Instructor Resource
Rowe, Cases in Leadership 5e
SAGE Publications, Inc., 2019
Case Notes
Case 5.2: Sarah Vickers: Post Acquisition Career Management
Moira Saganski wrote this teaching note under the supervision of Professor Alison M. Konrad as
an aid to instructors in the classroom use of the case Sarah Vickers: Post Acquisition Career
Management, No. 9B13C015. This teaching note should not be used in any way that would
prejudice the future use of the case.
This publication may not be transmitted, photocopied, digitized or otherwise reproduced in any
Teaching Note
Synopsis
Sarah Vickers, a senior executive reporting to Richard Elliot, the chief executive officer (CEO)
of a recently acquired investment management company, is directed by John Reed, the CEO of
Case Objectives
This case demonstrates the career decision making, ethics and political skills senior management
may require when an acquisition occurs. Modifying the report would be political suicide in
respect to Vickers’ history with Elliot, as well as a breach of her professional ethics, but failing
Instructor Resource
Rowe, Cases in Leadership 5e
SAGE Publications, Inc., 2019
Teaching Strategy (for an 80-Minute Class)
The following is a suggested progression for the class:
Introduce the case (10 minutes)
• Summarize the key issues facing Vickers.
• What are her options?
Analysis (20 minutes)
• Break the class up into groups of six students.
• Students from each team will construct alternative next steps that are not only reasonable
and doable but also designed to protect Vickers’ reputation and career. Possibilities
include any combination of the following:
o Meeting with Elliot to discuss alternatives.
Student presentation (30 minutes)
• Each group will appoint a spokesperson to present Vickers’ recommended strategy. (5
Suggested Student Assignment Questions
1. Discuss alternatives available to Vickers to resolve this issue.
2. What are Vickers’ continuing prospects at STL?
3. How does Vickers leverage the current situation to protect her reputation and advance
her career?
4. What are Vickers’ next steps?
Analysis
1. Discuss alternatives available to Vickers to resolve this issue.
Vickers could accept or reject John Reed’s direction to change the report’s recommendation and
deal with the consequences, but she could also choose to set up a further meeting with Reed to
2. What are Vickers’ continuing prospects at STL?
3. How does Vickers leverage the current situation to protect her reputation and advance
her career?
4. What are Vickers’ next steps?
Vickers decided to keep the situation private. Without further discussion she scheduled a meeting
where she would have an opportunity to discuss her recommendations in detail. This would force
What Happened
At her meeting with Elliot, Vickers recommended she meet jointly with the two CEOs to discuss
her recommendations. She did not change her report, as she clearly valued her ethics and
reputation and was prepared to deal with any potential impact.
When the meeting was held, there was no mention of Reed’s direction to Vickers to change
the report. The two CEOs were able to come to an agreement, and as a result, operations were
Vickers decided to leave STL. The most important reason for her to do so was the
realization that her career had been a story of continuous building and innovation and she
Instructor Resource
Rowe, Cases in Leadership 5e
SAGE Publications, Inc., 2019
Key Takeaways
Ownership and management of companies can change over time, and it is important for all levels