moss and mcadams accounting firm case study pages 82 -85 from our text book, project management by...
TRANSCRIPT
Moss and McAdams Accounting Firm
Case Study pages 82 -85 from our Text book, Project Management
by Clifford F. Gray and Erik W. Larson
Moss and McAdams Accounting Firm
• Moss and McAdams Accounting Firm “was a well-established regional accounting firm with 160 employees located across six offices in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The main office where [Bruce] Palmer worked, was in Green Bay, Wisconsin.” (Gray, pg.82-83)
Moss and McAdams Accounting Firm
• This case study deals with two projects handled by their main office in Green Bay Wisconsin. Their office manager Ruby Sands is responsible for assigning project team leaders and team members.
Moss and McAdams Accounting Firm
• Mr. Palmer was able to select his team for the Johnsonville Trucks Audit project; he was pleased with the five accountants assigned to his team; most notably was Zeke Olds, an Army vet, known for coming up with innovated solutions to problems.
Moss and McAdams Accounting Firm
• Mr. Olds is well liked and his talents were sought after at the firm.
• Additionally, Moss and McAdams had just hired Ken Crosby, an accountant with nine years experience, hired to manage the special consulting project (Springfield Metal Project ). Mr. Crosby wants Mr. Olds on his team.
Moss and McAdams Accounting Firm
• Rudy Sands was the office manager in the Green Bay office responsible for assigning personnel to different accounts. The problem occurred when Ms. Sands assigned Mr. Olds to split time on both teams; I assume she had no way of knowing this would have gone so poorly. However, I believe this is her fault or at least her place to ensure this does not happen again in the future at the Green Bay office or anywhere within Moss and McAdams again.
Moss and McAdams, Structure
Moss and McAdams Accounting Firm
Main Office in Green Bay
5 Other Offices Across
WI & MN
Ruby Sands, Office Manager
Bruce Palmer, Team Lead Ken Crosby, Team Lead Other Team Leads…
Zeke Olds, Team Member
Zeke Olds, Team Member Other Team Members
Other Team Members Other Team Members
Moss and McAdams, Risk Analysis
• From what I can see, the problem occurred once two project managers, Palmer and Crosby wanted to both use Olds splitting time between the two projects. After a short while Olds splitting time between both projects was hurting Olds family life and causing problems on Palmer’s project.
• Ms. Sands is the office manager and responsible for who manages the team and who will be on the teams. Ultimately, she is responsible for the break down in team performance.
Moss and McAdams, Risk Analysis Risk Event Likelihood Impact Detection
DifficultyWhen
Johnsonville Audit Failure
3 7 3 Throughout the Project
Springfield Metal Project Failure
2 8 2 Throughout the Project
Bruce Palmer Looking Bad
4 6 4 Early in His New Position
Ruby Sands Looking Bad
1 9 5 Anytime
Zeke Olds Looking Bad
2 8 1 Early in His New Career
Ken Crosby Looking Bad
4 3 4 Early in His New Company
Moss and McAdams, Risk Analysis Risk Event Response Contingency
PlanTrigger Who is
Responsible?
Johnsonville Audit Failure
Replace Mr. Olds
Do Without Mr. Olds Splitting Time on Two Teams
Ruby Sands and the Two Team Leaders
Springfield Metal Project Failure
Use Mr. Olds Replace Mr. Olds
Mr. Olds Splitting Time on Two Teams
Ruby Sands and the Two Team Leaders
Bruce Palmer Looking Bad
Learn From this Event
Mr. Olds Splitting Time on Two Teams
Ruby Sands
Ruby Sands Looking Bad
Learn From this Event
Change Office Policy
Mr. Olds Splitting Time on Two Teams
Ruby Sands and Company Policy
Zeke Olds Looking Bad
Learn From this Event
8 Mr. Olds Splitting Time on Two Teams
Ruby Sands and the Two Team Leads
Ken Crosby Looking Bad
Learn From this Event
3 Mr. Olds Splitting Time on Two Teams
Ruby Sands
Moss and McAdams Accounting Firm
• Ms. Sands failed to support “what leaders and team members need to understand about emotions: people need to be valued, people need to feel a sense of belonging ,people need a realistic and hopeful future, and people need basic organization in their lives.” (O'Connor, 2009).
Moss and McAdams Accounting Firm
• Aside from Ms. Sandy’s failure additionally, Mr. Crosby was not willing to work fairly with Mr. Palmer; he did build an efficient team but at Mr. Palmer’s expense. He broke promises and did little to build building social capital with Mr. Palmer in fact he did just the opposite.
Moss and McAdams Accounting Firm
• Finally, Ms. Sands, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Crosby all failed Mr. Olds as he struggled to balance both project teams and his family life. He was the one in the end who elevated the issues to Ms. Sands; it seems strange to me that with the office manager and two team leaders involved one of them should have been able to make the difficult decision without Mr. Olds forcing Ms. Sands to make the choice.
References
• Gray, C. F., & Larson, E. W. (2008). Project Management (4th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
• O'Connor, K. R. (2009, October 8). Emotional Rescue. Retrieved October 14, 2009,
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