The Overworked Estate Manager
CASE SUMMARY
Lok Kim Sun is an estate manager who tried to single-handedly managing 28,500 acres of estate with 2500 employees. Even though he work his way up to his position now as an estate manager, he is extremely afraid of making mistake. This could be partly because of his immediate superior attitude, Henry Davidson who tends to look down to others and tends to adopt a very autocratic military attitude. Lok feels that he must know every details of the estate operation so that he can thoroughly brief Davidson every time Davidson visits his estate, which is about 4 times in a year. Besides having responsibilities in the estate, Lok also have outside responsibilities including dealing with two trade unions, local officials, the Planters Association and as a guest speaker at Universiti Pertanian. Lok only goes on vacation once a year and all the responsibilities are taking its toll on Lok as he feel very tense every time Davidson are due for his visits and Lok felt it becoming increasingly to cope with all the demand upon him both from the estate and the head office.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
List of Problems • Lok Kim Sun is a very domineering man but extremely afraid of making mistake. • Henry Davidson adopt autocratic attitude towards his subordinate and have low opinion of them • Mr. Lok carries too many responsibilities in and outside the estate • The estate hires employee without formal qualification
PROBLEM STATEMENT • Autocratic Leadership Style o Domineering individual o Afraid of making mistake o Feels he has to know every detail related the estate • Did not trust his subordinate • Hire staff without formal qualification
Symptoms
• Mr. Lok feels he needs to know every detail on the estate activities. • Mr. Lok handles a lot of admin work. • Mr. Lok making personal check in the estate during weekends • No time for any forward planning. •
Lok Kim Sun is an estate manager who tried to single-handedly managing 28,500 acres of estate with 2500 employees. Even though he work his way up to his position now as an estate manager, he is extremely afraid of making mistake. This could be partly because of his immediate superior attitude, Henry Davidson who tends to look down to others and tends to adopt a very autocratic military attitude. Lok feels that he must know every details of the estate operation so that he can thoroughly brief Davidson every time Davidson visits his estate, which is about 4 times in a year. Besides having responsibilities in the estate, Lok also have outside responsibilities including dealing with two trade unions, local officials, the Planters Association and as a guest speaker at Universiti Pertanian. Lok only goes on vacation once a year and all the responsibilities are taking its toll on Lok as he feel very tense every time Davidson are due for his visits and Lok felt it becoming increasingly to cope with all the demand upon him both from the estate and the head office.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
List of Problems • Lok Kim Sun is a very domineering man but extremely afraid of making mistake. • Henry Davidson adopt autocratic attitude towards his subordinate and have low opinion of them • Mr. Lok carries too many responsibilities in and outside the estate • The estate hires employee without formal qualification
PROBLEM STATEMENT • Autocratic Leadership Style o Domineering individual o Afraid of making mistake o Feels he has to know every detail related the estate • Did not trust his subordinate • Hire staff without formal qualification
Symptoms
• Mr. Lok feels he needs to know every detail on the estate activities. • Mr. Lok handles a lot of admin work. • Mr. Lok making personal check in the estate during weekends • No time for any forward planning. •