HR Case Study - What mistakes did Diego make in the way he behaved during his 8 months at Innovaciones Metalurgicas

Third, Diego did not invest himself in an effort to do self-assessment. He acquired nothing from the feedback of his boss and colleagues. He should have analyzed what was wrong with his proposals and what his boss expected for the next proposal. Also, he could have asked those questions to his boss directly. Additionally, when Diego got feedback from his colleagues that he should be relaxed and enjoy life, he was upset with them. However, Diego needed to understand that “being relaxed and enjoying life” is the way people work well in this organization. He had to pick up the real meaning of the feedback.

Fourth, Diego had too high expectation of Gloria. He expected her to understand his “effort”, and provide solutions for his proposals. Due to his excessive expectation, he easily felt irritated and complained about Gloria’s management style, especially when Gloria gave only negative feedback to him. Diego should have understood that Gloria had already spent a lot of energy to involve her other subordinates and, spent precious time to analyze Diego’s proposals.  

Fifth, in general, bosses do not require brilliant ideas, but do require workable ones from their subordinates. It seems that Diego proposed several brilliant solutions, but they were unrealistic. Again, Diego neglected to make an effort to figure out whether his proposal was realistic and suitable to the organization by asking others’ opinions.

Finally, Diego failed to know Gloria’s preferred style, whether she would like to receive a proposal orally or in written form. If Gloria was a listener, Diego kept reporting in the wrong way. He should have at least asked Gloria directly or his colleagues about her preferred style.  

2. Define precisely the problems that he faces at the end of the case.

The most serious problem is that Diego became deeply discouraged in his job. Without any change in his current situation, he will continue to lose motivation in this environment. If this continues, he will not be happy with his job, and may begin to underperform at work. Ultimately, this could lead to a bad reputation; his possibly being fired and serious damage to his future career.  

The second problem is the relationship with his boss. After Diego received negative feedback from Gloria, he felt unsatisfied and became defensive with Gloria. His focus shifted from a desire to produce good workable proposals to winning and persuading his boss’s opinions. Gloria probably noticed Diego’s irritation which may have led to mistrust of Diego. Also, mistrust of Diego leads to mistrust of his proposals. Unless Diego changes his attitude toward Gloria, she will not be open or not cooperative with him. Diego needs to remember that Gloria is the only person who can fire him.          

The third problem is the relationship with his colleagues. His colleagues have negative impressions of Diego so far. His overworking makes his colleagues look lazy, and Diego never tried to socialize with them and instead worked until late at night. With lack of communication with his colleagues, it is likely that Diego would never make Gloria happy and never produce good proposals that would satisfy his boss.  

3. If you have indentified several problems, describe a maximum of 3 alternatives to handle each one of them and evaluate the pros and cons of each alternative?

First alternative to solve the above problems is to change his job. Pros and cons are below.

Pros:

・Diego would avoid Gloria and his colleagues who discourage his motivation, and would change his mind set and recover his motivation.

・There is an opportunity to acquire new skills and experience.

・He could make new professional connection.

Cons:

・It is not easy to change a job, especially if he chooses a consulting job, because he has spent only 8 months at Innovaciones Metalurgicas, and has not acquired enough skill yet as a consultant.

・There is high possibility to decrease his salary. It is easily assumed that his current salary is relatively high since he is an MBA holder, and it would be more difficult for Diego to engage in a satisfying job.

・He has to learn a new job and a new culture.

・The new culture might be a mismatch for Diego, again.

・Unless he changes his attitude toward to his boss and co-worker, he would face the same problem in a new company as that in his current situation.

 

Second alternative is to start to find and apply for a new internal position in a different department. Pros and cons are below.

Pros:

・Diego would continue to adapt to the culture and develop experience at the same company, even though he moves to another department.

・He would reduce the risk of decreasing his market value by avoiding a change of the company after such a short term.

・He would have a new boss.

・He could develop additional skills.

Con:

・He has to spend much energy to sneak behind Gloria's back and to find an internal new position. He might not be able to concentrate on his work and underperform.

・If Gloria realizes his attempt, the relationship between Diego and Gloria will worsen.

・Even if he would avoid Gloria and his colleagues by moving to another department, Diego’s previous reputation would follow him to the new department.

・ The new environment might be mismatch for Diego, again.

・ He might repeat the same mistake in a new department and, therefore his situation never changes. 

・There is low possibility that he could move to the new department, since he spent only 8 months in his current department.

Third alternative is to stay at same department, but to talk to his boss about his current situation, and to change his attitude about his boss and co-workers.

Pros:

・Diego would avoid decreasing his market value. If he continues to develop experience at the current organization, his market value will be even higher in the future.

・He could learn greater consulting skills and persuasion skill with excellent arguments from Gloria.

・He already knows people in the organization and how to work to some extent.

・Diego would understand Gloria’s working style and realize his mistakes and his next step by talking with her.

・Diego could improve his work efficiency to socialize with his co-workers.

Cons:

・Gloria might be upset if she knows Diego is not happy with his job. But, Gloria already notices his irritation, so it would not be likely to be upsetting.  However, she will be dissatisfied with his late action, not talking about his complaint for 8 months.

・It might not be very easy for Diego to change his attitude and takes time to do.

・He could keep losing motivation and get fired if the situation never changes.

4. Finally given your diagnosis of the problems he faces and you analysis of the potential alternatives to handle them, what would you recommend Diego to do? And why?

My final recommendation is to stay at the same department, but to talk to his boss about his current situation, and to make every effort to change his attitude about work environment. Diego should start networking and socialize more with his colleagues to improve relationships with his boss and colleagues.  

The risks for leaving this company are significant. It is difficult to change his job, and he needs to adapt to new circumstances well. Most importantly, he could just change his job, but could not change his working style.

Finding a new internal position does not seem realistic. Even though Diego could move to a new department, again, he would repeat same mistakes unless he changes his working style.

The greatest risk is that he would never learn to adapt to his working environment. In order to be successful and satisfied professional, it is the time for him to change his attitude toward his boss and co-workers.

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