Tents-R-Us Case Study
HRM10088 Leadership in a Changing Environment
Case Study Week 4: Leadership Practice in Tents-r-Us
Tents-r-Us is a hospitality sector organisation specialising in the hire of marquees and related services for large corporate and private events. The company was founded by entrepreneur Peter Ridge in 1999 and has grown from a small rental company to one which provides a `total package` service including for example events planning and management, catering and entertainment. The company is based in Edinburgh although their services are available Scotland wide. The company plans to expand business into northern England.
Peter Ridge maintains a hands-on presence in the day to day management of the company as well as providing strategic vision as the Managing Director. Ridge has employed several members of his family in his growing business and his top down command and control style has resulted in several family disputes around respective roles in the organisation. In a recent dispute concerning details of the company`s mission statement Ridge berated his wife in front of staff ending with a general warning for all that he `is in charge round here, I built the company and I will decide what happens`. The incident left all concerned upset and Ridge has since attempted to be more inclusive in his leadership style.
More recently Ridge has looked to employ `outsiders` in order to broaden the knowledge and expertise bank of the company and to enable him to stand back from operational management. Consequently the company is undergoing great change through which Ridge aims to strengthen his personal position and maintain his preferred autocratic leadership style.
As part of its growth strategy Tents-r-Us now requires the recruitment of a marketing executive who will join the senior management team and lead on the expanded marketing strategy of the company. From an open advert there are two shortlisted candidates:
Mhairi Kee is an experienced marketeer (15 years) within
Case Study Week 4: Leadership Practice in Tents-r-Us
Tents-r-Us is a hospitality sector organisation specialising in the hire of marquees and related services for large corporate and private events. The company was founded by entrepreneur Peter Ridge in 1999 and has grown from a small rental company to one which provides a `total package` service including for example events planning and management, catering and entertainment. The company is based in Edinburgh although their services are available Scotland wide. The company plans to expand business into northern England.
Peter Ridge maintains a hands-on presence in the day to day management of the company as well as providing strategic vision as the Managing Director. Ridge has employed several members of his family in his growing business and his top down command and control style has resulted in several family disputes around respective roles in the organisation. In a recent dispute concerning details of the company`s mission statement Ridge berated his wife in front of staff ending with a general warning for all that he `is in charge round here, I built the company and I will decide what happens`. The incident left all concerned upset and Ridge has since attempted to be more inclusive in his leadership style.
More recently Ridge has looked to employ `outsiders` in order to broaden the knowledge and expertise bank of the company and to enable him to stand back from operational management. Consequently the company is undergoing great change through which Ridge aims to strengthen his personal position and maintain his preferred autocratic leadership style.
As part of its growth strategy Tents-r-Us now requires the recruitment of a marketing executive who will join the senior management team and lead on the expanded marketing strategy of the company. From an open advert there are two shortlisted candidates:
Mhairi Kee is an experienced marketeer (15 years) within