Elektra Products Inc. case analysis
ELEKTRA PRODUCTS, INC.
CASE ANALYSIS REPORT
I. BACKGROUND:
As to the Company:
Elektra Products, Inc. is an 80 year old company, publicly held and had once been a leading manufacturer and retailer of electrical products and supplies.
Challenges that have to be addressed:
In recent years, the company experienced a host of problems as follows: declining market share due to increased foreign and domestic competition; new product ideas were few and far between; departments such as manufacturing and sales barely spoke to one another; morale was at an all-time low and many employees were actively seeking other jobs. Thus, everyone needed a dose of hope.
Players:
a) Martin Griffin - newly hired, dynamic CEO
b) Barbara Russell - Vice President for Manufacturing
c) Simon - Manufacturing Engineer, who's with the company for more than 20 years and Russell's friend.
d) Department Heads and other employees
Scenario
Introduction of the empowerment campaign
Griffin, the newly hired and dynamic CEO, opened the monthly companywide meeting with a challenge: "As we face increasing competition, we need new ideas, new energy, new spirit to make this company great. And the source of this change is you -------- each one of you. Under the empowerment campaign, employees will be getting more information about how the company was run and would be able to work with their fellow employees in new and creative ways, proclaiming a new era of trust and cooperation.
Perception
Many of the other employees, including Simon were less than eager. Simon later said: "Just another pile of corporate crap. One minute they try downsizing, the next reengineering. Then they dabble in restructuring and now Martin push for empowerment. Garbage like empowerment isn't a substitute for hard work and a little faith in the people who have been with this company for years. We made it great once and we can do it again. Just get out of our way".
One step forward
Russel and her team presented to the
CASE ANALYSIS REPORT
I. BACKGROUND:
As to the Company:
Elektra Products, Inc. is an 80 year old company, publicly held and had once been a leading manufacturer and retailer of electrical products and supplies.
Challenges that have to be addressed:
In recent years, the company experienced a host of problems as follows: declining market share due to increased foreign and domestic competition; new product ideas were few and far between; departments such as manufacturing and sales barely spoke to one another; morale was at an all-time low and many employees were actively seeking other jobs. Thus, everyone needed a dose of hope.
Players:
a) Martin Griffin - newly hired, dynamic CEO
b) Barbara Russell - Vice President for Manufacturing
c) Simon - Manufacturing Engineer, who's with the company for more than 20 years and Russell's friend.
d) Department Heads and other employees
Scenario
Introduction of the empowerment campaign
Griffin, the newly hired and dynamic CEO, opened the monthly companywide meeting with a challenge: "As we face increasing competition, we need new ideas, new energy, new spirit to make this company great. And the source of this change is you -------- each one of you. Under the empowerment campaign, employees will be getting more information about how the company was run and would be able to work with their fellow employees in new and creative ways, proclaiming a new era of trust and cooperation.
Perception
Many of the other employees, including Simon were less than eager. Simon later said: "Just another pile of corporate crap. One minute they try downsizing, the next reengineering. Then they dabble in restructuring and now Martin push for empowerment. Garbage like empowerment isn't a substitute for hard work and a little faith in the people who have been with this company for years. We made it great once and we can do it again. Just get out of our way".
One step forward
Russel and her team presented to the