Scenario
Imagine that you are an organizational consultant for the SNHU PetSupply Company. You have been asked to recommend who should lead a newinitiative to expand the company's online presence. After severaldiscussions and interviews, the leadership team has shortlisted twocandidates. Each candidate brings a different set of skills andexpertise to the table, and each also poses a few challenges.
The first candidate, Myra, is a 15-year veteran of the organizationwho has worked her way up from an intern to a very capable productmanager. She has extensive knowledge of the company's products andservices and embodies the company's culture and vision in her work. Myrais not well-versed in e-commerce and the technologies that will beneeded to implement and launch the company's online initiative. However,she is a fast learner, and the management position doesn't require toomuch in-depth knowledge of technologies.
The second candidate, Michael, was hired six months ago and showsgreat promise as a leader and manager. He has an MBA from a reputableuniversity and worked for a technology startup for three years beforejoining the company. He has no experience in pet supplies or relatedindustries, but knows how to launch an online company from the groundup.
In your initial post, address the following:
Compare and contrast two different decision-making models addressedin your course resources, explaining how each would be used to approachthe hiring decision.
Recommend which of the two decision-making models would be the best suited to help make the hiring decision, and why.
Full Answer Section
- Bounded Rationality Model: This model recognizes that decision-makers have limited information and cognitive abilities, and therefore, they often make decisions that are satisfactory rather than optimal. It involves satisficing, which is the process of choosing the first option that meets a minimum acceptable standard.
Applying the Models to the Hiring Decision
- Rational Decision-Making: Using this model, the company could create a list of criteria for the ideal candidate, such as experience in e-commerce, knowledge of the pet supply industry, and leadership skills. They could then evaluate each candidate against these criteria and select the one who best meets the requirements.
- Bounded Rationality: Using this model, the company could consider the constraints and limitations of the situation, such as the urgency of the project and the availability of candidates. They might choose the candidate who is the best fit based on the information available, even if they are not a perfect match for all the criteria.
Recommendation
Given the time constraints and the importance of launching the online initiative, the Bounded Rationality model would be the most suitable for this hiring decision. This model recognizes that it may not be possible to find a candidate who meets all the ideal criteria. By focusing on the most important factors and making a decision based on the available information, the company can move forward with the project quickly and effectively.
While Myra's knowledge of the company and its products is valuable, Michael's expertise in e-commerce and his ability to launch an online business from scratch may be more critical for the success of the new initiative. By considering the specific needs and constraints of the situation, the company can make an informed decision that is likely to lead to positive outcomes.