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Case
| HBS Case Collection
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1998
(Revised from original 1998 version)
Jeanne Lewis at Staples, Inc. (A)
by
Linda A. Hill and Kristin Doughty
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Abstract
Jeanne Lewis, after six years with Staples, Inc., is promoted to senior vice president of marketing. She is to work for fifteen months alongside her predecessor, a legacy in the organization, "learning the ropes" before he moves on. This case is set nine months after she begins working with the marketing department. Staples has just emerged from a period of prolonged litigation around an FTC antitrust suit challenging Staples' attempted merger with Office Depot. Post-merger, Lewis must determine how the marketing department can most effectively and efficiently help the company maintain its competitive edge in an increasingly competitive and complex market. Looks at the challenges a middle manager faces "taking charge" and managing change in a revitalization situation in which a more evolutionary approach is appropriate.
Keywords: Problems and Challenges;
Change Management;
Organizational Change and Adaptation;
Marketing Strategy;
Management Succession;
Management Teams;
Management Style;
Competitive Advantage;
Retail Industry;
Citation:
Hill, Linda A., and Kristin Doughty. "Jeanne Lewis at Staples, Inc. (A)." Harvard Business School Case 499-041, December 1998. (Revised from original November 1998 version.)