Identify and discuss the management skills

In this project, you will demonstrate an understanding of management and leadership skills and leadership styles.  You will read a case scenario and apply what you have learned to make a recommendation for a new position with Wonder Products.

Outcome Met by Completing This Assignment

• demonstrate leadership skills by communicating a shared vision, motivating and empowering others, and creating a culture of ethical decision-making and innovation

How to Set Up the Paper

Create a Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document that is double-spaced using 12-point font.  The final product will be 3-4 pages in length excluding the title page and reference page.  Write clearly and concisely.

Create a title page with a title, course number and section, your name and the instructor’s name.

Scenario

You are currently working as an associate reporting to the Senior Lead Consultant for Management Consultants.  The Senior Lead Consultant has been contacted by Paula Stiles, head of Human Resources for Wonder Products. Wonder Products currently produces and distributes organic food products to major retailers such as Whole Foods that in turn are sold to the public.  Wonder Products has decided to start producing and distributing a line of all-natural energy bars with its existing contracted clients.  Paula explained that she has been working to complete the initial phase of the planning process for a new division within the company that will be called the Energy Bars Division.

As Wonder Products launches the Energy Bars Division to design, develop and deliver energy bars, the company will need to bring in a Senior Manager to manage and lead this division and will be responsible for bringing the division together to operate as a well-oiled machine.  The desire is that the new Senior Director for the Energy Bars Division have both management and leadership traits and will be open to innovative ways to create products that contain all-natural products that help maintain steady blood sugar levels.  These products will not only be popular among the traditional Wonder Products customer base, but also will be the face of the organization when marketing company products.

The Senior Lead Consultant has asked you to help conduct a candidate search for the position of Senior Director for the Energy Bars Division.

Partnering with Number One Management Consultants, Paula will be vetting three potential candidates who will be expected to jump in and begin the development of management plans that will be used to establish the new division.  The transcripts from the interviews of the three potential candidates have been given to the Management Consultants team who will help Paula.  The new Senior Director will be a Manager of the 21st Century who will be able to instill the culture, value and traditions of Wonder Products into the employees hired as managers and employees.

In the beginning, the Senior Director will be the face of Wonder Products’ marketing brand.  In addition, the new Senior Director will need to be able to motivate not only the employee base of these new products but also motivate a new customer base for Wonder Products on the ‘difference’ Wonder Products will bring to the Energy Bars industry.   Currently, the Energy Bars industry consists of many well-established companies, and a strong entry will be key to grab market share.  Innovative and well-made products, good marketing, and a clear strategy will be critical to a strong entry, so bringing in a strong director will be key.

Candidate Summary of Transcripts

Nancy Drew

Nancy has spent the past 20 years working for Star Lite Foods, a mid-sized vegetarian food company currently operating out of Arizona, which recently was bought by a large health food company looking to expand to Energy Bars.  For the past three years Nancy has served as the Vice President of the New Product Design and Marketing Department where, according to her statements in the interview, she oversaw a team of workers who made decisions about what products to pursue and the amount of marketing each product should receive.  Nancy admitted that she likes to delegate because she feels her team of workers need the freedom to make choices.  Nancy boasted that the team was instrumental in helping Star Lite gain a double-figure increase in market share.  Before being named as a vice president for Star Lite, Nancy worked for 10 years as a Regional Manager in Idaho responsible for sourcing vegetables from regional farms.  During her run as a Regional Manager she was responsible for making visits farms to help develop a whole farm business plan.  This type of business plan provides a 30,000-foot perspective to helps family farm businesses develop a vision and mission to keep the operations on course.  She credited her success in that role to her ability to get local farmers to work together to develop cooperative opportunities between farms.  Instead of farmers working independently, they had the benefit of group decision making.  A program was implements called, Community Communications created by Nancy to keep farmers apprised of the latest news in farming and to encourage the building of relationships.  Nancy utilized the assistance of her staff to set up a blog, a website for members of the farming community with the latest up-to-date sources of information for farming learning initiatives, activities and strategic goals and plans.  The latest initiative was to implement social media channels for news and information.  The previous seven years with the company were spent climbing the corporate ladder starting with the company in the production line at the Michigan plant where the company got its start.  During her interview Nancy suggested that Wonder Products should consider getting into the Energy Bars industry with less focus on sustainability and green initiatives as it can be a difficult industry for new entrants.  Nancy proposed focusing on making quality products that can be sourced from local vendors.  She stated that once established, the company could initiate a move to being more environmentally and attentive to the well-being of consumers.   Nancy proudly stated that she likes to surround herself with good people whose behavior is better than hers.  In her cover letter, Nancy stated that she is an experienced executive with a successful track record.

Dane Evers

Dane Evers started Evers Vegetarian Foods 12 years ago that currently has $400M in annual sales.  In a recent acquisition, Wonder Products agreed to purchase Evers Vegetarian Foods.  As part of the settlement, Dane was promised a senior position with Wonder Products.  The agreement also made accommodations for several of the key managers and employees to work for Wonder Products as Dane expressed his gratitude and respect for these employees who were highly skilled, educated and experienced employees.  In the interview, Dane shared that he encourages these staff members to get involved in both major and minor discussions stating that he like to think of the business as a family.  Everyone calls each other by their first names and Dane indicated that everyone is willing to roll up their sleeves to meet deadlines.  Dane admitted that while he depends on the people that comprise Evers Vegetarian Foods, that he likes to be immersed in the business and always wants to stay informed as to what is happening with every department.  He laughed and indicated that likes to know the facts so that the most rational decisions can be made.  He also shared that he has limited experience with Marketing but believes that he believes that since he has been leading Evers Vegetarian Foods through its growth that he could easily manage Wonder Products into a new venture.  Dane  feels confident he is the best candidate and is a front runner for the position.