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Client: Continental Bank

Unit 1: Understanding Change

SITUATION #1

(Male comes towards desk taking coat off: obviously late (looking at watch?). Before he puts coat away female SUPERVISOR walks into scene, stops by his desk)

SUPERVISOR: Listen, Craig...I don't want to make a big deal out of this, but...

CRAIG: I know, I know. (sighs, shrugs shoulders) I was running a little late this morning.

SUPERVISOR: Come on, Craig, it's not just this morning--this is about the fourth time in the last two weeks you've come in late.

CRAIG (stops putting coat on rack and turns to her): I said, I know--I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen again.

SUPERVISOR: Do more than try, Craig. You know, it's not fair to everyone else if they have to come in on time and you're always late.

CRAIG (voice rising a little): Okay, okay, it's not like I was doing it on purpose or anything. (pause) But I don't think you're being exactly fair here. I think if you're going to compare me to everyone else, you have to take into account that lately I've been staying a lot later than everyone else.

SUPERVISOR (voice also rising): That's not the point, and I'm not going to stand here arguing with you. The point is, that it's up to you to get your work done on time. Staying overtime to do work you should have done during the day doesn't give you the right to come in late the next day.

CRAIG: Well, wait a minute, now I think you're really being unfair. I didn't ask for this reorganization. It's like I've got to do twice as much work now--where am I supposed to find the extra time to do these other jobs you gave me?

SUPERVISOR: Well, you're not going to find it by coming in late, I can tell you that much!

[CRAIG starts to say something ("Come on, that's not what I meant and you know it!"), but she cuts in]

And another thing: I didn't just "give" you extra work. Those two positions we lost weren't my idea--but that's over and done. We've all had to pull a little harder to make up the difference.

CRAIG: That's not true! Yesterday I saw Joan and what's-her-face down at the cafeteria...

SUPERVISOR (clearly angered: step on Craig's line): All right, that's it!

(pointing her finger at Craig): Now, I've said all I'm going to say. You either get yourself in here on time, or we're going to sit down together and have ourselves a little talk. Do I make myself clear?

CRAIG (restrained: folds coat over arms): Yes. Very clear.

(Supervisor leaves scene. Craig, hot, throws his coat onto his seat.)

FADE TO BLACK

(Scene picks up with three people sitting around desk: Craig, Linda, and a third person, the EXPERT. The ambient noise is higher, an occasional crew member passes through the set, and low sounds of people working can be heard. As the scene opens, we're coming in on a conversation in progress.)

EXPERT: ...What managers and supervisors both have to remember is that any kind of change, in almost any situation, is going to cause stress. People have basic needs--comfort, security...familiar surroundings--to put them at ease. Change those, and you've created a situation that might seem threatening.

CRAIG: And I thought in this situation, my character was coming in late almost as a form of protest against the new work he'd been given.

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