MLB Case Study

Context: -Culture of doping and using steroids is very strong in the MLB -Subcultures: Players, coaches, front office, MLB executives, each individual team -Context influence MLB stakeholders: Fans show an enormous interest in home runs and strong players. Stakeholders are less likely to crack down on drug and steroid use. -2005 Drug policy: Through implementing a new drug policy more players, especially famou players, are being caught, which is leading to fans wanting a tougher policy and taking a stand against steroid use. Fans feel cheated and lied to about some of their favorite players who have tested positive for drug and steroid use. The drug policy has created a feeling among some fans that they have been buying a fake product and the sport they are witnessing is not actually true baseball. -Organizational environment: The organization spans across the entire United States and parts of Canada, which makes it tough to constantly and consistently enforce a strict drug policy. This means that teams have to do a lot of self policing. Symbolic Elements: -The roles of MLB administrators, coaches, and players all have to have a unified stance on the issue of doping. Each and everyone of them has to buy into the policy and they hav to consistently enforce it by self policing otherwise it will continue to fail and players will continue to use steroids. Redesigning the Socialization Process: -An educational approach opposed to a punishment approach will be key. Everyone in the organization, especially players, must be educated on the down sides of steroid use. Managers must create a strong sense of disapproval of steroid use, so that drug use is looked down upon throughout the entire organization rather than having an inconsistent policy. -New stories, symbols, rituals: Show what has happened to players that use drugs and steroids. Show that it is difficult to promote a player that has tested positive for steroid use. Give examples of players that have chronic health problems or have even died because of their steroid use. Rituals must include consistent and constant drug testing. Players must know that they WILL be tested and that they cannot keep steroid use a secret. Corporate Culture: -All parts of MLB having a unified approach on the drug policy. Players will have more to fear than just ruining their fame. They would ruin things for their team. If the corporate culture parallels that of the teams culture against drug use then the cultures will be more likely to work in accomplishing their common goal. Consistency is key.