Case: An Ultimatum

You are administrative supervisor of the hospitals department of diagnostic imaging (radiology). The department has been having problems with the special procedures area; you have had considerable difficulty recruiting and retaining special procedures technologists. You presently have your allotted staff of three such technologists but these people are fully utilized and at least two of them have recently made comments about staffing being inadequate for the workload. The senior technologist Carl Smithers has been especially vocal in his comments about understaffing. Several times and as recently as Monday of this week he spoke with you concerning his perception of the need for another technologist. Today Wednesday the 9th you received the following note from Smithers: As I suggested I would do in our conversation of Monday this week I am going on record notifying you that additional technologist help must be available by Monday the 21st. If you are unwilling or unable to provide the needed help I will be unable to continue in my present position beyond Friday the 18th. You immediately called Smithers and said Come to my office right now Carl. We need to talk. Your intent is to come up with some course of action that will take care of the departments needs and keep your senior technologist in place.

Answer the following questions based on the case above:

What has Carl Smithers done to his own negotiating position by delivering an ultimatum?

What are you going to do or suggest doing if available resources continue to forbid adding any new staff?

Is there anything positive to immediately come of Smithers' ultimatium? If so, what?