Sutton Electronics Eric Frank was still basking in the glory of his promotion to marketing project manager for Sutton Electronics Corporation, manufacturer of electronic fire alarm systems for motels, offices, and other commercial installations. Eric’s first project involved the development of a marketing plan for Sutton’s revolutionary new alarm system based on sophisticated circuitry that would detect and identify a large number of dangerous gases as well as smoke and very high temperatures. The device was the brainchild of Ira Magee, vice-president of research and the technical wizard responsible for many of Sutton’s most successful products.
It was unusual for so young and relatively inexperienced an employee as Eric to be given control of such a potentially important project, but he had shown skill in handling several complex, though routine, marketing assignments. In addition, he had the necessary scientific background to allow him to understand the benefits of Magee’s proposed gas detection system.
Four weeks into the project, Eric was getting quite worried. He had tried to set up an organizational and planning meeting several times. No matter when he scheduled the meeting, the manager of the manufacturing department, Jaki Benken, was unable to attend. Finally, Eric agreed that manufacturing could be represented by young Bill Powell, a Benken protégé who had just graduated from college and joined Sutton Electronics. However, Eric was doubtful that Powell could contribute much to the project. Eric’s worry increased when Powell missed the first planning meeting completely and did not appear at the second meeting until it was almost over. Powell seemed apologetic and indicated that plant floor crises had kept him away from both meetings. The project was now five weeks old, and Eric was almost three weeks late with the marketing master plan. He was thinking about asking Ira Magee for help.
Do you think that Eric should involve Magee at this point? If so, what outcome would you expect? If not, what should he do?