Thomas Green: Power, Office Politics and a Career in Crisis – Case Solution

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Thomas Green: Power, Office Politics and a Career in Crisis Case Answers

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Executive summary – Thomas Green

Thomas Green faces a big career crisis, which is attributed to the lack of management competencies, such as self-awareness, communication skills, power, and politics.

In order to resolve Thomas’s current issues, alternative solutions are provided and evaluated against three decision criteria — time, ease of implementation, and boss satisfaction.

In the end, the recommendations and action plan are generated, including crossing the sensitive line, reducing the blind area, learning written and supportive communication, carrying out stakeholder analysis, and building relationships with stakeholders.

These would help Thomas Green to enhance the competencies he lacks. Thus, it is possible for him to improve his relationship with his boss and retain the job.

1. Introduction – Thomas Green: Power, Office Politics and a Career in Crisis Case Study

Managerial effectiveness is based on management competencies(Darling & Fischer, 1998), and enhancing the competencies would have a direct impact on job performance and job satisfaction (Shipper & White, 1999).

This report first describes the challenges faced by Thomas Green, who has a poor relationship with his immediate boss and is in danger of losing his job.

Then, it provides a detailed analysis of the factors that may contribute to the issues and the alternatives that would help Thomas to move forward. Based on the analysis, the most suitable recommendations and action plans are generated.

2. Problem identification and analysis

2.1 Key Issues

After being rapidly promoted to senior market specialist, Thomas Green, without enough managerial experience, faces a big career crisis. He receives harsh criticism from his immediate boss, Frank Davis, as they disagree on each other’s work styles and marketing projections.

Green’s failure to be aware of his own weaknesses, change his communication style and fully understand power and office politics results in an extremely poor relationship with Davis, which is likely to lead to his discharge eventually.

The reason behind these issues is the lack of management competencies.

First, the lack of self-awareness makes Thomas unable to realize his weaknesses and work capacity limitations.

Second, ineffective communication leads to communication conflicts with Davis.

In addition, his little understanding of office politics and lack of change management skills stoke Davis’s anger.

The combined influences of these three factors ultimately deteriorate the relationship with Davis and lead to his career disaster. Thus, these competencies should be enhanced greatly to improve Thomas Green’s dilemma.

2.2 Factors contributing to the issues

Factor 1: Lack of self-awareness

Based on the Johari Window, the blind area prevents Thomas from gaining a full understanding of himself (Luft, 1969). Thomas has abundant experience in the sales field but lacks experience in the senior market specialist position.

Although McDonald has asked him to seek guidance from other seasoned managers, Thomas did not spend much time doing this. Without receiving feedback and advice from others, he cannot reduce the blind area of self-awareness (Luft, 1969).

Thus, incomplete self-awareness makes Thomas Green unable to fully know his weaknesses, so he cannot make the right decision and plan in work, especially the market projections, which intensifies the conflicts with Davis.

In addition, the sensitive line makes Thomas Green become defensive and sets a protected…