The problem within this company is communication. The company has a policy where they allow supervisors to free reign in decision making. Issues come about because both sets of supervisors have equal power but at different times, over a different set of staff and so they are unable to communicate on issues that come up and how all four of them can agree to solve it. Communication issues are also connected to their individual legitimate power. Mr. Finder has also been receiving grievances files by subordinate staff through the union because of alcohol and drug abuse by the supervisors on the night shift. Communication issue have caused him to find out these problems from an outside source rather than internally.

Patrick Finders company has the a “can-do” attitude where they encourage supervisors to make decisions. This is an excellent strategy for some companies but it doesn’t work for all. There are four supervisors, two on the day shift and two on the night shift. It is obvious that the supervisors don’t communicate because of the constant conflict in the hand over meetings. The supervisors have power on their own shifts, over their own staff and so they don’t see that they “share” this power with the two others in the opposite shift. This is where the conflict comes from. Through this power, the two supervisors on the night shift have begun to drink and do drugs on company compound and the subordinate staff don’t seem to be able to do anything about it. It is possibly because they don’t feel that there is anyone to talk to about it besides the union. If complaints are filed through the union and this is how Patrick Finder hears of such grievances, then this means subordinates don’t have the opportunity or they don’t feel comfortable going to Patrick Finder himself. Their supervisors are the ones they have to report to and if they have issues with their own