Knowlton Roberts Ii (a)

Abstract

This case is an updated version of the Knowlton Roberts case series (UVA-OB-0737 and 0738). The case is best used as a vehicle to understand another person's point of view and to see what happens when points of view are misunderstood or misinterpreted. The A case presents a series of situations and interactions that require consideration of why each person acted as they did. The role of untested assumptions and leaps to conclusions also feature prominently in the case. Excerpt UVA-OB-1025 Oct. 26, 2011 KNOWLTON ROBERTS II (A) Here he was again—alone at the office, comfortable—just the way Dr. Knowlton Roberts II liked it. A biochemist, Roberts had all the natural curiosity generally associated with a scientist; he had joined a biopharmaceutical companyR&D, three years earlier because of a desire to make a difference in the fight against disease. Roberts believed that the relatively young frontier of biotechnology was the place where dreams could be made. He recalled what his boss, Dr. Jeffery Kim, had said when he was hired: “If you can produce, you will have all the opportunities you've ever dreamed of at this place.” Indeed, produce he did. Conducting a nuts-and-bolts retest on a potential new compound that was being developed as a receptor antagonist but had failed affinity tests, Roberts had unintentionally found something else. The compound closely resembled the natural substrate for the rate-limiting enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the molecule in question and just might work as an inhibitor. Roberts followed his hunch, and it looked like he hit the jackpot. Kim was overjoyed and quickly appointed Roberts as project head to oversee the compound development. Roberts couldn't believe his luck. From discovering the compound, getting a new project, and being selected as its head—well, Roberts thought, it almost seems miraculous. Then Tim Rankle showed up. Meeting Tim Rankle . . .