Instructions

Read the case and then identify the causes of her behavior by answering the questions following the
case. Then determine whether you made a dispositional or situational attribution. After completing this
task, decide on the appropriateness of various forms of corrective action. A list of potential
recommendations has been developed. The list is divided into four categories. Read each action, and
evaluate its appropriateness by using the scale provided. Next, compute a total score for each of the
four categories.

THE CASE OF MARY MARTIN

Mary Martin, 30, received her baccalaureate degree in computer science from a reputable state school
in the Midwest. She also graduated with above-average grades. Mary is currently working in the
computer support/ analysis department as a programmer for a nationally based firm. During the past
year, Mary has missed 10 days of work. She seems unmotivated and rarely has her assignments
completed on time. Mary is usually given the harder programs to work on.

Past records indicate Mary, on the average, completes programs classified as “routine” in about
45 hours. Her co-workers, on the other hand, complete “routine” programs in an average time of 32
hours. Further, Mary finishes programs considered “major problems,” on the average, in about 115
hours. Her co-workers, however, finish these same “major problem” assignments, on the average, in
about 100 hours. When Mary has worked in programming teams, her peer performance reviews are
generally average to negative. Her male peers have noted she is not creative in attacking problems and
she is difficult to work with.

The computer department recently sent a questionnaire to all users of its services to evaluate
the usefulness and accuracy of data received. The results indicate many departments are not using
computer output because they cannot understand the reports. It was also determined that the users of
output generated from Mary’s programs found the output chaotic and not useful for managerial
decision making.
Causes of Performance
To what extent was each of the following a cause of Mary’s performance? Use the following scale:

Very little Very much

1————2————3————4————5

a. Skill 1 2 3 4 5

b. Knowledge 1 2 3 4 5

c. Low effort 1 2 3 4 5

d. Difficult job 1 2 3 4 5

e. Unproductive co-workers 1 2 3 4 5

f. Bad luck 1 2 3 4 5

Internal attribution/Dispositional (total score for causes a, b, and c) _____

External attribution/Situational (total score for causes d, e, and f) _____

Appropriateness of Corrective Action
Evaluate the following courses of action by using the scale below:

Very Inappropriate Very Appropriate

1————2————3————4————5

Coercive Actions

a. Reprimand Mary for her performance 1 2 3 4 5

b. Threaten to fire Mary if her performance does not improve 1 2 3 4 5

Change Job

c. Transfer Mary to another job 1 2 3 4 5

d. Demote Mary to a less demanding job 1 2 3 4 5

Non-punitive Actions

e. Work with Mary to help her do the job better 1 2 3 4 5

f. Offer Mary encouragement to help her improve 1 2 3 4 5

No Immediate Actions

g. Do nothing 1 2 3 4 5

h. Promise Mary a pay raise if she improves 1 2 3 4 5

Compute a score for the four categories:

Coercive actions = a + b =
Change job = c + d =
Non-punitive actions = e + f =
No immediate actions = g + h =