Massapequa

Cliffside Holding Company of MASSAPEQUA

Introduction

This paper consists of analyzing a memorandum from Mr. Anil Ravaswami (Vice-President of Human Resources) address to Ms. Cynthia Castle, CEO of Cliffside Holding Company of Massapequa (CHCM). The memo was in regard to establishing and funding something that CHCM did not have before; a new leadership development program specifically design for junior insurance executives. Mr. Ravaswami is suggesting to Ms. Castle not to invest on the leadership training because it will a waste of time and the money can be spent more wisely.

I analyzed Mr. Ravaswami’s memo using the ten steps of critical thinking model from the book Asking the Right Questions. The way I accomplished this task was by asking one question at a time and explaining my results.

What are the issues and the conclusion?

The first step of the critical thinking model asks what are the issues and the conclusion with Mr. Ravaswami’s memo. After a senior executive meeting, the director of operations has suggested that it will be a good investment for CHCM to start a leadership development program for their junior financial executives. Mr. Ravaswami wrote a memo to Ms. Castle explaining his beliefs that CHCM should not proceed with the request because the program is not necessary and he concluded that the money could be spent better.

What are the reasons?

The second step asks for the reason why Mr. Ravaswami is suggesting not establishing a new leadership development program. As the first reason, the VP of resource discussed that in the last 50 years CHCM had an average rate of growth of 12% per year. He also pointed out in the memo that no one out of the 12 senior executives ever attended leadership development training and this has not stopped the company from continuous growth. Mr. Ravaswami points out that the company is doing well without the leadership school and states that leader are not made but born. In order to continue to...