Project Management

Leeann Kalliecharan

Case Study 4.3

1. As the team leader, you have weighed the pros and cons of the five options and prepared a presentation to management on how to address this problem.  What do you suggest?

As a team leader I would be looking for the best course of action for the team and company. The better the results from the team the higher the self-esteem and future production and the more effective the team is for the company.

My proposal would be that I would first start with a one on one, an extremely formal and quite frank meeting with John. I would share my options and be genuine in my concern and I would ask him to contribute to a plan. Including him the plan may result in his willingness to commit and see better results. I would propose a new team, as the current team members have been carrying John for far too long and a fresh start is needed to reduce in bad tension. John needs to be seen for his own merit and putting him on a team of less experienced persons that he would have to guide and share his years of experience with can really give him the encouragement to work to show his true value.

        Another option would be to obtain an appropriate degree that will help him in his growth in the company. Offering him the support and assistance he may need in getting the degree can also help him to achieve this goal.

        Lastly, I would explain that these options as well as his if he suggests any may not be accepted by management who may come up with options of their own.  

2. Consider each of the options, and develop an argument to defend your position for each option.

1. Do nothing

        As team leader and long time close friend to John, I believe I can have a one on one with him to convince him to make an adjustment in his productivity amongst the team and in the company. This could be good as John is sensitive to the topic and may respond better in a one on one with someone he is familiar with.  

2. Bypass company policy and promote John.

John has been a strong employee for fifteen years and appears to be stifled and falling backwards in his behavior and performance. There are employees who lack the required degree in a specific field, yet have the expertise and experience. Because of their experience and expertise strategies have been implemented to promote persons whose experience and expertise meet or exceed the requirement of a degree. John falls in this category of individuals. My proposal is to promote John based on his value to the company and his 15 years of tenure. I believe with this his productivity greatly increase and the overall positive environment it could create and which the company can capitalize on and how those positive results far outweigh the financial loss in salary.  I would also point out the expense associated with hiring new personnel and how John’s promotion would ultimately result in an even longer-term employee.

3. Talk John into going back to college.

As John’s friend and team leader I would encourage him with presenting the many opportunities that would be more easily accessible to him if he would obtain a degree. Assisting him in creating a vision for himself, finding an appropriate school best for him and his schedule with work could really give him that support he needs.    

4. Relocate John to a different project team.

Recognizing the advantages to keeping John, financially and with practical experience.  Presenting the opportunities a new team would offer to increase John’s productivity. He can be assigned a less experienced team which he would have to work with and guide.