How would you handle this situation?

[keggerz]

I guess what I was getting at is that there must be some sort of "report" that give the boss man or some "big wig" the total picture - I would assume it does not come from the POS system. How does someone look at this total picture and say "how the hell are we X on sales when Y is ahead by 78% - something does not jive.

 

I work with these kind of reports every day - the first thing we do when we do any detailed reports is make absolute sure that the sum off all the detail parts equals the total - not close to the total but to the penny - if it does not you don't release any detailed reports.

 

Sounds like a serious flaw in both reporting and management.

 

I also agree with Yo Mama on how to handle it.

 

Edit: Did not even realize it but I just did what I mentioned above - I have to load a weekly order/sale report into our corporate system every weekend - I take the data from a reporting tool that gets fed from SAP - I do not submit until I run the report format it a certain way and then run a seperate report directly from SAP and make 100% sure the total numbers agree from report to report. After I send our parent company also checks the numbers from different companies to make sure numbers reconcile before the final report gets sent out.

 

Sending out reports with bad data takes focus away from the meaning of the report and casts doubt on the numbers.

 

my guess is that the "error" won't be found until they get into the budget process at a much later date...at that point a budget specialist will show what revenues were generated where...and honestly they probably won't even realize the increase isn't there...they will most likely look at the bottom line...however, between now and then I can see him not spending his budget properly and asking for money to be transferred to...and based off the thought of "well he is running at +78% so we better give it to him"...I know because that is what was done back in June...yes they are really out of touch and it has given me a new perspective on government, it really has...all the wasteful spending etc, none of it surprises me at all now.

[keggerz]

You have the opportunity to be good government. Just be discreet. Take you immediate supervisor to lunch, explain the deal, stress that you aren't trying to hurt you co-worker, and that your only interested is helping the team do the right job. Then ask your supervisor for his/her thoughts are and follow their lead.

 

It's the right thing to do. Which means you'll probably get fired for doing it.

 

It's government work, no one gets fired.

[gbpfan1231]

It's government work, no one gets fired.

 

 

This is probably the culprit - why waste time checking numbers if there is no accountability. Just coast on till retirement.

[gilthorp]

Keg - you make no sense. You are alluding that you'd have nothing to gain. In fact, you do have a lot to gain, which is more merchandise/product, which would allow you to perform better. Their mistake and lack of oversight has a trickle down effect directly to you. I would not just sit by if my business was affected by the mistake. I would fight for what I could be gaining. JSMHO.

[keggerz]

Keg - you make no sense. You are alluding that you'd have nothing to gain. In fact, you do have a lot to gain, which is more merchandise/product, which would allow you to perform better. Their mistake and lack of oversight has a trickle down effect directly to you. I would not just sit by if my business was affected by the mistake. I would fight for what I could be gaining. JSMHO.

 

I know that, my "nothing to gain" was with regards to position, bonuses or raises....and I fought for the money they took from my budget to fund him at the end of June...even if he were running at +70ish% my % and $ gains were much more significant...I detailed out exactly where that money was going and what it would create in sales...i was told I needed to be a team player and that we aren't judged on how much sales increase...honestly it is a very frustrating spot to be in...the hardest transition over the last 4 years has been to adopting "government" view vs a business view...and honestly it isn't something I have been able to do.

[gbpfan1231]

I know that, my "nothing to gain" was with regards to position, bonuses or raises....and I fought for the money they took from my budget to fund him at the end of June...even if he were running at +70ish% my % and $ gains were much more significant...I detailed out exactly where that money was going and what it would create in sales...i was told I needed to be a team player and that we aren't judged on how much sales increase...honestly it is a very frustrating spot to be in...the hardest transition over the last 4 years has been to adopting "government" view vs a business view...and honestly it isn't something I have been able to do.

 

 

Good! and Don't!!

[stevegrab]

Sounds like a no win situation. Say something and be branded a trouble maker or the jealous guy who thinks he should have gotten the award. Say nothing and risk your department being shorted to help Mr. +78%.

 

Sadly most in government wouldn't even notice, and certainly wouldn't care to say anything to anybody. Just shows how screwed up things are (and this is only county govt).