OGL 481 Pro-Seminar I:

PCA-Symbolic Frame Worksheet

Worksheet Objectives:
1. Describe the symbolic frame
2. Apply the symbolic frame to your personal case situation

Complete the following making sure to support your ideas and cite from the textbook and other
course materials per APA guidelines. After the peer review, you have a chance to update this and
format for your Electronic Portfolio due in Module 6.

1) Briefly restate your situation from Module 1 and your role.

The organization I am employed at is called Riot Hospitality; the concept I work for is called
Farm & Craft – a trendy farm-to-table restaurant that provides a variety of dietary options
(vegan, gluten free, paleo and others) and alternative healthy drinks and cocktails. My position as
a bartender in this restaurant can get hectic at times, especially when the nice weather calls
people out to Old Town Scottsdale to party. This particular difficult situation was influenced by
myself. In short, it was a slower Friday than usual, so I played with the thought of calling off the
other scheduled bartender for the opportunity to make more money for myself. I made the
executive decision to do so. Unfortunately, I underestimated the initial lack of foot traffic, and
ultimately suffered the consequences of my decision.

2) Describe how the symbols of the organization influenced the situation.

The symbols of the organization, Riot Hospitality and Farm & Craft, played a significant role in
influencing the situation. The farm-to-table concept, dietary options, and the emphasis on healthy
drinks and cocktails are symbols that communicate a specific identity to customers. The idea of
alternative and healthy choices is a symbolic representation that attracts a particular group of
customers. In my situation on a slower Friday morning, these symbols influenced my decision-
making. My desire to maximize earnings and following the expectations of the brand led me to
consider calling off the other scheduled bartender, thinking it would align with the upbeat image
associated with Riot Hospitality and Farm & Craft. The symbols of the organization, in this case,
served as cues that influenced the idea of what actions would be in line with the organizational
identity.

The vibe of Riot Hospitality goes beyond just the menu. The cool and lively feel of Old Town
Scottsdale, mixed with the variety in dietary choices, adds to the vibe. It kind of suggests that the
place should always be buzzing. That idea influenced me to amp up the party feel by having only

1
one bartender. It's like these symbols create an expectation of a lively place, affecting how I
decide on staffing.

3) Recommend how you would use organizational symbols for an alternative course of
action regarding your case.

Next time in a similar scinario, it's key to use organizational symbols with more thought. Instead
of just thinking about the ones that scream a lively atmosphere, it's about using the symbols for
good customer service, reliability, and teamwork are saying. Using symbols that shout out
teamwork and being reliable could signal keeping the regular staffing to keep things smooth even
when it's a bit slow.

Boosting symbols tied to adaptability and staying ahead could be useful too. Instead of just
reacting fast to what looks like a slow time, symbols pushing for planning and flexibility could
push for things like promos to get more customers during quieter spells (which we actually have
currently implemented). It's about using symbols in a way that's smart and thinks ahead for a
better decision.

4) Reflect on what you would do or not do differently given what you have learned
about this frame.

Looking back on it, I'd do things differently by giving more weight to symbols tied to
teamwork, customer service, and adaptability. Seeing that these symbols aren't just about
what you see, but also about the values and principles; I'd be more guided by what fits with the
organization's overall identity. Instead of just going with symbols that scream a busy place, I'd
lean towards ones that show being reliable, working together, and making customers happy.
Shifting the focus like this would make the decision more all hands on and strategic, thinking
about how it hits the organization's brand and what customers get out of it in the long run.

2
 Reference or References