Case Name :      Ontario Ministry of Small Business & Consumer Services: Managing the Toronto Propane Explosion (C)

Authors :           Explosion (A) Jean-Louis Schaan, Ken Mark

Source :             Ivey Publishing

Case ID :            910M34

Discipline :        General Management

Case Length :    02 pages

Solution Sample availability : YES

Plagiarism : NO (100% Original work)

In August 2008, there was a large explosion at a propane facility located in Toronto, Ontario. The Technical Safety and Standards Authority (TSSA) was a not-for-profit corporation that was responsible for the delivery of regulatory services and ensuring technical safety, and fell under the supervision of the Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services (the Ministry). After the explosion, with the TSSA facing intense public and political scrutiny, the Ministry requested that the TSSA perform audits at every propane facility in Toronto. The audit results were reported by the media in such a way as to damage TSSA’s reputation. The Ministry then ordered an organizational review of the governance structure of the eight Delegated Administrative Authorities (DAAs) of which the TSSA was one. Determined to act in the best interests of the province, the Ministry subsequently ordered a 30-day Propane Safety Review but needed to make three decisions: 1) select an insider or outsider to lead the panel? 2) should the leader be a prominent figure or technical expert? 3) what is the optimal timing of the review?

Case Name :      Ontario Ministry of Small Business & Consumer Services: Managing the Toronto Propane Explosion (B)

Authors :           Explosion (A) Jean-Louis Schaan, Ken Mark

Source :             Ivey Publishing

Case ID :            910M33

Discipline :        General Management

Case Length :    02 pages

Solution Sample availability : YES

Plagiarism : NO (100% Original work)

In August 2008, there was a large explosion at a propane facility located in Toronto, Ontario. The Technical Safety and Standards Authority (TSSA) was a not-for-profit corporation that was responsible for the delivery of regulatory services and ensuring technical safety, and fell under the supervision of the Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services (the Ministry). By day four of the crisis, the TSSA was perceived to be underperforming and the minister was called to deliver a statement. He decided neither to support nor reject the TSSA but instead called for the TSSA to audit all propane facilities in Ontario. The audits revealed that many of the facilities had minor compliance issues. The reporting of these results, combined with intense public scrutiny of the event, again called TSSA’s credibility into question. Faced with TSSA’s damaged reputation, the minister evaluated three actions: 1) change TSSA’s leadership; 2) bring TSSA back into the government; or 3) perform an organizational review.

Case Name :      Ontario Ministry of Small Business & Consumer Services: Managing the Toronto Propane Explosion (A)

Authors :           Explosion (A) Jean-Louis Schaan, Ken Mark

Source :             Ivey Publishing

Case ID :            910M32

Discipline :        General Management

Case Length :    06 pages

Solution Sample availability : YES

Plagiarism : NO (100% Original work)

In August 2008, there was a large propane explosion at a propane facility located in Toronto, Ontario and the resulting media coverage was nothing short of extensive. Within 24 hours of the explosion, media coverage shifted from developments at the site to the responsibilities of the Technical Safety and Standards Authority (TSSA). The TSSA was a not-for-profit corporation that was responsible for the delivery of regulatory services and ensuring technical safety in a number of areas. It currently fell under the supervision of the Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services (the Ministry), although it had been separated from the government since 1996. By the fourth day of the crisis, the TSSA was perceived to be underperforming and had lost all credibility with the media and public. Opposition parties were calling for the TSSA to be brought back in-house. The Ministry was under criticism for actions of this arm’s-length body, and was determined to deliver a media statement that would accurately capture the nuances of this politically sensitive event, thus showing leadership without taking ownership.