A week later, Marshall met with Lynch again. He offered an alternative to
Southampton Hospital opening the facility. Marshall stated:
If I could find a group of investors willing to open the Coram site, with a management
contract with Sports Rehab Network, could I move forward with the project?
Lynch countered with:
Mike, if you try to move forward on this project, I’ll have to dismiss you on the spot! I won’t
even give you time to clear out your desk! I’ll have security escort you right off the premises.
Marshall was stunned! He left without saying a word.
Driving home, Marshall was steamed. He had spent a lot of time and effort in
building a great organization. Now he felt he was seeing the beginning of the end. Not
responding properly to the threat of new competition would most probably enfold as
the end of his beloved company; and responding by defying Lynch might mark the end
of his career.
He thought:
Should I move ahead anyway and defy Lynch. Or should I listen to Lynch, and just be
satisfied with the existing size of the organization. Why am I breaking my back with all this
additional work? I have never faced a situation like this before, what should I do?
Marshall had no idea whom he could consult with in this matter given its sensitive
nature, and knew that he needed to make a quick decision if he was going ahead with
the Coram project.
What would you do if you were Marshall? Defy the CEO and set up this new
business because you think it is the right thing to do or just go with the flow and follow
orders? What course of action would a “common sense” approach lead to in this
situation? Managers (as well as line workers) inevitably will come across situations
that are outside their normal scope of operation – exceptional situations that may
require immediate and decisive response.