Strength:
1. C.J. Albert (CEO) knows the need of the company to move into the web era to continue its existence in the market. 2. Ed McClynn is expert in customer relations which made him top performer 6 of the last 10 years and had pulled in most of Armor Coat’s major accounts. 3. Roger Sterling expertise in cutting-edge technology as web guru, and took the job at Armor Coat because he was convinced that the insurance industry was ripe for an e-commerce revolution. 4. HR Department already started mentoring program: all salespeople are strongly encouraged to choose a young mentor who could teach them how to store and call up information from Armor Coat’s new on-line databases and how to surf the Web. Weaknesses:
1. Clashing behaviour between Ed McClynn and Roger Sterling. 2. Ed McClynn is suspicious of technology and reluctant to change. 3. C.J. Albert (CEO) not exercising real leadership by not resolving the conflict sooner, instead, he delegated the authority to his men to solve it for themselves. 4. The salespeople felt betrayed when top management fired 10% of sales force in order to cut cost.
Opportunities:
1. Customer’s mentality is changing. People want information fast. 2. No company to date had found a way to overcome the customer’s desire for human contact. Threats:
1. Many traditional insurance firms were considering going on-line. 2. Internet-only start-ups had already discovered cheaper, more efficient easy to replace the ingrained and expensive agent networks.
The Business plan on E-Business and E-Commerce Web Apps
Transforming a brick-and-mortar business to an e business is not an easy task. The first step in creating an e-business is to conduct a market research on the competition we need to gather information such as shipping costs, price points, web navigation shopping cart procedures, and alternate revenue streams. The next step would be to create a detailed business plan with sales projections, ...
ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTIONS:
1. Continue reverse-mentoring program and re-examine the match-up between individuals 2. Create a cross-functional team to introduce the change 3. Hire another Web guru to be the Director of Electronic Commerce
ANALYSIS:
ACA #1 : Continue reverse-mentoring and re-examine the match-up between individuals
Advantages:
1. The knowledge within the organization can be shared and used to its full advantage. 2. This program spreads the knowledge base throughout the company. 3. This program enhances personal relationship.
4. Reverse-mentoring solidifies collaboration among functional groups.
Disadvantages:
1. Reverse-mentoring could not be forced to individuals, it should be voluntary. 2. There is a burden in age gap with the tendency of older person not to be teachable.
ACA #2 : Create a cross-functional team to introduce the change
Advantages:
1. Each member of the team represents their respective departments/offices. 2. Group of people with different experience, job description and skills focuses to solve complex problems.
Disadvantages:
1. Complex process of developing a product with such a diverse set of individuals. 2. Tedious process on reaching a consensus decisions due to ACA #3: Hire another Web guru to be the Director of Electronic Commerce
Advantages:
1. Another Web guru with same expertise of Roger Sterling, with positive concern in human relationship.
Disadvantages:
1. It takes considerable time for the new hired Web guru to acquaint himself. 2. No continuity on the Web project.
3. No assurance if the new Web guru could handle the negative personality of the Sales Department employees. DECISION MATRIX:
Criteria| ACA 1| ACA 2| ACA 3|
Effectiveness| 3| 2| 1|
Timeliness| 3| 2| 1|
Acceptability| 3| 2| 1|
Total| 9| 6| 3|
CONCLUSION:
ACA #1 : Continue reverse-mentoring program and re-examine the match-up between individuals
PLAN OF ACTION:
Activities| Responsibility| Timelines|
Top management to make firm commitment to implement the program| CJ| 1 day| Assess the progress of the program: 1. Get feedback from the participants 2. Re-examine the match-up between individuals 3. | CJ/Management| 2 days| Communicate the scope of the program by conducting a seminar/workshop: 1. Clear statement of the medium and long term goals 2. Employees roles and responsibilities 3. Management and employees benefits on the program| CJ/ Management| 3 days| Periodic review of the reverse-mentoring program| Management| quarterly| Initiate appropriate changes if necessary| Management| |
The Essay on Reverse Mentoring
To the contrary for the process of mentoring this century has evolved with the new technique of reversing strategy.Btut now it is not same old concept of the elder tutoring the young . It flows from the younger to the eldest companies adopt this technique of reverse mentoring just to provide the senior employees of the companies also to be expertise and get used to the latest technologies , social ...