Module 2 Workplace Challenge

THE BUSY MONDAY

Musa supervises six employees in a growing logistics company.

At 9:00 a.m., he gives Fatima three instructions:

“Check the delayed deliveries, call the important customers and update the report.”

He gives no deadline.

At 10:30 a.m., the business owner tells Fatima:

“Stop what you’re doing and prepare these shipping documents immediately.”

Musa does not know about the owner’s instruction.

At noon, Musa becomes angry because the customer calls were not completed.

He says:

“Why can’t you people use initiative?”

Consider:

1. What was unclear in Musa’s original instruction? 2. What priorities should have been established? 3. What should Fatima have done when the owner gave a conflicting instruction? 4. What should Musa do before blaming Fatima? 5. What could the organization do to reduce this type of conflict?

GUIDED RESPONSE

Musa should have clarified:

• which delayed deliveries mattered most
• which customers needed contact
• what the report should contain
• what needed to happen first
• when each item was due

When Fatima received a conflicting instruction from the owner, she should have raised the priority conflict where reasonably possible.

Before criticizing her, Musa should find out what happened.

The organization may also need a clearer process for communicating priority changes between supervisors and senior management.