Interpersonal Dynamics

Teams: Red Square & Maniacs

Team assignment on case analysis of Bob Knowlton

1. Identify the various factors that is contributing to the interpersonal dynamics between Knowlton and Fester in their team.

Bob Knowlton

- Felt that his leadership was at stake because a) Jerrold was extremely impressed with Fester and also was expressing that openly with the team b) Fester was very sharp and competent and had solved some old problems c) He felt that Fester was slowly taking over leadership informal control of the team

- Unable to discuss his opinions/feelings/conflicts with Jerrold and teammates a) although Jerrold and Bob share an open relationship, Bob has not indicated to Jerrold that he is having a problem. Because of this Jerrold also does not have a hint what is going on in Bob’s mind b) Bob should have communicated to Fester his roles and responsibilities while he was working in Bob’s team c) ?

- Reiterating the research lab’s and the team’s way of functioning when Fester confronted the team with his own philosophy of research. As a result of this Bob may have lost some self-esteem and the respect of his team members.

- In the face of Fester’s brilliance and challenge to his leadership, Bob did not respond in the manner in which the leader of the team should have done inability to exercise authority and control when parity in team is disturbed. As a result his self-confidence in his capabilities reduced.

Fester

- In the first meeting with Bob, he tried to over project himself. As a result of this he ended up making Bob uncomfortable. The first impression that Fester created on Bob was that of discomfort and annoyance.

- He was judgmental about people

- Very confident about himself and his ideas. Aggressive in his approach to solve a problem and well as put forth his ideas.

- He is rude to people sometimes he thinks are of lesser competence

- Fester thinks that Davenport and Oliver are not competent and he has expressed this to Jerrold. This is creating some division in the team and teamwork is getting affected.

- Challenging the conventional way of problem solving in the lab leading to dispute in the team about fester

- Fester created a perception of himself as a individualist and not a team player