1. Location
In the 20th Century, many organizations focused on goals, cost, and efficiency in production to keep a business profitable. In today’s business environment, for businesses to remain sustainable a competitive advantage must be maintained either by price, new product ventures, location, innovation in the marketplace, etc.
You will begin to put together the process of bringing a new product line into Biotech’s business model to stimulate growth in a new product sector, infant formula, while remaining true to the company’s current Mission “To develop products that are safe, effective, affordable and natural with the customer’s health always their primary goal.”
This new Infant Formula Division of Biotech will be located in a U.S. location or overseas and the company intends for it to be a leader in the use of sustainable products using the latest innovations for production and delivery to our global customers.
Consider this information:
Recently, Geraldine Barney Garrett, the granddaughter of Wilford Barney who held the reins of the R&D department for Biotech Health and Life Products in 1965, retired and Geraldine’s own granddaughter, Melanie Malone, took over the department. Melanie is qualified for the job. She was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Maryland College Park with a double major in Botany and Food Science. She minored in Business Management. She had worked in the plant in Chicago every summer since High School and had reproduced and revised all her grandmother’s and great-great grandmother’s recipes. Starting full-time at 22 years of age Melanie got along with everyone in the department but at 27 Geraldine thought she may be too young to assume the position, but Melanie has shown strong managerial and leadership qualities since stepping into the role. Melanie wants the company to be a leader in innovative ways to be a sustainable company using green technologies as well as friendly to the environment, animals, and human health.
Maximillian Barney, the President, CEO and Wilford Barney’s grandchild, decided the challenge of deciding on a location for the new Infant Formula Division as well as the search for a Division Director would fall on Melanie. Since Melanie is passionate about keeping business focused on all-natural products and developing ecofriendly packaging, Max felt she would ensure the company would bring in someone who would seek innovative, green, and sustainable ways to bring Biotech into this new venture effectively, while also ensuring the products are designed, developed, tested and delivered with the organizations Vision and Mission in mind.
Melanie has contracted a small minority owned consulting firm, Expert Foods Consultants, to conduct research on the best location for the new plant that meets Biotech’s expectations. The consultancy firm is also able to launch the new products per Melanie’s mandates for green sustainability and innovation. A group has been assembled within the firm to decide on a location for the plant. Melanie has narrowed her preferences down to Ohio, United States, Malaysia, and China and wants the firm to present the best option to her.
2. Candidate
In week 1 the question, “Who is a manager and what is their job in an organization?” was asked. As Biotech launches a new product division to design, develop and deliver infant formula globally, the company will need to bring in someone to manage this division. The desire from Melanie Malone, the head of R&D who has been tasked with identifying the person to lead this new division, is that the new Executive Director for the Infant Formula Division will be open to new innovative ways to develop green and sustainable products that will not only be popular among the traditional Biotech customer base, but will also be the face of the organization when marketing the products. Partnering with the small consulting firm, Expert Foods, Melanie will be vetting three potential candidates who will jump right in and begin the development of management plans that will be used to establish the new division. A senior representative from the firm was on the panel for the interview, and the transcripts of the interview have been given to the Expert Foods team that is helping Melanie with her tasking. The new Executive Director will be a Manager of the 21st Century who will be able to incorporate the values, culture and traditions of Biotech with the values and traditions of the host nation employees that will be hired as managers and employees.
In addition, the Executive Director will be the face of the marketing brand in the beginning and this new employee will need to be able to motivate not only the employee base on these new products but also motivate a new customer base for Biotech on the ‘difference’ Biotech will bring to the infant formula industry. Currently, the infant formula industry has a lot of well established companies, and a strong entry will be key to grab market share. Innovative and well made products, good marketing, and a clear strategy will be critical to the strong entry, so bringing in a strong director will be key.
Candidates
Sloan Jessie
Sloan has been working as the Deputy Executive Director of the European Division for the last year mainly focused on helping the Protein and Fitness branch become more environmentally and human friendly. Sloan currently holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from State College and her MBA from UMUC. Prior to her current position with Biotech Sloan was a production manager for the New Mexico facility for eleven years and was regarded highly within the employee ranks as a fair manager who was inclusive in her decision making. This allowed her to keep her employees involved in the daily operations of the plant and helped foster a cohesive workforce. On her resume she discusses her research in organic ingredients becoming a major reason for the ascension of Biotech in Europe’s list of environmental and human friendly companies. Prior to joining Biotech twelve years ago Sloan spent one year as an intern for a small non-profit company researching the long-term effects of soy based and animal based products imported from Asia. During her initial screening, Sloan admitted she currently does not have any marketing experience to help be the face of the new product, but has a strong desire to work on those skills and believes she has the managerial and leadership qualities to guide the team to success regardless. Sloan stated in her cover letter that though she only has twelve years of experience she would be a great fit for this executive position not just due to her familiarity of Biotech; their core values; understanding of their mission and vision; but also her desire to see Biotech become a leader in sustainable production with a focus on being environmentally and human friendly. Her degree in chemical engineering paired with the desire stated previously, would also allow her to focus on finding ways for Biotech to become the leader in quality, clean infant formula products.
Maddie Cooper
Maddie has spent the past 25 years working or Little Ones Formula, a mid-sized infant formula company currently operating out of New Jersey, which recently was bought out by a large health food company looking to expand to formula. The past 2 years Maddie was serving as the Vice President of Operations and Marketing where, according to her statements in the interview, she was instrumental in helping Little Ones gain a 12% increase year over year in market share. Before being named as a VP for Little Ones, Maddie worked for 10 years as a Regional Director for Asia responsible for importing ingredients from Singapore. During her run as a Regional Director she was responsible to make visits to the production plants in Malaysia and China to ensure compliance to company, federal, and local safety and production regulations. She credited her success in that role due to her strict management style of ensuring she was able to be a part of each plants decision making regardless of how small the issue. She did this thru modern communication channels that allow personnel to work remotely from anywhere in the world. The previous 13 years with the company were spent rising up the ladder starting with the company in the production line at the New Jersey plant where the company got its start. During her interview Maddie stated that Biotech should consider
