Mgmt 601- Leadership in a Global Context

Case Study

Forty years ago the Hudson Bay Company (est. 1670) was the dominant department store in Canada. Forty years ago Marks & Spencer (est 1884) was the dominant department store in the United Kingdom. Today both businesses struggle to survive in their respective markets.

What went wrong? Review the leadership of the 2 organizations over the past 40 years. Which leaders made good/bad decisions and what were those decisions? Were they common to both organisations or were they distinct. Describe and explain the differences and similarities.

With hindsight and your knowledge of leadership theory, what would you have done differently and why. Explain your answers and where possible apply the theoretical concepts of the course to the decision-making that took place over that 40 year period

1. Providing a professional assessment of the situation (e.g., reviewing external/internal environmental factors, providing situational analysis, etc.) as if you were an invited management consultant

2. Identifying the issues, explain why they are happening, and explain why particular recommendations are suggested. The recommendations should use material from the textbook

3. Identifying leadership styles, concepts and methods mentioned in the case

4. Evaluating from a critical thinking perspective if the most suitable leadership approaches have been used and if they were used correctly and sufficiently and linking them to what learnt in the course

5. Doing some "what-if" analysis, providing best-practice approaches directed in the context with the situation

6. Formulating at least 5 future action points to get the best possible outcome from the situation, focusing on specific measures, benefits, and risks associated with the plan you propose