Question

The chief operating officer (COO) has noticed that production employees in the company’s Mexican manufacturing operations are unhappy with some of the production engineering decisions made by engineers in the company’s headquarters in Chicago. At the same time, the engineers complain that production employees aren’t applying their engineering specifications correctly and don’t understand why those specifications were put in place. The COO believes that the best way to resolve this conflict is to have a frank and open discussion between some of the engineers and employees representing the Mexican production crew. This open dialogue approach worked well recently among managers in the company’s Chicago headquarters, so it should work equally well between the engineers and production staff. Based on your knowledge of communication, discuss the COO’s proposal. In a 300-400 word essay? discuss possible causes of the conflict, your assessment of the COO’s proposal, and the approach you would use to ameliorate this conflict? Support your approach by referencing content from the course.

Answer 1

The conflict between production employees in the Mexican manufacturing operations and engineers in the company’s headquarters in Chicago is a common problem faced by organizations with global operations. The COO’s proposal to have an open dialogue between engineers and employees representing the Mexican production crew is a step in the right direction, but it may not be enough to resolve the underlying issues.

Possible causes of the conflict include cultural differences, language barriers, and a lack of understanding between the two groups. The engineers may not fully understand the production process in Mexico and the challenges faced by employees on the ground, while the production employees may not fully appreciate the reasons behind the engineering specifications put in place.

The COO’s proposal to have an open dialogue between the two groups is a good starting point, but it may not be enough to resolve the underlying issues. To ameliorate this conflict, a more comprehensive approach may be needed, one that takes into account the cultural and linguistic differences between the two groups.

One approach could be to create a cross-functional team made up of engineers and production employees from both Mexico and Chicago. This team could work together to identify the underlying issues causing the conflict, and develop solutions that take into account the needs and perspectives of both groups. The team could also work together to develop training programs that improve communication and understanding between the two groups.

Another approach could be to establish a mentorship program, where engineers are paired with production employees in Mexico to gain a better understanding of the production process and the challenges faced by employees on the ground. This would help engineers to develop a greater appreciation for the work done by production employees, and help to build better relationships between the two groups.

In conclusion, while the COO’s proposal to have an open dialogue between engineers and production employees representing the Mexican production crew is a good starting point, a more comprehensive approach may be needed to address the underlying issues causing the conflict. A cross-functional team or mentorship program that takes into account the cultural and linguistic differences between the two groups could help to improve communication and understanding, and ultimately resolve the conflict.