You are in Dallas, TX as a project manager heading up a team that is testing and ultimately installing a new

database system for a chain of hospitals. You are assisted by Tom Evans and Sally Chu and so far everything is going very well. You are five days ahead of schedule on a project that was expected to take 20 working days, and the client has been impressed by your expertise.

Today you received an e-mail invitation to attend a hastily put together two-day symposium on cyber-threats that will be held at The University of Texas at Austin next week. It is an honor to be invited to this gathering which will include some of the biggest names in the field. You would really like to attend. The problem is that you are in Texas on assignment and you are not at all sure how your manager will react to your asking to leave the project for a few days. (It would be impossible to commute.)

So you call Doug Spellman, your manager, and explain the situation. He is sympathetic but somewhat hesitant. “I don’t know about this. I know you are ahead of schedule but how is it going to look having you disappear for three days. And that is what it will actually be with the travel time. This is an important installation for us and we don’t want anything to go wrong.”

You tell him you understand but you have two very good people working with you and this will not only be an informative symposium but it will reflect well on the company that you attend. “Yeah, yeah, I know all that,” says Doug. “I’m going to have to take this upstairs to get approval. You need to send me a request in writing justifying the time, the expense, and your absence. And hey, how about explaining how you intend to still be a project manager when you’re not even there.”

“Taking it upstairs” is Doug’s way of telling you he is fine with the idea but has to cover himself with his manager. You tell him you will have the request to him by tonight.

Feel free to add details as long as they do not contradict the essential basics of the situation. This request should be no longer than one-page. It will be sent to Doug as your primary reader but you are aware there will be secondary readers as well. Keep all your audiences in mind.

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