Multi projects, Inc. is a well established consulting firm with 400 employees.

It has many
projects going on at the same time for various clients. It has a good reputation, and nearly
30% of its business is from previous clients. It targets growing companies for future business
and has been successful in this area, too. Because of the growth things have been quite
hectic, with employees trying to keep up with the work, keep old clients satisfied, and bend
over backward to accommodate new clients. Multi Projects has been hiring new employees-in
fact, it has grown from 300 to 400 employees over the past two years.

Multi Projects has a matrix organization structure. As new projects come in, a project manager
is assigned. One project manager may be assigned to several projects at one time, depending
on the sizes of the projects. Projects range in value from $20000 to $ 1 million and can be
from one month to two years in duration. Most projects are about six months in duration and
worth about $60000 to $80000. The firm performs a range of consulting services, including
market research, manufacturing system design, and executive recruiting. Its clients are
medium to large corporations and include banks, manufacturers, and government agencies.

Multi Projects just got a call from Growin Corporation, which wants to go forward with a project
that Multi Projects proposed nearly six months ago. Partners at Multi Projects are surprised by
the good news,, They had thought the project was dead. Theyre also very interested in
carrying out a first roject for Growin Corporation because its a rapidly growing company. Multi
Projects sees an opportunity to do several projects with Growin Corporation in the future.

Jeff Armstrong has been assigned as project manager for the Growin Corporation project. He
has been with Multi Projects for about a year and has been anxious to get a challenging
project to manage. He worked on the proposal for the Growin project.

Tyler Bonilla is a senior systems engineer. He has been with Multi projects eight years. He has
an excellent reputation, and previous clients with whom he has worked usually request that he
be assigned to their projects. He enjoys his work even though hes extremely busy. He is
currently working full-time on a project for Gooodold Company, a previous client. Goodold said
that one of the reasons it does business with Multi Projects, rathe than with another consulting
firm, is the great work Tyler does on their projects.

Jennifer Fernandex is the manager of systems engineering. She has been with Multi Projects
about 15 years. Tyler reports to Jennifer, but because of his heavy workload and associated
travel he doesnt get to see Jennifer very often, other than at her monthly staff meetings.

Julie Capriol is the project manager for the Goodold Company project. She has been with Multi
Projects about two years. Tyler is assigned to her project full time. The project has a tight
schedule, and everyone is putting in extra hours. Julie feels a lot of pressure, but the she has a
good project team she relies heavily on Tyler. She has heard from a friend who used to work
with Jeff that Jeff is very ambitious and will do whatever it takes to make himself look good.
This hadnt been of concern to Julie because she and Jeff have separate projects and dont run
into each other very often.

The day Jeff is assigned to be project manager on the Growing Corporation project, he runs
into Tyler in the hallway. We got the Growing Project, he tells Tyler.
Great, responds Tyler.

Jeff continues, You know, one of the big reasons they gave the project to us rather than
another consulting firm is because we promised youd be the lead systems engineer on the
project, Tyler. They were impressed with you when we met with them to present our proposal.
When do you think you can start work on the project?

Unfortunately I cant. Im tied up on the Goodold project, and things are really hectic. Ill be
on that project for another four months. says Tyler.

No way! exclaims Jeff. This Growin project is too important to me I mean, to us. Ill take
care of it.

Youd better talk to Jennifer, Tyler tells him.

Jeff stops by Jennifers office. Shes busy, but he interrupts her. I gotta have Tyler Bonilla on
my Growin Project. He wants to work on it, but he said I should talk to you.

Thats impossible, says Jennifer. Hes assigned to Julie CapriolosGoodold project for the
next four months.

Julie? Whos she? Never mind. Ill find her and work it out. You probably have somebody else
you can assign to her project. Replies Jeff as he quickly bolts out of her office in search of
Julie.

Thats my decision, not yours or Jules! shouts Jennifer. But by that time Jeff is gone and
doesnt hear what she says.

Julie is meeting with her project team in the conference room. Jeff knocks on the door and
opens it. Is there a Julie in here? he asks.

Im Julie, she responds.

I need to talk to you ASAP. Its important. Oh, by the way, sorry for interrupting. Looking
toward Tyler, whos in the meeting, Jeff says. Hey, Tyler, catch you later. Buddy, after I talk
with Julie. Jeff then shuts the door and goes back to his office. Julie is noticeably disturbed at
the interruption.

After her meeting, Julie calls Jeff. This is Julie. What did you want to talk to me about that was
so urgent?

About reassigning Tyler to my project. Hes interested, and Ive already talked to Jennifer
about it. Answers Jeff.

Thats impossible, declares Julie. Hes critical to the Goodold project.

Sorry, says Jeff, but if the Growing project is successful, well get more business from them
than weevergot from the Goolold Company.

Its already after 6 oclock and I have to be out of town for a week, but Ill discuss this with
Jennifer as soon as I get back, snaps Julie.
Yeah, sure, whatever, responds Jeff.

The next day Jeff calls a meeting with Jennifer and Tyler. He starts by telling them, I called
this meeting to figure how soon Tyler can begin working on the Growin project and how you
[looking forward Jennifer] can get somebody to take his place on whats-her-names project.

I think Julie should be here for this discussion, says Jennifer.

She couldnt make it. Apparently shes out of town for a week, and we need to get going on
the Growin project. Jeff tells her. We need to prepare for a meeting with them next week.
Besides, Tyler is the one were talking about, and hed rather work on the Growin project.
Right, Tyler?

Ah, well, now that youve asked. I am getting tired of working on the Goodold projects,
replies Tyler. Im not learning anything new. I mean, its okay, but Id like a change.

Jennifer is astonished. Your never mentioned that to me, Tyler.

Jeff breaks in, Well, I guess its settled. Jennifer, you assign somebody else to the Goodold
project wholl feel a little more challenged and tell Julie when she gets back. In the meantime,
me and my buddy Tyler have got a lot of work to do to look good for our meeting with the
Grown people next time.

Case Questions:

1. Why is Jeff so anxious to get started on the Growin project?

2. What is wrong with Jeffs approach to handing this situation?
3. What should Jennifer do to resolve this situation?
4. What advantages and disadvantages of the matrix-type organization are apparent from
this story?