Roxanna Schwartzkopf Joined WestCorp, a Company with an Innovative Culture

question 98

Multiple Choice

Roxanna Schwartzkopf joined WestCorp, a company with an innovative culture, as a middle manager. Now she has been promoted to lead a team of subject-matter experts tasked with developing a new product line. Roxanna feels pressure to ensure the success of this risky new venture. When one of her team members, Jenna Sanders, approaches her with a daring new idea, Roxanna insists that Jenna defend the idea by presenting an hour-long slide presentation to management. Next, Roxanna subjects Jenna's idea to a formal review process that is still underway months later. As a result, Roxanna's team has made little progress, and the team members are losing motivation. Given WestCorp's culture, what should Roxanna have done instead to support the success of her new team?

• A)She should have allowed the team to proceed with the idea but constantly monitored their progress toward the goal.
• B)She should have prevented her team from participating in the planning process until she herself had defined their final objective.
• C)She should have shown a willingness to listen to new ideas and to take risks in developing new products.
• D)She should have created a well-defined hierarchy of authority and established clear reporting relationships for the team.
• E)She should have tested Jenna's idea at every stage of development by holding focus tests rather than doing internal reviews.

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Definitions:

Taft-Hartley Act

A United States federal law enacted in 1947 that restricts the activities and power of labor unions.

Union Shop Agreements

A labor agreement requiring all employees of a business to become union members within a specified period of time as a condition of employment.

Union Workers

Employees who are members of a labor union, an organization that represents their interests, particularly in negotiations for wages, working conditions, and benefits.

Negotiate Contract

The process of discussing terms and conditions between parties with the aim of reaching an agreement for a contract.