Tag: case study

Misinformation & disinformation in HOA-Land

“Mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the dishonest most of all?  My owner, you are dishonest here so true,  but the CAI clique is a thousand times more dishonest than you.”

The above paraphrasing of the Brothers Grimm fairytale, Snow White, sets the framework for this Commentary, which is the spread of misinformation and disinformation about HOA-Land. “Misinformation”[1] is misleading or false statements of the facts made innocently by the author.  On the other hand, “disinformation”[2] is  intentional misleading or false statements of the facts issued to advance a special interest agenda.

My reference to owner misinformation is based on countless posts, not all posts,  on social media in which only part of the facts is revealed. Obviously, those the writer wishes to be made public, but hide material facts to permit an honest and objective evaluation of the content of the post. They create a harmful and damaging image of just bellyaching and gripes and not advancing a cause for reforms.  I am disturbed by their unsupported allegations and cries — they lied, were not fair, judge is biased, etc.

There are also social media distributor/publisher websites that  carry misinformation and often publish links that have been created to provide disinformation. These websites provide misinformation since many do not examine the content of the link.

The CAI “clique” — CAI chapters, the Research Foundation, the numerous lawyer advocates websites, shill associations like ECHO or CALL, and supportive HOA websites — provide outright disinformation that goes unopposed by homeowner rights advocates. As simple examples of its communications, the CAI clique continues to advertise that it represents homeowners and associations, that its primary function is education and not a trade group, to legislatures, the courts and the public.  Disinformation is intentional misrepresentation! 

. . . .

In general, nationally, disinformation can be found almost anywhere, and in particular in national  politics. The national dynamics causing the spread of disinformation is explained by the author, Lee McIntyre; the causes hold  true to disinformation in HOA-Land an important segment of our society.

“McIntyre explains how autocrats wield disinformation to manipulate a populace and deny obvious realities, why the best way to combat disinformation is to disrupt its spread. ‘On Disinformation’ lays out ten everyday practical steps that we can take as ordinary citizens—from resisting polarization to pressuring our Congresspeople to regulate social media—as well as the important steps our government (if we elect the right leaders) must take.”[3]

For advocates, the way to stop the disinformation is to educate first the advocates so they can educate the legislators and the public. The Findings, Section II, Education for Homeowners Associations and Board Members, of the South Carolina HOA study report (2015) to the SC General Assembly recommended,

“In order to provide accurate and readily available resources to educate homeowners, board members, and interested persons about the duties and responsibilities of property ownership in an HOA community, the General Assembly . . . to seek reliable and unbiased information available from private entities . . . and provide for published and online documents and programs offering HOA education . . . .”[4]

In 2021 I argued for the need for HOA-Land education by advocates.

“HOA Reformers are needed as educators to spread the facts about HOA-Land to the public in general; especially to the legislators, the media, the HOA boards, and to the universities and high schools. . . . The Plan first requires addressing the attitudes and views of BODs, the members, and the public in general.  The conditioning and indoctrination by the biased views of the national pro-HOA special interest entity must be de-conditioned by a program of reorientation.”[5] 

References

[1] Foundation  for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).

[2] Id.

[3] Lee McIntyre, On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy (2023).

[4] “Study On Homeowners Associations”, Luke A. Rankin, Chair, South Carolina General Assembly (December 18, 2015).

[5] HOA Reformers needed to educate (2021).

Mgmt case study #1 – update2

Management Case Study #1 update2 — BOD good faith conduct

George K. Staropoli, December 31, 2021

MUST READ FOR CONCERNED MEMBERS

SCG BOARD UNEQUIVALLY DEMONSTRATED THAT IT’S A ROGUE BOD

SCG members, as a PUD, do not have title to any of the assets of the association. SCG, as represented by its board, owns title. Members have  beneficial interest, but not title to some $22 million in revenues, $21 million in reserve funds (cash equivalents), and $64 million in assets as reported on its IRS 990 filing for 2019.

The tone of  Thursday’s board CHAT meeting was clearly secretive for the Directors only and to say as little as possible for member consumption — on a “need to know basis” and the members didn’t need to know.  The president came across as the man-in-charge and making statements that ignored the statutes and governing documents; misstating that the CHAT was not a legal board meeting, just a chat amongst the directors, with a few acceptable attendees allowed to speak. 

Much to the arrogance and  naiveté of the president and the directors, I have had over 10 years dealing with Arizona legislature, proposing bills, and testifying for HOA reforms.  I played an important role in the establishment of OAH hearing HOA member complaints, vehemently opposed by CAI. The SCG “clique” has some 13 CAI members, former and current.

Read this important update that serves a warning to all those large active-adult or master planned HOAs that this could be happening to you.

