Mary and George both work for a software development company.The manager of the new product division was originally the leaderof the project team for which she interviewed and hired George.Mary, another project team member, also interviewed George butstrongly opposed hiring him for the project because she thought hewas not competent to do the job.
Seven months after George was hired, the manager left theproject to start her own company and recommended that George andMary serve as joint project leaders. Mary agreed reluctantly withthe stipulation that it be made clear she was not working forGeorge. The General Manager consented; Mary and George were toshare the project leadership.
Within a month Mary was angry because George was representinghimself to others as the leader of the entire project and givingthe impression that Mary was working for him. Now Mary and Georgeare meeting with you to see if you can resolve the conflict betweenthem.
Mary says: "Right after the joint leadership arrangement wasreached with the General Manager, George called a meeting of theproject team without even consulting me about the time or content.He just told me when it was being held and said I should be there.At the meeting, George reviewed everyone's duties line by line,including mine, treating me as just another team member working forhim. He sends out letters and signs himself as project director,which obviously implies to others that I am working for him."
George says: "Mary is all hung up with feelings of power andtitles. Just because I sign myself as project director doesn't meanshe is working for me. I don't see anything to get excited about.What difference does it make? She is too sensitive abouteverything. I call a meeting and right away she thinks I'm tryingto run everything. Mary has other things to do? other projects torun? so she doesn't pay too much attention to this one. She mostlylets things slide. But when I take the initiative to set up ameeting, she starts jumping up and down about how I am trying tomake her work for me."
How will you resolve this conflict and what will be yourrecommendation?
1. George and Mary seem to have several conflicts occurringsimultaneously. Identify as many of these individual conflicts aspossible.
2. What are the possible ways to deal with the conflict betweenGeorge and Mary (not just the
ones that you would recommend, but all of the options)?
3. Given all the benefits of retrospection, what could or shouldhave been done to avoid this conflict in the first place?
4. What is your recommendation to resolve the issues?
5. How can this be avoided in the future?
