A – Alistair is a novice in the company. M – Martin is his coach.

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 759.

M – So, what I believe it comes down to is a number of links between the key people

in the company.

A – The unofficial power hierarchy?

M – Exactly. So, let me show you how it works. Firstly, to make sense of the actual

links, we need to define our framework. And I reckon that we can identify 6 clear

categories.

A – Oh, I thought it would be just family, friends and mentor/protégé.

M – Well, that's certainly part of the story, but not the whole picture. So, firstly we've

got what you rightly called family ties.

A – Normally, by marriage I suppose.

M – By it or through it. So, on the chart, we can put a number 1 here by the Personnel

Director and Production Director because the Personnel Director's husband is the

brother of the Production Director.

A – So, brother-in-law and sister-in-law?

M – Exactly. And there is another link here between the Personnel Director and the

new Sales/Marketing Director, who must be just a bit older than you, because

he's her cousin. Young chap – very bright and dynamic. He'll go far in this

company given his talent and connections.

A – I see. So the family ties play an important role?

M – Yes. And then there are the friendship links: drinking, golfing, holidaying and

generally socializing. The second level links – number 2, if you like. Now, let me

get it right.. Although the Managing director is a real workaholic, he does enjoy a

round of golf from time to time. And one of his golfing partners is our Personnel

Director. Now the Personnel Director, or rather her husband especially, is a bit of

a wine connoisseur, as is our Financial Controller. So, in recent years they've

taken to going down to France together on wine-tasting holidays.

A – I see. That's very interesting.

M – Yes, as you'll see, it all helps to oil the wheels of business. Now, there is another

link here. Oh, yes, the Financial Controller, who is a wine connoisseur, has a French wife, and she often socializes with the Factoty Manager's wife. They've both got quite young families and spend time together at each other's houses.

A – So, not a ‘liaison dangereuse'?

M – No, not at all. All very innocuous, but part of the culture here. Now, I don't think

there are more social links. But there are some people linked by educational ties.

A – You mean old boys who went to the same school?

M- Exactly. So, let's call that number 3. Now, if I remember rightly, the Training

Manager went to the same school as all the Regional Sales Managers.

A – All of them? Bit of coincidence, that, isn't it?

M – I suppose it looks a bit odd. But I've heard that they all do a super job and get on

really well together. Now, let me think if there are any more school links. No, I

don't think so.

A – Is that it then?

M – Not quite. There's one more link, which is how I would describe ours:

mentor/protégé. You know, someone who has been trained and groomed for a

particular job, and then promoted, usually from within the company, to take over

the mentor' job.

A – So, number 4, if my arithmetic serves me well.

M – Yes. Now we have got quite a few number 4's around. The Managing Director

was instrumental in getting the Personnel and Production Directors promoted

from lower in the hierarchy to their present jobs. And having been promoted

herself, the Personnel Director was responsible for bringing the Recruitment

manager in from Brixon's, I believe.

A – So that was an outsider brought in?

M - Exactly. Oh, and there's one more that I nearly forgot. When the Managing

Director took over some 8 years ago, he brought in this chap here, our Financial

Director.

A – Where from?

M – Well, that's a mystery. Nobody knows!