There are a number of issues involving Norman's power and influence in this case. Each issue will be identified and possible alternatives discussed for each issue. The following are the problems and their pros and cons as related to Norman's case.
             Norman doesn't allow any upward influence. He has a vicious temper and takes any complaints or suggestions from subordinates as a personal insult. By doing this Norman has destroyed all lines of communication and lost the ability to receive any upward influence from his subordinates.
             One simple solution for Norman would be to learn to control his temper and deal with constructive criticism. By doing this he will become more responsive to the needs and suggestions of his subordinates. The advantage of doing this is that he will receive more feedback about the day-to-day operations of the shipping department. Although there are not many disadvantages of this, one possible disadvantage is that he would need to take time out of his schedule to enter into feedback sessions with his subordinates.
             Norman may also want to change the format of his weekly department meetings. Instead of reading the list of errors from the previous week, he may try to initiate a discussion format with his subordinates about how he could increase productivity, reduce costs, and reduce shipping errors. In doing this Norman wouldn't be focusing on problems past and decreasing employee moral; he would be giving his employees more freedom to discuss possible improvements with him. Thus increasing bi-directional influence.
             Another possible way to encourage upward influence within the organization would be to install a suggestion box. This would give employees an opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns in an anyomous manner. This would encourage communication because it gives people an opportunity to voice their concerns without fear of retaliation. The only disadvantage of this syst...