Retailmax: Archer & Keese

RetailMax: Archer & Keese

Jessie Gentry

Grand Canyon University: LDR 610

July 3, 2013

RetailMax: Archer & Keese

Positioning for power in today's organizations requires a great deal of energy and self-motivation. The use of this power comes about in various forms with effort toward climbing the ladder within the corporation. Individuals, like Cam Archer have vision of where they should be and what it may take to get there within their careers. This vision drives us from within toward goals and objectives for individual and organizational success. Cam Archer's hard work paid off considerably quick at RetailMax. In just one year of serving in an interim assignment, she was able to land two internal job offers.

The two job offers pose dilemmas for Cam Archer and Regan Kessel. Ms. Archer has an opportunity to serve in a position that plays into her education and strengths as the Director of Product Marketing at a lessor annual salary or obtain greater financial gain in a position as a member of the professional sales team for Vince Mangini. The first option allows for greater opportunity to move further up the organizational chart than the second, but with less pay. Regan Kessel must decide quickly whether an external candidate is best best for the position, how to determine compensation, and if his power is impacted should Archer take the position.

In reading the two articles, it is obvious that Cam Archer holds the greatest potential power over Regan Kessel. Mr. Kessel has legitimate power as the Vice President of Product Management however Archer's expert power and her most recent accomplishments with the Toys N'Stuff project increased her referent power with the CEO, Todd Elman. This in itself strengthens her influence with the CEO and the two Vice Presidents. The fact that she was successful in increasing revenue with the Toys N'Stuff project built trust and respect between her and the leaders of the organization. Conger (1998) suggests that credibility can now be used as a starting point for effective persuasion. Ms. Archer has credibility through her hard work and commitment to her assignments.

Stereotypical gender roles may have caused with regard to Archer's

References

Blanchard, K. (2007). Leading at a higher level. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Conger, J. A. (1998). Winning 'em over: a new model for managing in the age of persuasion, Simon & Schuster, Rockefeller Center, New York, NY.

French, J.P. Jr., & Raven, B. (1959).

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