting volunteers, given the importance of the project and the need for experienced prosecutors to oversee it. However, it is important to explain the decision to the attorneys and to address their concerns about the project.
Whether the use of paralegals would change the dynamic as well as the work assignments
The use of paralegals could help to reduce the workload on the attorneys. However, it is important to ensure that the paralegals are properly trained and supervised. Otherwise, the attorneys may end up spending more time on the project than they would if they were doing it themselves.
How much credence should leaders give to employees’ expressions of concern over assigned tasks?
Leaders should give credence to employees’ expressions of concern over assigned tasks. It is important to understand the employees’ concerns and to work with them to find a solution. If the employees’ concerns are valid, then the leader should be willing to adjust the work assignments or to provide additional support.
When it is inappropriate for a leader to continue to apply persuasion tactics with employees who appear resistant to performing certain tasks
It is inappropriate for a leader to continue to apply persuasion tactics