Tod (Finance):

The solution is clear. Finance taking the lead will speed things up a whole lot.

YOU:

How do you figure?

Tod:

We write the contract and give final approval. If we had the whole thing, it’d be done in no time.

Sarah:

Without Ops input? When we have to deliver what you negotiate?

Tod:

We can’t have a million approvals. We have the budget, so we have most at stake.

Sarah:

So do we. If you negotiate below costs, we’re in trouble.

Tod:

(face gets red) Why would we negotiate a contract that hurts the company?

Sarah:

I didn’t mean—

Tod:

Finance guys are killing themselves and you’re saying we’d purposely do you in.

YOU:

I’m sure that’s not what Sarah meant, Tod. We’d just like some input.

Tod:

Customer Relations! Why are you even here? You’re irrelevant to this.

Lilliane:

We need to know what prices we can offer clients.

Tod:

No wonder we take forever when every Tom, Dick, and Harry thinks they have a say.

Sarah:

We have to meet everyone’s needs.

Tod:

That’s how we got into this fix. We’ve got to bite the bullet and get real.

Irwin (Strategy):

Sorry, I have a conflict. I’m due in another meeting in five minutes

YOU:

Holy crow, Tod wants to steamroller the whole thing.

Lilliane:

Just like him. Cross him and he goes ballistic.

YOU:

But Sarah was just trying to discuss the issue.

Lilliane:

I don’t think he can tell the difference between discussion and fighting.

YOU:

Really?

Lilliane:

(smiles) Hang on. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.