Documents
Case Publications
Northmar Distributors
Glenn Brophey, David Hemsworth
published: 2006 | Case Study | Communications
Subject Area: Human Resource Management; Organizational Behaviour; Communications
Key Issues: Change Management; Management of Human Resources;
Ethical decision-making; Communication tactics; Grieving process as it
relates to plant closure
Case Description: George Dubroy, the manager
of a subsidiary warehouse operation for the convenience store industry
is faced with both ethical and business dilemmas of how to go about
closing his entire operation. The case opens with the scene where
George has just learned from corporate that the decision is final and
all of their attempts to forestall closure have been rejected. The
setting is in Northern Ontario and George knows that many of his
longer-serving employees are not likely to find work again in the
region. His divided loyalties to his people and his employer are
brought into stark relief as he begins examining the corporate
severance policies and is confronted by one of his friends on staff who
is faced with an important career decision that is directly negatively
affected by the severance policy. In addition his own severance package
has yet to be negotiated, but he suspects that keeping closing costs
low is bound to affect his final number positively.
Layered onto George's ethical dilemma, is his corporate mandate to make
the closure appear seamless--especially to the Mom & Pop variety
stores that can easily switch to competitors. His task of managing the
process is complicated by the 4-6 month time frame that he estimates
the task will take to complete.
# Case Pages: 9
Case Number: 030066-W
Teaching Note: Yes
revised May 11/06
View all Case Publications documents | View all School of Business & Economics documents
