At exactly 1:40 on a warm, sunny Friday afternoon on July 1995, Frank Watehouse, CEO of Argos Diesel, Europe leaves his office on the top floor of Argos Tower overlooking the Zurichsee In the grip of a tension headache he ride the glass elevator down the outside of the mirrored building.
To quiet hid nerves he studies his watch. In less than half an hour. Waterhouse must look on as Bert Donaldson faces the company's European maangers-executives of the parts suppliers that Argos hs acquired over the past two years.. Donaldson is supposed to give the keynote address at this event part of the second Argos Management Meeting organized by his training and education department.
Assess the mistakes Donaldson has made. Why have these occurred? Whose responsibility are they? What are the implications of not satisfactorily dealing with the Donaldson problem?
What should Waterhouse do with Donaldson? Be specific and develop an action plan.
What could the company have done to better prepare Donaldson?
What does this case suggest about company's current policy for recruit and preparing expatriates? Make policy suggestions.