Question 1:

What are the primary evidence-based causes of your team’s underperformance?

Answer:
The primary evidence-based causes of the team’s underperformance are as follow:

1. Communication Issues:
The confrontational behavior of Samuel, one of the social media experts, has created a
negative environment. This has led to suppressed open communication and reduced creativity
among team members. As a result, team morale is low, and there is hesitance to share ideas,
which is essential for brainstorming and innovation in marketing strategies.

2. Operational Efficacy:
The decline in online engagement and sales indicates a flaw in the marketing team's
strategies. Internal discord and lack of focus have distracted the team from effective
campaign execution and identifying market trends. This has led to ineffective marketing
strategies that fail to engage the target audience.

3. Partnership Management:
The major brand partner's dissatisfaction with the company's promotional efforts is a
significant concern. The partner's complaints about ineffective campaigns and lack of
innovation highlight the marketing team's failure to meet the partner's expectations, risking
the renewal of the contract.

Question 2:
Which risks will be exacerbated if this issue remains unresolved and how will these be
mitigated?

Answer:
1. Risks:
1.1. Further Decline in Team Morale and Productivity:
Continuous negative interactions and unresolved conflicts can lead to a further decrease in
motivation, creativity, and overall productivity of the marketing team.
 1.2. Loss of Major Brand Partner and Financial Repercussions:
The dissatisfaction of the major brand partner can result in non-renewal of the contract,
leading to significant financial losses for the company.

1.3. Continued Drop in Engagement and Sales:

If the current marketing strategies and team dynamics are not addressed, the downward trend
in online engagement and sales will likely continue, affecting the company’s revenue and
market position.

2. Mitigation:
2.1. Immediate Intervention in Team Dynamics:
Address Samuel's behavior through a structured conflict resolution process, fostering a
collaborative and supportive team environment.

2.2. Strategic Revamping of Marketing Efforts:

Implement data-driven marketing strategies, focusing on current market trends and regularly
analyzing campaign performance to make necessary adjustments.

2.3. Strengthened Communication Channels with Partners:

Engage in direct communication with the brand partner to acknowledge their concerns,
present revised promotional strategies, and establish regular check-in meetings to keep them
informed on progress.

Question 3:
What steps will you take to resolve the conflict with your colleague and in which sequence will
you perform those steps?

Answer:
Steps to Resolve Conflict:
The steps required to resolve conflicts are as follow:

1. Private Meeting with Samuel:

1. Reiterate the impact of his behavior on the team.
2. Set clear expectations for his conduct and outline potential consequences if his behavior
does not improve.
2. Team Meeting:
1. Facilitate an open dialogue about the issues within the team.
2. Encourage all team members to voice their concerns and suggestions for improvement.
3. Foster a collaborative environment where everyone feels safe to share ideas.

3. Regular Check-ins:
1. Schedule regular one-on-one and team meetings to monitor dynamics.
2. Provide ongoing support and feedback to ensure sustained positive behavior and team
cohesion.

4. Conflict Resolution Training:

1. Organize training sessions to enhance the team’s conflict management skills.
2. Equip team members with strategies to handle disagreements constructively.

Question 4:
How will you repair the relationship with your most critical internal customer and what
specifically makes them your most critical internal customer?

Answer:
The steps required to strengthen the relationship with the partner are as follow:

1. Direct Communication:
1. Schedule a meeting with the brand partner to address their concerns directly.
2. Acknowledge the issues and express a commitment to improving the promotional efforts.

2. Action Plan Presentation:

1. Present revised promotional strategies, highlighting data-driven insights and expected
outcomes.
2. Demonstrate how the new strategies align with the partner’s expectations and market
trends.

3. Regular Updates:
1. Establish regular check-in meetings to keep the partner informed about the progress of
the promotional efforts.
2. Provide transparent and consistent updates to build trust and ensure alignment with their
goals.
4. Criticality of the Partner:
1. The partner contributes significantly to the company's revenue, accounting for 30% of
total sales.
2. Maintaining a long-term collaboration with this partner is crucial for the company’s
financial stability and growth potential.

Question 5:
How will you prevent the recurrence of this situation?

Answer:
The preventive strategy for recurrence of the situation is as follow:
1. Establish Clear Communication Protocols:
2. Develop and enforce guidelines for respectful and constructive communication within the
team.
3. Implement regular feedback mechanisms to ensure open and continuous dialogue.

2. Regular Team-building Activities:

1. Organize off-site meetings, workshops, and ice-breaking sessions to enhance team
bonding and morale.
2. Foster a positive and supportive team culture.

3. Continuous Performance Monitoring:

1. Regularly analyze marketing performance metrics and adjust strategies based on data-
driven insights.
2. Implement performance reviews to identify and address any issues promptly.

4. Transparent Feedback Mechanisms:

1. Create anonymous suggestion boxes and regular feedback sessions to encourage team
members to share their ideas and concerns without fear of criticism.
2. Act on feedback to show that their input is valued and taken seriously.

5. Ongoing Training and Development Programs:

1. Invest in the professional development of the team through workshops, courses, and
training sessions on conflict resolution, communication, and marketing trends.
2. Encourage continuous learning and improvement to keep the team updated with industry
best practices.