Introduction
This paper is devoted to the review of candidates and the selection of a suitable person for the position of Executive Vice President to lead Tasty Products’ new Energy Bars Division. The ideal individual must possess strong leadership and management skills while communicating well with clients. In addition, it is vital that the chosen professional shares the values of the team and the culture of Tasty Products.
The ability to understand the atmosphere of the company is critically necessary, as it contributes to the effectiveness of its work (Lumen, Module 8: Groups, Teams, and Teamwork. Why It Matters: Groups, Teams, and Teamwork, para. 4). In order to make the right choice that will contribute to the company’s success, the leadership style and management skills of each professional will be evaluated. This paper will conclude by recommending the best person for the position and explaining the rejection of the others.
Management Skills
T. J. Max, having 13 years of experience at Star Lite Foods, showed impressive results by moving up the ranks and eventually becoming Vice President of the New Product Design and Marketing Department. By following the progress of this candidate in various positions, it is possible to assert solid managerial skills. In the company context, this plays a vital role since a candidate who understands strategies can work more effectively in a competitive environment (Lumen, Module 4: Environments and Strategic Management. Stages and types of strategy, para. 1). In addition, she emphasizes the importance of teamwork and confirms her leadership philosophy in practice, valuing the contribution of each employee.
L.L. Bean demonstrates a successful growth case, as Bean’s Frozen Foods evolved into a company with an annual profit of $360 million. While the numbers are remarkable, one must also note his hands-on approach and management focus, that are essential aspects of the position being discussed (Lumen, Module 1: Introduction to Management. Why It Matters: Introduction to Management, para. 2). Having already worked at Tasty Products for 12 years, J.C. Penney has a clear vision of the business goals and has excellent experience in quality control. Although he is a good problem solver, his sales experience is less than the previous candidates.
Leadership Skills
Speaking about leadership qualities, it is worth noting that, besides practical skills, this requires certain predispositions. T. J. Max is capable of creative approaches and incorporating innovative ideas. In her position at Star Lite Foods, she demonstrated the ability to collaborate and involve local vendors in the supply chain, which indicates a decent level of leadership skills. L.L. Bean has significant leadership potential, which is reinforced by his existing experience, particularly in driving team growth. For the discussed position of Executive Vice President, his willingness to take risks and a doer approach are essential because they will help inspire the team.
Furthermore, J.C. Penney enjoys respect among employees and positions himself as an even-handed team member. His mentoring approach to leadership can significantly affect knowledge-sharing and the level of trust in a positive way (Mishra & Pandey, 2019, p. 16, para. 3). While he places notable emphasis on data and research, his insufficient expertise in sales does not meet the position’s requirements. Nonetheless, when considering the suitability of candidates, it is worth assuming not only the number of years of current experience but also the potential that can be revealed in a new position.
Leadership Style
Each professional develops their leadership style based on the skills they possess and the chosen approach. Thus, T.J. Max demonstrates openness and profoundly appreciates the transparency of communication in the team, which contributes to creating comfortable conditions for all its members (Cui, 2021, p. 5, para. 2). Her focus on collaboration and ensuring a shared vision of the ultimate goal is a distinguishing attribute of an effective leader who values the contribution of each employee.
The leadership style of L.L. Bean is concentrated on directness and energy, which enables the coordination of active decisions and the relatively quick implementation of ideas. Emphasizing the importance of risk-taking, he challenges the employees and encourages efficiency and innovation. Instead, J.C. Penney follows a more thoughtful leadership style, focusing on detailed planning. He pursues an ethically driven approach and bases team performance on research and data analysis.
Candidate Recommendation
After carefully considering the characteristics, experience, and skills of each candidate and comparing their suitability, it was decided to offer L.L. Bean the position of Executive Vice President. The preference favoring his candidacy is based on excellent entrepreneurial skills, a hands-on leadership style, and a focus on continuous improvement. His experience of founding Bean’s Frozen Health in the basement is impressive and proves he is not afraid to conquer heights in business and create competition in the market.
The leadership style of L.L. Bean serves as a driving force and motivates for collaborative success. His ability to communicate the vision and clearly outline the plan to achieve the goal will be essential in the new division within Tasty Products (Lumen, Module 3: Planning and Mission. The planning cycle, para. 2). In addition, the willingness to take risks meets the conditions and challenges that the launch of a new product line poses.
Despite the clarity of the manager’s vision and strict attitude to leadership, his communication style with the team is primarily informal. Involvement and interaction foster a shared vision and ensure comfortable working conditions. While other candidates, T.J. Max and J.C. Penney, have decent skills and bright potential, their strengths make them more suitable for other positions.
Rejected Candidates
T. J. Max became the second candidate on the list for the position in question since she has excellent marketing skills and decent personal characteristics. Her willingness and desire to implement innovative solutions perfectly correlate with the launch of a new product line. However, the Executive Vice President position requires more convincing skills, particularly in the context of product development and leadership (Akdere & Egan, 2020, p. 6, para. 4). The third individual proposed, J.C. Penney, focuses on data-driven solutions and research, which is valuable in the Executive Vice President position. Nevertheless, more critical to launching a new product are marketing skills, where J.C. Penney’s knowledge is lacking.
Conclusion
Selecting the appropriate candidate for the role of Executive Vice President of Tasty Products’ Energy Bars Division proved to be a complex task, necessitating the evaluation of multiple factors. It is worth noting that all candidates discussed in this paper have excellent skills and characteristics and could contribute to the success of the product launch. Nevertheless, the ideal professional was selected whose skills and knowledge meet the requirements and whose values are aligned with those of the corporation (Lumen, Module 8).
The recommendation of L.L. Bean is based on factors that include management and leadership alongside personal strengths. While T.J. Max and J.C. Penney are strong and competitive, their work features make them more suitable for other areas. Thus, L.L. Bean not only fits the set points, but its values and approach correlate with the company’s vision.
References
Akdere, M., & Egan, T. (2020). Transformational leadership and human resource development: Linking employee learning, job satisfaction, and organizational performance. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 31(4), 393-421.
Cui, Y. (2021). The role of emotional intelligence in workplace transparency and open communication. Aggression and Violent Behavior.
Lumen. (n.d.). Stages and Types of Strategy.
Lumen. (n.d.). The Planning Cycle.
Lumen. (n.d.). Why It Matters: Groups, Teams, and Teamwork.
Lumen. (n.d.). Why It Matters: Introduction to Management.
Mishra, M., & Pandey, A. (2019). The impact of leadership styles on knowledge-sharing behavior: A review of literature. Development and Learning in Organizations: An International Journal, 33(1), 16-19.