Leadership Development Case Study No. 2: Leading Growth in the 21^st Century

By Lorraine Bastian Jones

Government Corporation B transitioned from a small size tourism specific operation with a 3.5 million dollar per annum budget to a medium size entity with a 15.7 million annual budget. With its vibrant succession plan and a team of 20 junior executives, it was not necessary to seek new hires. The corporation’s succession plan was rolled out to fill the new leadership positions that resulted from the expansion. The expansion launch is scheduled to take place within the next four months.

Just two years ahead of the expansion, a 360-degree survey was conducted by a contracted career coach. The launch of the new operation was only three months away. The Human Resources Department immediately requested that each executive conduct a 360-degree survey and submit the results to the HR department within three days. The feedback identified the executive’s key strengths and areas for improvement, and subsequently revealed that the skills and knowledge of 90% of the executives could not support the new constructs and functions of the new expansion.   According to projected global demands for island destinations, Corporation B must expeditiously develop a short term goal to ensure successful participation in the market place.

In preparation for the focus group discussion, please chat informally, but candidly with your colleague on the following foundational questions:

1. What is your personal definition of executive leadership?
2. What is your organization’s budget for executive leadership development?
3. What is your organization’s executive development strategy?
4. Is executive development activities linked to your organizational strategy? Explain.
5. What are the ongoing challenges with executive development initiatives, and how does your organization respond to such challenges?
6. What is the perceived stimuli/stimulus that inspires your desire for leadership development?
7. What is the perceived stimuli/stimulus that discourages your desire for leadership development?

Focus Group Questions

1. Analyze the case and list some of POB major challenges in terms of executive development planning.
2. What appears to be the main administrative challenges within Public Corporation A?
3. What plan of solution should be instituted to ensure that this developmental dilemma does not re-occur?
4. What methodology/ies should POB employ to align the executive development plan with the company’s strategic growth plan?
5. What stimuli you would design to inspire leadership development within POB?
6. The case states that: “According to projected global demands for island destinations, POB must expeditiously develop a short term goal to ensure successful participation in the market place.
   1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of out-sourcing this project.
   2. Without the requisite leadership training, should the POB executive leaders attempt to drive the success of this project? Elaborate.
7. What procedures and strategies should the government implement to imbed executive leadership development within its operational framework?

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