PRACTICE CASE STUDY: Leadership MGT $601$ DR$.$ E$.$L$.$ Sopow, $2024$

Mediascope International Inc. $($MII$)$ is a small, specialized research consultancy in Vancouver

that collects basic monthly data for clients on the socio$-$economic and demographic factors in

Vancouver. A wide range of clients from Real Estate firms to retail and various services

companies use this data for marketing and strategic planning.

This data is changing very rapidly because of the $8$ external environmental factors studied

in this class. Because of that, more mistakes are being found in employees$$ research work.

MII is struggling to stay in business. During the pandemic business clients dropped by

$30\%.$ Now post$-$pandemic, MII is facing greater competition from other consulting companies,

its software programs are three years out of date, the Canadian economy is still struggling with

high inflation and interest rates are staying high.

Inside MII, there are $13$ employees including one senior manager called Toni. Toni is new

to the company, having started just three months ago. Toni is a new MBA graduate from UCW,

very bright with theory and business analytics, but limited leadership experience. Toni manages

eight employees who have worked in the company an average of $12$ years, many doing the same

job in the same way. They simply look through on$-$line and other sources for data, format the

information into charts and tables, and prepare a monthly report writing up just the basic facts

describing the information. Analysis and critical thinking are not considered. The other four

employees have an average of two years experience with MII, are an average of $22$ years old,

and are very keen to learn and excel in their field.

Today a major new client wants more. This will mean a huge increase in revenue to the

research company and a chance for expansion. The client needs a report from Toni$$s team that

not only shows the current basic data, but also the trend over the past $10$ years, and projections

for the next five years. The client also wants the report to:

$$ Provide a deep analysis of why the data is what it is$.$

$$ An informed and referenced analysis of negative$/$positive impacts to the client$$s company

over the next five years, including a brief risk analysis.

$$ Recommended actions that involve $$out of the box thinking$$ and innovative ideas of how

the research can be used to increase the client$$s reputation and market share.

Toni, the manager, desperately wants to give the client what they want and to prove his value to

the owners of his company. But Toni also has a very uneven leadership style.

$$ Sometimes Toni is very inclusive and tries to be very consultative with employees.

$$ Sometimes Toni blames poor$-$performing employees on their workplace abilities and

personal attitudes, not caring about any hidden causes.

$$ Toni tends to blame outside forces such as confusing company policy and poor company

communications for mistakes, but when success happens, Toni takes the credit for others

great work.

$$ When Toni started as a manager, they knew for $$a fact$$ that older workers were not very

up to date with the latest technology and would not perform well. Sure enough, in Toni$$s

opinion they did not.

$2$

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS using whatever help or sources you can. BE

READY TO SPEAK UP AND JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS!

$1.$ What changes are urgent to make in Toni$$s department? Why?

$2.$ what type of leadership, as studied in class, is required? Why?

$3.$ Using the exact terminology from this class name the types of power found

in the above scenario, using French and Raven$$s language?

$4.$ What information is missing from this case study that you need to make

the best$-$informed decisions?