Scarborough & Associates

You$$re an executive at Scarborough & Associates, a mid$-$sized information technology

firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Even though the economy has forced some of your local

competitors to downsize or even close, your company$$s reputation for efficient work,

effective outcomes and overall good customer service has offered Scarborough &

Associates the ability to expand in tough times.

Wanting to take your firm to the next level, you recently hired Alexis Crawley, an

energetic, brilliant and strong young woman to join your team as the Associate Director

of Enterprise Systems. As a graduate of MIT and the daughter of Senator Yvonne

Crawley, one of Atlanta$$s most beloved Congressional members and a great supporter

of your firm, you believe Alexis has the skill set and creativity necessary to push

Scarborough & Associates to a nationally recognized company. Even though her first

year has proven to be a little challenging because of what appears to be hypersensitivity on her part to male$/$female dynamics, with the proper amount of guidance,

you believe Alexis has the potential to be an integral part of Scarborough$$s present and

future.

After years of working with local institutions of higher education, prominent think tanks

and various government agencies in Atlanta, your organization has been presented with

an opportunity to partner with a firm in New York City on a project for Amazon. Through

a connection made by your organization$$s Director of Network Operations, Ronald

McManus, Scarborough & Associates is about to embark on an intense six month

assignment which will include various trips to New York, constant communication and

collaboration, a strategic and detail oriented operational plan, and a solid team.

Ronald$$s firm grasp on the company$$s history is something you believe is necessary for

the assignment, and he is the first person you bring on as a team member.

Ronald, who has been with Scarborough & Associates long before your arrival in $2000,$

has long$-$standing relationships with external vendors and has been nothing but loyal to

the firm. Although he is a little rigid in nature, quite hesitant to accept new ideas and

hasn$$t been as proactive in upgrading his skills as other employees, you believe he

possesses the experience needed to be an effective team player.

During your initial meeting to formally introduce all of the Atlanta team members,

discuss the nature and intent of the project as well as review the details of the

videoconference with the New York team, it is abundantly clear that Ronald and Alexis

are not getting along. There is tension in the room that the other team members can

feel, and although you had thought some of their past conflicts had been resolved, a

heated exchange regarding minor details of the plan ensues which renders most of the

room speechless, with Alexis telling Ronald, $$get with the $21$st century!$$

Before you have an opportunity to regain control of the meeting, Ronald storms out of

the room and before leaving yells, $$go ahead little miss wonderful, run to your mommy.

She is the only reason you were hired in the first place!$$ Without skipping a beat Alexis

replies, $$That$$s it$!$ It$$s either him or me$!$ Realizing that communication has stopped,

neither Ronald nor Alexis wants to work with each other, and the rest of the team

members are shocked and appalled, you are left standing in front of your subordinates

embarrassed and confused. Both parties are vital to the success of the project, and you

need a way to rectify the situation and recommit all of the other team members to the

project before the meeting with the New York team in two days.