Page 103 - Using MIS

Now, what does all of this have to do with MIS? Consider out why Felix is missing meetings. Felix would make an
the AllRoad Parts team at the start of this chapter. What is effort to understand why his behavior is a problem to
the problem? Drew thinks a big problem is that Felix doesn’t the team. The team would make a concerted effort to ad-
come to meetings. Felix thinks the team is focused on the dress the different points of view, and the outcome will
setup cost of 3D printing technology. Addison thinks the team be much more positive—possibly a recognition that the
should determine which parts—if any—are candidates for team should be meeting virtually and asynchronously.
in-house manufacturing. Kelly, once she understands what is Either way, the attendees have the same information; the
going on, is likely to be focused on wasted employee time and difference in outcomes results from the thinking style of
the lack of consensus among team members. the attendees.
Now imagine yourself in that meeting. If everyone en- Empathetic thinking is an important skill in all busi-
gages in egocentric thinking, what will happen? The meet- ness activities. Skilled negotiators always know what the
ing will be argumentative and acrimonious and likely will other side wants; effective salespeople understand their
end with nothing accomplished. customers’ needs. Buyers who understand the problems of
Suppose, instead, that the attendees think empa- their vendors get better service. And students who under-
thetically. In this case, Drew may make an effort to find stand the perspective of their professors get better . . .

DisCussion Questions

1. In your own words, explain how egocentric and empa- real problem is that . . . ” followed by her definition of the
thetic thinking differ. problem. How do you respond?
2. Suppose you miss a staff meeting. Using empathetic 5. Again, suppose you and another person differ substan-
thinking, explain how you can get needed information tially on a problem definition. Assume you understand
about what took place in the meeting. his definition. How can you make that fact clear?
3. How does empathetic thinking relate to problem 6. Explain the following statement: “In business, empa-
definition? thetic thinking is smart.” Do you agree?
4. Suppose you and another person differ substantially on
a problem definition. Suppose she says to you, “No, the

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