Case study title: Selecting an Administrative Manager
Use concepts and methods learned to apply to different situational, structural, or cultural conditions
Lucy Raynor is an administrative manager for Blake and Hall Law Office in downtown Los Angeles. Her friend, Althea, who is a human resource manager for Silvers Professional Law Office (a firm that represents the movie industry), called and asked if Lucy would be available to serve on a screening and hiring committee for a new administrative manager. Silvers Professional Law Office is moving toward a more flattened organization, and special qualifications are needed in the new office manager. Althea trusts Lucy's opinion about office administrative matters. Lucy said if it wouldn't take too long, she would be happy to help. The next morning, Lucy received via delivery service a package that contained the following information on the top three candidates (some of the most significant data is given):
Candidate A: This candidate recently moved to Los Angeles from New York City. She does not drive a car but is taking driving lessons now. Having been an office manager for three years at an insurance company, she now wants to become a CPA-but she feels this is at least five years away. She wants to finish her bachelor's degree in business administration at the local university over the next three years.
Candidate B: Having been a top legal secretary in Beverly Hills for more than ten years, she states that she needs to leave her current position for personal reasons. In her most recent position, she coordinated facilities, equipment, and supplies acquisition and worked closely with the architect to design a state-of-the-art office area.
Candidate C: As a legal secretary who currently is employed by the Silvers law firm, this candidate has consistently received very high-performance appraisals in job evaluations during the past five years. She is well-liked by almost everyone in the firm. At times, however, she tends to be a perfectionist and seldom solicits help from others in getting things done. Consequently, she ends up doing most jobs herself and has the most overtime pay of anyone in the firm.
Question 1: Given the limited information provided, what criteria or skills do you feel need to drive the selection of this office manager? List and explain the criteria.
Question 2: Of the three (3) candidates, which of the candidate would you select and why?
Question 3: What are their responsibilities after being hired? List and explain three (3) of the administrative responsibilities.