Case.

“Bahar Elektrik” LLC is one of the recently established (2010) yet, optimistic and successful electricity
based Construction Company in the mentioned market of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 2017, company
got enlarged and “Bahar Texnik Servis” also joined the company family which deals with the technical
service to store refrigerators of companies such as Coca Cola Bottlers Company, Baltika LLC. Thus, staff
increased in the company due to large scope of business and some position shifts arranged alongside
newly hired staff. One of the newly hired employees is Arif Ibrahimov, Project Management Specialist at
“Bahar Elektrik” who is enthusiastic to new experiences and has extensive analytical skills. Arif (friend)
was the person who we interviewed for the following case, and he told us his up to date situation with
his female colleague, Project Management Specialist Sona Orujova.

In 2017 company took some serious steps, where a crucial change in the beginning of the year occurred
as Director was employed, because the contract with previous one expired. But all problems started
with the situation when the Head of Project Management decided to leave the job, as he wanted to
evaluate other opportunities at the end of September 2017. While these changes occurred in the
company, yet Head of Project Management position was not filled in the company.

Sona has been working at “Bahar Elektrik” for 6 years. She firstly worked as an Assistant to Director,
then moved to Project Management Department. Sona felt that it was the right time to get a promotion,
therefore she considered that even a though new specialist was hired, she is the one who should be
promoted as the Head of Project Management Department due to her loyal years at the company and
being experienced in this field. At the same time, new employee was hired for Project Management
Department in order to deal with issues and share the responsibility with Sona, who basically share the
same position and report to the director.

Then, 2 months period of time passes, but still the position has not been filled yet. Meanwhile, Arif
adapts to his new work environment, builds friendly relationship with his colleagues and increases his
experience in the field not only by being keen on hardworking, but also applying his cognitive analysis
skills to real time job cases. During the same period of time, Sona is getting to experience decreasing
level of motivation and belief in the company, because the desires and hope for pay increase and
promotion was not realized by director. Given the fact that still there is no Head of Department, Director
temporarily deals with the issues of above mentioned department. In a short period time, Arif acquires
his trust, builds close relation and even at some time Director starts to assign some tasks which are
important for company instead of giving it to the other specialist, Sona. Consequently, it makes Sona
jealous of Arif and makes her skeptic about him. The probability that new shining star of Project
Management Department, Arif becomes the head of department in the upcoming months is increasing
from the point of Sona. Particularly for that reason, her behavior towards to Arif changes overtime, as
she tries to make him feel that she is the boss in the department. She started to emphasize the fact that
Arif is new in the company and in experience basis she has got more knowledge about work than he
does, although administratively they share the same position.

One day seeing the overall situation not in favor of her, she directly goes to the office of director talks to
him. Sona raises her voice that either give me a promotion or increase my current salary, stating that
“even newly hired specialist, Arif gets salary approximately close to mine, although I have much done for
this company during these years”. After listening to her concerns, boss seriously talks to her and

CONFIDENTIAL
emphasizes that “this is the maximum position you can get in this department, but if you want we can
rotate you to other departments”.

Despite the fact that Sona considers Arif as an obstacle and possible competent, she shares her thought
and feelings with him. Sona tells him that from the perspective of boss my skills lack and I am not
compatible with position. She told that it was surprising to hear that “he actually believed and though
that all the work I have prepared and sent to him from the beginning of the year was actually prepared
by previous manager but not me”, which made her feel sad because she believes that the director was
aware of her skill and experience. She always says that “everytime when they need I am the one who
they are calling, but when it comes to appreciation they think that Sona lacks the skills for the position”.
Actually one of most hurting one is that she even does not get simple sign of appreciation, “thank you”
for the things she does. Due to financial difficulties she decides not to leave the job until she has
something better or enough money to open her barbershop for woman. Apart from that she also states
that it would be hard for her to find a company, which has got same working conditions and other factor
as her own company. Comparing other options with her current place, she thinks that even if she leaves
it would be hard to adapt to new corporation and basically start from 0. Considering these all above
mentioned and his observations, Arif emphasized that she is highly demotivated and lost her trust in
company. At the same time, she does not act as a part of “Bahar Elektrik” given the fact that sometimes-
working overtime or working at home are required, however she is trying to evade when it comes to
dedication. Apart from that Sona’s absenteeism has slightly increased as she doesn’t commit herself
fully to the job, which ultimately also affected her performance as she felt demotivated because her
expectations/hope didn’t really match up with the realities. She is also good at task given duties, while
bad at analytical process, which makes her incompatible with higher managerial position. Yet, she
should not been underestimated by the boss on the basis of overall work. Additionally, she has been
very loyal to the company until the recent happenings.

Despite all these facts Arif states that Sona is in the critical position in the company and currently is in
the irreplaceable position, even if the company if the company decides to replace her it would take
some time for the new comer to learn the work. The director of the company should solve the problem
and try to find a way in which they could return Sona to her previous performance level.

Motivation

Bias

Is yuku cox agir olub

Self serving bias

Self fulfilling prophecy

CONFIDENTIAL