Assignment

Scenario:

An emergency meeting was called in London by John SmytheHeathering, the Executive Director of Corporate Services, when the 2015 numbers came out for the business. Sales dropped 7% overall in a quarterly downward spiral with the largest portion of decline having been in the American division at 3.8%. The move to "Business First" in America prevented the loss from being as great as 6.5%. This change helped but not enough to overcome the full 6.5%. The competition continues to make inroads into the business not just in America but Asia as well.

The purpose of the emergency meeting is to discuss the decline in sales and make whatever decisions necessary to reverse the trend with immediate implementation. The question before the group is how do we reverse the downward trend? A competitive edge is necessary. As 21st century leaders, the Executive Directors realize that five challenges have to be examined if they are to find ways keep the company running at a profit. Further, they know that as company leaders they will have to lead the change required to make the recommendations work.

In the emergency meeting, the Directors decided that they needed professional help. They turn to you, a leadership consultant to help them discover ways in which they can improve sales of the company and set the company up for long term financial health.

Required Elements for Assignment 3:

Students will write a business memo that:

1. Explains each leadership challenge facing the 21st century leader: adaptability, sustainability, innovation, knowledge management, and globalization and the relationship each has to developing a competitive edge in business today;

2. Using the company profile, evaluates GDD's current status regarding each of these challenges;

3. After completing the analysis of the business, make at least two practical recommendations for each leadership challenge that will put GDD on the path to financial success and explain the reasoning for doing so;

4. Selects one of the challenges for which you made recommendations and explain how the Executive Directors, as change agents, will go about implementing the recommendations made.

All responses must be supported using data from the company profile, attached scenario, and/or required reference list.

Requirements:

1. 8-pages
2. Double Spaced
3. Four Headings (listed above)
4. Answers supported by in-text citations and refereces
5. Memo Format
6. Times New Roman
7. Answers must be supported by data from the Scenario and Company Profile
8. Must be written in the 3rd person

Required References

• http://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/the-leadership-role/
• https://sesincblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/21/why-making-your-business-more-sustainable-doesnt-have-to-be-expensive-or-hard/
• http://www.csc.mnscu.edu/docs/LeadingChange.pdf