Intersect Investments

Running head: PROBLEM SOLUTION: GENE ONE

Problem Solution: Gene One

Nadia A. McIntosh

University of Phoenix

Problem Solution: Gene One

Gene One, a private, growing biotechnology company, is one of the best and brightest companies in their field. Its technology has helped thousands as they deliver groundbreaking products in their field to help produce gene technology that helped to produce some of the freshest crops. Not only were they producing groundbreaking technology, but their products have helped them to grow into a $400 million company in just eight short years.

Even though Gene One is a company that is far from poor, they are forced to make new changes to the company to meet their goals. Leadership changes at the Food and Drug Administration, expectations of Wall Street, and the changing laws of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act have forced Gene One into changing from a private to a public company. In order to keep up with the changing demands, the CEO and his board of directors have devised a strategy that will not only help them reach their growth target of 40%, but will help to establish the company as a strong competitor, and show Wall Street that Gene One has what it takes to survive as a public company. Little did Gene One know that by making these changes they would be faced with opposition and more obstacles than they came into the game with. As Gene One exposes its strategy, they are met with disapproval not from the outside, but within the top management team. One team member has resigned, and another one is threatening. Not only that, but Gene One is in danger of violating important laws in relation to SEC. They also have no stable corporate culture, and the leadership is extremely inexperienced according to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

So, how can Gene One turns their problems into successes? By planning strategically, implementing alternative solutions, and examining other companies, Gene One can success in the ever changing world of business.

Situation Analysis

Issue and Opportunity Identification

Even though Gene One is a thriving company, it's a rose with many thorns. Gene One faces many issues, some in which are internal rather than external. For one, even though Gene One's leadership team is made up of some of the biggest and the brightest of the field, they are lacking in the area of expertise when it comes to meeting the important requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Because they are lacking in the expertise, their goals may not be reached in the timeline that was set for the company. This can mean trouble for this growing company. Even though this may be unfavorable, lacking in leadership expertise can still bring the opportunity of bring some fresh, new talent aboard. They can hire some of the recommendations that some of the team members suggested. Gene One's leadership is also not adapting to the change very well. According to McShane and Von Glinow, transformational leadership is leadership that helps organizations achieve their current objectives more efficiently (2005). Gene One's CEO is not achieving its current objectives at all, but is allowing his personal feelings to get in the way of solving the issues in the company.

Another issue that Gene One is faced with is the fact that the senior leadership team lacks cohesiveness. According to Kinicki and Kreitner, cohesiveness is a process whereby "a sense of we-ness" emerges to transcend indicates individual differences and motives (2003). It seems as if Gene One faces more opposition on the inside of the company than the outside! The team is not only disagreeing about important issues, but they are not on one accord when it comes down to agreeing with the leader. The team also has a difficult time trusting one another. By bringing the team together, and working out the kinks in this much needed relationship, this not only brings in the opportunity of allowing the team to get to know one another, but it can also help Gene One become stabilized in recognizing its goals.

Gene One also faces an issue when it comes down to the existence of a solid corporate culture. An organizational culture is the basic pattern of shared assumptions, values, and beliefs considered to be the correct way of thinking about and acting on problems and opportunities facing the organization. It defines what is important and unimportant in the company (McShane and Von Glinow, 2005). Because of their lack of corporate culture, the leadership team has a hard time establishing and focusing on the mission of the organization. By taking the time to focus on the culture of the company, they stand the opportunity to build a culture that will stand the transition from a private to a public company. This change in culture could also give the employees the opportunity to embrace the changes better and develop the new products faster to support the goal of growing by 40%.

Gene One is also facing ethical issues. According to McShane and Von Glinow, ethics are the moral principles or values that determine whether actions are right or wrong and outcomes are good or bad (2005). Not only is Gene One's eagerness to please Wall Street is breaking down the team, but Gene One also faces an ethical blow from the public because of the fact that (1) two of the most important Board members are not in agreement with the CEO in terms of letting Gene One become an IPO, and (2) Gene One is on a standstill when disclosing important information to some of its stakeholders. By facing the ethical issues heads-on, Gene One has the opportunity to show its customers that they are a company who cares about them and that they want to do what is best for them.

Stakeholder Perspectives/Ethical Dilemmas

In all companies, stakeholders exist who are affected by the issues of the company and how they will be solved. These stakeholders have various rights, values, perspectives, and responsibilities in the company. They also play an important part when it comes to building the company up. Gene One is no exception. Though this is a fairly new company, Gene One has a group of very important stakeholders, some who would be deeply affected by the changes that are happening within the company.

One of the important stakeholders in Gene One is the senior