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Ashley works as a price estimator in the division of a large electronics company that manufactures and sells security systems to business firms

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Ashley works as a price estimator in the division of a large electronics company that manufactures and sells security systems to business firms. She holds a degree in electronics technology and has extensive knowledge about security systems. In recent years her company has prospered because of heightened concerns about security. The market for security systems in her area, however, has become saturated, because virtually every firm has a security system. New business for the division comes mostly from getting companies to switch to her company or from security system upgrades with existing customers. As a result of the security business having stabilized in the geographic area, the atmosphere in the office has become tense. Workers have become less calm and pleasant than they were previously. Ashley, who has had a volatile personality since early childhood, has become tenser than her coworkers. During a recent project to upgrade the security system at a pharmaceutical warehouse, the sales representative accused Ashley of providing a cost estimate too high to clinch the deal. Ashley replied, “You are a sad (expletive) sales person. You will tell a prospective client anything just to bag a sale. So long as you get your commission, you don’t care if the company loses money on the project.” Ashley offered no apology for her outburst. A week later at a department meeting to discuss goals for the year, Ashley said to the group, including the manager, “Goal setting for me is a dumb (expletive) idea. I will have no work to do unless this time-wasting, expenseaccount-hogging sales group gets off its butt and makes some sales.” Horrified, the manager said to Ashley, “You are being totally unprofessional. Please apologize to the sales group.” Ashley said, “Okay, maybe I shouldn’t be so truthful in what I say. I can’t help it. I’m a passionate person who wants results for the company.” Questions 1. To what extent does Ashley being “passionate” justify her expression of anger toward coworkers? 2. What do you recommend that Ashley’s manager and coworkers do to resolve conflict with her in the office? Or should the manager and coworkers just ignore her? 3. What career advice might you offer Ashley? (Or does she need any advice?)