Joseph and Krystal are part of your social group. They joined Missile’s Financial Services together as middle managers. Each one, reports to a different senior manager. These senior managers report to the Managing Director. Once a month after payday, Joseph, Krystal and other members of the social group all try to have lunch together. Joseph is very distressed. ‘I’ve had an awful week and this morning was the worst!’ He recounts what happen between himself and Nicholas, his manager. ‘Nicholas and I were to meet with a new supplier to finalize a contract. I have been dealing with the supplier all this time, over two and a half months and we just needed to finalize the costing. We had reached an agreement about the cost that both of us were comfortable with. For the past two weeks, I have been trying to get Nicholas to look at the contract and agree the figures etc. We really need this guy’s company. They are fast and have a great reputation for products and services. The price is good and they are willing to customize the stationary, with no additional cost to us. Anyway, Nicholas was always too busy to meet. I emailed him the contract and my teams thoughts on how we should proceed hoping he would read it.’ My team consists of the Accounts/Finance Manager, Inventory Manager, Legal Officer, Research & Development Manager, Public Relations Manager and I, meet at different times and days. ‘Anyway, Nicholas and I, met with the supplier this morning. We are going through the  contract, the next thing I know Nicholas says, ‘This won’t work for us. The cost is too high. Where did these calculations come from? ‘If the floor had opened up and swallowed me I could have not been more embarrassed. I mean I spent three weeks, working on it with the team Accounting, PR, Legal and others! Joseph shaking his head continued, ‘he just took over the conversation. I mean we got the contract signed but in the end all that happened was that the figures were rearranged and  we still end up paying the same.’ ‘I am tired of this foolishness. He stays locked in his office on his cell every day. Only God knows what he does in there.’ Mis-understanding and delays can bring about conflict in the workplace, particularly when the parties have different interests.  Reflecting on the story, what do you think Joseph could have done to manage the conflict between himself and his supervisor, Nicholas,  in order to maintain a peaceful and productive work environment.   List in priority, and explain two areas that would reduce possible conflict.  Your responses must be supported by the reading material in Conflct Management:  Mullins, L. J. (2010). Management & Organisational Behaviour 9th  Edition, Chapter 3, pages 96 to 101), Harlow: Financial Times  Prentice. ISBN9780273724087 0273724088  Armstrong, M. (2014). Armstrong’s Handbook of Human Resource  Management Practice, Chapter 58. London: Kogan Available  via UWILinc

Understanding Business
12th Edition
ISBN:9781259929434
Author:William Nickels
Publisher:William Nickels
Chapter1: Taking Risks And Making Profits Within The Dynamic Business Environment
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1CE
icon
Related questions
Question

Joseph and Krystal are part of your social group. They joined Missile’s Financial Services together as middle managers. Each one, reports to a different senior manager. These senior managers report to the Managing Director. Once a month after payday, Joseph, Krystal and other members of the social group all try to have lunch together.

Joseph is very distressed. ‘I’ve had an awful week and this morning was the worst!’ He recounts what happen between himself and Nicholas, his manager.

‘Nicholas and I were to meet with a new supplier to finalize a contract. I have been dealing with the supplier all this time, over two and a half months and we just needed to finalize the costing. We had reached an agreement about the cost that both of us were comfortable with. For the past two weeks, I have been trying to get Nicholas to look at the contract and agree the figures etc. We really need this guy’s company. They are fast and have a great reputation for products and

services. The price is good and they are willing to customize the stationary, with no additional cost to us. Anyway, Nicholas was always too busy to meet. I emailed him the contract and my teams thoughts on how we should proceed hoping he would read it.’ My team consists of the Accounts/Finance Manager, Inventory Manager, Legal Officer, Research & Development Manager, Public Relations Manager and I, meet at different times and days.

‘Anyway, Nicholas and I, met with the supplier this morning. We are going through the 

contract, the next thing I know Nicholas says, ‘This won’t work for us. The cost is too high. Where did these calculations come from?

‘If the floor had opened up and swallowed me I could have not been more embarrassed. I mean I spent three weeks, working on it with the team Accounting, PR, Legal and others! Joseph shaking his head continued, ‘he just took over the conversation. I mean we got the contract signed but in the end all that happened was that the figures were rearranged and  we still end

up paying the same.’ ‘I am tired of this foolishness. He stays locked in his office on his cell every day. Only God knows what he does in there.’

  1. Mis-understanding and delays can bring about conflict in the workplace, particularly when the parties have different interests.  Reflecting on the story, what do you think Joseph could have done to manage the conflict between himself and his supervisor, Nicholas,  in order to maintain a peaceful and productive work environment.   List in priority, and explain two areas that would reduce possible conflict.  Your responses must be supported by the reading material in Conflct Management: 

Mullins, L. J. (2010). Management & Organisational Behaviour 9th 
Edition, Chapter 3, pages 96 to 101), Harlow: Financial Times 
Prentice. ISBN9780273724087 0273724088 


Armstrong, M. (2014). Armstrong’s Handbook of Human Resource 
Management Practice, Chapter 58. London: Kogan Available 
via UWILinc

Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

Blurred answer
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Understanding Business
Understanding Business
Management
ISBN:
9781259929434
Author:
William Nickels
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Management (14th Edition)
Management (14th Edition)
Management
ISBN:
9780134527604
Author:
Stephen P. Robbins, Mary A. Coulter
Publisher:
PEARSON
Spreadsheet Modeling & Decision Analysis: A Pract…
Spreadsheet Modeling & Decision Analysis: A Pract…
Management
ISBN:
9781305947412
Author:
Cliff Ragsdale
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Management Information Systems: Managing The Digi…
Management Information Systems: Managing The Digi…
Management
ISBN:
9780135191798
Author:
Kenneth C. Laudon, Jane P. Laudon
Publisher:
PEARSON
Business Essentials (12th Edition) (What's New in…
Business Essentials (12th Edition) (What's New in…
Management
ISBN:
9780134728391
Author:
Ronald J. Ebert, Ricky W. Griffin
Publisher:
PEARSON
Fundamentals of Management (10th Edition)
Fundamentals of Management (10th Edition)
Management
ISBN:
9780134237473
Author:
Stephen P. Robbins, Mary A. Coulter, David A. De Cenzo
Publisher:
PEARSON