Retail Max: Personal Power
Running head: PERSONAL POWER
RetailMax: Personal Power
Timothy D. Stroud
Grand Canyon University: LDR-610-O101 Power, Politics, and Influence
October 31, 2012
RetailMax: Personal Power Climbing the corporate ladder can be like playing a game. It can be fun and exciting if you know all of the rules and play fair. Or it can be dreary and arduous if you are finding out the rules as you go along and are playing with people that are less than ethical. The good news is that once you know the rules and apply yourself, you have a better chance of climbing upward. The bad news is that most people think they are playing the first game in which everyone is climbing up the ladder with little or no risk. They simply have forgotten that when you seek a reward that a certain amount of risk is involved. Not all jobs can be likened to Chutes and Ladders® and that is where hard work comes into play. This is something that Mr. Cam Archer has learned as a retail account executive at RetailMax, Inc. In the first year at the Boston-based software company, Mr. Archer has been able to procure two solid job offers from within the company. As his internship ends, he is faced with which path to choose within RetailMax, Inc. One of the paths leads him further up the corporate ladder but at less pay and exposure within the company. The other path leads him to greater financial reward but with limited upward mobility.
Potential Power After reading both stories by M.S. Allen, it quickly becomes evident that Cam Archer holds a greater potential power than Regan Kessel. Even though Mr. Kessel is the Vice President of Product Management and Marketing (PMM), Cam Archer’s decision will shape that department and ripple throughout RetailMax, Inc. Cam’s hard work as paid off since he has worked hard, taken on added responsibilities, has made his boss look good, and was a great co-worker. Due to all of these things, he has earned a great deal of expert power within
RetailMax: Personal Power
Timothy D. Stroud
Grand Canyon University: LDR-610-O101 Power, Politics, and Influence
October 31, 2012
RetailMax: Personal Power Climbing the corporate ladder can be like playing a game. It can be fun and exciting if you know all of the rules and play fair. Or it can be dreary and arduous if you are finding out the rules as you go along and are playing with people that are less than ethical. The good news is that once you know the rules and apply yourself, you have a better chance of climbing upward. The bad news is that most people think they are playing the first game in which everyone is climbing up the ladder with little or no risk. They simply have forgotten that when you seek a reward that a certain amount of risk is involved. Not all jobs can be likened to Chutes and Ladders® and that is where hard work comes into play. This is something that Mr. Cam Archer has learned as a retail account executive at RetailMax, Inc. In the first year at the Boston-based software company, Mr. Archer has been able to procure two solid job offers from within the company. As his internship ends, he is faced with which path to choose within RetailMax, Inc. One of the paths leads him further up the corporate ladder but at less pay and exposure within the company. The other path leads him to greater financial reward but with limited upward mobility.
Potential Power After reading both stories by M.S. Allen, it quickly becomes evident that Cam Archer holds a greater potential power than Regan Kessel. Even though Mr. Kessel is the Vice President of Product Management and Marketing (PMM), Cam Archer’s decision will shape that department and ripple throughout RetailMax, Inc. Cam’s hard work as paid off since he has worked hard, taken on added responsibilities, has made his boss look good, and was a great co-worker. Due to all of these things, he has earned a great deal of expert power within
References: French, J. P. R. Jr., and Raven, B. (1960). The bases of social power. In D. Cartwright and A. Zander (eds.), Group dynamics (pp. 607-623). New York: Harper and Row. McGinn, Kathleen L., and Dina R. Pradel. "RetailMax: Role for Cam Archer.” Harvard Business School Exercise 904-024, May 2005. (Revised from original September 2003 version.) McGinn, Kathleen L., and Dina R. Pradel. "RetailMax: Role for Regan Kessel." Harvard Business School Exercise 904-024, May 2005. (Revised from original September 2003 version.)