Nearly from its beginning, Introl Systems, Inc. (the company that produces computer chips used in desktop and notebook computers), was located in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. This location was convenient for a wide range of employees. Those who lived in New York City had only a twenty-minute commute to work. Those who preferred to live in the suburban areas had more than a dozen small New Jersey communities from which to choose. Even those who preferred a rural lifestyle could find it within a forty-five-minute commute to work.
In 2003, however, company officials determined that the organization had outgrown its facility in Englewood Cliffs. Attempts to obtain permits from local government offices to expand the facility met with resistance. As a result, the company bought the former headquarters of Eastern Union in Morris Plains, New Jersey. After some remodeling to fit company needs, Introl Systems began operating in Morris Plains in June 2003.
The biggest issue facing supervisors concerning the move was the realization that hiring and retain- ing employees might be affected—especially in the engi- neering and design departments. That’s because many of these employees lived in New York City. What was once a twenty-minute commute from the city would now take nearly an hour each way. Further compounding this change was the realization that no public transportation was available. Going to work now required employees to have access to automobiles.
Kathy Wilson supervised a small group at Introl Systems that worked exclusively on designing computer chips. All six of her employees lived in New York City. When Kathy learned of the move to Morris Plains, she immediately informed her employees. Initially, news of the move appeared to have little effect. But as the date of the move drew nearer, rumors were rampant that almost all of her staff were looking for jobs in New York City.
RESPoNDiNg to thE CASE
1. Why do you believe most of Kathy Wilson’semployees were resistant to the move? Describe the factors leading to this resistance.
2. Assume that you are Kathy Wilson and it is spring 2003. You don’t want to lose any of the skilled and talented people you have on your staff. What specific steps will you take to ensure that your employees remain at Introl Systems?
3. Do you believe that company officials could have avoided some of the resistance to change especially for those employees who lived in New York City? Explain.