Whose fault is this (work related question)

An external data form has to be sent out each month by a required deadline. Colleague A completes it and colleague B reviews it. It’s interchangeable as to who submits it to the external company. Colleague B has been off work for a few days, when they return there is no correspondence that colleague A has submitted it. Therefore colleague B submits it today to meet the deadline, as colleague A is now off for a week. It turns out colleague A had already sent it but hadn’t informed colleague B. So the company has now received it twice. Who would you say is at fault?

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154 views • 1 upvote • 7 comments

COMMENT (7)

Am

Posted at
I feel like the person that has to review should be the one that submits it even if they were off for a few days but I don’t really see the problem with it being submitted twice better then not be submitted at all . I would consider this a learning experience and a chance to set up a protocol for future with person a and b .

Se

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Neither... the system sucks.1. Have one person submitting it each time.2. Improve communication in situations where there will be absences from work.

Me

Posted at
You need an SPA (single point of accountability). It’s one persons responsibility with a backup person. Then it’s clear who does what, when, and who to go to if there is an issue.

Ma

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The company for not having better tracking systems.

Ma

Maria • Mar 18, 2021
Unless there is a database where colleague A can put date when submitted. And colleague B can check. If this is the case and colleague A just forgot to put the date then it’s colleague a fault. If there is no such thing then it’s company’s fault

He

Posted at
Both. They both needed to communicate better. Each should have ensure that the other was completed with his or her portion than determined who would submit the final work. Its easy to point fingers but its even easier for both to communicate their needs efficiently. But in a group project both are responsible for the work. Both colleagues would have been in trouble had nothing been turned in. Better that the company got two responses than none.Than again the company also needed to take in consideration the times off and set each colleague with appropriate colleague as in someone that would be present. But just my opinion.

Me

Posted at
Is it bad to submit it twice? It sounds like there needs to be better communication, especially with absences, but maybe there needs to be a hard, fast rule about who submits it.