Week 9 - Discussion Question 1
Week 9 - Discussion Question – I
1) From your own experience, identify a time that you assumed a “leading” role but you were not in a formal leadership position.
In my previous job as Business Developer, we were recruiting a huge amount of expats entering the country on newly issued business visa with different validities and timeframes. Our office manager was officially in charge in obtaining necessary visa documents for everyone and keeping track on the necessary extensions as well as on the work permit procedure after the visa was granted and the expat arrived in our local office. During my time the person in the position of the office manager changed twice which led to some delay for several expats and the necessity of training and instructing the new office manager. Being an expat who did not relocate for the sole purpose of this company but already having relocated years before, I was aware of the process itself and often gave help to the office manager in case he/she needed additional help or instructions.
During the transition period of the two office managers it came to a problem that one of the expats overstayed his visa and would have legally lost his permission to stay and work in the country. The new Office Manager had overseen a list with expiration dates. Usually not only the expat himself, but also the employer (as organization) and the Director in charge is fined with large sums. To avoid any of these, there is a period of one week after the expiration of a visa to “solve the issue” or “exit the country”. On the very last day it was noticed by the office manager at a time nothing could have been done.
My suggestion to her was to use a visa agency I knew (Source of Power “Expertise”, as mentioned by Brooks, 2009, p.239) but known for their unorthodox methods with additional payments to officials. The office manager refused but I convinced her that this would be the most time and cost efficient solution.
2) What power bases, if any, did you
1) From your own experience, identify a time that you assumed a “leading” role but you were not in a formal leadership position.
In my previous job as Business Developer, we were recruiting a huge amount of expats entering the country on newly issued business visa with different validities and timeframes. Our office manager was officially in charge in obtaining necessary visa documents for everyone and keeping track on the necessary extensions as well as on the work permit procedure after the visa was granted and the expat arrived in our local office. During my time the person in the position of the office manager changed twice which led to some delay for several expats and the necessity of training and instructing the new office manager. Being an expat who did not relocate for the sole purpose of this company but already having relocated years before, I was aware of the process itself and often gave help to the office manager in case he/she needed additional help or instructions.
During the transition period of the two office managers it came to a problem that one of the expats overstayed his visa and would have legally lost his permission to stay and work in the country. The new Office Manager had overseen a list with expiration dates. Usually not only the expat himself, but also the employer (as organization) and the Director in charge is fined with large sums. To avoid any of these, there is a period of one week after the expiration of a visa to “solve the issue” or “exit the country”. On the very last day it was noticed by the office manager at a time nothing could have been done.
My suggestion to her was to use a visa agency I knew (Source of Power “Expertise”, as mentioned by Brooks, 2009, p.239) but known for their unorthodox methods with additional payments to officials. The office manager refused but I convinced her that this would be the most time and cost efficient solution.
2) What power bases, if any, did you
Cited: Brooks, I., 2009. Organizational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups, and Organisation. 4th ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited.