MGMT 202

Case De-Brief:

Marie Wilson – Kiwi Life Insurance

Cast of Characters Marie Wilson – first-line manager, policy issue unit,

Kiwi Life Insurance & manager, claims processing, Raven Life Reinsurance and Life

Mr. Jacobs – departmental manager, Policy Issue Dept., Kiwi Life Insurance

Rick Smith – divisional vice-president, Kiwi Life Insurance

Jack Greenly, managing director, Raven Reinsurance and Life

James Butler – divisional manager, Raven reinsurance and Life

Statement of Problem

Marie Wilson has been a successful leader on two fronts within Raven Reinsurance and Life:

- She has influenced the group she manages to become a top performer

- She has influenced her peers to open up the communication channels and discuss new ways of managing through the Manager’s Forum

BUT has not gained the support of senior management at Raven Reinsurance and Life

Q.1a Leadership Type Exhibited

Focusing on leadership style – could use Kurt Lewin’s (Iowa Studies) typology:

Jack Greenly – ‘Autocratic’ Style LeaderRick Smith – ‘Laissez-faire’ Style leaderMarie Wilson – ‘Democratic’ Leadership

Style

Comment on the effectiveness of each style

Q.1a Leadership Type Exhibited

Focusing on leadership style – could use Blake & Mouton’s Managerial Grid:

Jack Greenly – ‘Authoritative’ Management

Rick Smith – ‘Impoverished’ Management

Marie Wilson – ‘Team’ Management

Comment on the effectiveness of each style

Q.1a Leadership Type Exhibited

Focusing on type of leader – could use Bass (1985) dichotomy:

Jack Greenly – Transactional Leader (Good one)Rick Smith – Transactional Leader (Poor one) Marie Wilson – Transformational Leader – refer to

characteristics identified by Burns (1978) - not a ‘superleader’

Comment on the effectiveness of each type

Q.1b Advice to Marie Wilson

Marie Wilson has two choices:STAY: Marie will need to become more subtle and less confrontational in her style – needs to take a more incremental, (transactional?), longer term view. Needs to learn to manage ‘upwards’ – too focused on leading her team LEAVE: May be too late to turn the situation around at Raven. Marie still has enough spark to find an organization that supports her style but must be much more selective this time around. Organizational fit critical to her future success.