Lean on Me (1989), starring Morgan Freeman
Begin your film study by collecting some data or, as Bolman and Deal (2017) suggested, going to the balcony to acquire a panoramic view of the organization and leadership scene. If you have time, watch your film twice. Watch it the first time for enjoyment and to get a big picture of the film. The second time, watch it more critically and academically, taking notes.
Take a moment to examine the situation one frame at a time (pun intended) and ask two questions to help you move through the valley of confusion to the mountains of clarity:
What is going on?
How is the organization in the film functioning?
What are the roadblocks to progress?
How do personalities and relationships impact performance?
What external forces are at play that directly or indirectly impact the organizations ability to function?
What options exist?
What are potential solutions?
What needs to be done and what needs to stop?
How does the film apply to organizational change themes in the course text and in your organization?
