Fire Station 13 is commanded by Captain Eric Collings. He has been in charge of the station for a period of six months, following his promotion and transfer from another fire station. Station 13 is located in foothills outside a large community. The station's location, along with some additional factors, has led to the confrontation between Collings and the battalion chief, David Marx.
Chief Marx: "I don't care, Captain Collings, what the reasons are. There are rules and regulations that must be followed. As long as I am the battalion chief, it is my duty to see that the fire stations under my supervision perform properly, and that means these rules and regulations will be followed."
Captain Collings: "It is my opinion, with all due respect, Mr. Marx, that your insistence upon following fire department regulations to the letter is hindering my men in their job performance and hurting their morale. I can't help but feel that in this case the regulations should be eased or modified for the benefit of this station and its men."
Chief Marx: "We have a good public image as a result of our uniform rules. The public sees us as a neat, clean, efficient fire-fighting unit. You're asking me to bend the rules to make it easier for your own men. If I were to bend the rules for you, I'd be obligated to bend the rules for everyone, and that I won't do."
Captain Collings: "But sir, ours is the only station that is removed from the community. We fight brush fires, not structural fires. We seldom come into contact with the public and we are constantly in the dust. I can't help but feel that you're being too strict with the men about appearances. I agree that appearance is important, but keeping uniforms spotless and shoes highly shined is next to impossible here. And I don't think your reprimanding Johnson this afternoon was fair. We don't even have a cement floor beneath our trucks here. How can you expect him to remain clean when he has to lie in the dirt to make his safety checks of the truck?
While I'm at it, sir, I would also like to say that I think your haircut and television policies are too strict. Ours is the only department that is forced to wear our hair this short. In comparison to many other fire departments, we look bald. I feel this, and the fact that you won't allow the men to watch television while relaxing on duty, is unfair to the men. These men are professionals, and they should be treated as such. They have asked me to speak to you about this, and I myself am in total agreement with them. As their captain, I am asking that you relax the regulations that are clearly too severe."
Chief Marx: "Captain, we have a good public image. We shall continue to have a good public image in spite of your protests. If you and your men find the situation unbearable, transfers can be made available."
Questions for Discussion
1. If you were Captain Collings, would you accept things as they are or would you continue to protest the rules and regulations imposed upon your station?
2. If you accepted the battalion chief's wishes for a strict code, how would you handle the supervision of the firemen? Would you inform your men of how you feel and how David Marx feels?
3. If your men then encouraged you to ignore the rules established by the chief, what would you do?
4. If you disobey the chief's orders, are you showing the firemen that it's all right for you to disobey, even though you expect them to obey you? Is this a situation of cognitive dissonance for the firemen that is, are they being asked to hold two mutually contradictory viewpoints at the same time?
Assessment Criteria:
1) Complete all questions with descriptive answers.
2) Make references to the textbooks/journals, class discussion, and your personal experiences.
3) Creativity
4) Reasonable and concrete