A systems analyst is part of an information systems project for a firm, and while gathering information, she gets a chance to observe its physical environment. She finds that this large firm has assigned offices for representatives and executives on different floors, and there are vast spaces between the staff and the executive offices demarcated by a large door that displays a strict schedule for meeting the executives. Generally, each of these offices has two or three chairs for visitors in addition to the usual file storage cabinets, CD cabinets, etc., but almost all of them seem to be in disuse. All the rooms have PCs, but the analyst observes a lack of proper electrical equipment and wiring that connects these machines to other parts of the office and to the Internet. In addition, there is no stationary found at the desks in these offices, though it is scattered across the desks of the other staff in abundance. All the rooms are adequately lit, with some executives using brighter lighting than others.

Some of the leaders are casually dressed, while most of them are in formal attire. During information gathering, a lot of employees refrained from discussing their relationships with the management. The executives often reported using external sources of information to take non-routine decisions. They also said that they overlooked all the information on personal matters passed around in the office.

a. What are the organizational narratives or themes that emerge from this scenario?

b. List the elements of STROBE that the systems analyst has reported.

c. For each of the elements listed, prepare a summary of the characteristics of executives that correspond to the observable elements in the physical environment.

d. Construct a table first by listing the organizational themes or narratives emerging from the scenario. Then, for each narrative, using shorthand symbols from the anecdotal list, indicate the relationship between the narrative and the observation, elucidating whether the narrative confirms, reverses, needs further investigation, needs modification, or supplements the observable elements of the environment.

e. The analyst also heard executives often stating that employees get open access to their offices to discuss their ideas, opinions, and problems. With your interpretation of the STROBE elements observed by the analyst, would you agree with the executives’ statement? Why or why not?