Case study 02:

A power based Conflict at workplace

Members of the conflict:

1. Ali, Software Developer 2. Asad, Project Manager 3. Abdul, General Director

02 marks 02 marks

Ali (software developer) and Asad (project manager) both work for a software development company. Ali was interviewed by Asad, but strongly opposed hiring him for the project because Asad thought that Ali is not competent to do the job, while Abdul (General Director of the company) recommended Asad to be hired.

Seven months after Ali was hired, the general director left the project to start his own company and recommended that Ali and Asad serve as joint project managers.

Within a month Asad was angry because Ali was representing himself to others as the controller of the entire project and giving the impression that Ali was working for him. Now Ali and Asad are meeting with you to see if you can resolve the conflict between them.

Ali says: "Right after having the joint project managerial job, Asad called a meeting with the project team without even consulting me about the time or content. He just told me when it was being held and said I should be there. At the meeting, Asad reviewed everyone's duties line by line, including mine, treating me as just another team member working for him. He sends out letters and signs himself as project manager, which obviously implies to others that I am working for him."

Asad says: "Ali is all busy with titles. Just because I sign myself as project manager doesn't mean he is working for me. I don't see anything to get excited about. What difference does it make? He is too sensitive about everything. I call a meeting and right away he thinks I'm trying to run everything. Ali has other things to do? other projects to run? so he doesn't pay too much attention to this one. he mostly lets things slide. But when I take the initiative to set up a meeting, he starts jumping up and down about how I am trying to make her work for me."

Questions

01. What are the possible ways to deal with the conflict between Asad and Ali, Explain it? 02 marks

02. What could be done to avoid such conflict in future?