Lisa Benton Case Analysis
Jack Welch Management Institute
Dr. Denis Tocci
JWMI 510
Abstract
In this case analysis I will focus on Deborah Linton and Lisa Benton. Deborah Linton is the Product Manager and is Lisa Benton’s direct supervisor at Houseworld. I will look at Deborah Linton’s leadership approach applying concepts from JWMI-510. I will act as a consultant to Deborah Linton and make recommendations on how she can build an effective team. I will point out why Lisa Benton has not been effective in influencing her boss and colleagues. Finally, I will discuss what incidents Lisa Benton could have handled differently at Houseworld and give recommendations on how she can get her career back on track.
Lisa Benton Case Analysis
Lisa Benton made the decision to accept a job offer at Houseworld over Right-Away where she had interned while completing her MBA at Harvard. Benton made her decision based upon the classical marketing training she would receive from Houseworld. Houseworld was an industry leader and Benton felt like this possessed a better opportunity to learn rather than working for smaller company like Right-Away. Benton was informed during her initial visit with Houseworld that she would have the ability to become a product manager within 2 to 3 years. Benton accepted a position at Houseworld as an assistant product manager in the Home Care Division during her second visit with the company. Benton was told that, “she would not know until her first day of work who her boss was, or to what product she had been assigned” (Weber p.3). Benton became nervous from not knowing whom she would be working for or what product line she would start with. She had always felt working relationships were very important to her but felt that Houseworld was a very structured company and she had nothing to worry about. Based on her two visits to Houseworld she was happy with everyone she had met and excited about
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