Identity Difference and Technology
Identity Difference and Technology
Part I:
Organizations face a variety of complex decisions—decisions that are not made easier by the rise of social media and expectations of diversity. Organizations face multiple audiences in both their internal and external communications, and social media has made it possible for problems to (potentially, at least) remain in the public consciousness for long periods of time.
In this particular case study, a young college student who belongs to a minority race wrote a tweet that was patently offensive to members of a particular political group. Although the young man deleted the tweet quickly, a screenshot began circulating around the Internet and went viral. The incident even made the local news. The young man deleted the tweet and apologized in another tweet. However, a new Twitter account emerged that bore the young man’s name and picture, and the owner of the account began posting similar messages to the original offensive one. In response, the young man publicly denied that the account belonged to him.
Suppose you are involved in an instance in which the circumstances surrounding this young man impact a discussion you must have within your own business. The young man has applied for an internship with your institution. He interviewed well, and it is your job to decide whether he will be offered an internship. Given the rather public identity the young man has created, as well as the knowledge throughout your company that the young man applied for the internship, a somewhat heated e-mail exchange occurs among your colleagues—peers who have positions similar to yours in other departments, as well as a few upper-level managers. At issue, of course, is whether to grant the internship, and the debate seems to fall along two lines of reasoning.
The first line of reasoning is that the young man, if he becomes an intern, also becomes an extension of your company’s brand. From this perspective, the young man now has a significant amount of online “baggage,” especially in the form of the mystery Twitter account. Colleagues who promote this perspective are concerned that the company’s image could be chronically tainted at best or, at worst, irreparably damaged.
The second line of reasoning is that the young man should have an opportunity to continue with his life beyond his mistake and that he is a
good fit for the position. As these colleagues see it, the young man’s television interview was evidence enough that he was sorry for any offense he may have caused and did enough to quiet the public controversy surrounding his original tweet. In other words, this group believes the young man has “the right to be forgotten” and is less concerned about an apparent risk to your company’s image.
Craft an e-mail (275 words or more) in which you explain to your colleagues the decision you would like to make. As you do, take into account the following:
•The amount of conflict you might create with those who disagree with you, and why that conflict might exist
•The tone you strike is at least as important as the argument you make
•That, although you are conversing with peers, your decision (and words) could also affect (at least tangentially) relationships with colleagues above or below your level in the hierarchy
•The role of diversity in the workplace
•The consequences for the young man
Part II:
In 500 words or reflect on the choices you made as you wrote your e-mail. Address the following:
1.To what extent is e-mail an appropriate form of communication for this situation?
2.How might technology have influenced the nature of your job in this particular case?
3.What makes your communication effective or ineffective in the scenario, especially given the problem of identity and difference?
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
Answer preview to Identity Difference and Technology
APA
953 words
