Doc's Place

Chapter 9 | Part 1

Wednesday, October 3, 1984

Dick Scope is reviewing a single sheet of paper on an otherwise uncluttered desk as I tap on his door. When he looks up, I say, "Good morning, Dick. Kelly said you wanted to see me?"

"Jill," he says, barely moving a muscle, "Isn't Louise with you?"

"She has her door closed, Dick. How may I help you?"

He purses his lips and frowns. "I want to discuss the budget proposals that Louise gave me," he says.

"Would you like to talk now or make an appointment for another time?" I ask.

"We can discuss them now and review them with Louise later. Please sit," he says, opening a desk drawer.

Sit in one of the chairs facing his desk and watch him.

Dick files the single sheet of paper and then pulls out a copy of each plan and sets them in the center of his desk blotter. He rests his hands on either side of the papers and looks at them. Raising his eyes to mine, he says, "I compliment you on the simplicity of these plans you submitted to Louise, Jill."

Look at him, literally counting seconds. Count to twelve before he continues.

"I do have one question," says Dick. He looks at me for several more seconds before saying, "Jill, when I visit the doctor's office, he performs a thorough diagnosis before prescribing treatment. Naturally, when I read your communication plan, which describes a treatment plan for Doc's Place executives and managers, I look for analysis. I see none." He looks at me for another three seconds before asking, "What analysis did you conduct among us before proposing this treatment?"

"I met and talked with Larry Witty, Kevin McVay, Louise and you, Dick. It took me a few minutes in each case to realize that not one of you could or would articulate business objectives. The second and third tier, non-revenue, executive and management positions at Doc's Place'including you'lack rudimentary communication skills."

"That was your analysis?"

"Yes."

"That is not an analysis, Jill."

"Dick, one reason Peter hired me was to perform quick and accurate needs assessments. The result is this plan, which enhances effective communication among executives and managers."

"I can't remember every sentence of every job description, but it's not appropriate for you to criticize executives and managers. . . ."

"Oh, it's not only appropriate, it's my job." Stand, walk to his door and close it. Walk back around his desk and sit leaning against it next to him as Dick leans back, looking at me, his mouth open. Lean forward and say calmly and slowly, "Besides, a good executive appreciates criticism. Now, these plans have Peter's approval and executive approval, Dick, so approve the budgets."

He pushes his chair back slightly, and says, "Please sit down."

"I am sitting, Dick."

He stands and steps over to his window. "This is not appropriate. Number one, you sit down in one of those chairs, now."

With a sigh, I stand, walk around his desk and sit down.

The telephone rings. Dick snatches it up, and says, "I said hold my calls!" Suddenly, his eyes grow large, staring at me. "Yes, of course Mr. Marriott, if you wish. Wait a moment." Dick sits in his chair, punches a button and replaces the receiver carefully. He says, "You're on speaker, Mr. Marriott."

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

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Doc's Place Chat
© 2008, Michel Grover.
Chapter 9 | Part 1
Summer 2008

Lucia :

Mic has posted in the left frame paragraphs from Doc's Place, one of his copyrighted stories. I'm moderating chat here in the right frame. I post every day, but I don't post everything. I will form a secondary group from which I may post comments.

Alan :

Talk about a guy who is not prepared for battle, Dick Scope has no idea what's rolling over him. He's ready with his metaphor of a visit to the doctor's office, which is not bad by the way. Suddenly, this bitch is in his face, telling him to shut the hell up and approve the budget. No sooner does he get control of that situation than the damn phone rings. This is not how a tidy bookkeeper runs a budget meeting.

Benny :

After complimenting Jill on the simplicity of her plans, Dick Scope waits 12 seconds before he finally says something. Was he trying to prompt a reaction?

Lucia :

That's a good question, Benny. We happen to have here a man who was at Doc's Place during this time and actually heard Dick Scope talk about this very incident after it happened. Meet Larry Witty.

Larry :

You have to understand that at this time, Dick is Vice President of Administration and Accounting while I am the Controller at Doc's Place. As VP, Dick has strict instructions from Phil Garrett to control costs and to avoid interfering with the revenue stream. When he first sees Jill's plans, he has no idea that she intends to begin with the operational departments or he would refuse to consider them without specific instructions to do so. He does see that these plans will affect all departments, including operations, so he decides to slow down the entire process until the top executives return from Las Vegas.

Jules :

Fascinating background Larry, but Benny asked about a 12-second pause.

Larry :

I'm just explaining why Dick takes the approach that he does, that's all. When he pauses, he is hoping that Jill will volunteer information about how she has developed these plans that contain not a scintilla of analysis—only intervention. He told me later that he waits until it becomes obvious Jill is not going to respond. Then and only then does he bring up the diagnosis metaphor.

Benny :

So the answer is yes, Dick Scope was trying to prompt a reaction.

Doug :

I thought you were a man of few words, Larry. What's with the verbal diarrhea? Forget I asked that.

So, Dick is waiting for Jill to react, and when she doesn't, he asks what analysis she conducted. After hearing her answer, Dick says that's not an analysis. What does he expect her to do? Please be succinct, if you can.

