Alan Wilson's career decision: Grepter, social venture, or hedge fund

Strategic Management

The case study focuses on presenting the professional situation of Alan Wilson, who is confronted with three choices regarding his professional future. Each of these possibilities comes with a series of advantages and disadvantages, and Alan's problem is to decide which one is the right one for him. The options are: pursuing an ascending career path at Grepter, working with Shiori in a social venture, and joining Karl at the hedge fund (Stevenson, 2008). The following pages will present a SWOT analysis for each of these options.

The Grepter option

Strengths. If Alan pursues this possibility, his financial situation could rise sky high if everything goes well. He might even come to run the entire company, not just the operational area. Such a great financial situation would be doubled by power, even at international level, granted to important companies' CEOs.

Weaknesses. Reaching the high social and financial status that would allow Alan to make a difference in the world could have a very long duration. It would also require tremendous work efforts. This means that his idea of settling down and starting a family might be affected if he follows this direction, because he might not have the required time that needs to be invested in the family.

Opportunities. With such power of influence and money Alan could start making a difference in the world. He could invest large amounts of money in a series of areas. His power could influence others to follow his example, and he could even be able to change behaviors, attitudes, and ways of thinking.

Threats. Even if this seems like a great career opportunity, there is also the threat that things will not work out according to plan. Alan might not be able to properly manage the situations that he will be confronted with, or the company's CEO might favor a different candidate for the promotions proposed to Alan. Also, Alan could lose the other career opportunities.

The hedge fund option

Strengths. This career opportunity is the most financially profitable on short-term or medium term for Alan. He would also be working with a friend who would help him adjust to the situation.

Weaknesses. Even if Alan gains significant amounts of money from the hedge fund activity, it will not suffice for changing things in the manner Alan wants. In this situation, Alan would not benefit from the same power that would be granted by working at Grepter.

Opportunities. Alan has the opportunity of working for a certain period of time at this hedge fund, gain some serious capital, and then focus on professional and spiritual aspects that interest him.

Threats. In this case, there is the threat that Alan might not be able to pursue his interests of changing something in the world, because he would not have enough power to make a significant difference, and he would lose the opportunity of making any difference at all that Shiori proposed.

As one may observe, each of these opportunities has its advantages and disadvantages. All of these business proposals seem to be incomplete, as none of them are able to fulfill Alan's spiritual need of changing the world and the financial need that is required. However, the best alternative seems to be the Grepter one due to the advantages presented in the SWOT analysis.

Reference List

1. Stevenson, Howard (2008). How to Change the World. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved November 26, 2008.