Bob Knowlton Case

Case Analysis on Bob Knowlton

There are various factors that are contributing to the interpersonal dynamics between Knowlton and Fester in their team. Bob Knowlton is a photon unit project head in charge of team. However, one day Bob felt that his leadership was at stake because a new brilliant scientist, Fester, was hired into the Simmons Laboratories and placed in Bob Knowlton’s work group. Fester demonstrated that his skills as a photon manager were, perhaps better than Bob’s. Jerrold, Bob and Fester’s boss, was extremely impressed with Fester and also was expressing that openly with the team. This made Bob feel intimidated that Fester was very sharp and competent and had solved some old problems, which were considered unsolvable by his team. He felt that Fester was slowly taking over leadership informal control of the team. As a result of this Bob may have lost some self-esteem and the respect of his team members. Bob Knowlton’s problem was that he was unable to discuss his opinions, feelings and conflicts with his boss Jerrold and teammates. Although Jerrold and Bob shared an open relationship, Bob did not indicate to Jerrold that he was having a problem and felt threatened by Fester’s brilliance and challenge to his leadership. Because of this Jerrold did not have a clue what was going on in Bob’s mind. Bob did not respond in the manner in which the leader of the team should have done. This demonstrated Bob’s inability to exercise authority and control when parity in team is disturbed. As a result his self-confidence in his capabilities reduced. Instead, Bob decided to quit his job as photon manager and left the lab, giving Jerrold a false explanation. The If Bob would have communicated his thoughts to Jerrold, he would have found out that Fester was being assigned to a different project and not there to take over his job. But lack of communication skills lead Bob to making the wrong decision, which affected the lab by leaving teammates