Critical Thinking
AMBA 610: Critical Thinking Assignment
Simon neil Corporate Solutions
Memo
To: Mr. Ldo Perdra (CEO, SSCS)
From: Mr. Augustin (Vice-President of Human Resources)
CC: None (Confidential)
Date: March 18, 2012
Re: Leadership-Development Programs
This is in response to your request for our office to evaluate the merit of Ms. Mitchell’s proposal that we establish and fund a new leadership-development program for our high-potential fourth-year associates.
1.0 Background
At the 2012 year-end senior-management offsite, the director of operations suggested that Simpson Seiler Corporate Solutions (SSCS) establish a leadership-development program to prepare our high-potential fourth-year associates for future advancement into executive positions. Specifically, the proposal was to send 15 employees off-site each year for a three-week program offered by the Irwin Corey Leadership Center at a cost of $7,000.00 USD per student. The total cost to SSCS would be $105,000.00 per year plus approximately the same amount for lost time on the job.
2.0 Discussion
SSCS has been in business for over 75 years. Our average growth rate is 14% per annum. None of our ten senior executives has attended a leadership development seminar and yet our company has been prosperous. This calls into question whether a leadership-development program is even necessary. Moreover, since our leadership has been successful and effective without such programs it appears that leaders are born, not made. In fact, I surveyed your senior staff and all but one agreed with this notion. To quote the famous economist Dr. Julian Andrews, each of us is “born into this world accompanied by a rich, psychical disposition, which furnishes him ready-made all his motivations of conduct… . He can show a demand for nothing that is not prompted by this galaxy of instincts.”
The online reference site Wikipedia defines leadership as “the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and
Simon neil Corporate Solutions
Memo
To: Mr. Ldo Perdra (CEO, SSCS)
From: Mr. Augustin (Vice-President of Human Resources)
CC: None (Confidential)
Date: March 18, 2012
Re: Leadership-Development Programs
This is in response to your request for our office to evaluate the merit of Ms. Mitchell’s proposal that we establish and fund a new leadership-development program for our high-potential fourth-year associates.
1.0 Background
At the 2012 year-end senior-management offsite, the director of operations suggested that Simpson Seiler Corporate Solutions (SSCS) establish a leadership-development program to prepare our high-potential fourth-year associates for future advancement into executive positions. Specifically, the proposal was to send 15 employees off-site each year for a three-week program offered by the Irwin Corey Leadership Center at a cost of $7,000.00 USD per student. The total cost to SSCS would be $105,000.00 per year plus approximately the same amount for lost time on the job.
2.0 Discussion
SSCS has been in business for over 75 years. Our average growth rate is 14% per annum. None of our ten senior executives has attended a leadership development seminar and yet our company has been prosperous. This calls into question whether a leadership-development program is even necessary. Moreover, since our leadership has been successful and effective without such programs it appears that leaders are born, not made. In fact, I surveyed your senior staff and all but one agreed with this notion. To quote the famous economist Dr. Julian Andrews, each of us is “born into this world accompanied by a rich, psychical disposition, which furnishes him ready-made all his motivations of conduct… . He can show a demand for nothing that is not prompted by this galaxy of instincts.”
The online reference site Wikipedia defines leadership as “the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and