Instructions
NOTE: All submitted work is to be your original work. You may not use any work from another student, the Internet or an online clearinghouse. You are expected to understand the Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism Policy, and know that it is your responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to proper citation of sources as specified in the APA Publication Manual, 7th Ed. (Students are held accountable for in-text citations and an associated reference list only).
Team Deliverable #2 is due Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. eastern time of week 3 unless otherwise changed by the instructor.
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to gain an understanding of succession planning and what it means to plan for future leadership that is aligned with an organization’s core values and leadership competencies.
Skill Building:
You are also completing this project to help you develop the skills of research, critical thinking, teamwork, and writing a report intended for executive review. Writing is critical because in business it is important to convey information clearly and concisely and to develop a personal brand. Developing a personal brand is important because it is the ongoing process of establishing an image or impression in the minds of others especially those in positions above you. Having a strong personal brand can lead to opportunities that include promotions.
Background: Your Group has been assigned to be part of the Succession Plan Committee at Biotech. This Committee has been hard at work for months, planning the successor for Mr. Barney, and the rest of the executive team (largely positions occupied by the Barney family). They have assigned your group to complete the Succession Plan for five key leadership positions at Biotech. These positions will need to be filled over the next 12-24 months. There is not an immediate need for any of them currently, but vacancies will be imminent. The preference is to fill these internally, but Mr. Barney, the CEO, has stressed that if the right leader for a position does not exist already within Biotech, he would rather search for someone externally than to settle.
Instructions:
Step 1: Course Material
For this project, you are required to use the case scenario facts and the course material. External sources are not permitted. You are not researching on the Internet or using resources from outside the course. You are expected to answer the requirements identified below showing the connection between the case scenario facts and the course material. Using course material goes beyond defining terms and are used to explain the ‘why and how’ of a situation. Avoid merely making statements but close the loop of the discussion by explaining how something happens or why something happens, which focuses on importance and impact. In closing the loop, you will demonstrate the ability to think clearly and rationally showing an understanding of the logical connections between the ideas presented in a case scenario, the course material and the question(s) being asked. Using one or two in-text citations from the course material throughout the entire paper will not earn many points on an assignment. The use of a variety of course material is expected consistently supporting what is presented. The support must be relevant and applicable to the topic being discussed. Points are not earned for mentioning a term or concept but by clearly and thoroughly explaining or discussing the question at hand.
Step 2: Preparation
Review the Leadership Competencies Table completed in Week Two to accompany the Job Announcement
Step 3: Upcoming Open Positions at Biotech
Read the five different upcoming positions for which your group has been tasked at filling.
As part of the Succession Plan Committee, your team has been tasked with identifying future leaders for the following four positions that will be open over the next 12-24 months:
Position 1: Sales Director, Middle East
Location: Saudi Arabia
Answers to: Executive Director, Asia Division
Biotech’s Asia Division will be opening its first Middle East location in Saudi Arabia in the next 12 months. A Sales Director will be needed to head up this new division. A team of local salespeople will need to be recruited, hired, and trained by this leader. It is expected that this sales team may be largely men.
Two sources that are recommended for more information about doing business in Saudi Arabia are:
Guide to Saudi Arabia Etiquette, Customs, Culture, and Business
Position 2: Director of Research and Development (R&D)
Location: Headquarters, Yonkers, NY
Answers to: VP of Headquarter Operations
R&D is at the heart of Biotech’s success and, indeed, its future. The leader of Research and Development will lead a group of scientists and innovators, but does not need to be a scientist himself/herself. R&D is located centrally at Biotech Headquarters because R&D coordinates with all other departments and divisions. This is a high profile position.
Position 3: VP of Headquarter Operations
Location: Headquarters, Yonkers, NY
Answers to: President and CEO
The Headquarters houses R&D, HR, IT, Purchasing, and Finance. Each of these departments has its own “subculture”, and each department is fairly distinct from each other. The young, youthful subculture of IT often clashes with the conservative subculture of the Finance department, for example. Many of the members of the Finance and HR teams are baby boomers and are near retirement. This leader oversees the smooth operation of all of these departments and ensures the coordination of these departments with each other and with each of the four geographic divisions across the world.
Position 4: Executive Director, North American Division
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Answers to: President and CEO
This leader will head up the largest and most profitable division of Biotech. This division is seen as the “flagship” by the other divisions, since Biotech’s roots are in the United States. This Executive Director has the “ear” of the CEO, and spends a lot of time with the Barney family. This leader is faced with spearheading the future direction of Biotech in North America and is challenged with filling openings throughout the United States and Canada caused by fast growth and a retiring Baby Boomer population.
Position 5: Director of Finance
Location: Headquarters, Yonkers, NY
Answers to: Chief Financial Officer
This leader oversees the day-to-day operations of the finance department. This leader is expected to aid in strategic planning with the executive team of Biotech. Although a finance background is not required, this person is expected to bring a conservative approach to the strategic planning table, to balance out the high risk tolerance of the rest of the leadership at Biotech. A “big picture” perspective is definitely needed here.
Step 4: Complete Succession Planning Table
SEE ATTACHED SUCCESSION PLANNING TABLE
Step 5: Complete Succession Planning Report
Complete the Succession Planning Report-Part One. This is the report that will be reviewed by President and CEO, Maximillian Barney.
Your Group’s Succession Planning Report – Part One will be addressed to Mr. Maximillian Barney, the CEO and President of Biotech. The report should address all of the following elements, with each section supported by course materials.
Follow the following report format:
Introduction:
- An overview of succession planning and why it is important to the future of Biotech.
- A brief review of the leadership competencies important for Biotech.
Succession Planning as part of Mission, Vision and Strategy:
- A description of how the Succession Plan for Biotech should be aligned with its mission and vision.
- A description of how the Succession Plan should be aligned with Biotech’s strategy
- A description of how strategic thinking should be used as part of the succession planning process.
Recommendations:
- For each of the five positions identify the leadership competencies most important for those positions. Support your recommendations with course materials.
Summary:
- Describe briefly to Mr. Barney why your group’s recommendations are important for Biotech’s future.
Reference Page: (in APA format)
Other Required Elements:
Read the grading rubric for the project. Use the grading rubric while completing the project to ensure all requirements are met that will lead to the highest possible grade.
Third person writing is required. Third person means that there are no words such as “I, me, my, we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second person writing). If uncertain how to write in the third person, view this link: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third- person.
Contractions are not used in business reports, so do not use them.
Paraphrase and do not use direct quotation marks. This means you do not use more than four consecutive words from a source document, but put a passage from a source document into your own words and attribute the passage to the source document, using in-text citations in APA format.
In-text citations should be included in ALL SECTIONS of the report and should demonstrate application of the course material. Note that a reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text citation and vice versa.
Provide the page or paragraph number, where applicable.
You may only use the course material from the classroom. You may not use books or any resource from the Internet.
COURSE MATERIALS
- Principles of Management: Chapter 4.3 The Roles of Mission, Vision, and Values
- The Leader’s Role in Strategy
- Walt Disney Company’s Mission Statement and Vision: Formula for Success (An example of how they work together to bring corporate success in environmental sustainability)
- Visions & Missions of Fortune Global 100 Companies
- Management Tools: Mission and Vision Statements
- Strategy, Mission, and Vision: How Do They All Fit Together?
- Strategic Leadership: Short-Term Stability and Long-Term Viability
- Why Is Strategic Thinking Important to the Success of Business?
- The Strategic Thinking & Strategic Planning Process
- Integrating Strategic Thinking into your Organization for Long-Term Competitive Advantage
- Strategic Thinking: 11 Critical Skills Needed
- Three Keys To Improving Your Strategic Thinking


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