Case Study

Joan Salmon is the 35 year old daughter of Garret Salmon the owner of a medium sized party invitation company "Invitations Inc." Joan has recently received a degree from UMUC in Business Management and is anxious to take over her father's company. She is a single mother, very attractive but a little retiring in her manner. She and her father have been planning her take over for several years, ever since her ex-husband left the business after their divorce, an event that did not go unnoticed within the company. Joan has always worked in some capacity within the company but never in a serious leadership role. She is simply known as the "boss' daughter". Joan and her father have agreed that she will take over as CEO in the next two months. No one knows of this decision.

Having taken BMGT 365 Joan realizes that she has her work cut out for her if she is to be a good company leader. The first thing she has to do is take stock of the company. This is what she sees. The company has netted 1.5 million in sales for the last two years with no growth rate. Costs have, however, increased by 3 percent. The company produces and sells a variety of invitation styles at different price points but her most popular items seem to be either the "budget" invitations or the "high end" expensive paper products. Her sales people have traditionally only sold to card stores or stationers. The company has never sought to sell directly to the customer. Joan would like to explore the online market for future growth potential. In addition to the new markets, Joan would like to revamp the company image and marketing plans. Joan's father the current CEO, was approached by a Singapore firm who would like ‘Invitations Inc." to go into a joint venture with them to set up a separate web store that will sell invitations to Asia with local stores in Singapore. Joan and her father are uncomfortable with the approach because they lack understanding of the Asian culture but do see a great business opportunity.

There is another issue that is on Joan's business agenda. The company is located in Kent, Washington one of the largest lumber towns in the country. Being close to the paper source has saved money in the past for the company but now pressure is on to seek "green" methods of production. A recent article in the Kent County Gazette challenged "Invitation Inc." to get in touch with their "green side."

The business side seems solid right now but her father has never really changed things since he started the business forty years ago. He has managed his way to success. Her father... Joan thought is another matter. What is his role going to be? He jokingly says that he wants to go into "semi-retirement" but never really says what that means. In fact Joan's not really sure that he wants to retire. When she asks him what role he wants his reply is "I have just one request don't make me a figurehead. I would rather retire completely. You choose the job or have me retire either way I will do what you want. It is your show now sweetheart." Garret Salmon is an extrovert through and through. He always wants to be near the action and thrives on running the company. His open personality and hands-on style has made the business what it is now. Joan knows this but her role growing up as the "I'll do any job girl" has made her privy to lots of company gossip. She heard the new middle management staff of which there are three, two men and one woman, say he is nice but too controlling while others like the Vice President and CFO, men who have been with him for the last 25 years, have given up trying to think for themselves and just go with his flow. Where do I put my father? I need to establish myself and my style with these people. I want to make big changes and I have to get them on board. Yet, I don't want to lose my father's knowledge and enthusiasm. I don't want to lose him altogether.

After reading the case study, create a leadership plan. In creating the leadership plan, discuss the daughter and father in terms of the following required elements:

1. Leadership role

2. Leader as individual

3. Social architect

4. Change agent

Ø Father as a manager with short-term goal orientation

Ø Daughter as a leader with long-term goal orientation

5. Relationship builder

6. How can the daughter and father use the concept of moral compass to give direction to the implementation of a vision and contribute to the success and sustainability of the company?