Managing Human Resources

Jody who was from the Chicago office and was heavily involved in the procedure analysis just resigned from the company. You now need to either replace her or reallocate her work to others on the team. Your choices for internal resources include the following:

Name: Neil
Location: Little Rock, AK
? Already on the project team and has capacity to take on about half of Jody's work.
? Does not like to travel.
? Does not know anything about the Chicago processes.
? Excellent at doing the analysis and assessment of processes -- very detail-oriented.
? OK communicator.
? Relatively new and not known by people outside Little Rock.
Name: Elizabeth
Location: Boulder, CO
? Already on the project team and has capacity to take on all of Jody's work.
? Does not mind travel.
? Knows all the processes at a high level.
? Has not had experience analyzing processes and is not known for being detail-oriented or very thorough.
? Well liked by people in Chicago, Boulder, and Little Rock.
? Excellent communicator.
Name: Cathy
Location: Chicago, IL
? Not on the project. Will need to go to her manager with a specific job description and listing of tasks to be completed.
? Has capacity to take on about all of Jody's work.
? Was very relieved not to be chosen to participate in the project.
? Has done similar project in a prior work experience.
? OK communicator.
? Respected (but not necessarily liked) by people in Chicago. Has bad reputation in Little Rock. Has not interacted with people in Boulder.
Name: Jim
Location: Boulder, CO
? Not on the project. Will need to go to her manager with a specific job description and listing of tasks to be completed.
? Has capacity to take on about half of Jody's work.
? Wrote many of the processes and procedures used in Boulder. Is no longer part of the finance department however.
? OK communicator.
? He moved out of the finance department 10 years ago, so many of the people on the project team do not know him. Your peer in his new department says he is very low-key and keeps to himself.

Name: Juanita
Location: Little Rock, AK
? Not on the project. Will need to go to her manager with a specific job description and listing of tasks to be completed.
? Was very upset that she was not chosen to participate in the project.
? Has capacity to take on about half of Jody's work.
? One of the longest tenure members of the Little Rock Finance department and was heavily involved in the post-purchase (by LRH) operational changes.
? Relies heavily on voicemail and prefers face-to-face communication. Is a terrible e-mail writer.
? Because of her e-mail communication skills, people outside Little Rock do not like or respect her. She is well liked and respected within Little Rock.

How do you react to the situation, and what are your staffing options? Address the following questions:
? What are the ramifications of putting Cathy on the project?
? What are the ramifications of putting Juanita on the project?
? What are the ramifications of expanding Elizabeth's role?
? What will you consider in making your choice?
? What is your choice for getting Jody's work completed? Who will complete her deliverables? What is your reasoning?