Characters: Alan, a lead supervisor in a manufacturing departmentBob, an inexper
ID: 1115963 • Letter: C
Question
Characters: Alan, a lead supervisor in a manufacturing departmentBob, an inexperienced group supervisor, directly under Alan Coot, a veteran employee within Bob’s group Alan, a lead supervisor in the manufacturing department, has just received word of an altercation between one of his junior supervisors, Bob, a recent college graduate, and Coot, a veteran machine operator. Bob’s group had been working on an order for a major customer. Bob had set up a work schedule and job assignments which Coot, through experience, knew would not get the order out on time. Coot suggested a different sequence which Bob dismissed without discussion. The group began the order using Bob’s setup, but Coot switched everyone over the minute Bob left the area. The order was finished, on time, without further incident. Bob later discovered the “mutiny,” however, and had a loud confrontation with Coot in front of the entire group. Alan has reviewed the two work schedules and, indeed, Bob’s assignments would not have gotten the order out on time. Since the customer uses a Just-in-Time inventory system, such a slip-up would probably have cost Alan’s company any future business with the customer. On the other hand, Alan knows that a failure to support Bob will cause an immediate loss of credibility throughout the entire department. Bob needs the freedom to make his own mistakes if he is to develop and gain experience, but at what cost to the customer?
• What are the relevant facts?
• What are the ethical issues?
• Who are the primary stakeholders?
• What are some possible alternatives?
• What are the ethics of the alternatives?
• What actions should be taken?
o What should Alan do in the short term?
o What should Alan do in the long term?
o What would you do? Would this choice be appropriate in all situations for all individuals?
Explanation / Answer
Ans. While working in a factory setup, it becomes essential to maintain peace and take order from your seniors and follow them well. Bob indeed needs to learn from his own mistakes but at the same time in order to assess his performance , there should be quality check done to ensure the delivery on time and no loss in conumer satisfaction.
--> Relevant facts are that it is important for the other employees to take orders from one superior only. Since Bob is inexperienced he should be provided with the relevant training
--> Ethical issue here is a. Not taking orders from your seniors b. Not addressing the problems of your group members
-->Primary stakeholders are the company, employees and the customers
Alan should provide training to it's staff for the short and long term. So that problems like that do not arise in future