Expert Opinion

Michael is a global category for rums in a company called Lafluer’s in New York. He has been with the company for two years and is considered a new competitor for an open position for the U.S. president of operations. However, Michael has not been playing his cards in the politics of the business. He has to make decisions, make allies, engage in political behavior, and coerce his wife into supporting his decision fast in order to succeed in his career. In addition, Michael has to face dependencies and use power tactics in order to achieve into the right position.

There is a dependency in Michael’s workplace of Nora working in Campo’s when the Lafluer employees might be favored in during the restructuring. She tends to fear she will lose her job. Michael tends to have a dependency over Danielle. Danielle is the global category director for vodkas and liqueurs, who had moved to New York from the company's Paris headquarters just after the Campos acquisition. Danielle has been with Lafleur for 15 years practiced in the politics of the company. Danielle seems to have a more political influence towards the Lafluer’s CEOs of the company and wants to share some ideas. In addition, Michael suspects Danielle has an eye out for his brands of rum.

In Michael’s home, there tends to be a dependency of him from his family. His wife was part of a partnership in a law firm. However, she now works for a regional clothing company as a counsel to abide by the demands of Michael’s career. On the other hand, Michael shows a dependency towards his wife as he confides in her regarding politics in his job since she is educated in the politics of law firms. Michael has not been showing much in political behavior unlike most of his colleagues.

Nora has been showing legitimate political behavior because she was hearing and spreading rumors of what is to come of the people from Campos. Francesca is showing legitimate and illegitimate political behavior. Her legitimate political behavior was bypassing chains of commands by emailing Michael regarding thoughts on why she is having lunch with Danielle. Her illegitimate political behavior is she was originally going to email Michael to pick apart his ideas on restructuring to find out what he knows. In addition, Danielle seems to be showing illegitimate political behavior because she tends to try to take over Michael’s job. Apparently, Danielle is going to have lunch with Francesca to find out what Michael has up his sleeves.

Michael should take his family and go to China. Michael is apparently not going to get the position he wanted as shown by the call from Pierre. Kopelan and Widmann (2005) stated the clearest indication that he will not get the job is coming from the CEO himself. Pierre Hoffman already knows whom he is going to put into Lucien's position and would choose Michael if the China position was available. Michael has shown little effort in build relationships at the company except with Pierre by playing golf. Since that was his only political behavior in befriending with a CEO, his only option is to now go to China or face the politics of New York. If he was to stay in New York, more than likely Michael will end up loosing his position to Danielle if she continues to try to sabotage his product. If Michael goes to China, he would then forfeit his chance at the U.S. opportunity. This is considerably an advantage since it is expected that he would not get that position regardless.

Michael