Joseph and Krystal are part of your social group. They joined Missiles Financial Services together as middle managers. Each one, reports to a different senior manager. These 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. Ive 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 guys 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 Manger, Legal, Research & Development, Public Relations Manager and I, and we meet at different times and days, whether collectively or selectively.

Anyway we, Nicholas and I,, met with the supplier this morning. We are going through the contract, the next thing I know Nicholas says, This wont 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 and Legal! 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 we still end up paying the same. I am tired of this foolishness. He stays locked in his office on his cell everyday. Only God knows what he does in there.

Using the above scenario, design an approach that your team would recommend for Joseph and Nicholas to cover one area each that you deem necessary to aid in the planning and controlling functions detailed in units 3 and 4 in order to mitigate against a repeat of the scenario