05 Dec 1 Company Management and Stakeholders

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Company Management and Stakeholders

Name of the Student

Institution

DECOMPOSITION

Cast of Characters

Eliud (Manager): The manager of the Light Furniture Company holding a meeting. He has been the company manager for ten years and has also served in other companies. He is a very successful man in his forties.

Mercy (Stakeholder 1/company’s respondent): A rude accountant who thinks she is always right and doesn’t accept any correction or no for an answer. She responds mainly in meetings on behalf of the company management.

Amadi (Stakeholder 2): An investor who feels like he isn’t getting financial returns from the company as per his expectation needs an explanation.

Lilian (Stakeholder 3): A customer of the company and a distributor in the market. She is wondering why there has been a sharp increase in oil prices without notice, which is significantly affecting her business.

Fiona (Stakeholder 4): A very polite secretary at the company

Time

The present.

Synopsis

A diverse group of company stakeholders has gathered for a brief meeting at a conference room to discuss recent arising complaints. The manager chairing the meeting and the accountant have their reasons, whereas the stakeholders also have their perspectives, values, and beliefs. The conference takes an unexpected turn when all the issues get tabled since almost everyone has their viewpoint and solution.

 

SETTING: Conference room at the company.

AT RISE: Five chairs are in a diagonal line. Mercy, Amadi, Fiona, and Lilian are already seated. Eliud enters.

ELIUD

Hello, team. I’m sorry for the wait. I got held up by the traffic, but I’m glad I have met you here. Since we all know each other, we will have to skip the introduction and go straight to the main agenda of why we have gathered here today. (takes a deep breath and continues.)

Some investors are complaining they are not getting enough financial returns, and customers are also raising complaints about price hikes. Therefore, we need a solution as part of the company’s stakeholders and board. The floor is entirely yours. Anybody can share their opinion.

(takes a sigh of relief and sits)

AMADI

Well, let me be first since I’m one of the complainants as well. I invested in this company, intending to make some profit out of my money. But for some time now, the preferred payments we had agreed on have not been taking place. I need an explanation.

MERCY

According to the reports you’ve been getting monthly, the company’s financial stability and growth potential have increased. Just that there have been some miscalculations that took place, and we are working towards understanding them. Once that has been solved, you’ll get paid.

AMADI

The reports have nothing like miscalculations, madam! Or is it that the company has started to go down, and your management won’t accept it?

(Lilian interferes and stands up)

LILIAN

Excuse me; it looks like you all came here to fight and not to be in a meeting. Now that the investor hasn’t gotten a proper reason why he hasn’t been getting his payments. Can someone explain why furniture prices have increased without notice to me, like a little child? It’s not like there’s a lack or shortage of timber around. A company’s rule is that we must get updated on everything to give our clients the correct information. When this occurs, we can avoid risks as early as possible (Barić, 2017).

ELIUD

Kindly, to all of you, we may be having a misunderstanding, and that’s why we are here to solve it. But please, watch how you address everyone. Be professional in your speeches to avoid clashes.

MERCY

Thank you, Mr. Manager, for that. Lilian, this company has been actively running for the past 15 years with no issues. And as a company, we have every right to increase product prices depending on materials prices. We for sure owe no one an explanation since loyal customers will understand that the economy has gone hard and nothing is cheap.

But now that you asked, materials used apart from timber have become very expensive. We didn’t think it wise to inform you since the market will constantly adjust. Thank you.

(makes a sarcastic smile as she sits down)

(tension gets created in the room, after 5 minutes of total silence, the secretary arises)

FIONA

We haven’t maintained order since we all started, but it’s okay. It is a stakeholder’s value to get a specific return in an organization set up, which should not be compromised (Bertassini et al., 2021). It is a belief in the company’s governance structure that for a decision to work, all stakeholders must have a say (Benn et al., 2016). But for this, when did you come up with all this “you owe no one explanation? To our customers and investor, the truth is…

(gets interrupted by the manager)

ELIUD

Fiona, please, do your work and write the minutes.

FIONA

I am one of this company’s stakeholders, which gives me the right to speak. You all know me as a polite lady, so allow me to air whatever I want. The truth is the company has been going through some difficulties, and we are trying our best to get things back to normal. We all understand your cries and are working towards improving iter.

MERCY

At least you’ve said something reasonable, “madam polite,” although that was unnecessary. We owe no one an explanation, and as long the company isn’t closed, we will pay the investors in due time, and the prices will get reduced. You have no right to ask me such questions as well, do your secretariat job peacefully, madam.

The company amended certain things and has new standards, beliefs, and values that can not change to fit anybody’s opinion. Learn to live with that.

AMADI

Investing in this company is the worst decision a person can think of d. I will go around preventing those with plans to invest here not to even thinking of doing that. I’m only giving you six months to make things right with my account; otherwise, my belief in showing respect for your investment will get wiped out.

MERCY

No need for threats. As I said earlier, the company won’t bend its policies. Turning this company’s name won’t go well with you. The company is a brand that has existed for 15 years and has the best quality furniture across the country. You try that nonsense, and no one will believe you even a single day.

(clicks as she sits down rudely)

ELIUD

We are sorry as a company for failing to meet your expectations as we had agreed years ago. We will hasten our findings so that by the end of 6 months everything is as before and you won’t have any complaints again.

AMADI

This meeting is the most disgusting meeting I have ever attended. For you, madam accountant, I’m deeply sorry since this is the last day of being rude in this company. I have a recording of your not-daring speeches since the meeting started. None of the management feels even remorseful for how you’re mistreating us (Pirson & Malhotra, n.d.). I will sue you, destroy your reputation, and you’ll pay me a lot of money. Sit down, madam; the game has just but begun. Tighten your belts for the coming episodes.

(the manager and accountant look astonished and terrified and bow their heads)

FIONA

Wow! For once, someone is taking legal action to put the company back to its place where it was ten years ago. What a relief! Please, Mr. Investor, doesn’t think of pardoning anyone; this is what the company needs now. A NEW MANAGEMENT. Management that will put the company’s primary goal in the front- taking into account all stakeholders holders’ opinions, beliefs, values, and ideas and finding those that can help after a series of discussions with them. With the new management, no one’s opinion matters.

I’m glad the CEO will have a glimpse of what has been happening here.

(happily sings as she goes to stand at one of the corners)

MERCY

(pleading) please, it hasn’t gotten to that. This issue is a big misunderstanding again. Amadi, don’t take this personally; you’ll earn money in your account tomorrow morning. You don’t have to sue us. For you, Lilian, don’t worry. The prices will get reviewed overnight, and they shall be well by morning. Please go and our other customers that way.

FIONA

So this is how you have been embezzling the company’s money for your gain while it’s collapsing? (Wells, 2017). I, for sure, have no time for this. With the recording as the evidence, I have no time to waste doing further discussions with you thieves.

(pulls out her phone from her handbag and calls someone)

LILIAN

I got here to complain about what other customers and I were going through, only to be met with insults here and there. May justice prevail so that…

(gets interrupted by police officers who have just arrived, plus the CEO. the manager and the accountant get arrested immediately as the CEO informs the investor, customer, and secretary to meet him tomorrow at 10 am)

 

Works Cited