Audit Team

The purpose of the case study is to analyze the conflict and to lead and coach the individuals into a creative resolution. It is considerable to discover the problem, identify difficult behaviors and potential problems, generate possible solutions, evaluate all the solutions, develop a plan for the individuals involved that details how to implement a solution, and assess the likely success of such a plan.

The situation has one serious problem. It is that Carole will not be able to be an informal leader because of one considerable reason –members of the audition team will not recognize her. Carole has lost her authority, as she behaved incorrectly in the incident with Rudy. On the one hand, she had to inform him about the departure time. On the other hand, she had to introduce her leadership after Rudy had not come. In the incident at a meeting of the State Bank Regulatory Board, Carole had to challenge the Board member. She had to do so, as the problem could undermine the competence of their audit team. Everybody can see that Don is more suitable to be the informal leader than Carol. Carol made some mistakes or exhausted herself, so she should concede the team decision.

Of course, it is difficult for Carol to work in the audit team as an ordinary member after she has been the informal leader. If she still wants to work in the team, Carol should resign herself to the changes and should not show her displeasure. Moreover, she has to comply with the new leader – Don. The potential problems can appear in that Carol will not obey Don, and the audit team will work inconsistently. Such situation can cause a division of the group into two parts. This fact can make a bad influence on the success and results of the team.

Speaking about Tyler, Alicia, and Rudy, it is consequential to remember their role and interests in the problem. As Tyler tried to defend Carol, he could have no interests in the situation. However, he has no influence to prevent the leader change. He will be able to support Carol’s ideas after Don becomes the leader. Alicia and Rudy did not say anything to protect Carol. Rudy could be annoyed that she did not inform him about the time of departure. He thought Carol was irresponsible to continue being the leader. Alicia understood that as Carol is the informal leader, she is in the center of attention. Carol is the only woman except Alicia in the audit team, so Alicia had lack of care from the powerful part of the society.

The possible solutions are in the following: removing Carol to the other department or dismiss her if Carol hinders the effective work. She should decide what to do. Obviously, Carol will not be satisfied with Don’s leadership, but she should restrain her emotions. These solutions are a little negative, so it is important to introduce the third – Carol should resign herself to the present circumstances.

The first solution is good neither for Carol nor for the head office. It will be hard to adapt to the new working conditions and collective. The head office will lose a good well-qualified member of the audit team. Nobody can guarantee that a new person will fit for the audit team. Therefore, the bad influence manifests for all partners. The second solution about standing off Carol will be worse for her. She will stay without any work. The head office will also lose a good worker as in the first solution. The evaluation of these two solutions introduces that it is better to follow the third one, not to show any disagree with Don, and save work.

Carol should understand that she is not a leader and comply with the new one. The best way is to be friendly with the audit team despite they did not support her before. The other members of the group should forget Carol’s mistakes. The plan will be successful if members of the audit team follow it.

As the “coach” in bringing resolution to the table, I would make Don a leader because he has all features and opportunities to become one. I would not let Carol still be the leader because Don would overshadow her. Don would impress everyone by his thoughts and ambitions. He would not be able to hide his ideas. Carol should understand that she has not enough leader features as opposed to Don.