Case Study Job Analysis, Work Descriptions, and Work Groups Katie has recently accepted a position as laboratory supervisor at a large suburban hospital. Although she is thrilled with her new position and working environment, Katie's laboratory manager has indicated that there is a major conflict in her laboratory that she needs to resolve as quickly as possible. The employees whom Katie supervises have been working as an efficient team for more than five years. In the past few months, however, turnaround time for laboratory tests has increased and the laboratory has been filled with tension and resentment toward Helen, a medical laboratory scientist, who joined the team approximately six months previously. Helen is an experienced scientist with exceptional knowledge and skills. She is energetic, hardworking and she possesses a positive attitude. Katie and Helen enjoy a good working relationship. Helen's co-workers, however, have complained that Helen tries to "stick her nose into everyone else's job" and that she slows the output of the other staff members with her unwanted involvement.

Issues and Questions to Consider:

3. In particular, what approach could Katie use to retain Helen's enthusiasm and commitment to the laboratory while curtailing Helen's negative effect on turnaround time for laboratory testing?