Amer
AMER ELECTRONICS COMPANY
Amer Electronics Company produces electronic process controls for industry. The high reliability required for this controls, each designed for a specific customer, requires the production department to work closely with the test section of the quality control department, which determines if the product meets customer specifications. For one important order it was necessary for a production representative to work in the quality control department with the chief test engineer, Ashok. Charles Able, the manager of production, assigned James, one of his capable assistants, to this job. James had worked with Able for yeas and was well acquainted with this equipment order, since he had coordinated its production for Able.
A week after began working with Ashok he reported to Able that he was having difficulty with Ashok and that Ashok seemed to resent his presence in the test section. Able agreed that a crisis situation might be developing and said that he would visit the test section and attempt to talk with Ashok. When Able visited the test section, Ashok immediately started complaining about James. He said that James undermined Ashok’s authority by giving testers instruction that were at variance with Ashok’s. He claimed that James even contradicted him in front of the testers. After a number of other complaints he asked Able to remove James from the test section and send a substitute. Ashok even threatened that if Able did not remove James, Ashok would “go over his head” to have James removed. Able listened and asked questions, but made no judgments or promises.
James apparently saw Able talking to Ashok, so before Able left the test section James approached him with the comment, “well, I guess Ashok has been telling you a tale of woe about me.” Able acknowledged that Ashok had complained but he omitted mentioning Ashok’s threat to have James transferred. “That’s Ashok, all right,” said James. “He can’t stand to have anyone try to
Amer Electronics Company produces electronic process controls for industry. The high reliability required for this controls, each designed for a specific customer, requires the production department to work closely with the test section of the quality control department, which determines if the product meets customer specifications. For one important order it was necessary for a production representative to work in the quality control department with the chief test engineer, Ashok. Charles Able, the manager of production, assigned James, one of his capable assistants, to this job. James had worked with Able for yeas and was well acquainted with this equipment order, since he had coordinated its production for Able.
A week after began working with Ashok he reported to Able that he was having difficulty with Ashok and that Ashok seemed to resent his presence in the test section. Able agreed that a crisis situation might be developing and said that he would visit the test section and attempt to talk with Ashok. When Able visited the test section, Ashok immediately started complaining about James. He said that James undermined Ashok’s authority by giving testers instruction that were at variance with Ashok’s. He claimed that James even contradicted him in front of the testers. After a number of other complaints he asked Able to remove James from the test section and send a substitute. Ashok even threatened that if Able did not remove James, Ashok would “go over his head” to have James removed. Able listened and asked questions, but made no judgments or promises.
James apparently saw Able talking to Ashok, so before Able left the test section James approached him with the comment, “well, I guess Ashok has been telling you a tale of woe about me.” Able acknowledged that Ashok had complained but he omitted mentioning Ashok’s threat to have James transferred. “That’s Ashok, all right,” said James. “He can’t stand to have anyone try to