Whose Job Is It$?$

Sanjay Patel was walking quickly through the office building on his way to a meeting with the other managers when his assistant, Robyn, ran up behind him. $$Mr$.$ Patel, I know you$$re busy, but I just can$$t figure out how to finish this budget report. I know it$$s due by tomorrow, do you think you could help me with it$?$

$$Sure$,$ Robyn, let me take a look at it$.$ I$$ll get back to you later today.$$

A few moments later, Phil, a sales associate in Sanjay$$s division, stopped him. $$Sorry to bother you, but I didn$$t get those sales projections finished. I know I said I could probably finish them by today$$s meeting, but I couldn$$t find the information from the Midwest locations.$$

$$All right, I can get that information for you this afternoon. I$$ll get back to you on it$,$ Sanjay answered.

That afternoon, Phil called. $$Did you have a chance to finish the sales projections?I$$d like to get them over to the head office today.$$

$$I$$m still working on it$,$ was Sanjay$$s reply.

About an hour later, Robyn came by Sanjay$$s office. $$How is it going? Did youfinish the budget report for me$?$

At about that time, it occurred to Sanjay that something was not right with this situation. How did he$,$ as the manager, become responsible for reporting back to his own assistant and others who should have been working for him?

Case Study Questions

Explain the type of time use issue that has become problematic in this case. How could this situation, if left to continue, lead to even more interference with workplace productivity in the future?

Who has a greater time management problem: Sanjay, or the two other employees who report to him? What would you suggest Sanjay do to improve the situation and increase productivity? What should Robyn and Phil do differently?

Has a situation like this ever happened to you? What did you do at the time? What would you do differently if it happened to you again? Human Relations Strategies for Success $7$th edition American$/$U$.$S$.$ version, Lamberton, Minor, Zeigler