Situation 1

Although caring may not be a word many people would normally associate with management. Rohina has built a $45 million company (VCW Inc.) By caring about her customers and her employees. She started her business in 2008 in the basement of her home with one telephone and call-waiting. What does VCW Inc. do? The company oversees the National Association of Independent Truckers. VCW offers cost-effective insurance coverage, retirement benefit plans, low-interest credit cards, and other benefits to thousands of independent truck drivers who belong to this association. In addition, many large motor carriers who hire independent drivers are also her customers. Rohinas customers are a unique breed, indeed! Independent truck drivers move the world" as they travel across the country with the products we use every day. Independent truck drivers are also business people and must run their businesses efficiently and effectively or they won't survive in this intensely competitive industry. How does VCW show that it cares about its customers-these independent truckers? It provides an answer to a problem that many of them face: where to find the cost-effective insurance coverage that other insurance companies refuse to carry. Rohina subscribes to the belief that if you can help solve a customer's problem, you'll be successful. She and her employees have been successful at solving their customers' problems and caring about them by providing outstanding customer service. But Rohina's caring management doesn't stop with her customers. It extends to her employees, as well. Her most compelling statement about her management philosophy is that "everything I do here is designed to cultivate and grow employees." From the beautifully designed offices to the formal dinners and travel experiences she provides, Rohina sees her role as a mentor for employees, not as a boss. She wants her employees to not only do their jobs but also to recreate, redesign, and expand them. Employees can earn $1,000 for proposing suggestions that help them do the job better. VCW Inc. also has a profit-sharing plan that gives employees a stake in the company's ability to make a profit. Rohina also recognizes that employees need more than financial caring. To that end, she implemented on-site daycare for employees' children, and employees enjoy inexpensive, delicious home-cooked meals at the office prepared by an employee who started at VCW in customer service but who had always dreamed of a job cooking for others. Rohina strongly believes in the power of such benefits to show employees that she cares about them and wants them to be committed and productive at their jobs.

1. Which of the management functions does Rohina seem to be particularly strong and why do you think so?
2. What do you think, is rohina right or wrong in her style of managing people or managing her own team and why do you think so?
3. There are different levels of management such as top, middle or lower level. Considering Rohina role in above situation, what do you think which level of managements role she play? Give reasons to support your answer.
4. What do you think, by applying Robin culture assessment model, can we say that Rohina style has more relevancy to people orientation and team orientation if yes, why, and if no, why?
5. Suppose most of the soft options used by Rohina could not produce good results, what would be the best options with Rohina to apply for good results?