5. How do you deal with Jim? Develop a specific plan to deal with a situation such as the one described.6. Are self-directed work teams the answer? Where should or shouldn’t they be used. Discuss the pros and cons of such teams and where, or where not, they should be used, and how they would be used in this situation, if appropriate.

Jim Hartough was not in a good mood. He worked his way through the ranks when supervisors did supervision and workers did what they were told. He was now faced with the fact that the new president of Melrose products was one of these “touchy-feely” types that was pushing for self-directed work teams. As the manufacturing manager, Jim was ultimately responsible to not only meet production needs, but also to do so in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. To him, that meant specific allocation of work. It had always.