Caselet 1: “Happy Hannah:” Did the Sales Reps Meet Their Goals?
Recall in Chapter 11 when our sales manager “Happy” Hannah Johanson helped establish goals for two of her sales reps: the outspoken Ella Lynn and the on-again-off-again Syd Vance. Three sales quarters have passed since that meeting and Hannah has collected the performance measures for both of the reps outlined in Figure 1 below. She’ll be meeting with both reps tomorrow and needs to prepare for the feedback sessions tonight for the mid-morning meeting tomorrow. Ella has continued to be the firm’s “sustainability” advocate. Her efforts, combined with the rising price of fuel, have resulted in her being in a small group of reps piloting several brands of hybid vehicles for possible adoption by the entire sales force. This has pleased Ella immensely. As Hannah skimmed her local newspaper, she saw Syd’s picture on the sports page. “Star Pitcher Takes Team to Nationals,” read the headline. Syd’s team, sponsored by Honker’s—a popular tavern near a local wildlife preserve, had gone 45–5 over the last
41/2 months, won the regionals, and was headed to the national play-offs. Based upon the newspaper article, Syd has a great pitching arm.
Questions
1. Based on the performance data in Figure 1, what “deviations” would you focus on during your meeting with Ella?
2. Based on the performance data, what factors would you focus on during your meeting with Syd? What approach would you take in your meeting with Syd?
3. Would your response differ if Syd’s team was sponsored by a religious or a civic organization?