Student Case Preparation

Module #3: Managing vs Leading

Case #2 – Barbara Norris: Leading Change in the General Surgery Unit
Name: ____________

This document is intended to assist in your preparation for the In-class case discussions. Use this
template to help summarize your thoughts on the case. Students are expected to come to class having
read the case and videos/readings, summarized their thinking and prepared to discuss what they have
learned.

‘Management’ and ‘Leadership’ are actually two different things, but they often complement
each other. The skills needed to manage and to lead are different. Often a ‘leader’ may not
automatically be a great manager and/or a manger may not have the skills to be great leader
in an organization.

This module examines the differences between leadership and management, and the roles,
skills and behaviors of leaders vs. managers. Knowing these distinctions is critical to
understanding how to do both well and to pivot between them when needed.

This week's case is called 'Barbara Norris: Leading Change in the General Surgery Unit', and it
discusses the challenges of being a 'manager' and the important role of 'leadership' in
creating changes in an organization.

Summary of Videos:

1. What common points are being made about ‘management’ versus ‘leadership’ in this week’s
videos and readings? Do you agree with these observations?

Case Summary:

1. Who is this Case about? (Name, Position):

_______________________________________________________________

2. Briefly summarize Barbara’s career background?

a. Has she been in a managerial role before this new job?

3. What has she been asked to accomplish in her new role by senior leadership?
a. Why is this a challenge?

4. How well has Barbara done in her first month a nurse manager? Was she a good choice for
the position? Why or why not?

Adapted from Learning with Cases, 4th ed., Richard Ivey School of Business, 2007, p.36
 5. What’s the current situation within the department she is taking over? (For example, what are
some of the key issues/problems that Barbara is facing?)

6. In the case, Barbara is trying to make a list of specific things to accomplish. Make that list and
rank the tasks from most to least important.

7. Take a look at the list of problems/issues you made and identify which ones that are
‘managerial’ problems and which ones are ‘leadership’ problems and why?

8. How would you recommend Barbara address these problems/issues (For example, what action
plans would you recommend to solve these top managerial and leadership issues?)
a. Is the approach that Barbara should take to solve ‘managerial’ problems the same as the
approach she should take to solve ‘leadership’ problems? Explain.

Adapted from Learning with Cases, 4th ed., Richard Ivey School of Business, 2007, p.36