THE SATERA TEAM CASE NOTES
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The main problem in this case is the growing disagreement between two senior members of the team which is affecting the overall team performance and the working environment. Both the members are very skilled but have very different working styles, and hence most of the time they find it difficult to get to a common ground. Following are some problems which the Satera team project is facing right now
• Relationship conflict between two senior mechanical engineers of the team.
• This conflict is destroying team cohesion
• Lack of communication among team members
• Team as a whole is failing to meet the deadline.
OB THEORIES
Diversity, cohesion and productivity: The Satera team consists of people who are very skilled and have a different approach towards every situation. The issue in this team is the lack of cohesion among the team members. The two senior mechanical engineers of the team - Ira Lovas and David Bennett, have a very different style of working and hence rarely agree with each other. This lack of harmony among these two members is increasing and creating an unfavorable working environment for other team members. The productivity of the whole team is adversely affected and the team is failing to meet the deadlines. Both the senior engineers are equally required in this team for this project and hence it is important to keep them both in the team. Mr. Pinto who is leading the team seems to have an equal amount of trust and respect for both Mr. Bennet and Mr. Lovas. Mr. Pinto has set a high degree of autonomy, which enables every team member to work in their own style.
Conflicts in group: There is an ongoing relationship conflict among the two most senior members of the team. Mr. Pinto has created an environment in which each team member participates in the decision making, and each team member is made comfortable to express his/her ideas openly. Mr. Lovas and Mr. Bennett are two senior member of the team and never seem to agree on each other’s ideas, which makes it difficult for other team members to express their view point openly. Nobody wants to get in the middle of this dual and hence team a whole is falling apart. There are also trust issues in other team members related to the project deadline.
SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS
Considering the team setting which Mr. Pinto has set the entire responsibility of mitigating this situation falls on him. Since both of the senior engineers are required in the team Mr. Pinto needs to find a way to make both of them work together. The team needs both, the creativity of Mr. Bennett’s model and the stability of Mr. Lovas’ model. Mr. Pinto could follow the below mentioned course of action
• Sit with each senior engineer separately and discuss the situation.
• Explain the gravity of the situation to both and help them look at a superordinate goal.
• Ask both individual to resolve the conflict and give them a definite timeline to do so.
• Call a meeting and take a stand on the situation. Set up a punishment for not solving the problem or a reward for collaborative work.
• Boost the overall morale of the team.