A) Please read through the scenario presented below. For some time now, you have noticed that your ex-class colleague and friend, Sam, has not been herself. However, she called you earlier today to ask you to meet up for a virtual cup of coffee and a chat. She indicated that she had hit rock bottom and was in need of a supportive shoulder to cry on and a sounding board for her thoughts. Background Sam started off in the Innovation team of a leading organisation three years ago after completing an MBA at a prestigious business school. The marks she obtained during her MBA were excellent and she comfortably qualified in the top 10% of her class. Sam was confident, goal focused, forthright, and assertive in her views. To her, a meritocracy was everything and she felt that a persons results should speak for them. Therefore, she worked incredibly hard for everything, often through the night, sacrificing time with friends and family. Shed not taken a holiday in five years, but felt that all of her achievements were worth the cost required. Sams resume was reviewed by a number of potential employers and she managed to land an enviable position within the newly established innovations team of one of the worlds leading employers, together with a team of fellow achievers, many of whom had walked a path of excellence similar to hers. Her first eighteen months at the organisation was met with many successes including the turnaround of an ailing projects department and the introduction of a new digital disruption that was gaining traction in financial markets. She received an excellent 360 degree review leading to the award of above average bonus and a place on a leadership development programme for star talent. She was on the fast track to success her star clearly in the ascent! Whats more, with her bonuses safely in her bank account (mainly because shed not had any time to think about spending them) she felt in control of her destiny. 2019 marked a year of radical change for the organisation in which she was employed. The holding company disinvested from South Africa and a rather tough and at times acrimonious management buy-out followed suit. The CEO was head hunted by one of the top banks and within six months, the heads of strategy and innovation followed him. A new CEO commenced in June 2019; bringing with him a new innovation leadand its been downhill from there; of course compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020/21 during which the entire company was forced to work virtually. The last three months had witnessed the return to work of a number of people; however, due to an underlying auto-immune issue, Sam had been ordered to work from home, this despite the fact that her health situation was under control. Youve watched Sam turn from a highly motivated employee to someone who is unmotivated, disengaged, often quite hostile and angry (well, judging from the colourful language that she has now adopted to describe her work, her team and the new head of innovation!). Some of her complaints/comments include the following: The environment is so inwardly competitive. Everyone is fighting over the same turf, and backstabbing others to achieve their goals My boss has favourites. I often used to see him having coffee with Leonard and Jen at the pause station and of course, now they are all back at the office and Im stuck at home, beetling away on all the projects that are sent my waypretty much 24 hours a day! They seem to have so much in common especially golf and cycling and I know that they meet up for drinks after work. Its just not fair! A couple of times Ive heard the team commenting about me being all work and no play, which I suppose is truebut, then again, who wants to socialize with such back- stabbers not that its even possible now. Ive tried to engage this new boss, but he seems to be obstructing my progress. Recently, I sent through a really brilliant proposal on a project that I believe could re-energise our market positioning, but he didnt even bother to respond! To be honest, Im seriously considering sending it to the CEO. Whats weird is that Im working harder and harder and yet no-one seems to recognize my achievements: Im the one that developed the new innovation strategy document that my boss presented to EXCO; Im the one who has taken on all the slog work for the new contracts division; not to mention the redesign of the human capital practice. Im the one whos working all hours of the day and night and yet Im the one being passed over for promotion. In fact, I heard just the other day that Lazy Leonard is in line for the Innovation Management role. Its just not fair! What do you think I should do? B) Online, in your syndicate groups, please discuss the above scenario and come up with concrete suggestions for Sam. You are required to: Carefully analyse the situation and provide a diagnosis of and solution to this career impasse. Please prepare a short summation in which you present your diagnosis and solution/s to the class (not more than five minutes)