Selecting a Manager for a Nigerian Facility

Selecting a Manager for a Nigerian Facility

1. Would it be best for Victoria to select a manager who is a local, home country national, or a third-country national?

I believe it would be best for Victoria to select a home country national to be the manager of the Nigerian facility. I believe she needs to select someone who has experience and knowledge pertaining to the company since the facility will be in the start-up phase. The main reason that I chose a home country national is because earlier in the case it says that the Nigerian government experiences periodical shifts in political power. These power shifts are hard to adjust to, and while an expatriate may know the country itself he or she will not know the ins and outs of the facility because there has never been one in Africa before. In addition, a third-country national could have little experience and knowledge with the facility or the country it is being built in.

2. Which of the factors to be considered would favor the selection of Henry Smith? Juan Lopez? Matthew Ohwueme?

Henry Smith:

Smith's factors of education, experience, job knowledge, and stability play a positive role in considering him for the manager position. He was in the army for three years and has been employed with Victoria for the past ten years, and many people within the company believe that he could someday be the President of the company. His work record with Victoria over the past ten years has been outstanding, which is just another positive factor for him, especially since Victoria wants to begin developing current managers for international operations. However, Smith has never been outside of the United States, but sending him to Nigeria would fit with Victoria's desire to develop current managers.

Juan Lopez:

Lopez's experience, knowledge, and tenure with the company are the main favorable factors contributing to his consideration for this position. He has been with the company for 21 years, so he knows the ropes very well. Of his 21 years working for Victoria, he spent two of them at headquarters planning operations in Latin America, which gives him even more credibility for this position. Currently he manages the facility in Ecuador and is well respected throughout the company. Another factor playing into Lopez's direction is that Victoria has never entered into the African market before; therefore she needs to choose someone with a lot of experience. His experience working in Latin America will greatly influence her decision.

Matthew Ohwueme:

Ohwueme's nationality and familiarity with Nigeria are his main favorable factors. He is a Nigerian citizen, a member of the Ibo ethnic group, and the owner and