Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Elephant in the Room (12/05/13)
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TITLE: The Face of Failure | Previous Challenge Entry
By Steve McClure
12/09/13 -
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“Don’t you ever knock?” quizzed the mustached middle-aged man sitting behind the desk.
“Just read this,” the young man blurted out, tossing the sheet onto the desk.
The older man picked up the sheet and read. He began to frown.
“See what I mean?” stressed the young man.
“Listen, Jim,” the older man began, “we’ve been through this. Can’t you let it lie?”
“Let it lie?” Jim exclaimed incredulously. “How can we let it lie, Bob? This is going to bite us one day.”
“Well, it hasn’t yet, and it’s an old issue. Just leave it. And where are those figures I asked for?
“I’m working on them. So, you’re not going to do anything about this?”
“No, and neither are you. Just get me those figures and forget about this.”
Jim turned and stormed out of the office, leaving the door open.
Bob tossed the sheet back onto his desk, swiveled his chair around and stared out the window. That’s all we need, he thought. A hotshot stirring things up. He swung back around, grabbed his phone and punched some numbers.
“Trends Analysis,” crackled a voice at the other end.
“Jack, this is Bob Sharpe.
“Hey, Bob,” Jack responded.
“You got any thoughts on the old forecast oddity?
“Can’t say that I do, but the models all say it will iron out…someday. Why?”
“Oh, I’ve got this young buck with a burr in his saddle. He seems to think there’s disaster looming.”
“You mean Jim,” chuckled Jack.
“Yeah, I mean Jim. He’s been after you, too, I guess.”
“Yeah. The sky is falling. He got the latest readout from me this morning.”
“I know, he just dumped it on my desk.” The two were silent for a moment. “But, what do think, Jack? I mean, this thing has been hanging on for a while. It’s just odd.”
That’s why we call it an oddity. Sounds like Jim is getting to you. Remember, we’ve had these before and they’ve always worked out. We just follow the models.”
“Yeah, I know. The other ones bothered me, too. They’re just odd.”
“I think we said that.” Both men laughed and hung up.
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“Come in,” invited the Executive Officer, responding to the knock at the door.
“Sorry to intrude,” Jim said as he entered. “But I’m concerned about this oddity that’s been dragging on. I think we should pay more attention to it.”
“We’ve had oddities before,” the Exec advised. “They’ve always worked out.”
“I understand, sir. But this one seems more troublesome.”
“I appreciate your concern, Jim. Everybody needs to be on their toes in this business. But we’ve got people whose job it is to watch these things. They’re in touch with me all the time. This oddity, like all the others, is on the agenda every morning. We discuss it; we don’t ignore it.”
“I understand, sir,” Jim acknowledged. “I’m just afraid this one won’t work out.”
“You needn’t be afraid. We have good people on this.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Again, I appreciate your concern, Jim. But we also need you focused on your job. We work as a team, here.”
“Yes, sir. Thanks for your time.”
“You bet, Jim.”
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The door flew open and Jim marched in, waving a sheet of paper.
“Thanks for knocking,” Bob said sarcastically.
“Look at this, look at this,” Jim stressed, thrusting the sheet toward Bob.
“I am looking. I don’t see anything different than two weeks ago.”
“That’s the point,” Jim exclaimed, his voice rising in pitch. “It’s not changing. It should change.”
“Look, Jim, I spoke with Jack after you left last time. He says the models are holding steady.”
“The models, the models. I think we need some human brainpower, here.”
“Yours?” Bob asked challengingly.
“Well, somebody’s. What if the models are wrong?”
“They haven’t been in the past. By the way, the Exec mentioned your visit.”
“Yeah. I probably shouldn’t have done that.”
“Just don’t do it again,” Bob admonished.
Jim left Bob’s office…and closed the door.
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On 15 September 2008, financial institutions began to collapse. Stock markets around the globe fell sharply…and continued falling. By March 2009, the Dow Jones had lost 54% of its value. The models were wrong.
(Fiction)
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