MONTVILLE HOSPITAL DIETARY DEPARTMENT
MONTVILLE HOSPITAL DIETARY DEPARTMENT CASE SYNOPSIS THE CONDITION The dietary department employed approximately 100 employees, 95% were female. The department had two major responsibilities: § The planning, preparation, and serving of three meals a day to every patient § The operation of an employees ' cafeteria The Management § Mr. Thomas Ellis, the food service director, was an older man, a flashy dresser who wore no uniform and spent most of the day in his office. He rarely talked to anyone in the department except the ChiefDietician and the Chief Dietary Supervisor. He communicated to the rest of the employees by means of memos posted on a bulletin board, which usually contained instructions. He also relayed messages down the ranks via supervisors to the workers.
§ Mrs. Johnston, the chief dietician, was doing mainly administrative in nature, acting as consultant to the dieticians and assisting them when the workload was heavy. She helped out in the kitchen once in a while if the kitchen staff was shorthanded. In general, she tended relatively formal and distant from workers, although when she had suggestions, she often went directly to the workers instead of using memos. Her relationship with the four dieticians was informal and friendly, and she was highly respected by them for her technical excellence as a dietician.
§ Mrs. Kelley, the chief dietary supervisor, was in charge of hiring and firing. She also was responsible for making up employee schedules week by week, including the scheduling of the part-time workers. She was generally sympathetic to employee problems, relatively informal with the worker, although not on a first-name basis. The employees respected her, and her authority was rarely questioned or challenged by any of the workers. She seemed to be regarded as the real boss.
The three people constituted the main power structure in the dietary department, who tended to keep themselves socially as well as physically. Any changes, plans, or
§ Mrs. Johnston, the chief dietician, was doing mainly administrative in nature, acting as consultant to the dieticians and assisting them when the workload was heavy. She helped out in the kitchen once in a while if the kitchen staff was shorthanded. In general, she tended relatively formal and distant from workers, although when she had suggestions, she often went directly to the workers instead of using memos. Her relationship with the four dieticians was informal and friendly, and she was highly respected by them for her technical excellence as a dietician.
§ Mrs. Kelley, the chief dietary supervisor, was in charge of hiring and firing. She also was responsible for making up employee schedules week by week, including the scheduling of the part-time workers. She was generally sympathetic to employee problems, relatively informal with the worker, although not on a first-name basis. The employees respected her, and her authority was rarely questioned or challenged by any of the workers. She seemed to be regarded as the real boss.
The three people constituted the main power structure in the dietary department, who tended to keep themselves socially as well as physically. Any changes, plans, or