Session 3: Building inclusive spaces in organisations

Stratton was explaining to Williams that he wanted Chimbadze to succeed him, but there
was one problem: whenever a promising young executive in Chimbadze’s division began to
shine, Chimbadze would find one or other reason to get rid of him. Stratton said it had
happened at least twice that young managers whom Stratton had taken the trouble to send
to London for short management courses had fallen out with Chimbadze. One had resigned
and Chimbadze had actually fired the other, a woman, after a customer complaint that
Stratton could not remember the details of. “This happened just two months ago, and I was
very upset,” said Stratton. “It led to one of the few occasions when I have actually rebuked
Jonah firmly. I told him that he should not have acted like this without at least consulting me,
as we had lost one of our potential gems. If Jonah is to succeed me as chief executive, he
will have to learn to develop, not destroy, the human potential under him. So, will you coach
Chimbadze for me in this area?”
“Well,” replied Stratton, “He said that her customer service was poor and that she was out of
touch with her staff. Brought along the customer evaluations for her resort to show how they
had in fact declined since she got back from London and took over one of our top resorts.
He had a point, of course, but I pointed out that she was young and needed coaching. She
has a first class brain and I had identified her as a rising star. I just think Jonah could not
abide the thought a bright young, educated, woman snapping at his heels. I think we need a
bit more competition around here to keep people on their toes.”
Session 3 The Chief

This case study, although inspired by a real event, was created to stimulate discussion and
not to illustrate management practice. In this file, you will follow James Williams as he helps
Charles Stratton, chairman and CEO of Global Hotels (Zambia), develop his heir-apparent,
Jonah Chimbadze. Discover the challenges they face and the solutions they come up with to
ensure Chimbadze's success as the next CEO.
The main characters

 James Williams, a consultant who is hired by Charles Stratton to help develop Jonah
Chimbadze's management skills so that he can take over as CEO of Global Hotels
(Zambia).

 Charles Stratton, the current chairman and CEO of Global Hotels (Zambia) and a
member of the board of the parent company, Global Hotels plc in London. He is one
of the main characters in this case study and is responsible for grooming Jonah
Chimbadze to take over as CEO of the company.

 Jonah Chimbadze is the head of the Tours division at Global Hotels (Zambia) and is
being groomed by Charles Stratton to take over as CEO of the company. Jonah
Chimbadze is the heir-apparent to the CEO position at Global Hotels (Zambia) and is
being groomed by Charles Stratton to take over as CEO of the company. He is the
head of the Tours division at Global Hotels (Zambia) and has risen through the ranks
to his current position, from the position of general assistant on safaris, or something
like that some twenty-five years ago. He now heads the biggest revenue-generating
 division in the company, with about a thousand people beneath him. He is known for
being excellent in his relations with customers and for demanding similar attention to
service from his staff.

What are some of the challenges that Jonah Chimbadze faces in becoming the next CEO of
Global Hotels (Zambia)?
One of the challenges is that he lacks some of the necessary management skills, such as
strategic thinking and financial acumen, that are required for the CEO position.
Another challenge is that he tends to act unilaterally without consulting his superiors, which
can lead to problems.
Additionally, there is some resistance to his appointment from some members of the
management team who feel that he is not ready for the position.
Finally, there is the challenge of succeeding Charles Stratton, who is a highly respected and
successful CEO, and maintaining the company's growth and profitability in a challenging
business environment.
How does James Williams help Charles Stratton develop Chimbadze's management skills?
By providing coaching and training to Chimbadze.
Williams works with Chimbadze to identify his strengths and weaknesses and to develop a
plan to address his development needs.
Williams also provides feedback and guidance to Chimbadze on his performance and helps
him to develop his strategic thinking and financial acumen.
Additionally, Williams works with Stratton to ensure that Chimbadze is given opportunities to
develop his skills and gain experience in different areas of the business.
Through this process, Williams helps to prepare Chimbadze for the CEO position and to
ensure that he has the necessary skills and experience to succeed in the role.
What are some of the key takeaways from this case study that can be applied to other
companies and industries?
Firstly, it is important for companies to identify and develop their future leaders early on, and
to provide them with the necessary training and development opportunities to prepare them
for senior management roles.

Secondly, companies should be aware of the potential pitfalls of promoting from within, such
as the risk of promoting someone who lacks the necessary skills or experience for the role.

Thirdly, it is important for companies to have a clear succession plan in place, and to ensure
that there is a smooth transition of leadership when the time comes.

Fourthly, companies should be aware of the cultural differences that can exist between
different regions and countries and should take steps to understand and adapt to these
differences.
Finally, it is important for companies to have a strong and effective coaching and mentoring
program in place, to help develop the skills and capabilities of their employees and to ensure
that they are prepared for future leadership roles.