Discussion Questions
Special Note to Instructors: Prescription: Instructional
Design is a large, complex, and somewhat diffuse case.
Advanced or experienced I.D. students will probably be more successful
in analyzing the problems presented in the case than students in
introductory classes. We recommend providing significant support
to beginning students attempting to work with this case.
Issues, Facts, Dilemmas, Opportunities
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Describe the recent history of the hospital:
the acquisition by Caduceus,
the attempts to integrate technology,
the implementation of TQM.
What are the stated goals for each of
these developments? What are
possible conflicts which may arise from
this set of goals?
-
Describe the administration's charge to Will.
Is there a hidden agenda?
-
Describe the facts of the lawsuit. How does
the issue of risk management
play into the administration's request for a
needs assessment?
-
What is the relationship between the hospital
and Robomedics? What
do the pros and cons of being a beta test site
mean for the hospital?
-
What policies, procedures, and structures are
in place that may
serve to strengthen (or impede)
the communication among the hospital
staff and departments?
Perspectives
-
Within each department, describe what
seems to be the most important issue
to each person interviewed.
-
Specifically, how does each person feel
about the RBA, about technology
implementation, about the new
management policies,
about other departments and employees?
-
Rate the morale of each
person interviewed.
-
How might the community and the university
regard the events of this case?
-
What are the various aspects public
relations play
in this case?
Knowledge
-
What information may Will want in
addition to that provided in the case
materials? Describe the nature of
this information if you think it is
needed, how Will might get
it, and how he might use it in
his report.
-
Which issues might best be addressed
by training?
- Are there issues that could better be
taken care of in other ways that
don't involve training?
Actions
-
Can you suggest ways to clear up
the poor communication among staff
and departments
-
Could you address the morale problems
among the staff with attitudinal goals?
How might you plan to accomplish such
goals within the existing structures
of the hospital?
-
Where might some form of job aid, EPSS
and/ or CBT prove to be of possible use
as training solutions?
-
What issues might be better addressed
by instructor-led training?
How, where, and when could such training
be scheduled?
-
How would you deal with new employees?
With computer malfunctions? With the
need for mastery and accountability?
-
How might the problems arising
from the "tweaking" of the
RBAs by Robomedics be dealt with?
Consequences
-
How might the administration react to
a report from Will that
is not completely in line with
the directive
that was given him?
-
What is the responsibility for
an instructional designer to
present information to a client
which may not be flattering to that
client or his /her organization.
-
How could Will present such a report
so that his recommendations
will at least be considered? Within
the organization, who might
Will turn be able to for help?
-
What are the costs to your
recommended solutions? Are there
cheaper ways to achieve the same goal?
Should you develop Discussion Questions which you
find are particularly useful in stimulating student
thinking, please share your questions. Send the
questions to us (kinzie@virginia.edu)
and we will make them available to others.
