Assignment task: A family friend, Emily, runs a successful software development company. She's is brilliant but very demanding. She recruits exclusively from the University of Cambridge computing department. Her way of approaching software development is this: after an initial meeting, she lets individuals pursue their own path in developing their part of the software, only bringing all the parts together at the end into an integrated solution.
Recently there have been a number of issues with the software produced where the different pieces have not been well integrated. With her exacting nature, Emily is determined to drive out these errors, quickly dismissing anyone who disagrees with her on either the scope of the problem, or possible solutions. For example, in a recent meeting, one employee suggested taking part in a government sponsored programme which allows talented people from the public sector with expertise in software development to be seconded to private companies for a nominal fee. Emily was scornful of this suggestion 'I can't believe you could make a ridiculous suggestion like that, we've all the skills we need here'
Hearing that you're undertaking a Master's in Management at LBS, Emily has asked you if you've any thoughts on how she might make her organisation more effective.
What do you think the problems are and what solutions might you suggest?