In Class Case Analysis – A MIR KISS
Tuesday 11th March, 2014
Moscow’s Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) set up a replica camp with a team of
researchers from Japan, Canada, Austria, French-Canada and Russia all of whom speak
varying proficiency levels of English. Amongst the researchers was only one female,
Judith Lapierre, who not only came along with significant qualifications and experience in
the Russian atmosphere but also a kind personality. The experiment took a turn for the
worst at the New Year’s Eve party where the use of alcohol resulted in a fistfight and
sexual harassment or “stolen kiss” against Lapierre. This resulted in the quitting of the
Japanese team member who was replaced by a Russian researcher, the Russian’s being
separated from the rest of the team and public uproar over the sexual harassment issue.
Q1. This case shows evidence of several OB issues which all resulted in the Conflict
during and after the experiment. The dynamics of the team saw
1. Difference in cultures due to members being from five(5) different countries
2. Gender inequality with only one female being a part of the team
3. Barriers to Communication issues as the members spoke varying proficiency levels of
English
4. Lack of Leadership within the crew whereby the Russian Institute “wanted the crew
members to solve their personal problems with mature discussions”
5. Absence of Team development gathered from the fact that the international researchers
were newly isolated in the chamber along with the four Russian cosmonauts who had
