Six years ago, when Robert joined ABC Enterprise as a junior accountant, he felt that he was on his way up. He had just graduated with an average of A grade from college, where he was well liked by his peers and by the faculty and had been an officer in several student organisations. Robert had shown a natural ability to get along with people as well as to get things done. He remembered what Sam, the controller at ABC Enterprise, had told him when he was hired: “I think you will do well here, Robert. You’ve come highly recommended. You are the kind of guy that can expect to move right on up the ladder.” Robert felt that he had done a good job at ABC Enterprise, and everybody seemed to like him. Also, his performance appraisals had been excellent. However, after five years he was still a junior accountant. He had applied for two senior accountant positions that had been opened, but they were both filled by people hired from outside the firm. When the accounting supervisor’s job came open two years ago, Robert had not applied. He was surprised when his new boss turned out to be a hotshot graduate of State University whose only experience was three years with a large accounting firm. Robert had hoped that a senior accountant he particularly respected would get the job. On the sixth anniversary of his employment at ABC Enterprise, Robert decided it was time to do something. He made an appointment with the controller. At that meeting, Robert explained to Sam that he had worked hard to obtain a promotion and shared his frustration about having been in the same job for so long. “Well,” said Sam, “you don’t think that you were all that much better qualified than the people that we have hired, do you?” “No,” said Robert, “but I think I could have handled the senior accountant job. Of course, the people you have hired are doing a great job too.” The controller responded, “We just look at the qualifications of all the applicants for each job, and considering everything, try to make a reasonable decision.” Question 1-1: Justify that Robert has or has not a valid complaint. Question 1-2: Illustrate the benefits of a promotion-from-within policy. Justify that such a policy is appropriate or inappropriate for ABC Enterprise.

Six years ago, when Robert joined ABC Enterprise as a junior accountant, he felt that he was on his way up. He had just graduated with an average of A grade from college, where he was well liked by his peers and by the faculty and had been an officer in several student organisations. Robert had shown a natural ability to get along with people as well as to get things done. He remembered what Sam, the controller at ABC Enterprise, had told him when he was hired: “I think you will do well here, Robert. You’ve come highly recommended. You are the kind of guy that can expect to move right on up the ladder.”

Robert felt that he had done a good job at ABC Enterprise, and everybody seemed to like him. Also, his performance appraisals had been excellent. However, after five years he was still a junior accountant. He had applied for two senior accountant positions that had been opened, but they were both filled by people hired from outside the firm. When the accounting supervisor’s job came open two years ago, Robert had not applied. He was surprised when his new boss turned out to be a hotshot graduate of State University whose only experience was three years with a large accounting firm. Robert had hoped that a senior accountant he particularly respected would get the job.

On the sixth anniversary of his employment at ABC Enterprise, Robert decided it was time to do something. He made an appointment with the controller. At that meeting, Robert explained to Sam that he had worked hard to obtain a promotion and shared his frustration about having been in the same job for so long. “Well,” said Sam, “you don’t think that you were all that much better qualified than the people that we have hired, do you?” “No,” said Robert, “but I think I could have handled the senior accountant job. Of course, the people you have hired are doing a great job too.” The controller responded, “We just look at the qualifications of all the applicants for each job, and considering everything, try to make a reasonable decision.”

Question 1-1: Justify that Robert has or has not a valid complaint.
Question 1-2: Illustrate the benefits of a promotion-from-within policy. Justify that such a policy is appropriate or inappropriate for ABC Enterprise.