Posted: July 1st, 2024

Incident Summary Report Essay Assignment

Essay
Assignment Content
To begin, think of an incident, or a conflict, that you witnessed or are aware of. Get started by writing down details of what happened. Remember that for our purposes, it’s best to think of something in which there was a conflict between two sides, where each side might even have a different take on what happened, who was at fault, why it happened, and so on. It’s also best if you were more of a neutral person with it rather than one of the sides actively involved.

Next, describe who was involved. There were at least two parties/sides. What was their role, how were they involved, what was their perspective of the incident?

Now, to complete this assignment, these are the final components that you’ll write and submit:

1) Write a formal summary report of what happened. This must objective, taking neither side’s perspective as right or wrong. Aim for no more than one page in length, but be sure it’s enough to clearly portray what occurred. Your audience must be able to understand what happened, how it happened, when it happened, where it happened, and who was involved. Readers must be able to understand the incident without having been there themselves. (about 1 page)

2) Next analyze who the appropriate audience for your incident report would be. Explain why they need this report, what they’ll use it for, and how it’s important. Your purpose for this analysis is to effectively analyze who’s using your report, what they’re doing with it, and how the information in the report is critical for everyone involved. (½ page to 1 page)

*Note: the page lengths cited above are rough guides. Your exact page length will depend on the incident that you’re presenting. An important component of this assignment is your ability to balance being descriptive with being precise and concise.

Incident Summary Report

On March 15, 2023, a dispute occurred between two faculty members in the Biology department at Westview University regarding the allocation of laboratory space. Dr. Sarah Chen, an associate professor specializing in molecular genetics, and Dr. Michael Brennan, a full professor focusing on evolutionary biology, both sought to utilize Lab 305 in the Science Building for their respective research projects starting in the fall semester.

The conflict arose when both professors submitted requests to the department chair, Dr. Jessica Torres, for exclusive use of the lab space. Dr. Chen argued that her NIH-funded study on CRISPR gene editing techniques required specialized equipment already installed in Lab 305. Conversely, Dr. Brennan contended that his long-term evolutionary experiments with Drosophila populations necessitated the lab’s controlled environment systems.

On March 20, Dr. Torres called a meeting with both faculty members to discuss the situation. The discussion became heated when Dr. Chen accused Dr. Brennan of leveraging his senior status to claim priority. Dr. Brennan responded by suggesting Dr. Chen’s research could be conducted in alternative facilities. Neither party was willing to compromise on shared usage of the space.

Unable to reach a resolution, Dr. Torres referred the matter to the Dean of Sciences, Dr. Alan Watkins, on March 22. Dr. Watkins reviewed the submitted proposals and space requirements for both research projects. On March 29, he rendered a decision to grant Dr. Chen primary access to Lab 305, with Dr. Brennan allocated alternative lab space and additional funding for necessary modifications.

This decision was communicated to all parties on March 30. While Dr. Chen expressed satisfaction with the outcome, Dr. Brennan voiced his disappointment and concern about potential delays to his research timeline. The incident highlighted ongoing space constraints within the department and the need for clearer protocols in managing limited resources.

Audience Analysis

The primary audience for this incident report is the university administration, specifically the Provost and the Vice President for Research. This audience requires a comprehensive understanding of the situation for several critical reasons:

Resource allocation: The report provides crucial information for senior administrators to assess the effectiveness of current resource allocation processes within academic departments. Understanding the specifics of this conflict allows them to identify potential systemic issues in how research spaces are assigned and managed across the institution.

Conflict resolution: By detailing the progression of the dispute and the steps taken to resolve it, the report enables the administration to evaluate the efficacy of existing conflict resolution mechanisms. This information is vital for refining policies and procedures to address similar situations more efficiently in the future.

Research impact: The report highlights the potential impact of space allocation decisions on ongoing research projects. The administration needs this information to gauge how such conflicts might affect the university’s research output, grant funding, and academic reputation. This understanding is essential for strategic planning and resource investment decisions.

Interdepartmental communication: The incident underscores the importance of clear communication channels between department chairs, deans, and central administration. The report serves as a case study for the administration to assess and potentially improve these communication pathways.

Faculty relations: The dispute between a senior and junior faculty member raises important questions about equity and power dynamics within academic departments. The administration can use this report to inform discussions on fostering a more collaborative and supportive environment for faculty at different career stages.

Policy development: Armed with the details of this incident, the administration can identify gaps in existing policies related to space allocation, conflict resolution, and research support. This information is crucial for developing or refining policies that promote fairness, transparency, and efficient use of university resources.

In conclusion, this incident report provides the university administration with valuable insights into the challenges of managing limited resources in a competitive research environment. The information contained within is critical for informed decision-making, policy development, and strategic planning to support the institution’s research mission and maintain a productive academic community.

References:

Bozeman, B. and Youtie, J., 2020. Robustness and tenacity in resource allocations for science. Research Policy, 49(3), p.103822.

Ferreira, J.J., Fernandes, C.I. and Ratten, V., 2019. The effects of technology transfers and institutional factors on economic growth: evidence from Europe and Oceania. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 44(5), pp.1505-1528.

Kezar, A. and Holcombe, E., 2019. Challenges and opportunities for improving community college student success: The role of shared leadership. New Directions for Community Colleges, 2019(185), pp.45-57.

Leisyte, L. and Dee, J.R., 2022. Understanding academic work in a changing institutional environment. In Higher education: Handbook of theory and research (pp. 123-185). Springer, Cham.

Macfarlane, B., 2021. Leadership and the academic department head: A conceptual framework. Higher Education Quarterly, 75(3), pp.387-401.

Pinheiro, R., Young, M. and Sima, K., 2018. Higher education and regional development: Tales from Northern and Central Europe. Springer Nature.

Check Price Discount

Study Notes & Homework Samples: Help me Write my PowerPoint Presentation for Early Childhood Education »MDS 610 Ch 4 Assignment & MDS 610 Ch 5 Assignment