Case Study 1
(being the practical application of the Wakefield Doctrine to the workplace)
(…this had better work…)

We often talk about presenting the Doctrine in a context that offers a practical application (of it’s principles).  Today we begin a series based on a ‘Case Study’ of the Wakefield Doctrine as it can be used to understand and change a real life situation.  First a definition, a ‘Case Study’  being:

‘Case study’ refers to the collection and presentation of detailed information about a particular participant or small group, frequently including the accounts of subjects themselves.  A form of qualitative descriptive research, (a) case study looks intensely at an individual… drawing conclusions only about that participant or group and only in that specific context….(CSU definition)

(As all our Readers know, the Wakefield Doctrine has a number of writers and contributors referred to as Progenitors and Downsprings, this little case study comes to us courtesy of one of our Downsprings).
Downspring#1 is the subject of this ‘Case Study’ and she will be sharing her experiences as she attempts to apply the Wakefield Doctrine the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers), to her (new) employment situation.  We will follow her adventures and will have commentary from (other) Progenitors and Downsprings.

Downspring#1:

“My employment odyssey began with a box of saltine crackers.  I was in need of Saltines, noticed that Groceryland had a very good sale on them and immediately drove to the store for my purchase.  Walking up to the store, I could not help but to notice a sign on the door stating that (Groceryland) was hiring “for all positions”.  After buying the Saltines, I went to the Customer Service Desk and asked for an (employment) application.  Somewhat uncharacteristically, I asked the woman behind the counter how the turnout was.  She appeared to be a bit at a loss for words, clearly wanting to use the word  “loser” to describe most applicants,  but settled for “not sensible”.  She told me that when I brought back my completed application, I was to ask for a Mr. Rogers.  I thanked her and returned an hour later, employment application in hand.   Mr. Rogers looked over my resume and asked what position I was seeking.  I gave him a list of what I thought I wanted to do, the last item (on my list) being ‘cashier’.  I was then informed that ‘everyone started as a cashier’.  Thinking to myself, ‘why did he even ask what position I would like?’ and refraining  from saying I could handle the District Manager position, I agreed.  He closed the interview by telling me that he would call me the next day.  (Turned out it was 2 days later), but he did call and told me I was hired provided that  I passed the background check and the drug test.   Five days of training later I was on my way to becoming a cashier.”

“I was hired at the end of February as a cashier,  to work at the local branch of Groceryland’s.  I am one of over 50,000 associates employed.  It has been an organization committed to”giving back” to the community since their first store opened in 1925.”

“Groceryland” corporate headquarters are located in Jacksonville, FL.  The store I am employed in is located further south on the east coast of FL.  The market we serve is somewhat diverse.  It is a beach town and although there is a small affluent population we primarily serve the blue collar demographic of town.  The store is open 7:00 am to 11:00 pm 363 days of the year.”

“As a part time employee, I was told my hours would be anywhere from 15 to 30 hours a week.  Hm.  My first week was about 35 hours. (and have been called to come in on my day off to fill in twice) I have never worked less than 29 hours/week so far.  The schedule is rather varied as I gave my availability as full range 7:00 am to 11:00 pm.  Yes, it does wreak havoc with sleep and life in general.  Consecutive days off are rarely given.”

“A full month plus has now passed since I entered the employ of “Groceryland” and I must ask myself several questions:
1) How can the Wakefield Doctrine benefit me/my interactions in this particular environment?
2) Or put more directly, What is the value of the Wakefield Doctrine to me in the situation described above? ”

There we have it,  a real person in a real-life situation asking if the Wakefield Doctrine has any damn practical value.
It is nice of Downspring#1 to ask us how the Doctrine can be used to help her situation, and to show how much we appreciate her interest, we will bring in a scott and a roger.  It is a basic tenet of the Doctrine that all people have the qualities of each type (clarks, scotts and rogers) and that it is only a predominance of one (of these three) that accounts for any of us being what we are, i.e.  clark or a scott or a roger.  Further, the Doctrine is based on the notion that each of these three types perceive the world differently.  It follows that getting a different perspective on a situation/problem is the only reasonable approach.

It has been said that the Wakefield Doctrine is a tool by which if we can identify a person as a clark, scott or roger we then know how they view the world and if we know how a person views the world we can know how they will act/react to that world. (“twew, its twew” Madelaine Kahn  Blazing Saddles)

So in the next installment, Downspring#1 will present us with a more detailed account of the workplace she finds herself in, with attention to (her) interactions with her co-workers as well as her managers and supervisors.  So stay tuned….

Also coming up this week, an Interview with a Reader that we have not heard from before!
MJM, a rogerian Reader who is an occasional contributer to the Comments section, will be talking with the Progenitor roger.  Being from the generation that grew up in the late ’50s, her ‘take’ on the Doctrine should be quite interesting.
Also in the works, more from Ms. AKH (possibly another edition of her Advice Column, ‘…like I care…’) which has been generating a good amount of commentation.

So tell a friend to read this thing!
If any of you Readers run into any of (our) Slovian friends, tell them we really want to do an Interview with them. (And the Doctrine now has a translation function for each Post so no reason not to share it with the whole village, or family, or collective or whatever the hell social unit you guys are dividing your culture into).