Reference no: EM133048235

Overview Case Questions

What is the source of the problem in this case? 

Charles Foley, vice president of the computer retailing firm Sayer MicroWorld, must decide whether or not to fire his employee, Kathryn McNeil, a 37-year-old product manager who has been unable to work as many hours as her colleagues due to her status as a single parent of a six-year-old boy. The company's recent risk-laden acquisition of another ailing firm has intensified the office's already high-pressure environment by necessitating that all employees work 13- and 14-hour days. Although McNeil appears to be doing her best to fulfill both her parental and professional responsibilities, her immediate supervisor insists that McNeil has not been able to complete her share of the work.

1. Who is responsible for the situation that the McNeil, Walters and Foley are now in?
2. What should Foley do? Make specific recommendations as they relate to Kathryn McNeil and the current situation facing him.  Support your answers with good management practices and references from the text.
3. Overall what do you think about the leadership and the human resource management practices at Sayer? Do you believe they are in the best interests of the company given its challenges?
4. What specific recommendations for overall management of the company and specifically employees would you give for going forward? These should be overall recommendations, not specifically for the Kathryn McNeil situation.