Lucinda Jackson walked slowly back to R&D Laboratory 4 at Reed Pharmaceuticals. She was stunned. Top management was planning to sell her entire team project to Trichem Industries in an effort to raise the capital Reed needed to buy a small, competing drug company. Two years ago, when she was named project administrator for the cancer treatment program, Jackson was assured that the program was the highest priority at Reed. She was allowed to recruit the best and the brightest in the research centre in their hunt for an effective drug to treat lung cancer. There had been press releases and personal appearances at shareholder meetings. When she first approached a colleague, Len Rosen, to become head chemist on the project, he asked her whether Reed was in cancer research for the long haul or if they were just grabbing headlines. Based on what she had been told by the manager in charge of R&D, Jackson assured him that their project was protected for as long as it took. Now, a short two years later, she had learned that not only was Reed backing out but that the project was being sold as a package to an interstate firm. No jobs at Reed were being offered as alternatives for the team. They were only guaranteed jobs if they moved with the project to Trichem. Jackson felt betrayed, but she knew it was nothing compared to what the other team members would feel. Rosen was a 10-year veteran at Reed, and his wife and family had deep roots in the local community. A move would be devastating to them. Jackson had a few friends in top management, but she didnt know if any would back her if she fought the planned sale.

What do you do?

1 Approach top management with the alternative of selling the project and sending the team temporarily to train staff at Trichem, but allowing them to return to different projects at Reed after the transition. After all, they promised a commitment to the project.

2 Wait for the announcement of the sale of the project and then try to secure as much support as possible for the staff and families in their relocation for example, moving expense reimbursement and job placement for partners.

3 Tell a few people, such as Rosen, and then combine forces with them and threaten to quit if the project is sold. Make attempts to scuttle the sale to Trichem before it happens, and perhaps even leak the news to the press. Perhaps the threat of negative publicity will cause top management to reconsider.