- Adam Baker is currently the COO of Straus Event Specialists but had previously been CEO of Tallyrymple, which encountered difficulties. - Adam wants to be CEO of SES's new hotel venture but his mentor Merwyn feels he does not have the right skills for the role based on his past experience. - Adam must decide whether to push Merwyn for the CEO role or accept his decision, risking damage to their relationship.

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2. SUMMARY
• Adam Baker , currently the COO of Straus
Event Specialists(SES), had a prior
experience as a CEO in Tallyrymple.
• Adam Baker is currently peturbed with the
reply of his mentor & the CEO, Merwyn
Straus.
• Merwyn feels that Adam does not rank on the
higher end when it comes to the PERSON-
JOB FIT analysis for the position being
discussed. 2
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3. SUMMARY
• Tallyrymple had become embroiled in a turf
war with an aggressive company that didn’t
distinguish between ethical and unethical
behavior
• Merwyn Straus had eventually bought
Tallyrymple at a bargain price and
absorbed it.
• Merwyn hired Adam and treated him like a
son more than a mentor or a boss.
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4. SUMMARY
• Adam Baker is a quick learner and extremely
passionate towards his work. He is known for
his qualities of far sightedness and empathy.
• He strongly believed in the “Present
Concept”; showed up, did the work and
fulfilled expectations on time.
• The acquisition of the hotel chain, although a
highly profitable one, was a new venture for
SES who had no prior expertise on the same.
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5. SUMMARY
• Merwyn is portrayed as being a principled
and experienced man. Adam respects him
and appreciates his mentorship. To push for
the job is to question Merwyn’s judgment.
By doing so the bond of trust is stretched,
making it that much more prone to breaking.
• Adam is confronted with two decisions
whether to confront Merwyn and use the
debt to his advantage or accept whatever
Merwyn has decided for him.
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6. SUMMARY
• Before Adam puts forward his request,
Merwyn expresses his wish that Adam
won’t use Merwyn’s debt of the new hotel
venture to his advantage.
• Should Adam ask Merwyn to make him
CEO of the new venture?
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7. ISSUES
• Adam’s failure due to lack of right skill
and expertise is foreseen by Merwyn
and forms the basis of his judgement of
not allowing him to proceed as the new
CEO
• Adam Baker had a regretful past during
his tenure as CEO of Tallyrymple due to
which Merwyn is skeptical regarding his
decision to make Adam the CEO of the
new hotel chain venture .
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8. ISSUES
• Adam Baker is confused whether or not
to ask Merwyn to make him the CEO of
his new venture. He is calculating the
chances of a win-win, win-lose or a
no- win situation.
• If not made CEO, Adam faces the
dilemma whether to continue as COO or
quit his current job and risk ruining his
relationship with Merwyn.
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9. POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES
• He goes ahead and asks the question as
he feels Merwyn is testing and baiting
him to see if Adam has it in him to
become a shark.
• Adam needs to critically assess himself
and his abilities. The position of the CEO
for the new Hotel venture requires a
specific set of responsibilities and
qualities.
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10. POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES
• Adam should analyze whether he has learned
from the Tallyrymple incident and whether he
is in a good position to take on this new
challenge in his own leadership style.
• Meet Merwyn and review his work
performance: what areas he is competent and
what area needs to be developed.
• Adam should request him to make him the
TO-BE-CEO on a specific appointed date
during which he will work on his shortcomings
as the CEO. 10
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11. • Merwyn can foresee Adam falling under
the “Peter Principle” in the eyes of the
other employees.
• The principle holds that in a hierarchy,
members are promoted so long as they
work competently. Eventually they are
promoted to a position at which they are no
longer competent (their "level of
incompetence"), and there they remain,
being unable to earn further promotions.
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POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES

12. • Strength
 Visionary
 Good natured and hence can
influence people
 Strong work ethic
 Not an egotist
 Situation different from before as
then he was young and
inexperienced
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SW ANALYSIS

13. • Weakness
 Lacking sufficient self confidence &
aggression
 Prior bad experience at Tallyrymple
 His niceness may led people to take
advantage of him
 Possibility of strained relations with
Merwyn
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SW ANALYSIS

14. BEST SOLUTION
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MANAGEMENT RAIPUR
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15. BEST SOLUTION
• Merwyn hasn’t yet mentioned his choice
of the new CEO although he mentions
Adam as the number 2, he makes no
clarifications on whether he has a
number 1 in mind or not.
• Merwyn could hence be testing Adam to
see whether he can overcome his
shortcomings and prove himself worthy
of the position.
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16. BEST SOLUTION
• The Best Solution from the possible
alternatives would be to request for a
TO-BE-CEO position.
• Adam should then sit down and discuss
with Merwyn on the core competencies
that he needs to develop and constantly
improve on a regular basis, thus proving
his zeal and enthusiasm to take up the
role of a CEO.
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17. BEST SOLUTION
• UNDERSTUDY ASSIGNMENT
 Merwyn should coach and mentor Adam
so that he can take the role of the CEO.
Understudy is focused during Succession
planning.
If Adam fails even after the stipulated
point of time, Merwyn shall appoint a new
candidate for the position of the CEO.
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18. 08/03/13
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