Muhammad Kashif Hussain. Assignment 2.

Enrollment 02-111181-246

Assignment-2

Read the following case study then answer questions given at the end.

Richard the Information Systems Executive

Why was Richard’s decision to leave his employer of 14 years such a shock? Maybe
it was the outstanding reputation of the company he had decided to leave—a company
known for innovative computer technology and progressive human resource
practices. Perhaps it was his steady advancement in title, responsibilities, and salary,
or his obvious enthusiasm for his work and for the company that had treated him so
well. Or possibly it was the fact that Richard had started with this paternalistic company
right out of college and it was rare for any employee to leave with such a high
level of job security.
Richard had made a significant career decision that, in retrospect, should not
have been so surprising. At 38 years of age he yearned for more—more money and
a more prestigious title—but, most significantly, he wanted more responsibility and
an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the destiny of his employer. This
opportunity may have come eventually with his current company, but it would have
taken a while, and Richard was growing impatient. Richard was in the phase of his
career where he needed to have a greater degree of authority and independence,
to be listened to seriously, and to make a name for himself. With a stay-at-home
spouse and a young daughter, Richard was also concerned about increasing his
compensation to provide a more comfortable lifestyle for himself and his family, now
and in the future. Aware of his needs and the opportunities at his current company,
Richard, with the support of his spouse, decided to risk security in a safe, known
environment and pursue his goals. This decision shaped the course of his career
and life in profound ways.
Richard left his former employer with goodwill and enormous optimism. He
accepted a position as director of customer support with a rapidly growing technology
firm. In this new position, he and his staff were in charge of providing technical
support for all of the company’s clients. Richard approached his new job with the
enthusiasm and energy that had produced success in earlier years. He upgraded
his employer’s back office information system, and built a management structure
within his division that was sorely needed. His accomplishments were substantial
and were recognized by his superiors, peers, and subordinates alike. It looked like
his decision had paid off!
Unfortunately, Richard did not count on, nor did he anticipate, the corporate
changes in strategy that were about to take place. Not that he was particularly
naïve, but how could he have known that the senior management of the company
was planning on “offshoring” all of its customer support to Asia? Facing intense
competition and resultant pressures to cut costs, the company’s senior management
team, with the blessing of the board of directors, decided to reduce labor
costs by 40 percent by outsourcing Richard’s entire department. After just a few
months on what he thought was going to be his dream job, Richard was facing a
great deal of uncertainty about his future. It is one thing to know intellectually that
a change in corporate strategy can outweigh job performance in the real world; it’s quite
another to be the victim of a major corporate cost-cutting move. Richard was
worried. He had a family to support, a child to eventually put through college, and a
heavy mortgage to pay each month.
At the age of 40, Richard found himself unemployed for the first time since high
Muhammad Kashif Hussain. Assignment 2. Enrollment 02-111181-246

school. Finding a new position became a full-time job, and he approached this task with
alacrity and extensive planning. After what seemed like an eternity, he found a position
with a brokerage firm, heading up its information systems group. Burned once, he
comforted himself that this new company was less likely than his previous employer to
make a major change in strategy. But after two years of outstanding contributions, this
firm is now undergoing a major reorganization and a reshuffling of personnel. Richard’s
future? Although he was recently promoted to vice-president, he’s not so sure of himself
any more. When a friend asked whether he had any regrets about his decision to leave
his initial employer, Richard gave an emphatic “maybe.”

Case Questions
1. What do Richard’s experiences indicate about the process of career
management?

Answer: Career Management requires active decision making on the part of the
individual and that the career decision involves risks. Career decision are not made in
a vacuum. But involves the input from one family and other in the social network.
It indicates that any changes in the career plan needs a lot of effort so that we don't
get in a situation where we don't want to be in the future. An individual needs to be
patient enough to plan his career life in order to succeed.

2. What environmental factors have affected Richard’s career?

Answer: Richard was looking for a better profile company in order to fulfill his needs
and future goal. One of the main factors that affected Richard's career is the job title.
He was dreaming of a really big position as well as job title in order to get enough
money to reach his target. In addition, his age played a big role and it was the reason
which caused all the problems. Looking for more responsibilities is a good thing to
develop and improve him, but he should have been thought about the company’s
profile before taking that decision.

3. When Richard decided to leave his initial employer, what career “trade-offs,” either
consciously or subconsciously, did he make? Do you believe that Richard has done
a good job of managing his career? Why or why not?

Answer: He was enjoying a very good and secured job at his first employer. According to
the job stability, he was pretty sure that this company is safe and it's working properly. In
order to get that new higher position in the second company, he made some trade-offs.
The biggest trade-off was leaving his secured job and then the benefits, job stability and
promotions. Well, I disagree with Richard’s career management, because he didn’t follow
the right way of the career management process. He wasn’t aware of the career
exploration. He just tried to run after his goals and obtaining a good job title as well as
earn a lot of money. He couldn’t match his objectives with his subjective, that’s why
everything went wrong.

4. If Richard sought your help, what advice would give him in terms of the future
management
of his career?

Answer: I would advise him to follow the process of career management carefully on
order to have a better career plan in the future without any consequences. Career
Muhammad Kashif Hussain. Assignment 2. Enrollment 02-111181-246

exploration is so important in career management because it will give him enough

information about himself as well as information about the work environment. He would
know what he enjoys, what he is good at. suggests that decision making is dominated by
social and psychological factors. The status of the job, reputation of the organization,
and other similar factors plays an important role. Assumes that the applicants are
rational. The choice, therefore, is exercised after an objective assessment of the tangible
benefits of the job. Factors may include the salary, other benefits, location, opportunities
for career advancement, etc. advances the idea that a candidate's observations while
interacting with the organization plays a vital role in decision making. For example, how
the recruiter keeps in touch with the candidate, the promptness of response and similar
factors are important. This theory is more valid with experienced professionals.