Case Questions- Micro Manager

Submitted by: Trinath Ojha

JGU Id: 18020347

1. Analyse George’s behaviour as a leader and manager?

Yet like every top executive, George has at his disposal a variety of management tools that he can use
to lead the company. These include hard tools, such as the company’s financial structure, leadership
team, corporate strategy, and M&A strategy. They also include soft tools, like personal leadership and
communication skills, which have a powerful effect on corporate climate and culture. George has
failed to use the soft tools available to him. Without fully leveraging them, he cannot hope to run his
company well or take it to the next level.

George needs to manage much more than Shelley’s output. He needs to gain better control of
Retronics as an organization. George is uncomfortable with his role as CEO, and he’s not performing
his job adequately. He’s relying on his engineering skills, such as attention to minute detail, to get the
job done. Controlling personalities have a tendency to stifle rather than nurture creative people.

2. Analyse Shelly’s behaviour as an employee. Is she right to think George is interfering in her
work?

According to my view point, Shelley needs an attitude adjustment. She may be a high performer in
her previous organization and was an expert who was confident in her work and had led many
interesting campaigns from which one of her such assignments landed her new job and appreciation
from the board’s chairman Pete, who believed that by grooming her in the right direction she could
do wonders for the organization. But if she disagrees with George’s guidance, she should present
some evidence that she has a workable strategy. Ignoring George’s directives is not an effective way
to get her views across; neither is walking out of a meeting without explanation. Both will ensure only
that her tenure at Retronics is short-lived. She needs to develop strong moral and learn to accept
feedback. Any employee who considers calling in sick to avoid confrontation isn’t prepared for the
rigor of managing the marketing program for a future IPO.
This may sound like tough talk coming from a CEO at a company that prides itself on treating its
employees well. But having a cushy work environment doesn’t mean being soft on performance.
Employees who perform well earn the right to make decisions without having the CEO look over their
shoulders. When that happens, the employees get the satisfaction of being able to exercise their
creativity independently and everyone wins.
3. Is George guilty of micromanaging?
Yes, George is guilty of micromanagement. Micromanagement is a management style where a
manager closely observes and controls the work of subordinates. This case provides many examples
of how George micromanages Shelley and her staff. One example involving micromanagement is
when George joined a conversation with Shelly and her staff and underlined what is important for the
company and what he wants them to do. Another example is when George saw Shelley in the hallway
and looked at her notes about press release. He didn’t like the attitude of the title so he made it clear
that he wants her to change it.

George also uses mix of rational persuasion and legitimate tactic to influence Shelley. George
presents logical arguments and supporting evidence to show reasonability of request (rational
persuasion tactic) and also relies on his authority position, as the CEO of Retronics, to establish the
acceptance of request.