Management Case Study #1 – update1

Events at the HOA featured in this study continue to unfold. The board has been silent since the Dec. 16 email from the president. A question was addressed to the Executive Administrator of CAM asking whether or not she was in charge. The general manager (GM) had quit and there was no announcement whatsoever as to the status of CAM. She was listed on the staff of CAM, without any statement regarding the status of the GM.

In 2 days of this writing, Dec. 30, the SCG will hold a planned Q & A session where members can ask the BOD questions, sort of a townhall meeting. Would you advise the BOD to hold the meeting? If so, how should it deal with hard questions concerning its past performance?

January 2022 will see the campaign and election of board directors, and the right of members to write-in names of members not approved or subject to the SCG election and voting process. The BOD controls and approves the selection of “candidates” and regulates their campaign procedures — can they speak at clubs, what can be said, failure to attend a meeting disqualifies a potential candidate, etc.

A majority of the directors will be elected at this time, as a result of resignations, permitting an organized membership to gain control of the board. As in the case of our national politics, should the old BOD deny the results — as it seems to be the posture it is taking — or accept the reality of the vote?

Management Case Study #1 — BOD good faith conduct

George K. Staropoli

December 22, 2021

“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain”

(Wizard of OZ)

As applied to HOA-Land, the “man” is the BOD manipulating and controlling the images, propaganda, and marketing designed to placate the wants and desires of the members.

The task

For this case study, you have been engaged to advise the BOD as to its conduct in deciding these difficult and controversial  issues, and are free to comment on any or all aspects of the problem situation. What will you advise?  The  value of your recommendations lies in the quality of your supporting arguments.

Put your management/BD skills to work and join the study. It is very important for the learning process to share your recommendations with others here, and to accept their constructive criticism. You can reject, modify, or remove your recommendations. This approach sharpens your thinking and helps you make a more solid case for HOA reforms.

HOA case study approach vs focus groups

The more familiar focus group methodology stands in sharp contrast to the Case Study approach, which is a top-down, managerial process, while focus groups are a bottoms-up approach to provide guidance to decision-makers. The key aspect here is how does the researcher use the data gathered, which is dependent on the depth and quality of its subsequent analysis.

An important caveat:  focus groups can be used to advance personal agendas by shaping the content of the issue or conditions to be studied and/or the phrasing and wording of the questions asked.  There is generally no debate between the respondents questions or criticizing their views.

HOA Case Study Overview

Simply put, the case method is a discussion of real-life situations that business facing executives.  IT IS AN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS FOR ALL HOA MEMBERS and will help in becoming a more meaningful, relevant, and productive participant in the governance of your HOA.   It is members only and independent of any HOA approval or regulations.

If properly conducted, the outcome  should provide your BOD with solutions that have much more merit than listening to the views gathered at focus groups or Q & A sessions (workshops, fireside chats, meet the board, etc.).

The method consists of being presented with a real event or issue or a case facing an executive – president, BOD, committee chair — and asking a question or two regarding what you would decide. As you review each case, you’ll put yourself in the shoes of the key decision maker, analyze the situation, and decide what you would do to address the challenges.   

Importantly, there is the requirement to present your views or opinions before the study group (online participants), and  after a discussion with other group participants you will be asked to volunteer your decision and reasons why.  If you feel that your decision[s] have merit you can present them to the president or BOD as you feel comfortable.  It would be appropriate to indicate the basis for your recommendations, the HOA Case Study Group that you participated in.

How to participate in a meaningful and instructive manner.  YOU are the decision maker! What to do?  (Harvard Business School, Executive Education). 

Here’s your chance to deal effectively with HOA issues and resolve the problems in a practical  manner. No unsupported opinions, feelings, likes/hates, etc.

  • What are the most important issues being raised?
  • Each case begins with a text description followed by exhibits. Ask yourself: What is the case generally about, and what information do I need to analyze?
  • Put yourself in the shoes of the case protagonist, and own that person’s problems. Ask yourself: What basic problem is this executive trying to resolve?
  • What recommendations should I make based on my case data analysis?

. . . .

Why are focus groups used?

(Copley Focus Centers)

“Focus Groups are generally used to gather people’s opinions, ideas, and beliefs on a certain topic or product.  While surveys or questionnaires can be useful, they can not capture what a person is thinking or feeling.  This is where a focus group will come into play. . . .  The main purpose of focus group research is to draw upon respondents’ attitudes, feelings, beliefs, experiences and reactions in a way where other methods are not applicable.

“Focus Groups are generally used when there is little or no knowledge about the target market.  Most commonly Focus Groups are used when a new . . .  service is being developed and the company is not sure how the public will react.  In this instance, a Focus Group is conducted to get opinions, ideas, suggestions, and reactions before the product or service is available to the public.  Once the information is gathered, changes may be applied to the service or product to make sure that it will be received well by the target audience.”