now James is having trouble sleeping at night and wonders what he might have done to prevent this tragedy?

YOU MAKE THE CALL James Matthews is the departmental supervisor in the water Late yesterday (Wednesday), James again heard maintenance department in the city of Middletown. Middle- through the grapevine that Smith had been overheard town is a medium-sized community that has renovated itself to say, "I will shoot Harris!" Immediately, James went in the twenty-first century by aggressively pursuing new to Harris and divulged what he had heard through the industry and businesses and by providing economic incen- grapevine. Harris assured him that the grapevine had tives to support expansions of the existing firms. The town blown the situation out of proportion. James was con- has built a new high school and a new elementary school cerned and called Deborah Barnes, the director of human and demolished many structures and homes that had fallen resources, but she would not be in her office till Friday. into disrepair. However, the cost to city residents for services He pondered what actions he should take. and taxes is now much higher than that of comparable cities. Shortly after midnight on Thursday, a ringing cell Nevertheless, the city is viewed to be a great place to live. phone woke James from a sound sleep. The call was from the hospital emergency room police informing him that Three months ago, James was promoted to day shift su- George Harris had been shot in the water maintenance pervisor. His management style is MBWA ('Management by parking lot and was pronounced dead at the scene. Wandering Around'). He is in his office from 8 to 4 Monday A subsequent call from the desk sergeant informed through Friday. But the employees know that as he wanders James that Thomas Smith had strolled into the jail, around he may show up at any of the four shifts-weekdays admitting the shooting, and turned himself in. Smith, a (7 A.M. to 3 P.M.), evenings (3 to 11 P.M.), mornings (11 P.M. to 25-year city employee, had alleged waiting in the park- 7 A.M.), or weekends (7 A.M. to 7 P.M. or 7 P.M. to 7 A.M.). Sev- ing lot with a .22-caliber handgun. Police reported that enty-five percent of the workforce is on the day shift with Smith shot Harris three times, twice at close range and the remainder evenly divided among the skeletal crews in once-the fatal shot-while standing over Harris, who the evening, morning, and weekend shifts. Backup crews had fallen on the ground. Smith told police that Harris supplement these skeletal crews as needed. 'was ruining his life and giving him a hard time." James believes that he is familiar with all employees Later on Friday, when James interviewed several and knows their strengths and weaknesses. His employ- employees, he realized that he did not know his work- ees know that he is willing to help out when needed even ers as well as he thought. Not only were both Smith and though he prefers to let employees work out their prob- Harris separated from their wives, but most employees lems on their own. knew more about the situation than he did. They knew One of his first actions was to move Alphonso Robas both Smith and Harris had argued not about work- from evening shift supervisor to the day shift position and related issues but about women. promote George Harris to the position of evening shift The local newspapers detailed additional information. supervisor. About a month ago, James heard through the Smith's attorney announced that a set of mitigating cir- grapevine that Thomas Smith, an employee on the evening cumstances would weigh in his client's favor when the case crew, had threatened Harris during a virtual confrontation went to trial. Smith had turned himself in almost immedi witnessed by several employees. When James discussed the ately and had no past criminal record. Even though Smith incident with Harris, Harris felt that he had resolved the dis- and Harris had been friends for many years, Smith had agreement. Harris further explained that Smith appeared to accused Harris of having a relationship with his wife and have some personal problems that were negatively affect- had been hostile toward him since becoming a supervisor. ing his work performance, and in the discussion about per- Smith claimed that Harris was "obsessive" about Smith's formance, Smith became angry. But Harris assured James wife and had sent her flowers on the day of the murder. that as he was extremely busy with his new supervisory Now James is having trouble sleeping at night and responsibilities and the increasing workload of the evening wonders what he might have done to have prevented shift, he had not bothered James with the incident. this tragedy. Disclaimer: The above scenario presents a supervisory situation based on real events to be used for educational purposes. The identities of some or all individuals, organizations, industries, and locations, as well as financial and other information may have been disguised to protect individual privacy and proprietary information. Fictional details may have been added to improve readability and interest. YOU MAKE THE CALL