PS AS1 PORTFOLIO Instructions Page 1
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS – PORTFOLIO - INSTRUCTIONS
Read the following case study:
You are managing a team of 15 sales people who are selling vacuum cleaners directly to the customers. Each
sales person has a distinct geographical area. Of the 15 you manage, three people, Sam, John and Bob, are
consistently the best performers who try to out-perform each other.
The top sales person receives an additional bonus for each month’s sales – the ‘Sales Person of the Month’ is
announced in the company’s newsletter and at the monthly companywide meeting. To increase your team’s
motivation, each week you organise a social evening at the local pub. The team has always worked well
together and has socialised along very well using each other’s success to motivate themselves.
However, for the past three months there has been an increasing animosity between Sam and John. Each is
claiming that the other has been approaching their customers. Last night at the social function at the pub this
issue developed into an argument and a physical fight. As a result, the team was divided - some believing
Sam’s and others believing John’s version of events.
Bob, who had previously been a good performer and a great team member, had in recent times appeared
withdrawn and unwell. His sales figures have also decreased by 30%, yet you noticed that he had been
working very long hours. Recently you had received emails from him in the early hours of the morning
discussing work. When you check the office alarm log you notice he has been leaving work at 2 am and
starting again at 5.30 am. You have a suspicion that Bob has financial problems at home and this may explain
why he is working such long hours.
You have been incredibly busy of late and have been prioritising your senior management reports and
strategies over leading your team effectively. You are aware that, in part, the issues have been brought about
by your lack of leadership.
TASK 1 CASE STUDY ANALYSIS (850 words)
1. Identify problems presented in the case study. (150 words)
2. What could have been the causes of the described conflict? (150 words)
3. How could have this conflict been avoided? (150 words)
4. As a manager, how would you deal with the described situation? Use the following
headings: time management, stress management, business etiquette. (400 words)PS AS1 PORTFOLIO Instructions Page 2
TASK 2 SOCIAL EVENT EMPLOYEE BEHAVIOUR POLICY
Write an overview of a policy for Social Event Employee Behaviour that the company described in the
case study should implement. (400 words)
Use the following headings:
Introduction and rationale (i.e. justify the need for the policy)
Scope (i.e. who does the policy apply to)
Acceptable behavior (mention principles that should be applied by the employees)
Unacceptable behavior (include examples of unacceptable behavior)
Informal resolution
Formal investigation
TASK 3 SERVANT LEADERSHIP (500 words)
a. Using information from your lectures and other sources answer the following question:
What is Servant Leadership?
You should write around 300 words and refer to at least 2 academic sources. Use Harvard
Referencing system.
b. How might implementing the principles of Servant Leadership benefit the company described
in the case study? (200 words)
You are required to write 1,750 words in response to the tasks above.
You are required submit this assignment by Monday 10th April 2017 at 2pm. You must submit your
assignment by using the Turnitin gateway in the module’s Canvas site.
Please Note: The act of submitting your work electronically will be taken as an acceptance of the
Declaration of Authorship (see Appendix 2 in AB2 Portfolio available on Canvas)