Aspects du choix du meilleur manager pour la phase initiale en Afrique (document en anglais)

In order to choose the best manager to run the start-up phase in Africa, we have to consider several factors. First, Juan Lopez appears as the best choice because he has a great experience of 21 years in the company. He has been working in different countries such as Ecuador or in Latin America. He also worked in the headquarters based in the USA, so we know that he can adapt to different cultures. He is currently a respected manager of Victoria’s facility in Ecuador, so he is able to carry such a project. Moreover, he is used to planning operations; it is an important task in the development of the project in Nigeria.

Although Mathew Ohwueme has an experience in Africa, he has never dealt with oilfield equipment, so he may not be credible as the manager of the new facility, and he could stain the image of the company which built its reputation on the expertise of its managers. Moreover, he is a member of the Ibo ethnic group, so there might be conflicts with the government. His experience and his advice could be very useful, but not as a project manager.

On the other hand, Henry Smith may be too young to carry such a project, especially since in African psychology, respect can only come from seniority. Even though he is talented, he has never been outside of the USA. So, he may not adapt well in Nigeria, also because his 3 years in the army may have made him a bit too rigid to develop the company in Nigeria. It is best to keep a manager like Henry Smith at headquarters, and put more experienced managers in the field.

Therefore, Juan Lopez would be our first choice for the position of manager of this new facility. He is the most qualified and the most experienced. Furthermore its multicultural experiences make him the most adapted candidates to overcome this challenge in this new market.

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