Larry :

Frankly, he expects an analysis conducted by the university's graduate business school. When he learns that Jill conducted her own analysis, he becomes suspicious.

Doug :

Of what?

Larry :

Listening to four people for a few minutes each is not what Dick considers a proper analysis so he decides to stop the process for further review.

Doug :

Review by whom?

Larry :

By other executives, perhaps by the graduate business school.

Doug :

At this point, does Dick know that these plans have executive approval?

Larry :

Yes, but he doesn't know if the executives have considered this lack of analysis.

Doug :

Who notified Dick that the executives had approved the plans?

Steph :

I called Dick immediately after the meeting and told him that the plans had received executive approval and that Peter wanted him to provide budget approval.

Doug :

Stephanie, before this, had Dick ever questioned your ability to convey Peter's orders?

Steph :

No, and he would not have been working at Doc's Place if he had.

Marcus :

What's your concern, Doug?

Doug :

Why does Dick stop or slow budget approval even though he knows the plans have executive approval? Is it because of Phil's standing orders to control costs and avoid interfering with the revenue stream? Is Dick incapable of following orders from anyone but Phil?

Marcus :

Doug brings up valid concerns. For instance, why doesn't Dick just approve the budget for both plans and then bring up his questions later? Larry, any thoughts?

Larry :

Well, Phil hired Dick Scope. In fact, he hired me too.

Marcus :

Yes, we know that Max hired Louise and Paul hired Kevin. We understand the top executives' scheme to run Doc's Place into the ground by hiring incompetent second-tier executives, Larry. We're asking is Dick capable of following orders from anyone but Phil?

Larry :

It's important to understand the context of the situation at this time, which is complex and multi-dimensional.

Marcus :

Well thanks Larry, for adding absolutely nothing of value to our discussion.

Amalie :

Larry, I have just two questions. To the best of your knowledge, what does Dick always try to do?

Larry :

Dick always tries to control costs and to avoid interfering with the revenue stream.

Amalie :

Does Dick continue following Phil's instructions even when Phil is gone?

Larry :

I guess so, yes.

Amalie :

Jill, do you wonder why Dick balks when ordered to provide budget approval for your plans?

Jill :

Yes, I wonder but I don't need the answer so I don't bother trying to find out.

Amalie :

Do you suspect that Dick Scope is simply following Phil's original orders, Jill?

Jill :

No idea

Amalie :

Carlos, do you suspect such a thing?

Carlos :

Amalie :

Congratulations, Doug. You just solved a 23yr-old mystery.

Carlos :

Why does Dick continue following Phil's orders after receiving Peter's orders?

Amalie :

Larry, is this Dick Scope's first opportunity to work in an executive position?

Larry :

Yes

Amalie :

What was the highest position Dick had held before accepting this executive position?

Larry :

Dick had worked as the assistant controller at another casino but that didn't work out.

Carlos :

Larry, why doesn't Dick begin following Peter's orders once Peter promotes him to President after Phil leaves?

Larry :

Dick never knew why Phil gave him the opportunity to be a vice president but once he had, Dick never wanted to betray that trust. After all, Phil was the one who gave Dick his shot at an executive position in the first place.

Marcus :

Just out of curiosity, Larry, what were Phil Garrett's original orders to you when he hired you?

Larry :

His orders to me were identical to his orders to Dick.

Marcus :

Do both of you follow Phil's orders even when a higher authority changes those orders?

Larry :

Of course we do. Why wouldn't we? Those orders are what got us those promotions in the first place.

Marcus :

Peter is Phil's boss, that's why. Besides, it's not as if Phil is listening in on the call, or is he?

Steph :

Oh yes. All 4 execs are still in his office when Peter calls Dick Scope.

Marcus :

Dick doesn't know that and it makes no difference if he does. Dick should obey Peter's orders as conveyed by Stephanie. Damn!

Doug :

Incompetent executives must be one of your hot buttons, Marcus.

Marcus :

If ever there is a reason not to hire someone as an executive simply because he has executive experience, here it is.

Alan :

So Marcus, are you saying that people hire executives like Dick and Larry even though they're incompetent simply because they have executive experience?

Marcus :

Exactly. This happens frequently all over the world. Incompetent executives assure the early demise of many companies. You've heard of factors that assure survival of the fittest? This factor assures early extinction of the un-fittest.

Larry :

Are you suggesting that Dick and I are incompetent?

Doug :

It's okay, Larry. Marcus is just saying that executives like the 2 of you are incompetent, not that you are.

Larry :

Sounds like the same thing.

Doug :

Right. Have you and Dick held executive positions since leaving Doc's Place?

Larry :

We have, but Dick's situation didn't work out; he has a small tax firm in California now. I've held several executive positions such as Controller and VP of Administration.

Doug :

Why did you leave those executive positions?

Larry :

Well, through no fault of mine, those companies are no longer in business. Currently, I hold an executive position in state government.

Doug :

How is that working out?

Larry :

We're working through some political issues that are, you know, outside of our control.

Doug :

Of course. Thank you, Larry. Perhaps you'll remain with the secondary group just in case we have other questions you wouldn't mind answering.