Pawns

In my product team, there is a serious shortage of resources and talent after a series of resignations last year. As a result of that, certain seniors and team leaders are in hot demand especially when there are multiple projects going on at the same time. The movement of people can be very ad hoc depending on how things go. The term that is usually used is "fire-fighting". From this you can gauge that the situation is quite precarious, like the proverbial "egg on the edge of a buffalo's horn". Such a team leader was recently assigned to my project. We shall henceforth refer to him as Lan. Since his project was done and over with, he was "temporarily" assigned to my project to help "put out some fires". Everything was fine and dandy until his services were required elsewhere.

To understand the problem, I must first explain the screwed up way my project is run. In reality, all the resources belong to my fatty boss. However, my project is managed by a psychopathic woman from my parent company who shall henceforth be known as Amy. Hence, when fatty boss assigns resources to Amy, she has the right to hold on to them for the good of the project. And so, fatty boss needed to pull Lan out for a new project that was being kicked-off. He called a meeting. During the meeting, Amy explained how "uncomfortable" she was with the way the project was going. In conclusion, she wasn't going to let Lan go without a fight.

Fatty boss on the other hand came from an overall perspective saying that the big picture must be seen. Hence, a new project is always more important than an on-going project. In that whole exchange, Lan and I didn't say a word until finally, Amy suddenly gave in and consented to Lan leaving the project. On the next day, she sent out an e-mail outlining her understanding of the previous meeting. It was a complete reversal of what I had heard the day before. A deceitful woman. Fatty boss fumed. But he didn't vent it at her. He stupidly scolded us for not "backing him up" during the meeting. From our point of view, he did not even require backing since the meeting concluded the way we wanted. I shot this back at fatty boss, and he didn't deny it.

He insisted that I write an e-mail to refute what she had written. I told him I would do no such thing as she was my project manager (she would make my life a living hell) and the conclusion was reached with him in the same room. If she had gone back on her word, then the bosses should go straighten it out, not push the small fishes to the waiting jaws of the big fishes. I don't know why bosses like to fight by proxy. Such lack of balls. Well, the issue is still there. Fatty boss is also playing the same game with Amy. If you don't keep your word, why should I keep mine? Oh, the headache.... At the end of the day, the "fire" will burn us all.