LEADERSHIP TRAITS & BEHAVIORS

IN

THE OFFICE, S01E01, PILOT

The first season consisted of six episodes. The series begins by introducing the office's workers via a tour given by branch manager Michael Scott for both the camera crew and a first-day temp (Ryan Howard). The audience learns salesman Jim Halpert has a crush on receptionist Pam Beesly (who helps him play pranks on co-worker Dwight Schrute), even though she is engaged to Roy (who works in the building's lower-level warehouse). News spreads throughout the office that Dunder Mifflin's corporate headquarters is planning to downsize an entire branch, leading to general anxiety, but Michael chooses to deny or downplay the realities of the situation in order to maintain employee morale.i

CAST OF CHARACTERS
In January 2004, Variety reported Steve Carell of the popular Comedy Central program The Daily Show with Jon Stewart was in talks to play the role (Michael Scott). At the time, he was already committed to another NBC mid-season replacement comedy, Come to Papa, but the series was quickly canceled, leaving him fully committed to The Office. Rainn Wilson, who was cast as the power-hungry sycophant Dwight Schrute, watched every episode of the series before he auditioned. Wilson had originally auditioned for Michael, a performance he described as a "terrible [Ricky] Gervais impersonation"; however, the casting directors liked his audition as Dwight much more and hired him for the role. John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer were virtual unknowns before being cast in their respective roles as Jim and Pam, the central love interests. Krasinski had attended school with B. J. Novak and was a friend of his. He recalled accidentally insulting Greg Daniels while waiting to audition for the series, telling him, "I hope [the show's developers] don't screw this up." Daniels then introduced himself and told Krasinski who he was. Fischer prepared for her audition by looking as boring as possible, creating the original Pam hairstyle. The supporting cast includes actors known for their improv work: Angela Kinsey, Kate Flannery, Oscar Nunez, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Melora Hardin, and David Denman. Kinsey had originally auditioned for Pam. The producers thought she was "too feisty" for the character, but they called her back for the part of Angela Martin, which she won. Flannery first auditioned for the part of Jan Levenson-Gould, before landing the role of Meredith Palmer. Baumgartner originally auditioned for Stanley, but was eventually cast as Kevin. Ken Kwapis liked the way Phyllis Smith, a casting associate, read with other actors auditioning so much that he cast her as Phyllis.ii

Starling D. Hunter III 2012 | starling@qatar.cmu.edu| Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar | http://qatar.cmu.edu

EPISODE RECAP
Michael Scott, regional manager of the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, introduces a visiting documentary crew to his employees, who include Jim Halpert, a competent but unmotivated sales representative, Dwight Schrute, his petty and power-hungry coworker, Ryan Howard, a new temporary employee, and Pam Beesly, the soft-spoken receptionist and object of Jim's flirtation. Jan Levenson-Gould, Michael's superior from corporate, arrives to inform Michael that the Scranton branch may be closed down. Michael immediately informs his employees that no one will be fired. Meanwhile, Dwight discovers that Jim has encased his stapler in Jell-O. Later in the day, Michael attempts to prank Pam by pretending to fire her for stealing Post-it notes. When Pam breaks down crying, Michael reveals the joke, but Pam is hardly amused.iii

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. 2. 3. 4. Is Michael an effective leader? Why or why not? Which leadership traits does Michael possess? Which does he lack? Which leadership behaviors does Michael demonstrate? Which does he not? What relationship, if any, exists between the traits possessed and the behaviors demonstrated?

SOLUTIONS
Write to starling@qatar.cmu.edu for to obtain a copy of the solution to this case.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Office_(U.S._TV_series)#Season_one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Office_(U.S._TV_series)#Casting iii http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_(The_Office)#Plot
i ii

Starling D. Hunter III 2012 | starling@qatar.cmu.edu| Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar | http://qatar.cmu.edu