Management and leadership II

Résumé du document

A chemist recently discovered an unsuspected highly toxic effluent, issued from the production of a new chemical product that the company dumps into the Mississippi which the actual filtration system completely fails to filter out. Let us find out the main alternatives to cope with the situation. Before finding a definitive solution, there are two options. Stop the production of the chemical product that generates the toxic effluent or keep producing the chemical product that engenders the toxic effluent. Because of the geographical location of the firm, there is a huge risk that some people might die of poisoning. This will lead authorities to open an inquiry and discover that the company is the source of the emission of the poison. As a consequence, the authorities and families of the victims will issue a writ against the firm that will probably be condemned to pay huge compensations and, in the same perspective; the management of the factory will perhaps be convicted. We look into the details and consequences of this action in this document.

Extraits

[...] In an attempt to make this strategy become a success, it will first be required to use an appropriate communication within the factory in order to inform the workforce of the problem and of the stakes that it implies as well as of the goals that we will try to achieve. Using a speaker can be very useful in this kind of situation. Then, I will decide to allocate resources and workers to work on these two projects in agreement with the middle-managers of the factory that will analyze the feasibility of the two projects. For instance, it will be necessary to create a working team that has a high level of reliability. [...]

[...] But, people generally accept, trust and find interest in the solutions I provide or propose. Furthermore, I pay particularly attention to decisions that concerns people, because people's welfare is for me more important than money. Last but not least, I was born in Strasbourg, which is on the border with Germany, I lived there and I travelled a lot, it allowed me to develop and improve my inter-cultural skills, my critical and analytical spirit and a part of my creativity. [...]

[...] Management and leadership II Questions Question 1 Read the following scenario about discovery of a toxic effluent by the firm's chemist. You are the manager and must decide how to respond to the discovery of the unsuspected toxic by-product. You are manager of a small chemical plant North of St Louis. For years, your firm dumped its untreated effluents into the Mississippi as a matter of everyday business. Recently, Environmental Protection Agency standards have required you to install a treatment system to minimize the level of several specific contaminants. [...]

[...] Therefore, I hope that with time the situation will evolve and that I will have more tasks and people under my leadership. In addition, regarding my leadership style, even if I have a degree in animation and if I am more an extravert than an introvert, it is rather based on facts, experiences, and logical opinions than on an innate sense of leadership. The only thing we can link to my personality is my sense of creativity. Indeed, generally speaking, people follow me or are gathered around me because of my opinions and experiences. [...]

[...] And in order to create a huge commitment, it will be necessary to create stimulation and comfort within the team. And this level of stimulation will be achieved through the stake itself, through a high level of empowerment (according to the level of competences of the team members) as well as through a bonus that will decrease as time goes by (this will encourage team members to be proactive and to find rapidly a solution). Moreover, I will also particularly have to care the employees' expectations in order to generate a positive work environment. [...]