Bitstream Case Solution And Analysis, HBR Case Study Solution & Analysis of Harvard Case Studies

Introduction

Bitstream was founded in 1981 as a software company which was located in Cambridge, MA. The basic idea of the company was to develop digitized type fonts for the display screens and the printers. The company turned into a successful entity by transforming a mathematical formula that will allow it to actually store a font library in a rather efficient manner that stores memory. To further strengthen the company and to make it grow and expand further Jim Sole was hired as the new president for the company. Once he took over as the leader for the company, he introduced a new job at Bitstream. He came up with the plan of actually developing a network print manager.

Basically, Sole was looking for someone who could lead the new product division of Bitstream. To hire a competent and efficient employee, Sole engaged a headhunter recruiter to find Bitstream and Sole potential candidates who can take over the charge as the project head of the company. The company was willing to pay a total amount of $120,000 per year to the project head and was also planning to offer stock options to the candidate. The major or the basic requirement for the job was to find a person that has prior working experience in the networking of products and also has the understanding of Value Added Resellers (VARs). With the new job being a major shift in the company’s long term goals with a projected value of $100 million in next few years, therefore selecting the right candidate is a must for Jims Sole.

Problem Statement

The major problem identified in the case “Bitstream” is to select the right candidate who can take charge of the new opportunity that has been created in the networking printing business at the company.

Question 01:What are the key criteria for filling this job?

As the case states, the new job was an important addition to the company profile, therefore the candidate selected should have all the necessary attributes, qualities and features that will ensure the right selection of the individual for the new position. The key criteria to fill in the position for the new job will be to have a person at the top who can manage people and also take decisions. As the job was a senior management position, thereforewhoever is selected should have the skill of managing a team and get the best out of them. This is the major job description because handling human resource is an important aspect of the candidate. Secondly, he should be a confident and effective decision maker.

As Bitstream is a small company with not a big board of directors and a team of members to guide, therefore the candidate selected will have to make decisions on his own and stand by them. Therefore, decision making is one the major elements of the new job at the company. Jim Sole, the president wanted the individual to be selected should have past experience in a similar industry or similar business. The candidate must be with the prior experience in network printing and VAR. This is again a major requirement because the company does not have time to train the new hired employee. Along with this, they do not have the skill to train the new joinee because the company has just only launched this new project.

The idea is to hire the right brain at the right place and also ensuring chances of matching personal goals with the basic requirements of the job so that both can grow successfully with Bitstream. Another key criteria for the new job and the new candidate is to have a positive attitude, the individual should be flexible at work, should be a confident person who can handle different situations smoothly and efficiently. Candidate must have a desire to succeed and should have the passion to drive the team members also. He should have the skills and expertise to carry out the production process and make it a smooth transition to the end customer. The candidate will be responsible to develop the product that is as per the requirements of the clients. The candidate must be a seasoned campaigner who can further develop the resources of Bitstream in the future.

The candidate should have the control over the distribution process also. In short, the candidate will be the major force to take the new project to levels of success as perceived by Jim Sole. Therefore, the above are the key criteria’s that the candidate must possess so that he take the major role at the company and serve the needs of Bitstream to grow into a $100 million company over the next few years.....................

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The focus is on the new CEO of a growing software company, the culture, he was trying to create, and the need to hire a manager to head up a new unit of the product. Includes detailed information on how a search was conducted and provides a summary of the four candidates being considered for the position. Designed to allow students to think through the recruitment, selection and interview. "Hide
by Michael J. Roberts Source: Harvard Business School 15 pages. Publication Date: November 18, 1992. Prod. #: 393055-PDF-ENG