1. The main Organizational Behavior problem in “The Overhead Reduction Task Force” case is in creating a leading an effective team, specifically “Office of the President” team. Williams is fretting nervously and rightly so. Our take on the situation is that Dixon just “threw him under the bus”, by putting him in charge of the team and leaving for much needed two weeks vacations after being on the job for one week.
2. Dixon did not do a best possible job in setting up an effective team. An essential elements required for a team to be successful is missing. By focusing on the goal of reducing expenses, instead of focusing on the goal of improving financial standing of the division, she made it very hard for Williams to get everyone aligned.
He should also remind the team about positive aspect of the situation. For example the fact that sales rose from $5 million before the acquisition to over $50 million.
Williams needs to gain a technical know-how. “Technical know-how is a framework of understanding through which to identify and analyze key work of understanding through which to identify and analyze key issues related to the team's objective. “ (2). In this case it means to gain better understanding of overall state of business beyond spreadsheets and numbers. “A team leader who doesn't sufficiently understand the "content" can easily produce frustration on the part of team members” (2) Williams needs to gain an understanding on profitability of all product lines, an accurate insight into expenses of every department and the factors which are preventing revenues from going higher.
In order to conduct an effective meeting with division managers Williams must demand and reward an ongoing collaboration between all managers. As outlined above, the potential for friction between managers does exist and one-on-one meetings between managers prior to team meeting are unlikely to resolve them all. Wilson needs to manage potential conflicts by * Keeping his team focused on the facts, which are the facts that company profits are shrinking, competitors are taking away market share and expenses are growing. * Thinking about other