WGB 691 Assignments for Modules 4, 5, and 6
DISCUSSION BOARD due: 5/27
CASE ANALYSIS due: 5/29
JONATHAN LANGSTON Case Part A: A Hotel Manager’s Career Dilemma
Class Discussion
In about one page of text, give Jonathan Langston some great advice. In class this week, we will address question #1; this Discussion Board focuses on question #2 below:
For our class discussion and Part 1 of the Jonathan Langston (A): A Hotel Manager’s Career Dilemma, please address this question:
“Every man has his price—what’s yours?” Describe the personal, professional, and financial issues Jonathan Langston probably faced as he considered the opportunity to become general
manager of the Dorset Hotel in London.
Discussion Board
Put yourself in Jonathan’s situation, what specific contract terms and conditions would you have asked for as you began negotiating your employment contract with Mr. Sayed?
JONATHAN LANGSTON Case
Part B: Relaunch of the Dorset Hotel
Case Analysis
In analyzing Jonathan Langston (B): Relaunch of the Dorset Hotel, you may find these questions thought provoking, but you should try to follow the recommended approach for a case analysis. Do
not simply answer the questions posed below. They are included to jog your thinking. But question #2 is critical to address as you analyze the case:
1. How can Jonathan take more advantage of his customer base—those customers that have remained loyal and those that have defected to the competition? How can he institute a culture that rewards employees that have a customer focus?
2. As a manager and leader, what are the major issues that Jonathan must deal with as he attempts to relaunch and manage the Dorset Hotel?
3. Think about the strengths and weaknesses of the key staff members at the Dorset Hotel. Are
there changes in organizational structure or personnel that would work better? How risky would it be to make those changes?
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4. As you prepare your strategic plan to the Board, what major issues and strategies would you present to them? What “buy-in” would you be looking for? Where would you have the
greatest resistance from the Board?
Guidelines for This Case Assignment Word Document
Maximum 4 single-spaced pages
Use sub-headings to distinguish different sections of your case analysis. Some sub-heading and
organizational suggestions might be:
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for page 1:
for pages 2-4:
2 sub-headings: case background and strategic issues
3 sub-headings: analysis of strategic issues, alternative courses of action,
recommendations and implementation issues
If lengthy charts or exhibits are prepared as part of the case analysis, they should be referenced in
the case analysis, but placed in an appendix.
Case Analysis: A case analysis ideally should include or shed light on the following:
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a short case synopsis, including the relevant background facts of the case. This section
should draw the reader in; it is not a “rehash” of the case,
a concise statement of the business and management issue(s) at hand, and why they are
the critical issues,
the feasible set of alternative courses of action to address the stated business issue or to
meet the firm’s objectives, including the pros and cons of each alternative,
references to relevant theory as support for your analysis,
a thorough discussion of the recommended approach to addressing the
business/management issue(s), and a
discussion of the implementation issues related to the recommendations.
