Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Submitted by:
Aditya Limaye H030
Abhishek Sukhadia H058
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
SUBJECT: Analysis of the case of Fred Wu’s demand for personal assistant
Cultural and Personality Differences: Wu is reserved and private about his work.
His participation in the office activities was limited and prefers to make calls away
from the desk. He prefers one on one meeting with clients and believes in a high
level of supervision. His Chinese background may have been the reason behind the
way he handles his clients.
Thus Wu’s impressive performance, different working style with Chinese clients and
personality may have led to the current situation.
2. Problem Statement
The most important problem that needs to be addressed in the case is, “What
decision to be taken on Wu’s Demand considering its effects on office environment
and Chinese market?”
3. Options
1. Give personal assistant to Fred Wu
2. Do not give personal assistance to Fred Wu
3. Reducing Wu’s responsibilities
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4. Criteria for evaluation
1. Company’s Sales Target
2. Company’s relationship with Chinese clients
3. Effects on office environment
4. Finding a substitute for Fred Wu
5. Impact on Fred Wu’s performance
5. Evaluation of options
Company’s Finding a
Company’s Effects on Impact on
relationship substitute
Options/Criteria Sales Office Fred Wu’s
with Chinese to Fred
Target environment performance
Clients Wu
High Moderate High
Give Personal High Positive High Positive
positive Negative Positive
Assistant Impact Impact
Impact Impact Impact
Don’t give Moderate High Moderate
Low Positive
personal Negative Negative Negative -
Impact
assistant Impact Impact Impact
Low High High
Reduce Wu’s High Positive High Positive
Negative Negative Positive
responsibility Impact Impact
Impact Impact Impact
Option 1: Cave into the request of Fred Wu and give personal assistant to him to
execute his sales responsibilities
Criterion 1 & 2: Giving assistant to Wu will help him to focus on managing client
relationship while assistant will perform regular administrative work. This will
improve relation with Chinese clients and thus helps in increasing sales.
Criterion 4: Since Wu will not leave the company, there would be no need to find his
substitute. Thus it will have a high positive impact on finding a substitute.
Criterion 5: Reducing administrative responsibility will boost his morale which may,
in turn, make him perform better. Also, it will help in focusing more on sales target.
Thus it will have a high positive impact on Wu’s performance.
Option 2: Don’t cave into the request of Fred Wu. Don’t give personal assistant and
let him go.
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Criterion 1 & 2: By letting him go, existing relationships with clients may get
damaged. Also, he may take our clients to the competitors, resulting in sales
reduction. Thus it may have a high negative impact on both the criteria.
Criterion 3: Through this action, it may help in following the prevalent practice. This
may develop the feeling of fair treatment and discourage discontent amongst sales
executives. But, firing may instill fear among employees and they will be reluctant to
open up about their requirements. Overall, it may have a low positive impact on
office environment.
Criterion 4: Since Wu will the leave the company, and hence need to find his
substitute. There will always be an uncertainty in whether they will get similar talent
for this job. It will require efforts and time to find one. So, it will have a moderately
negative impact on finding the substitute.
Criterion 4: Since Wu will not leave the company, there would be no need to find his
substitute. Thus, it will have a high positive impact on finding a substitute.
Criterion 5: Providing assistant may boost his morale which may, in turn, make him
perform better. Also, it will help in focusing more on sales target. Thus it will have a
high positive impact on Wu’s performance.
6. Recommendation
It is clear from the above analysis that giving personal assistant to Fred Wu is the
most promising solution. This can be portrayed as the reward for the impressive
performance to counteract the negative effects on office environment.
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