Ann Hopkins Case

1. What was the problem described in the case? What was the cause?
Hopkins is a female who shows perfect management skills in Price Waterhouse. She was nominated to be promoted to higher position, but the partnership of the company, some of partners against her promotion. Here are some reasons that these stockholder to against her to be promoted. First is concern Hopkins her personality, and second is some employees and partners thought she did not has enough ability to manages the company. First of all, Ann Hopkins' own personality. According to the article, part of employees and stockholders thought she is a stubborn person. As we learn from management class, a good manager should listens other people's advices, and make a best strategy for organization. However, Ann Hopkins usually insisted her opinion instead of listening someone else opinion until she found that problems, and it is too late to fix problems. Furthermore, Ann Hopkins does not have good interaction skill. How to interact with employees or partners is a very important skill for a manager. Communication is always the best way to understand what is employees need, what is stockholders need, and what is organization really need. However, Some of the workers response that Ann Hopkins is insufficient in interpersonal skill, and does not know how to communicate with people.
Therefore, how can people promoted a manager who does not know both listening and speaking? That is the first problem Ann Hopkins has. Second of all, some people in this company question Ann Hopkins has enough ability to manage this company. According to the partner’s comments, there was a very important project for teamwork. In the meanwhile, Ann Hopkins was a project manager, and she has responsibility for this important project, and she also had to response for company and her team. However, she traveled to Asia, and from Asia to Europe for five weeks. During that time, all of her teammates often worked from