Does Eric’s background assist in his assessment of the problems he faces?
The first problem that Eric was facing was the meeting that he was to have with Fred Banks at 10 am. Fred, a long time employee of Text-Mark had been repatriated to India for an assignment that was to last for 18 months. After this assignment, he was promised to be re-assigned back to his home in San Antonio. However, it has been over 3 years and he is still based in India. Fred is furious because his promise has never been realized despite the position at San Antonio being open for several occasions. Despite his lack of respect for people of other races, I would have considered bringing Fred back to the United States since he has been working for a long time for the company, and given his age, he should be preparing for retirement.
Eric is also facing the problem of explaining to the director of the firm. This is because he plans to propose a change in the current training and development policy of expatriates and managers that are to occupy various stations given their expansion into Asia. The current plan has been designed to limit the expenses that the company will incur. However, Eric believes that a rigorous training and development exercise will result in a desirable outcome.
At the meeting, I would have given a detailed explanation to the director regarding the amendments that I am proposing to the training and development plan and the impacts that they will have on the employees. Once the director realizes that the modified plan is more effective and will have desirable results, in the long run, I believe he will endorse it.
Would you have approached this situation differently? If so, what benefits would your different approach provide for Tex-Mark?
I believe that Eric’s background plays a significant role in the decisions that he is made about the problems that he is facing. Eric has traveled around the world and has diverse work experience. He is therefore capable of understanding the needs of individuals and Text-Mark hence leading to his decisions. However, if I were Eric, I would have approached the situation differently. First, I would have considered the fact that Fred Banks is old. Secondly, I would have confidence in myself and present my proposal to the director. These decisions will support my skills and experience as a leader.