CASE STUDY $62$

The Bean Counter and the Cowboy

The morning project team mecting promised to be an interesting one. Tensions between the representatives from marketing, Susan Scott, and finano, Neil Schein, have been building for several weeks now $"$in fact, since

the project team was formed. As the project manager, you have been aware that Susan and Neil do not see eye to cye, but you figured that over time they would begin to appreciate each other's perspective and start cooperating.

$($continued$)$

$256$ Chapter $6-$ Project Team Building, Conflict, and Negotiation

So far, unfortunately, that has not happened. In fact, it seems that hardly a day goes by when you do not receive a complaint from one or the other regarding the other team member's behavior, lack of commitment or cooperation, or general shoddy performance.

As the team gathers for the regular project status meeting, you start with an update on the project tasks, any problems the team members are having, and their assessment of the project's performance to date. Before you get too far into the meeting Susan interrupts, saying. "John, I$\text{'}$m going to be out of town for the next $10$ days visiting clients, so I can't make the status meetings either of the next two Fridays:"

"That figures," Neil mutters loud enough for all to hear.

counters Neil. "I swear you would give our products away if it would let you make your quarterly numbers, even if it does drive us into the ground!"

You sit back, amazed, as the argument between Neil and Susan flares into full$-$scale hostility and threatens to spin out of control. The other team members are looking at you for your response. George, from engineering, has a funny expression on his face, as if to say, "Okay, you got us to this point. Now what are you going to do about it$?"$

"People," you rap on the table, "that's enough. We are done for today. I want to meet with Susan and Neil in my office in a half hour."

As everyone files out, you lean back in your seat and consider how you are going to handle this problem.