Case Study

(Chapter 3)

Recruiting a New Production Manager

Javier’s Enterprises manufactures a variety of food products. Analisa Rafol

had been the production manager for the past two years after being promoted to
the position. Unfortunately, she is failing in her job. She has been with the
company since it started 18 years ago and because of her exceptional
performance record, she had been promoted many times.
Javier’s Enterprises started as family business and has followed a policy of
promotion from within to motivate employees and give them new opportunities to
learn and grow.
The company is continuing to expand into foreign markets and it is
essential that the production department adopts the latest technology and
production processes.
Top management is convinced that the job demands someone who has
been educated in manufacturing technology and who has at least two years of
experience.
They are divided, however, on how to handle this problem.
One executive thinks the job should be given to one of the production
supervisors who is bright and capable and could probably acquire the knowledge
and skills needed to be a good production manager and still preserve the
company’s tradition of promoting from within.
Another executive thinks the company should advertise the job to solicit a
large number of applicants with excellent qualifications.

Answer the following questions:

1. How valuable is the tradition of promotion from within and how disruptive
will it be deviate from the tradition? What are the advantages and risks of
promoting from within in this situation?

 It is valuable for a company to have a tradition of promotion from

within because it can save time and money and strengthen the
management. Also, promoting its employees from within motivate
employees and give them new opportunities to learn and grow.
2. As head of HR, how are you going to handle the problem of the incumbent
production manager, Analisa Rafol, considering she rose from the ranks
because of exceptional performance record?
3. If the company decides to recruit from the outside, what are the best
external recruiting sources for finding a new production manager?