Rob Parsons Case Summary

Case Summary: Rob Parson at Morgan Stanley (A)

Jack Frost

Introduction: Paul Nasr, Senior Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, is faced with the task of evaluating and recommending Robert L. Parson, a principal in the Investment Banking Division for the position of Managing Director in the Capital Markets Services (CMS) division. The focal problem currently facing Paul Nasr is with the ramifications of the appraisal. Rob Parson’s involvement with the firm is key to the success of CMS division but also a detrimental factor to the internal culture that the company is trying to inculcate. Providing a negative evaluation would jeopardize the company’s competitive advantage while a positive evaluation would foster a sense misdirection and unfairness on Paul’s abilities to achieve the company’s cultural fit. The aptness of how this delicate employee evaluation is handled will determine the success of the company, Paul Nasr and Rob Parson’s future.

Summary and Analysis:

Robert L. Parson, Principal – Investment Banking Division (IBD), is due for the promotion and position of Managing Director of the Capital Markets Services (CMS) division. After analysing and assessing Rob’s performance evaluations, my decision is to not recommend Rob for the promotion to Managing Director. The decision was based on weighing the accomplishments that Rob has delivered during his time at Morgan Stanley with his ability to effectively manage a division with the perspective of the company’s culture of a One-Firm Firm. Rob has developmental areas that need to be improved within the context of the company’s culture and his promotion in the future will be based on his ability to conform to it.

Strengths: Rob has been a stellar performer and has aggressively taken on the challenge of improving Morgan Stanley’s competitive advantage in the CMS division. He is knowledgeable, driven and has superior client relationship building skills and proven cross selling abilities. He has the energetic...