Utah Symphony and Utah Opera: A Merger Proposal

There is a major discussion underway on the proposed merger of the Utah Symphony and the Utah Opera. Mergers in the arts are rare, and nonetheless, risky, therefore all parties are going through thorough discussions process before coming to a final decision. A merger of this sort is unfamiliar, therefore gaining support of the merger has been difficult. It is important to consider all parties and their concerns equally, and implement motivational methods and/or organizational tactics to gain support for the proposed merger. For members and supporters of the Utah Opera, the lack of support of the merger is rooted in the organization’s current good standing. The Utah Opera is financially stable, and is growing thanks to Ewers efforts leading the organization. With this in mind, the people are skeptic of taking the risk of jeopardizing their good standing, and also their identity in the arts. To address the concerns related to the Utah Opera’s financial stability, and what may be compromised with the merger, Bill Bailey, the chairman of the Utah Opera, may benefit from using McClelland’s need for achievement theory to improve the public’s attitude toward the merger. Although the Opera is in good standing, there is still so much opportunity for growth for their organization. This merger may be an opportunity for the Utah Opera to become a top tier organization in the arts, and reach equal recognition to the Utah Symphony. Rather than focusing on the cons of the proposed merger, Bill Bailey’s best bet to gain support is to fuel members’ interest in the unlimited possibilities if the merger becomes a success. For the parties involved with the Utah Symphony, pride seems to be an extreme issue causing a great deal of negative feelings toward the merge. The symphony’s “pride” is derived from the organizations belief that