WEEK 8- Creating a Competitive Edge
Learning Activity # 1
You are the CEO of a medium-sized solar panel firm located
in California. The company has been
doing well so far but new regulations and rising taxes are hurting the profit
margin.
You have been negotiating with the Governor a tax reduction
because of the company’s green status.
You would like to stay in California for the sake of the employees and
the small town, which benefits largely from the company’s presence in the
area. However, talks with the Governor
do not look promising.
Two of your major competitors have left the state and are
now located in areas where taxes and wages are considerably cheaper. These businesses are already cutting their
prices and have taken away one of your major clients. While you have a new product line due out in
eight months, which will create a disruption in the marketplace, the wait may
be too costly.
You are considering moving the business to New Mexico and
have been in negotiations with the Governor there, and it looks almost too good
to be true. The two other members of the
leadership team are aware of the pending move.
Your employees however, do not know of the discussion and the possible
move that may require them to relocate or lose their job. It is time to break the news and get everyone
on board.
Explain in a memo to your leadership team how and when you
want the news to be known to the staff.
Detail the way the news should be broken and by whom.
Discuss how competitive edge relates to the decision and its
importance to timing for the move.
Provide suggestions to the others as to how to handle the
feedback you will get from the news.
Learning Activity #2
Compare the vision you had of a “leader” when you
started the course and the vision you have today. Be specific in your
description.
Address the role of social architect in the 21st century,
the characteristics, and perspective of the leader as you have come to
understand them from the class reading, concepts and ideas presented.
What are the major differences between the two visions and
therefore the major ideas you will take away from this course?
