$$He said She said$$ A Case Study for Assignment #$2$ Team Case

Shirley and Abdul both work for a software development company called Micro

Inc. The manager of the new product division $($Melissa$)$ was originally the leader of a

project team for which she interviewed and hired Abdul. Shirley, another project team

member, also interviewed Abdul, but strongly opposed hiring him for the project

because she thought he was not competent to do the job.

Seven months after Abdul was hired, Melissa left the project to start her own

company, and as part of her hand over notes to the new manager she recommended

that Abdul and Shirley serve as joint project leaders moving forward. Shirley agreed

reluctantly, with the stipulation that it be made clear she was not working for Abdul. The

new General Manager consented; Shirley and Abdul were to share the project

leadership.

Within a month Shirley was angry because Abdul was representing himself to

others as the leader of the entire project and giving the impression that Shirley was

working for him. Now Shirley and Abdul are meeting with you $($the HR Manager$)$ to see

if you can resolve the conflict between them.

Shirley says: "Right after the joint leadership arrangement was reached with the

General Manager, Abdul called a meeting of 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, Abdul 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 director, which obviously implies to others that I am working for

him."

Abdul says: "Shirley is all hung up with feelings of power and titles. Just because I

sign myself as project director doesn't mean she is working for me$.$ I don't see anything

to get excited about. What difference does it make? She is too sensitive about

everything. I call a meeting and right away she thinks I$\text{'}$m trying to run everything.

Shirley has other things to do$,$ other projects to run, so she doesn't pay too much

attention to this one. She mostly lets things slide. But when I take the initiative to set up

a meeting, she starts jumping up and down about how I am trying to make her work for

me$."$

$1.$Executive Summary $$One concise paragraph explaining your findings$/$recommendation

$2.$Analysis of Issues

$3.$Alternatives for Consideration

$4.$Recommendation