Management 14th Edition by Leslie Rue,Lloyd Byars ,Nabil Ibrahim

Exercise 9

Minor Errors
Recently you have noticed that one of the staff members on the same level as your boss has been giving you a hard time concerning reports you submit to her. Having reviewed recent reports, you have discovered a few minor errors you should have caught; but in your opinion, they are not significant enough to warrant the kind of criticism you've been receiving. Your boss and this particular manager have a history of bad relations, which may be one reason for her attitude and actions.
As you think about how to best handle the situation, you consider these alternatives:
a. Talk to the manager in private and ask her why she is being so critical.
b. Do nothing. It is probably a temporary situation; to bring undue attention to it will only make matters worse.
c. Since your boss may get involved, discuss it with her and ask advice on what to do.
d. Work harder to upgrade the reports; make sure there will be nothing to criticize in the future.
e. Discuss it with your boss, but minimize or downplay the situation by letting her know that you believe constructive criticism of this type is usually healthy.
Other alternatives may be open to you, but assume these are the only ones you have considered.
1. Without discussion with anyone, decide which of these approaches you would take now. Be prepared to defend your choice.
2. What principle of organization most closely relates to this situation?
3. To what extent do you think this is an organizing problem as opposed to a personality problem?