James Scott, one of the commanders of the two sectors in Lynchburg (Virginia) Fire Department, will be stepping down. Since Scott was appointed to this position, he was trying to instill a new style of management in the department. Where once was tough paramilitary hierarchy, Scott tried to create a team environment, which are authorized to fire each do their job without having to inform their immediate supervisor first. Scott's management style history is intertwined with the history of a real fire, which took place in Lynchburg in 1996. This story shows a high degree of stress, uncertainty and risk, which is subjected to a fire. Wednesday fireground is very different from the station house, firefighters must immediately make the transition from a relatively relaxed and informal environment of the latter, where people are free to question the decisions and actions of their colleagues, well-structured and hierarchical environment of the former, where both civilians and firefighters' lives hanging in the balance . decision points in the case study of philosophy Scott and the changes he made, and to challenge students to think about how to maintain the momentum of change. "Hide
by Lynn A. Isabella, Forbes, Ted, Sheila McMillen Source: Darden School of Business 17 pages. Publication Date: February 24, 1997. Prod. #: UV3132-PDF-ENG
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