WHAT IS THIS MANAGEMENT?

(g) Taking part in Internal "Case" Studies

You all know the idea behind a "case study?35 Every
problem satisfactorily solved in the company is a potential
case-study problem for junior supervisors, just as every
operation performed in a hospital gives opportunity to
train students as well as seniors.

Every company, whatever its size, should create facilities
for a regular discussion on the more interesting problems
of a supervisory or managerial nature that have arisen.
A suggested scheme is for one or other senior to put for-
ward a "case55 to the training supervisor. The latter
satisfies himself on the material presented and issues it in
advance as a problem to a selected group of not more than
about twelve P.M.5s. They study the "case" and come
forward prepared to offer a solution, which they do
verbally. Every P.M. is encouraged to speak and at the
end the senior who set the problem sums up and gives his
actual solution. Any P.M. who wishes can later raise
points which are still not clear, or on which he is dis-
satisfied.

It is suggested that a case be discussed once a fort^
night, either in the half-day period mentioned in (/)
or in the evening. The advantages of this method are
considerable:

(a) It enables an internal group spirit to be developed as the
"students'3 come from all departments.

(b) It enables each to plan a solution in advance of presenta-
tion.

(c) It encourages each to speak clearly and logically before
others.

(d) It gives contact with seniors.

(e) It deals with actual cases, and not theory only.

(/) It enables the seniors present to size up the students.
(g) It keeps the seniors on their toes because their solution is
liable to be "shot at."

Further details of discussion group procedure on "case5
and other problems will be found in Appendix F.
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