The key concept which relates to this case is that of Leader as Negotiator. Mathew is faced with the situation in which his only way to solve the problem is to negotiate. He does not have enough professional experience to act as an advisor and should not exercise his power to keep the employees in line since both of them are extremely valuable to the business. The only course of action he can take without threatening the whole operation is to serve as a negotiator and liaison between the conflicting parties to help them come to a compromise. Another role of the leader which is related to the case is that of an informant. In is the duty of the manager to keep the employees in the know about the course the company is taking. Mathew failing to do that seems to be the root of the conflict, as Ronie does not seem to understand the importance of time sheets for the company’s well-being.
It is clear from the case materials that both employees are essential to the successful operation of the company. Ellen is working hard to ensure the financial success of the company while Ronnie is essential to the success in the field. Firing any of them seems like a poor solution to the problem, especially considering the amount of experience each of them has. One possible remedy to the problem might be to sit down with both of them and discuss the situation. Allowing both Ronnie and Ellen to explain themselves in front of each other will shed some light on their relationship and the amount of antagonism between them. While a simple three-way discussion is unlikely to solve the problem by itself, it will inform the following decisions and give Mathew a deeper understanding of the relationships within the company he is trying to run remotely. At this point, it will be important to analyze the meeting.
Is there any personal conflict between the two or is the disagreement purely professional? If it is personal how deep does it run? If there is some deep personal dislike between the two, replacing one of them seems like the only course of action. Replacing Ronnie with another member of the clinical team, more suitable for the management role, while keeping Ronnie in the position of a clinical practitioner and advisor, seems to be a decent solution. If the conflict is purely professional, the solution might be found in revising the time sheets procedures. The problems the clinical team has with their implementation suggest that the process is not ideal and actually disruptive for the field workers. Revising and refining it can be a great way to smooth out any disagreements. Mathew should ask both the management and the clinical team for ideas. After he gets the idea of some problems with the system he can use his best judgment to implement some improvements. If done correctly, it can improve the efficiency of the company operation while resolving the conflict between Ronie and Ellen.
The conflict between two key employees is one of the most complex problems a company can encounter. Being rash can lead to the loss of valuable workers who cannot be easily replaced. It is extremely important to keep in mind that such conflicts rarely occur for purely personal reasons. Most of them are based on the purely professional concerns of both employees. Figuring out if such concerns are validated and resolving the issues can be an effective way to resolve the conflict and improve the workflow at the same time.