Item $17$

Bluestone Systems opened a branch office in Taiwan a year ago. Jack Swanson, Vice President of International Operations, is based in Chicago, and he selected Dennis Cooper, his top subordinate in Chicago, to head up the new office. Jack is now disappointed that the Taiwan operation was not thriving; Dennis had not been successful in developing relationships with potential clients. Jack wondered if$,$ instead of sending a$($n$)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_$blank from the United States to lead the office, he should have heeded the advice of his Taiwanese agent, who had recommended that Jack hire a native Taiwanese to lead the office.