Assignment 3: She’ll always be my little sister case study (CO1, ILO B.IS.1)
Read “She’ll Always be My Little Sister” on page 84. What should Dorothy and Martin
do next? Support your opinion with theories and concepts from the reading
materials.
Minimum 2 pages
Minimum 2 scholarly sources
APA format
CASE 4 SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS “SHE’LL Always be My Little Sister”
Martin Schmidt is the second-generation owner and manager of a construction company that builds
office towers. He is in his late 50s and recently became concerned about his daughter, Dorothy, and her
increasing desire to join the family business. Marty’s middle child, Robert, has been with Schmidt Works
for four years and is widely viewed as Marty’s likely successor. Marty’s other child, his oldest son, moved
far from home after a falling-out with his father. Marty’s wife is not involved in the business.
Marty admits that Dorothy is well prepared for a career with Schmidt Works. She has studied at Ivy
League schools, has worked successfully in a multinational conglomerate, and holds an MBA. When
Marty was asked about his reservations about Dorothy’s joining the firm, he replied: “I’m scared to bring
her into the company. I know she’s qualified, but I just can’t see my Dotty leading and giving orders.
She’s a good girl, and I know that no one in this business will listen to her.”
Bobby shares his father’s opinion that Schmidt Works is not “the right place for Dotty.” He says: “Idon’t
see her working in this industry—it’s physically exhausting work. I’m afraid she’ll fail, and she isn’t able to
handle failure. She’ll always be my little sister—I’ll never get over that. I just want to protect her, and
Idon’t have time to hold her hand. Her insistence on joining the business is beginning to irritate me.”
Dorothy says: “I’ve always wanted to be in the business, and as a family member, I should be allowed to
join. My only problem is getting my father and brother to take me seriously. If I present some expert’s
idea, they listen, but my opinion is usually overlooked and not discussed. I feel frustrated and a little
hopeless about even things I’m confident about.”
What should Dorothy do in this situation? And what should Martin’s next step be?
Reprinted with permission from The Family Firm Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
This case study of a family-business dilemma is part of a series by the Family Firm Institute edited by
Ernesto J. Poza. The cases are real, but identities have been changed to protect the privacy of the
individuals involved.
(Poza 84-85)
Poza, Ernesto J. Family Business, 4th Edition. Cengage Learning, 20130128. VitalBook file.
The citation provided is a guideline. Please check each citation for accuracy before use.
