You are the HR Director in a company and are tasked with dealing with a conflict between two colleagues in Accounts, Rose Atkins and Peter Smythe. Your task today is to write a report in around 400 words for the Senior Management Team (SMT) explaining why you want to move Peter to another team. Up until now the SMT know nothing of this issue. You have been making notes on the problem since it began (see below) as you thought you might have to take action and write a report to the SMT at some point. You are free to use your imagination to embellish and pad out the background, i.e. type of company, further character traits, things said and done, personal opinions, etc. How you structure the report is up to you however you may want to include an Introduction, Background, Action taken so far, Conclusion and Recommendations. Notes Accounts dept.- ongoing problems Conflict in Accounts- Team Leader, Rose Atkins vs. 1 team member, Peter Smythe Began when Peter got job (was external candidate) in August. Getting worse. Rose never wanted Pete- wanted Olivia (internal candidate, possibly friend) Rose prepares monthly reports, needs figures from Peter to do this. Peter always slow, gives them her at last minute. Tf Sometimes Rose’s reports are late. 2 weeks ago, open argument between R&P in office, raised voices. R said couldn’t do work if P always late with figures. P said R sets unrealistic deadlines and to ‘chill out and loosen up a little’. Lots of tension in office. 1 week ago, Rose came to see me, wants action. R worried her late reports make her look bad, damage reputation, affect chances of promotion. Conclusion. R&P have personality- based conflict. R is task-oriented, ambitious. P relaxed, always joking with colleagues. Am unsure if can achieve solution by talking with them considering the amount of conflict and tension, can’t see how they can continue to work together. Recommendations. Move P to another position in Accounts with different team leader, will need to explain this to him … and why. Give P another chance. R, maybe assertiveness training?
