After managers nixed its proposal to scrap the cards that engineers used to record the time spent on each job, the team arranged to collect the cards and store them under a desk. Months elapsed before managers realized that the supposedly vital data weren't being logged into the computer. After four months, teamwork no longer seems like such a hot idea to many at Overly. That's probably the biggest problem we have right now. Things are put on the back burner.
Orders are slow and some white-collar workers have been laid off, souring the atmosphere.
Although the union has filed no objections, older workers are resisting the pressure to learn several jobs. They said it wasn't good enough. People aren't sure now what's expected of them. Some are ready to dump employee involvement altogether. Co-owner Terry Reese counsels patience.