Joe Jordon works in a large
pharmaceutical company that manufactures antiretroviral drugs. The Research and
Development (R&D) sector has been studying the possibility of treating AIDS
by creating a suitable drug cocktail to eradicate the Human immunodeficiency
virus, HIV. The company is a private enterprise which relies solely on its sales
for revenue and does not receive any monetary endorsement from the government. Joe
is an introverted, soft-spoken research assistance who works in the R&D
laboratory. Though he is satisfied with his life as it is, he sometimes feels
frustrated that he is not able to assert himself and prove his worth to the people
around him.
Owing to the fact that Joe is very
meticulous and observant, he begins to realize that for every division of the
R&D laboratory, different types of lab coats and disposable gloves are
used. For instance, while the members of the virus-research team wear coats
with metal buttons while the scientists in the drug-research team wear coats
with plastic buttons. The only difference between these two types of coats is the price, as the buttons do not make a difference in the effectiveness
of the coat. The gloves used are also different. Some use latex gloves while
others use gloves made of vinyl or nitrile. The gloves also do not vary in
effectiveness. Furthermore, Joe finds out that most people were using different
lab coat and glove suppliers. The same lab coat that costs $10 from one
supplier could cost $24.50 from another supplier!
Joe performs a few calculations and reaches
the conclusion that the company could save up to $2 million over the next five
years by simply ordering the cheaper lab coats and gloves across all the divisions in the company. One day, Joe manages to set up a meeting the head of the R&D
department, detailing the amount of money the company has spent over the last
10 years on different types of lab coats and gloves. He includes pie-charts and
diagrams and refers continuously to the company’s annual reports for each
fiscal year. To top it all off, he provides list of cost-cutting protocols that
he thinks the company should employ.
Unfortunately, the head of the R&D
department, Mr Martin Mule, remains unconvinced, and tells Joe straight out that
he is unwilling to take such measures as he does not wholeheartedly understand
and believe in its results. Mr. Mule says that the company has been bringing in
a steady profit over the past decade and hence he doesn’t see the point in
spending time and effort in something so insignificant. He brushes off Joe’s remonstration
as pedantic, and tells him focus on his work and not be concerned about such
peripheral issues.
Joe is now sitting alone on a bar-stool pondering
over his next move. He remains 100% convinced that if he were to successfully transform
the company’s poor purchasing habits, he could make a very big difference, and
maybe one day would finally be given due recognition and acknowledgement for
being a competent member of the company. The task now would be to convince his
boss, who has a different set of beliefs, to set the wheels in motion.
How do you think Joe should go about
convincing his boss to change his mindset? Keep in mind he has already made one
attempt, which went awry.
Hi Tanisha,
ReplyDeleteI think Joe should have approached the finance department in the first place since his contribution was about cost saving. Being in-charged of the company’s finances, the finance department would probably be more interested (than the R&D department) in Joe’s ideas. The finance department would also be in a better position to advice Mr Martin about measures to cut unnecessary cost; another option could be to set a lower budget for the R&D department.
Anyway, since Joe has already approached his head of department (HOD), it would not be nice for him to approach the finance department now. Joe, at this juncture, could try to empathize with and find out why his HOD is so reluctant to adopt his suggestions. He could also try to convince his HOD by telling a story about the value of thriftiness.
Hi Joel
DeleteThank you for your comments! Yes I agree, Joe approached the wrong person about the problem. As you suggested, he should approach the finance department as the problem is more related to them than it is to the R&D dept.
Thank you! :)
Tanisha
Hello Tanisha!
ReplyDeleteWow that was really some sharp observations of a R&D employee! I probably wouldn't have noticed the differences in buttons and gloves.
Given that Joe has tried and failed in the persuasion of his superiors to review their spending strategies, may I suggest the soft approach? It seems that Joe had single-handedly conducted the relevant research and financial costs incurred with the lab coat and gloves spending. His superiors may have rejected his idea firstly due to the triviality of his issue (or so it seems) as well as the lack of consensus among the employees.
Joe can try to engage the staff with his ideas, with his target audience the employees that are currently donning the more expensive clothing. He can consider collating their opinions and informing them of the savings that could go a long way or even be invested in more research and/or welfare benefits of the staff perhaps?
As for the re-submission of his proposal to his superiors, I would suggest that he presents his ideas with another staff member so as to reduce any pre-existing tension and impression the superiors may have passed on him.
Hi Pamela!
DeleteHaha I'm actually surprised you don't find the story familiar! Did you read "Switch" as recommended by a certain professor?
I like your approach about trying to convince the staff. However, I think telling them that the savings could go into welfare benefits for them can be quite dangerous haha. They thus would be cutting back on their costs solely for their own personal benefit and not because they want to help the company lower its expenses.
Thank you for your response! :)
Tanisha
Tanisha,
ReplyDeleteJoe might want to consider making better use of his time finding better ways to eliminate HIV? That is a better way isn't that so, more in line with the boss's vision for the company. The boss is right, the dress issues are really insignificant.
However if Joe wants to pursue the matter, don't! Rather I suggest he waits on the opportunity to present itself! Joe has already planted the seed of idea of the dress issue in the boss's mind, that's all that matters! Doesn't mean if the proposal is not selected or implemented it is a terrible idea. Rather it is just not ripe time yet! Make sense?
