Project Management: Technology-Based Corporation
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You are the supervisor for a large technology-based corporation. One of your subordinate managers, Carly, is heading up a project for a new system that is scheduled to market on the 1st of the year. It is August and things are not progressing at the pace you had hoped.
When you meet with Carly, all she does is complain about one of the team members, Morris. She exclaims that Morris is always contradicting her and disagreeing with her in front of the entire team. Nothing is getting done because there is this constant tension. Carly continues saying that he is acting like this because he feels that he is smarter than she is - he has a higher-level degree than she does.
When you ask if she has had a conversation with him about it, she says no. She feels that no matter what she says or does, he simply will not listen.
Later that day, you schedule a meeting with both Carly and Morris. After meeting with both parties and talking to other team members, it is obvious that Carly was exaggerating her story. As it turns out, Morris is treated unfairly as compared to the rest of the team. The other team members seem to think that Carly feels threatened by the team member.
1. Why do you think that Carly didn't come to you sooner to discuss the project delays?
2. Why do you think Carly hasn't had a conversation with Morris, or vice versa, about their differences? How do you think each of them would respond to this type of conversation? Explain.
3. What is the biggest problem with the way these team members interact? What could they do to remedy the problem? Explain.
4. Do you think Carly should continue to serve as Project Manager? Explain.
5. How would you begin to address this situation? Come up with a plan to remedy this problem and outline a plan for getting the project back on track for the January 1 release.
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Solution Summary
The solution discusses project management for a technology-based corporation.
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1.Why do you think that Carly didn't come to you sooner to discuss the project delays?
In most cases there are issues of blame and control that stop people from making a move for help. The perception they have is that to discuss it with others, especially with superiors, is they will be blamed or thought to have no control over the situation or group. This is especially true in cases where the person has low self esteem or is concerned about another person's abilities and skills. The other issue, control, is one that also can be a product of self esteem or it can be ambition or any number of other things. However, to come for help shows a loss of control and most people do not like to admit to this type of problem. Loss of control can be interpreted as lack of skills, inability to function in the role, or lack of people skills. I would think that with the issues and the feedback from others, Carly may have had both problems and together they made her feel incompetent. She did not come forward until it was a ...
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