Black & Decker Eastern Hemishpere and the ADP Initiative(A)

Essay by danster13University, Master'sA+, October 2006

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Issues and Problems

Bill Lancaster, president of Black and Decker's Eastern Hemisphere, was facing a dilemma regarding the institution of a new performance appraisal system. He had three choices: to accept the modified ADP system developed by Anita Lim, manager of Human Resources to implement the ADP system adopted in the U.S. or to continue allowing the different sites to use variations of MBO Management by Objective plan.

ADP is an acronym for Appraisal Development Plan, also called the 360 degree feedback approach to performance appraisal. It relies on feedback from peers, subordinates and supervisor as well as a self-appraisal. Interviews with a number of Asian workers indicated that the ADP would not be accepted in the Eastern Hemisphere as it had been in the U.S. Anita Lim, therefore, presented Bill Lancaster with a modified version which lacked the components that made it a 360 feedback.

Bill Lancaster needs to make a decision in the near future.

His decision needs to incorporate consideration for possible cultural differences as well as consideration for what he believes will bring the changes needed to this part of the Black and Decker Company.

Black & Decker Corporation

Black & Decker has been in operation for almost 90 years. It began with the famous drill with a pistol grip and trigger. Within few years the company had expanded to Canada, England, Australia, Japan and Russia. By the 1990s, the company had offices in 109 countries and they had sales of $4.9 billion with a net income in excess of $229.6 million. The company has a number of brands that include DeWalt, Price Pfister, Kwikset, Dustbuster and others. They manufacture small appliances, faucets, portable tools, large set industrial tools and a number of other products.

Their success is in North America and Europe. In Asia and...