David Fletcher Case Essay Example
David Fletcher Case Essay Example

David Fletcher Case Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (703 words)
  • Published: July 22, 2016
  • Type: Essay
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In order for the research analysts to work together effectively, Fletcher needs to establish a clear team strategy and hiring strategy. The first step is defining the structure and composition of the research analyst team. Kindred, who has strong people skills and experience collaborating with other analysts, should be involved in this process. Fletcher can benefit from her input since he only has a manager's perspective.

To achieve optimal positive synergy, it is recommended that Fletcher organizes his research analysts into a self-managed work team. This team type enables the analysts to not only offer recommendations but also make decisions regarding which stocks should be bought and sold in Fletcher's portfolio. By adopting this approach, the analysts will have direct responsibility for their own performance.

Flecther's role

...

will change to a more guiding function, suggesting stocks to analyze and events to attend, while still maintaining a managerial role. All analysts and Fletcher should have offices close to each other to promote collaboration and informal conversation. However, there is a potential obstacle of power struggles and disputes in a self-managed team setup.

However, we think that this risk can be reduced as Fletcher retains ultimate control over the group, and his office is conveniently located near the analysts’ area, enabling him to identify and prevent conflicts before they escalate. Another factor for Fletcher to consider is the makeup of the team. Our suggestion is that he assembles a team of analysts who have varied personality types but share certain underlying Big Five dimensions. The main rationale behind this recommendation is that groups with diverse personality types are inclined to generate

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superior solutions compared to homogeneous groups.

Different personality types may lead to task conflict, which can slow down a team initially but eventually stimulate discussion, promote critical evaluation, and improve team decisions. To ensure harmonious collaboration, we recommend that analysts possess high conscientiousness and at least moderate agreeableness, even if their overall personality types differ.

Conscientiousness is crucial because the analysts must be reliable when making decisions about others' equities. Additionally, individuals high in conscientiousness are adept at supporting their team members. It is essential for the analysts to have diverse backgrounds so that they can collectively possess all the necessary information for informed buying and selling decisions. Although informational diversity may lead to task conflict, it has a positive impact on group performance (Jehn et. al. 1999). Fletcher's next action is to determine a hiring strategy to identify talent that will align well with his overall team strategy.

The hiring strategy will be based on the team composition guidelines mentioned earlier, which promote diversity in personality types and backgrounds while still incorporating some shared Big Five Dimensions. Given the significance of personality, it is advised that Fletcher asks candidates to complete a Big Five personality test to assess their conscientiousness and agreeableness levels. Furthermore, Kindred and other new team members should also personally meet with each candidate to evaluate their compatibility in terms of personality, interpersonal skills, and working style. This measure will serve as a precautionary step in case a candidate attempts to deceive by performing well on the personality test.

We suggest that Fletcher implements the second approach mentioned on page six when selecting analysts. This approach involves

hiring "seasoned" analysts who are industry specialists and have the authority to make stock decisions. By following this approach, Fletcher can avoid the need for additional guidance in his already hectic schedule. It is crucial for Fletcher to find experienced analysts who are also willing to acquire new skills and explore unfamiliar industries. Lastly, during the interview process, Fletcher must confirm that each candidate is capable of fulfilling both their team responsibilities and individual requirements.

In light of this new hiring strategy, we advise Fletcher to promptly hire Mary Robinson. According to Kindred's observations, she appears to possess a compatible personality and working style, and they have already established a rapport. Yet, before deciding about Donald Fiske, Fletcher and Kindred should spend time with him in both formal and casual environments to gauge his personality. Additionally, they must confirm that Fiske will be content with the role of a research analyst, considering his previous experience managing his own portfolio.

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