Saint Leo University Chapter 7 Political Blunders Case Study Questions

I’m working on a writing question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

Tanya is the team leader of a cross-functional product-development group in a consumer products company. The group meets from time to time to discuss new ideas for products. Another of its key activities is to help develop a product after agreement is reached by higher-level management that a product idea is worth pursuing. Tanya enjoys her role as the leader of a cross-functional team, and she hopes to use the experience as a springboard to a marketing executive position.

Tanya prides herself in being candid and direct in her interactions with coworkers in marketing department in which she works as a senior marketing analyst and assistant to the department head. Tanya is also proud of how she is candid in her interactions with members of the product-development team.

Two weeks ago, the team was meeting to discuss the merits of introducing a multifruit flavored energy drink to the market. The CEO was attending this particular meeting to get a direct feel for how the product-development team operates. Ten minutes into the meeting Tanya said, “We have to carefully evaluate whether an energy drink has any chances of success. As we all know, our company has had far too many flops. I remember we once introduced an instant-spaghetti product to the market that was a total bomb. I think we lost $10 million on that idea, and we were ridiculed by food critics.” In response to Tanya’s comment, the CEO shook his head from side to side but made no spoken response.

One week ago, Tanya posted the following comment on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: “Our company is getting ravaged by house brands. But not to worry, we make a lot of those house brands for large supermarket chains and bog box discounters.” The vice president of marketing, asked a staff member to investigate whether Tanya was really the person responsible for this post, and to report back to her with the answer.

At a product-development meeting today, a food-packaging scientist named Obdu Wobegun attended because there would be some key issues about package design likely to surface. Tanya welcomed Obdu to the meeting, and then asked, “Obdu are you sure you are a United States citizen? We can’t afford to have any foreign spies at our meeting.” 

Later today, Tanya received a text message from her immediate manager Gus that read: “We must talk in person. You are out of control.”   

Questions 

1) In what ways might Tanya be committing political blunders?

2)If Tanya is committing political blunders, to what extent might they hinder her chances of becoming a vice president of marketing?

3)How should Tanya’s boss deal with her with respect to the type of political blunders she has committed?