Why the anger at Mary Lee? The first time she was introduced she said that her only job was to increase the value of Follett stock. Since only Follett family members can own real stock (not phantom shares) what her job at Follett has been is to make the rich Follett family richer. She is the family hatchet man. She does what the family wants done but doesn’t want to dirty their hands with. Her job was not to take exceptional care of our customers, not to have the books students need for their education, not to offer the latest and greatest items for our customers, but to make Follett stock worth more. And forget the Code and Conduct and living the values. The code of conduct is only a tool to be used against rank and file associates. Directors and above routinely violate it with no consequences. Mr. Heat can’t seem to find his ass with a mirror on a stick. Paying vendors has evolved into net never to make the cash flow look better. As long as the value of the stock is higher the family will be richer when the company is sold.
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The company has been having the tail wag the dog. Having an network infrastructure does not equal customer needs. NetOps is an expense department and should not be the lead, it should support.
Cost. You left out cost. There is an actual cost and an opportunity cost to everything a CEO does. Her time is expensive so every meeting she takes is expensive. Her goals have to be clear so she can devote the resources appropriate to the task and to the desired outcome.
At Follett, there is no desire to communicate the desired outcome. Whey are they buying new business. Why did they dash so many careers. Finally, what are they doing now.
ML is a failure at running the company she has. She has a retail company and all the infrastructure to support a huge network of campuses. That being said, the moves of the past 14 months make no sense. If she and the board have decided to change course, they've failed to communicate that important message to those who've worked for Follett for generations. Fail.
Have you taken any classes in management? CEO have requirements and measurements to be accessed by, similar to how the delegate to others. A lot has to do with responsibilities, one of those being to the employees and you are correct having to answer to the board. I understand the business is fearful of going under. I ask you, if the CEO major role is to recommended and make a company sustainable at least to prep it for sale or just let it go and the other is to take care of the companies employees, how would you rate, not just ML but her team accomplishments, let's keep it focused on just those two tasks? I am interested in your opinion.