Analysis of We Googled You

A report submitted to Prof. Madhusri Shrivastava in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Written Analysis and Communication course

By

PARTH AMIN 2012PGPRAK029

21 April, 2013

Analysis of We Googled You

A report submitted to Prof. Madhusri Shrivastava in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Written Analysis and Communication course

By

PARTH AMIN 2012PGPRAK029

21 April, 2013

Letter of Transmittal

Parth Amin PGP-RAK 2012-14 Indian Institute of Management-Indore

21 April, 2013

Ms. Madhusri Shrivastava Instructor-WAC Indian Institute of Management-Indore

Analysis of the case We Googled You

Dear Madam As per your instructions following the preliminary discussions in the class, I am submitting a report on We Googled You that analyzes the dilemma Fred faces while hiring Mimi for his company Hathaway Jones` expansion plan in China after knowing about her past. The following pages will give a detailed situation analysis, alternatives available, recommendations and the action plan.

Sincerely

Parth Amin 2012PGPRAK 029 PGP RAK 2012-14 Indian Institute of Management, Indore i

Executive Summary Fred, the CEO of Hathaway Jones, is planning to expand the company in China and for its execution, he wants to hire Mimi who is a very potential candidate for the role. But things turn around when Virginia Flanders, the vice president of human resources, finds out through Google results that Mimi had been actively involved in a non-violent protest against China in the past. As the company could get into legal issues and its expansion plans in China may be affected if Fred hires Mimi, Fred needs to put business considerations ahead of any hesitation. It is recommended that Fred should not hire Mimi for China operations, but given her credentials and potential, he should offer her a role in the company for some other location and designation.

ii

Contents
Situation Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 6 Problem Statement .......................................................................................................................... 6 Options ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Criteria for Evaluation .................................................................................................................... 7 Evaluation of Options ..................................................................................................................... 7 Recommendation ............................................................................................................................ 8 Action Plan...................................................................................................................................... 8

Situation Analysis
The CEO of the luxury apparel retailer Hathaway Jones, Fred Westen, was married to Martha Westen who firmly believed that Even our thoughts arent private anymore as she read in the popular press about the incidents revolving around shared online content. She felt that there were going to be no secrets in the envisioned future and they would have to learn to live with that. Fred planned to expand the Philadelphia based Hathaway Jones into China, given the luxury goods market in China was growing by 70% a year and he had already earmarked millions of dollars to open new stores across China. Mimi Brewster, the daughter of Fred`s old roommate, John Brewster, wanted to be part of the move. On John`s request, Fred agreed to meet Mimi and John promised him that she was a terrific girl A real mover and shaker. Mimi majored in modern Chinese history and graduated cum laude from Berkeley. After completing her MBA from Stanford, she was recruited by Eleanor Gaston, the largest clothing, shoes, and accessories company in the United States. Fred was already impressed by Mimi`s CV and during the meeting with her, he told her that he would arrange some interviews. Virginia Flanders, the vice president of human resources at Hathaway Jones, and Fred had been at loggerheads about some issues and as a member of the old guard, she had not been invited to Fred`s inner circle. For new recruits, she used to scan the first 11 pages of Google results and on Page 9 for Mimi, she found out that fresh after Berkeley, Mimi had been a leader of a nonviolent but vocal protest group against the World Trade Organization. After searching more, Virginia found out a story featuring a photo of Mimi sitting outside China`s San Francisco consulate protesting China`s treatment of a dissident journalist. Virginia immediately went to Fred and showed her the articles implying that Mimi could be a trouble for the company in China and suggested Fred that he should get some feedback from the company lawyers. While heading out for dinner in the city, Fred discussed about the situation of Mimi with Martha and was confused about hiring Mimi as there were sins of everyone out on the internet. Martha replied that sooner or later, someone would come up with the information and his China`s plans would be derailed. Fred was in a dilemma.

Problem Statement
Based on the online search results, should Fred hire Mimi or not?

Options
1. Fred should not consider the online search results and hire Mimi. 2. Fred should consider the online search results and do not hire Mimi. 3. Fred should seek clarification from Mimi about the protest and then decide upon hiring her.

Criteria for Evaluation

1. 2. 3. 4. Mimi`s credentials should be considered. Is she fit for the job? Avoid indulging into legal issues. Avoid future troubles that could defame the company as a whole. Ensure Hathaway Jone`s growth in China. OPTIONS Consider the Online search results and do not hire Mimi High N/A N/A N/A

CRITERIA Mimi`s Credentials Legal Issues Defame Hathaway Jone`s growth in China

Consider the Online search results and hire Mimi High High High High Impact

Seek clarification from Mimi and then decide upon hiring her High Low/Moderate Low Low or Null Impact

Evaluation of Options
1. Fred should not consider the online search results and hire Mimi. Fred had a responsibility to Hathaway Jones to hire the best people he could find. With everyone`s sins out there on the internet, fewer and fewer young people seemed to be coming to the company without any past record of indulgence in defaming activities. These activities or incidents might have taken place long back and may hold no relevance today. Only because they are on the internet does not exactly convey a person`s true character. Hence, such internet results should not be considered and Fred should hire Mimi.

2. Fred should consider the online search results and do not hire Mimi. There is a chance of getting into legal disputes in the future if he decides to hire Mimi, owing to her protests against China. This could malign the company`s name and halt its expansion plan into China Millions of dollars` worth investment would be at stake and a major market could be lost if things do not go as planned. Hence, Fred should put business considerations ahead of any hesitation he felt about using the information on the internet and do not hire Mimi.

3. Fred should seek clarification from Mimi about the protest and then decide upon hiring her. Internet holds information about a person`s past and even if he/she has managed to get out of the sins, it still continues to show the record. On this note, Fred should set up a meeting with Virginia and Mimi and ask Mimi to clarify about the protest against China. Hence, the judgement should not be based only on the internet search results and Mimi should be given a chance to speak for herself as candidates like Mimi are very valuable. Once the meeting is over, Fred and Virginia should decide about her future with the company.

Recommendation
Fred should set up a meeting with Mimi to be clear regarding the China protest led by her. To avoid risk, Fred should offer Mimi a role in some other country as he should not let down a recruit with such high credentials and potential.

Action Plan
These are the steps Fred should take following the recommendation: 1. Fred should immediately meet Mimi and deal with her past record on the protest against China. 2. He should also set up a meeting with Virginia and the executive committee to talk about the issue. 3. Once the things are sorted out, he should ask Mimi to come for an interview and offer her a challenging position in some other country rather than China.