Peter Lee, Operations Manager, and Jan Nelson, Maintenance Manager, both report to Harry Hart, General Manager of Turbo Chemicals. Peter and Jan are about the same age, are well-educated, and have extensive experience in their respective fields. It would be expected that these two individuals would complement each other and be the answer to every general manager’s prayer. Unfortunately, that is not the case. For some reason, Peter and Jan find it necessary to challenge each other’s decisions and ideas any time they have a mutual problem to solve, and they argue constantly in staff meetings. Recently, Jan began to talk to peers in an effort to get them on her side. Peter learned of this and went to Harry Hart and demanded that he call Jan in and tell her to stop. Peter didn’t realize Harry Hart was aware of what was happening. Nor did he know Harry had just learned that Peter had deliberately changed a unit turnaround schedule so that it would fall during a period when the maintenance department already had a peak workload. The matter has been further complicated by the fact that the employees of the two managers have taken sides and joined the fray. Productive work has come to a standstill.
1. What are the ethics involved in this case?
2. How would you proceed if you were Harry Hart?