Situation Analysis

Despite sales of $5 billion in 2006, Hathaway Jones had fallen on hard times. Younger people
across the United States, where Hathaway Jones had 144 shops and outlets, wanted more
affordable clothing, with more flair. The trend was starting to show up in declining numbers for
the company’s high-priced-some said stodgy-designer clothes. Plans for radically revamping the
company’s image and product line were in the offing. Considering the current situation of
demand fluctuation of luxury good in USA, and the same on hike with 70 percent growth rate,
the market is highly potential for the re branding of our company. In order to achieve market
penetration in another country, it is required that the strategic decision is aligning with the
expectations of the company. In China, Hathaway is moving forward with stores in three big
cities in cosmopolitan area which means that the investment is huge and if the plan fails then the
company will have to bear huge loss. That means the pressure to perform is already a lot, given
the current scenario of the company.
Looking at the candidature of Mimi, she was the last candidate to be interviewed, yet Fred had
strong intentions to give a green signal for the further processes, It could mean two things, on is
bias that Fred has towards his friend, and secondly, it could be that Mimi is actually very
impressive and deserves the position as compared to other candidates. Analysing the statement
she passed, “But if you talk to senior executives in the big cities,” she reported intelligently,
“Confucianism comes up in every conversation.” She said that the Chinese wanted to balance the
intense materialism of the past two decades with some kind of spiritually and that Fred had better
be prepared to deal with it. This means that she is well aware of the facts concerning the matter
and has a different point of view as that of Fred.
Virginia Flanders and Fred had been at loggerheads about the way Fred brought together his top
team. He ignored internal talent and downplayed the value of HR, relying overmuch. This shows
the less professionalism which is reflected in Fred’s character while recruiting people. Mostly the
conflict could lead to the other person have some sort of bias for the opinion provided and thus
decisions could be affected. Virginia found Mimi was involved in some protest against World
trade which was different than a normal student activity. Thoughts are that one can’t just reject
her candidature saying google gave something erratic nor can they hire her just ignoring the fact
and someone could dig into the same information and then the company’s image could be
jeopardised. But Hathaway doesn’t have that talented pool of candidates as Mimi and totally
without any stain on their past.

Problem Statement:
Whether to move ahead with the interview process of Mimi or reject her candidature

Options
 1. Call her for the interview and ask her whether she is comfortable enough in sharing the
protest and her view points on it.
2. Just let the past go and evaluate her on her present resume
3. Reject her candidature and go ahead from the bunch of resume already there
Criterion
1. Successful brand revamp
2. A prospective employee with great enthusiasm towards challenges
3. Maintaining the brand image and not having it politically touched upon.

Option Table

Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

Criterion 1

Criterion 2 Could be possible

Criterion 3 Could be possible

Recommendation
To go ahead and set up a meeting with Mimi and get to know her point of view as well. Since, 8
years have been passed to that incidence it might be likely possible that she no more considers it
professional.

Action Plan
1. Set up an interview date with Mime
2. Involve Virginia also in that meeting so that the decision is not biased
3. Ask her whether in her past she has been associated with such protest and if so why
4. In days to come while being an employee of the company would she do the same
5. Also explain to her the office culture and whether she is compatible enough to work on it.
6. If the meeting’s agenda is met go ahead with recruiting her.