American University in Bosnia and Herzegovina

INTERNATIONAL FINANCE AND BANKING

How Do You Manage an Off-Site Team?

Student: Sajra Čarkadžić

Course: BSAD 340
Professor: Azur Ramić
Date: 07/06/2017
 “How Do You Manage an Off-Site Team? “is a case study which presents a problem in
communication and conflict between two coworkers Allison Scher and Penelope Ryan. But
after reading whole case, I realize that there is bigger picture showing deeper problems and
concerns like whether that team is a real team, whether a business-to business division head
manager Craig Bedell was doing his job correctly, how and what he should do now and in the
future, and finally as title says in which way a manager should take care of off-site team?
The first and main question is whether Allison and Penelope’s rift can be mended and
how? Allison and Penelope are already known to Craig due to past conflicts and
misunderstandings in job operations. They have been fighting about issues regarding trust and
false accusations, but it seemed that old bad times were behind them. After starting to work
for this new project, problems arose. According to the Penelope, these two had some issues
and Allison was “erratic”. Allison, on the other hand, openly states problems faced with
Penelope like misunderstanding in front of a client, false representation, behaving as team
leader, etc. Moreover, she said that she was not the only one with this opinion – whole team
was sharing her thinking. After receiving several email, Craig recognized the importance and
weight of this problem. Now it was a time to fix it.
Allison proposed in every letter to meet with Bedell and talk openly about mentioned
issues. Penelope also said that she just needs to speak with him about her, but rejected this
opportunity later with excuse that they managed to overcome it.
In my opinion there is a possibility of conciliation between them but I would be more
sure of such happening if I knew the bigger picture of the problem like what was really
happening in that team, whether the rest of the team was sharing same opinion like Allison,
or on which side they were.
If we look at this from more optimistic point of view, Allison was overreacting and
exaggerating about Penelope’s actions. The best option would be if they sit together and
openly talk about it. Maybe the Penelope would have excuses why she acted like this or her
intentions were in good faith, and this would just present a problem as consequence of bad
and decreased face-to-face communication. Additional option and must have would be if all
team members sat together or make a group video call, at least, once in a week. Chances of
misunderstandings, argues, and lowered productivity would be shortened.
From more pessimistic point of view, Allison would have full right and honest about
past happenings. This would not be a product of her embellishment yet Penelope’s bad
behavior and selfishness. She was probably acting as a team leader or supervisor, demanded
more responsibility on her own, and made untrue allegations about Allison and rest of the
team. According to Allison, she was even blackmailing her and threaten by lowering my
bonuses. If this was really happening, problem was deep and serious, and there was not so
much to do. Craig should had meeting with them long time ago to talk about these issues and
see what was really happening. There was only one way of making this thing work out –
explaining Penelope that she was acting wrongfully and her recognition of all wrong acts and
necessity of better and ethical actions. If she really becomes aware that she was hurting her
colleagues and making team collapse possible, then this conflict could be resolved. So there is
a chance, but without Penelope’s realization and admission of bad acts, situation would be
helpless. There is another way – Penelope’s leaving the team and making her an ultimatum of
either helping herself and changing or leaving the firm. Sometimes, the need of having ethical
worker is more important than having good expert.
I share opinions of case commentators. Just like them, I realized that there are bigger
problems like is off-site team good choice and whether Bedell was doing his job properly. Egan
said that nothing can replace face to face communication, and that offsite team must be
dependent on electronic communications. Chances of having problems are much higher and
Craig should have reacted in different way – make a meeting right away, make team members’
actions limited and try to fix things by making someone a team leader, and track the whole
team more intensively and promptly. I share Egan’s opinion because Bedell was really showing
bad managerial decision and was unaware of possible outcomes.
Miles highlighted the idea of a group meeting because there is a big issue behind whole
this story. Offsite team has been established but not the rules of operating, tracking behavior,
productivity, and interrelationships. Occasional meetings would be helpful since everyone
could share their opinions and concerns.
Birstler brings a new idea of reassessing the need of having off-site team, even finding
a new way of team functioning, to identify strengths and weaknesses of such team, and
searching for better communicators. I share this opinion because there is a lack of
commitment by Craig and the rest of the team. This was something new for them and only by
looking for new solutions.
Klayton Mi payed more attention to Craig Bedell’s reactions and behavior. I think that
she has a right when she says that Bedell must change, speak openly with its employees and
meet them in face, appoint team leader, and go through training and educational processes
to become better head division manager.
Finally, I think that all opinion shared by these commentators are true and justified.
When looking at bigger picture everyone must change and commit themselves more if they
want to have a successful project. Craig definitely must get managerial education and tips,
team members should speak more openly, and not to retain their opinions and issues for
themselves, try to find a common language and interact among themselves by using more
telephone and video calls. Craig should appoint more meetings, speak with them more often
and investigate and ask what was happening between them and with project.
The success of each project is depending on communication and awareness of team
spirit. When people communicate correctly and openly there are less chances of problems
and issues. In that way, everyone could learn something about others and themselves. Craig
Bedell could had a biggest inspiration from them, but their overall complex relation and
communication interfered. Hopefully, their following actions and decisions would bring
brighter future.