A person who got rejected in some business plan, proposal, or in any area or point in life didn't get rejected completely because the something he did or some idea/solution was bad; rather the when, why and how he did it, under what sorts of circumstances something was undertaken, that caused the rejection! Make sense?
Joe will get his chance again, but not now, certainly not. He will know, the boss will know, when the time is ripe to implement the dress plan, either due to something suggestive that happens in the company itself, or perhaps some other external factors outside the control of the company, many things.
Great work!
Also Tanisha,
ReplyDeleteMany things in life aren't always only a matter of getting things done to mean success in any way. No! Sometimes, it is a matter of simply suggesting how and why things should be done in what ways! That's all that matters. To sow the seeds of human progress through our inquiries! Then others will come along and take those inquiries further and make better suggestions, fine-tuning, and yet others will come along to finally implement the suggestions. Make sense?
It's fine, perfectly fine that Joe gets rejected, I like it that way, the boss as well. Consider that Benjamin Franklin wouldn't have pursue the idea of transport of electricity if nobody suggested/mastered heat transportation/transfer! The whole planet works on suggestions, one after another. Laptop computers would not have existed if nobody started first suggesting that they couldn't take home office work, and the laptops don't get build instantly, the ideas incubates year upon year, until Steve and Bill Gates would act upon it. Voila! Out comes laptop computers. Make sense?
Be patient Joe.
hello Tanisha. i like how the whole story springs from a very simple a-ha moment. i wonder how you came up with the story but i think it's quite ingenious. so..regular joe wants to take the expresso lane into millionaire joe lol. well, to be honest, i feel joe fights a good case but i think there are 2 main problems: 1) it is not entailed in Mr stubborn-as-a-mule's job description to hear joe talk about cost-savings (so he doesn't have to listen to joe and brushes him off without much consideration) and/or 2) it is not part of joe's job description to talk about cost-savings (joe's a research assistant, not a logistics rep. his arguments, however convincing, fall on deaf ears because he has no officially recognized expertise to back up)i think this depicts how communication can be doomed from the start if the wrong parties are involved. you need to have everything in place to engage the right parties.
ReplyDeletethat in mind, i would suggest joe to either find the right person to approach, e.g. the logistics department and since it is their job to strive to cut costs, they should be convinced enough to at least look into it. alternatively, you can rope in a friend from the logistics department who agrees with you to talk with your department head to show that your argument holds water. as this will then become a joint effort between the logistics department and the R&D department, mr mule will probably feel pressured to look into it.
Hi Ariele!
DeleteThank you for your comments! Yes, I agree that communication can and will be doomed from the start if the wrong parties are involved. That being said, having the right parties involved does not necessarily mean success! Hence even if Joe had approached someone from the finance/logistics department, he may still not be able to convince them to make a change as he may not be able to strike the right cord with them.
Thank you! :)
Tanisha
Hi Tanisha! Your story sustained my interest very well as it was descriptive yet clear;) Regarding your question, I second what Pamela says about how Joe should also consult his colleagues for their opinions/agreement since his suggestions will inevitably affect them if they are accepted. Hmm,I was wondering if his colleagues saw the different features on their lab coats and gloves as status symbols? Haha! Anyway, I think once he has convinced his colleagues that this move is essential and has garnered their support to ‘petition' for this cause, Joe’s boss will see Joe's suggestions as coming from his collective staff rather than from Joe alone. This should give Joe’s boss enough reason to implement the change. Thanks for the workplace example, it made me think of my near future haha!
ReplyDeleteHi Ximin!
DeleteHaha I guess using lab coats could pass off as status symbols? After all, clothes maketh the man right? ;) Yes I agree that Joe's boss may be more willing to change his mind if Joe manages to convince his colleagues about the matter. I'm glad you liked the post!
Thank you for your comments! :)
Tanisha
Thanks, Tanisha, for articulating so well this fascinating short story. You weave your tale of company intrigue like an insider from the company, and you set the stage for the conflict with a fine description of Joe and his keen observations.
ReplyDeleteMartin Mule? What an appropriate name! I also really appreciate your description of the way Mule has rebuffed Joe.
But what really makes this story work is the way you bring us to Joe on his bar stool, trying to figure out just what he needs to do to communicate his ideas most effectively and save his company the cash. What a great approach to the assignment!
Just a few very minor language issues:
1) assistance >>> assistant
2) For instance, while the members of the virus-research team wear coats with metal buttons while the scientists in the drug-research team wear coats with plastic buttons. >>> For instance, while members of the virus-research team wear coats with metal buttons, scientists in the drug-research team wear coats with plastic buttons.
3) Furthermore, Joe finds out that most people were using different lab coat and glove suppliers. >>> Furthermore, Joe finds out that most people are using different lab coat and glove suppliers. (verb tense consistency)
In any case, this is a very fine effort, and an enjoyable read!
Hi Brad!
DeleteThank you for your kind comments. I had great fun writing this post! :) I'm glad you like the name Martin Mule (it was a toss-up between Mule and Donkey haha)
I have taken note of my grammatical and spelling errors and will take special care not to repeat them.
Thank you, Brad!
Tanisha