question archive After having relocated to the United Kingdom in 2014 at the request of her Malaysian-based company, Jodi is now returning to her home country, Malaysia
After having relocated to the United Kingdom in 2014 at the request of her Malaysian-based company, Jodi is now returning to her home country, Malaysia
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After having relocated to the United Kingdom in 2014 at the request of her Malaysian-based company, Jodi is now returning to her home country, Malaysia. Whilst in England she married Dr. George and they have twins, one boy and one girl, aged 5. Jodi held a general management position in the U.K. branch of her Malaysian company and Dr. George ran his own medical practice in London. The two children have U.K. citizenship.
When Jodi's second three-year contract in U. K. was coming to an end, the Malaysian company was acquired by a U.K.-based conglomerate, who took the decision to close the U.K. branch and approached Jodi with an offer to return to Malaysia as CEO of the company.
Considering her elderly parents, who had never even seen the twins in person, she and Dr. George felt it would be fun to come and live in Malaysia. Although Dr. George would have to give up his thriving medical practice in London, he was willing to do so in order to show support for Jodi's career promotion.
Unfortunately, after six months back in Malaysia, Jodi and Dr. George remain unsettled and they now have doubts about the wisdom of their choice.
Jodi's firm had changed ownership during her time away and the new board of directors were placing a higher emphasis on consolidation and cost-cutting. Whereas Jodi's success in England had been in market development, as the new CEO now in Malaysia she was expected to increase profitability by reducing costs, maximizing production of existing products, and increasing labour efficiency.
Within three months of taking up the role, she was forced to reduce the number of managerial levels, thus rendering several of her long-time colleagues redundant. Her local support was dwindling and there were rumours that many members of the work-force regarded Jodi as a 'foreigner' who was more English than Malaysian and were seeking work elsewhere.
Her values were being tested as she grappled with the dilemma of either carrying out the directives of the board or showing empathy for her home culture and her loyal supporters in Malaysia.
Dr. George was also struggling to find work that could provide him with a similar salary and sense of satisfaction that he had been used to in his home country.
As the children are about to start school, Jodi and Dr. George are wondering whether it might have been better for them to remain in England.
Q. If you were in Jodi's position, what would you do?
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Answer:
The decision to move to Malaysia had basis and important grounds that both Jodi and the husband considered and felt like it was the best move at the time. Reason being the fact that she was moving closer to her elderly parents making it possible for the children to see their grandparents and vice versa. Additionally, she was moving at a higher role. Given the nature of work her husband was in, it appeared that he would easily fit in and get his medical practice up and running in Malaysia.
The new challenges and key performance indicators that come with the new role as the CEO are what make it difficult for Jodi to be more effective or develop a better rapport with friends and colleagues. In her position, I would strive to do the following:
- I believe I would still have made the choice and decision to relocate and take up the new role as CEO in Malaysia.
- As her new role required her to be to increase profitability by reducing costs, maximizing production of existing products, and increasing labour efficiency, I would strive to meet these KPIs. However, there are various ways of meeting the KPIs that do not involve scaling down the by reducing the number of managerial levels. In this regard, I would keep the channels of communication open, and communicate the organization goals with all the staff ensuring every staff was aware that the number one business objective is to increase profitability. This allows for all parties to participate and share in the achievement of the objective. Every member will be motivated to bring forth ideas that would enable the company be more profitable and at the same time suggest cost cutting measure and production maximizing strategies.
- To properly fit in the organization and to avoid being termed as a foreigner in my own country, I would be more involved in corporate social responsibility and ensure that it is seen that the company and me are concerned and care for the well being of the people.
- As for the doctor, I would try help him start of his own medical practice in Malaysia as opposed to him trying to find a lucrative job.
