Assume that you have been recently appointed as team leader in the research and development unit of an important pharmaceutical company. The team you are heading has been stuck for several months in the development of a new drug due to some delay in the clinical trial process. The deadline set by the managing director of the company is approaching. After a few weeks, you noticed social loafing in the team as some members systematically put less effort in the development of the new drug, blaming the delay in the trial process as solely responsible for this situation and never taking the initiative to resolve the impasse with creative solutions. The top performers of your team have privately complained to you about this situation, which is causing significant stress due to overload. They are even threatening to leave the company. You must decide how to manage this critical situation: should you report the cases of social loafing for possible disciplinary measures or seek to resolve the situation yourself? Questions 1. What could be the reasons behind such attitudes from some team members? How could this issue be resolved? 2. What would you change, if at all, about the way the team functions to ensure more active participation of all team members? Why? 3. As a recently appointed head of the team, what will be the most appropriate solution in this case, trying to resolve this situation yourself or reporting the case to general direction for possible disciplinary measures? Examine the pros and cons of each alternative individually and then discuss your analysis within your team to find a common solution.