The Road to Hell
The Road To Hell (Case Analysis)
I. Summary
The case “The Road To Hell” is a story of two characters: John Baker, “an English expatriate and the chief engineer of the Caribbean Bauxite Company of Barracania in the West Indies” and Matthew Rennalls - a Barracanian and who is also Baker’s assistant and successor. Before relocating to another job as a production manager, John Baker conducted an interview with Matthew Rennalls to appoint him the chief engineer’s position and to solve a complaint of his rudeness to the Europeans. The interview did not go well as Baker had expected. Matthew has misunderstood all John’s wishes and advices. As a result, Rennalls has resigned.
II. The Problem
Misunderstanding causes worse work productivity.
III. Cast Of Characters
a. 1. John Baker; chief engineer of the Caribbean Bauxite Company of Barracania in the West Indies; 45 years old; “an English expatriate, who had served 23 years with Continental Ore in the Far East, several African countries, Europe and, for the last 2 years, the West Indies”.
2. Matthew Rennalls; assistant engineer of the Carribean Bauxite Company of Barracania in the West Indies; 35 years old; B.S. degree in engineering from the University of London; one of the brightest Barracanian prospects of Caribbean Bauxite.
b. 1. Continental Ore; a privately held trading group; one of the most highly respected international marketing companies in the field of industrial raw materials.
IV. Chronology
1. Rennalls has written the letter of his resignation
2. Rennalls accuses Baker in racism
3. Baker and Rennalls interview
4. Baker’s promotion to production manager of Keso Mining Corporation
V. Issues
The main barrier to the problem solving is misunderstanding between people with different nationalities and cultures. In this case Baker made a huge mistake building his interview from his own European perspective. Through the interview Baker emphasized the importance and leading position of
I. Summary
The case “The Road To Hell” is a story of two characters: John Baker, “an English expatriate and the chief engineer of the Caribbean Bauxite Company of Barracania in the West Indies” and Matthew Rennalls - a Barracanian and who is also Baker’s assistant and successor. Before relocating to another job as a production manager, John Baker conducted an interview with Matthew Rennalls to appoint him the chief engineer’s position and to solve a complaint of his rudeness to the Europeans. The interview did not go well as Baker had expected. Matthew has misunderstood all John’s wishes and advices. As a result, Rennalls has resigned.
II. The Problem
Misunderstanding causes worse work productivity.
III. Cast Of Characters
a. 1. John Baker; chief engineer of the Caribbean Bauxite Company of Barracania in the West Indies; 45 years old; “an English expatriate, who had served 23 years with Continental Ore in the Far East, several African countries, Europe and, for the last 2 years, the West Indies”.
2. Matthew Rennalls; assistant engineer of the Carribean Bauxite Company of Barracania in the West Indies; 35 years old; B.S. degree in engineering from the University of London; one of the brightest Barracanian prospects of Caribbean Bauxite.
b. 1. Continental Ore; a privately held trading group; one of the most highly respected international marketing companies in the field of industrial raw materials.
IV. Chronology
1. Rennalls has written the letter of his resignation
2. Rennalls accuses Baker in racism
3. Baker and Rennalls interview
4. Baker’s promotion to production manager of Keso Mining Corporation
V. Issues
The main barrier to the problem solving is misunderstanding between people with different nationalities and cultures. In this case Baker made a huge mistake building his interview from his own European perspective. Through the interview Baker emphasized the importance and leading position of