Millars Bank Case Analysis

Consultants:

Floriane Porcher

Salomé Partouche

Mathilde Moreau

Summary

Overview

Characters

Exhibits

Existing Situation

Statement of Problems

Solutions

Our recommendations

Overview

Date : 1994

In the United Arab Emirates, a highlyconservative Muslim region.

Millars Bank, an international bank whichhas to manage intercultural differencesand an ethical issue (women at work).

Characters

T. R. DUNCAN

Vice-president of International Millars Bank

John Phillips

Manager of Millars Bank in Cairo

P. D. SMOTHERS

Manager of Millars Bank in Abu Dhabi

J. L. MARSH

Loan officer in Abu Dhabi

Mrs. MARSH’s international experiences

Exhibits

Exhibit 1: Fax from W. T. R. DUNCAN to P. D.SMOTHERS

Exhibit 2: Text of series of faxes between W.T. R. DUNCAN and P. D. SMOTHERS

Exhibit 3: Mrs Marsh’s CV

Exhibit 4: Letter from J. L. MARSH to P. D.SMOTHERS

Existing situation

Strengths Weaknesses

- Graduated from London Schoolof economics

- 12 years of experience withinMillars Bank

- Speaks both arabic and frenchfluently

- Knows the customs, thereligion, the history and thebusiness of the region

- Has already worked in theMiddle East (Beirut and Cairo)and already been involved withSaudi clients.

- Works efficiently

- Female gender in a muslimcountry

Mrs. MARSH

Existing situation

Strengths Weaknesses

Management Stubbornness ofMr Smothers

InternalCommunication

Straight forward Lack of communication between Mr Smothers and Mr Duncan

Location A lot of investorsDynamism of Abu Dabi

Interculturaldifferences(Clients are not used to workingwith women)High competition(12 foreigns – 12 locals)

Statement of Problems

Does Millars bank have to conform withAbu Dhabi’s customs in terms of womenpositions in companies?

Can her skills and experience in Arabiccountries make up for her gender?

How can Millars Bank respect his ethicsregarding women’s work in a conservativeMuslim country?

Solution 1

Status quo – We change nothing

+ -

- Compliance with Mr Duncan’s decision

- She might increase loanoperations the sameway she did in Cairo(+30%)

- Internal conflictsbetween Mr Smothersand Mrs Marsh

- Possible loss of clients

- Mr Smothers won’t let her work and Mrs Marsh may want to leave the company for good

Solution 2

Introduce Mr Smothers to Mr Phillips.

+ -

- Can change the mind ofMr Smothers and offer achance for Mrs Marsh tostart working

- Can lead to a betterinternal communication

- The dissucion can lead toa conflict within thecompany because MrSmothers’stubborness

- May not work becauseCairo and Abu Dhabi arenot completely similar

Solution 3

Hire a male assistant to acustom theclients

+ -

- Clients have time to getused to having a womanas a loan officer

- Opportunity for MrsMarsh to keep her job

- Cost of hiring theassistant

- Mrs Marsh may feelfrustrated

- Assistant does not havea real legitimacy

Solution 4

Let Mrs. Marsh start a trial period.

+ -

- Mrs Marsh would be glad

- Time to prove herself

- Ninety days (fewer risk)

- Risk of losing clients

- Therefore she may notkeep the job

Solution 5

Let Mrs. Marsh only take care of foreignclients

+ -

- Eradicates all culturalissues

- She can start workingimmediatly

- She can’t use her addedvalues

- It’s not her realaspiration

- Cost of hiring someoneto look after arabicclients

Solution 6

Move Mrs. Marsh to another Arabic country

+ -

- Mr Smothers is satisfied

- Company matches thecountry’s costums

- No loss of clients

- Risk of losing Mrs Marshfor good

- Loss of a highlycompetent employee forthis strategic area

- Hiring process: time andcost consuming

- Mr Duncan would beupset

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

NOW ON TO THE DEBATE!

OUR RECOMMENDATION

TRIAL PERIOD AS THE APPROVED SOLUTION