Introduction
The case study “Bad Blood on the Senior Team” deals with the conflict between Barker Sports Apparel’s CFO and sales chief. Lance Best was appointed as the company’s CEO five years ago, following his father Eric’s retirement from the position. Currently, he is facing an issue of resolving the conflict between the CFO and the sales chief, but is hesitant as to what needs to be done (Groysberg & Baden, 2019).
This paper will discuss the solutions that consultants suggest to mitigate discrepancies and elaborate on the most suitable ones. The consultant must consider and examine the ethical implications of the decisions. Finally, practical recommendations will be provided for both this particular case and the company’s future course of action.
Case Summary
Damon, Barker Sports Apparel’s CFO, and Ahmed, its sales chief, cannot coordinate their actions and exhibit a lack of trust in each other. The accusations of undermining each other’s actions and criticism of decisions are frequent. This is a significant issue for the company, as a lack of agreement between the CFO and the sales chief can result in substantial losses for all departments.
Lance Best, the company’s CEO, previously overlooked this problem and is now seeking the most suitable solution to benefit the company (Groysberg & Baden, 2019). He is consulting the company’s general counsel, Eric, who is also the company’s former CEO, as well as his father and the company’s head of product and merchandising (Groysberg & Baden, 2019). Some of the solutions he is considering include organizing a retreat, hiring a coach, or, in the extreme case, firing both seniors (Groysberg & Baden, 2019). This situation requires an impartial consultant’s review to ensure the solution yields the most benefits.
Method Evaluation
To determine the appropriate organizational consulting methods for this case, it is necessary to identify the root cause of the presented problem. Essentially, the leading causes of the ongoing conflict are a lack of trust within the team and inadequate communication among team members. In this case, the lack of communication is more concerning as it involves senior members of the team who make decisions critical for the organization.
Therefore, it is vital first and foremost to apply the method of communication training. As mentioned in the case study by Scott Salmirs, the CEO of ABM Industries, it is essential to ensure that team members understand they are working together towards a common goal (Groysberg & Baden, 2019). Thus, they need to prioritize effective communication rather than destructive communication and focus on common goals rather than the discrepancies they have.
In addition to communication training, it would also be necessary to conduct individual coaching and mentoring sessions. In this case, the provided support needs to be individualized because the conflict between the two members is highly personal (Golembiewski, 2019). Overall, communication training and individualized coaching sessions are the most effective methods for addressing this case.
Organizational Goals
Communication training can help team members, particularly the CFO and sales chiefs, develop strategies necessary for resolving conflicts. Firstly, through this training, they will be able to understand how their goals relate to one another. As Salmirs mentions in the study: “Teamwork happens when people understand that their goals are intricately linked with their colleagues” (Groysberg & Baden, 2019, p. 148). If they manage to navigate and mitigate their discrepancies, their interpersonal conflicts will not create significant problems for the organization (Stein, 2023).
Moreover, they can learn to find solutions to their problems that are most beneficial to the company; newly acquired skills will also foster an environment of trust among all team members. Coaching sessions conducted explicitly with Damon and Ahmed will help resolve their interpersonal conflict, leading to more coherent decisions among seniors (Golembiewski, 2019). The combination of the two methods would help the company to achieve its organizational goals.
Ethical Implications
There are several ethical implications regarding the application of these consultation methods. The first ethical implication is to ensure the confidentiality of participants in training, coaching, and mentoring sessions. The CFO and the sales chief might have their own personal reasons for feeling conflicted towards one another. It is essential to maintain the privacy regarding the details of their relationship.
Secondly, coaching sessions and training should be aligned with the organizational culture and not impose behaviors that conflict with the company’s goals and ethics. Finally, it is essential to ensure that the CFO and the sales chief voluntarily strive towards conflict resolution. If there is no determination from their part, achieving the desired outcome will be impossible.
Recommendations
The organization must implement several changes in its company culture management to eliminate the problem and prevent similar issues in the future. The first change that can be implemented is promoting open communication among all team members. In particular, it should be encouraged to discuss all critical ideas among team members and have more trust in others’ opinions (Groysberg & Baden, 2019). Secondly, establishing a process for conflict resolution could also be a helpful change, ensuring that all similar situations in the future are addressed from the outset.
References
Golembiewski, R. (2019). Handbook of organizational consultation (2nd ed.). Taylor & Francis.
Groysberg, B. & Baden, K. C. (2019). Case study: Bad blood on the senior team. Harvard Business Review.
Stein, H. F. (2023). Listening deeply: An approach to understanding and consulting in organizational culture. Taylor & Francis Group.