Helen Priano, manufacturing manager at General Grain's Michigan Cereal Facility had two critical decisions to make in early February 2002. Helen needed to decide whether or not to fire a 30-year veteran employee and if she should drop charges against an employee caught stealing company property. Helen wanted to be known as a fair leader and she realized that how she handled these issues and upcoming union contract negotiations would establish her reputation as a leader within the plant. Priano, at age 27, had been promoted to her new position after spending two years as a production manager in the neighboring powdered drink mix factory.
