Written Analysis and Communication

Case Report on ‘Liu Bai: A Chinese Successor’s Dilemma’

Submitted by: Anshuman Agarwal

Roll Number: 2018PGP062
Section: B

Submitted to: Professor Swatantra

Letter of Transmittal

Indian Institute of Management Indore

Indore, Madhya Pradesh

18th November, 2018

Professor Swatantra

As discussed in the seventh session of Written Analysis and Communication, this is the analysis report
for case titled “Liu Bai: A Chinese Successor’s Dilemma” submitted by Anshuman Agarwal(2018PGP062),
Section B. In case of any queries, please contact Anshuman Agarwal at p18anshumana@iimidr.ac.in.
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary……………………………………………. 1
2. Situation Analysis………………………………………………. 1
3. Problem Statement……………………………………………... 1
4. Options…………………………………………………………… 1
5. Criteria for Evaluation………………………………………….. 2
6. Evaluation of Options…………………………………………... 2
7. Recommendation……………………………………………….. 2
8. Action and Implementation Plan………………………………. 2
Executive Summary
Liu Bai is an MBA from US who is happily working for Tate & Lyle. He was enjoying his recent promotion
and the financial security and independence it brought. Liu had left his family in Malaysia ten years back
and not talked to them in five years. Growing up and then working with his father, Liu Hong for two
years, Liu describes him as a critical and unreasonable parent and also as controlling and manipulative.
Hong owned a sugar trading company which was a direct competitor of the company Liu was working in.
Liu is in dilemma when his Hong calls him up one day and asks him to come back and rejoin the business
as it was recently struggling. Liu would still have to work under his father’s leadership which he
describes as endangering to the business because of his autocratic, controlling and mistrustful attitude.
After thorough analysis, we come to a conclusion that Liu should refuse his father and continue living as
he is.

Situation Analysis :
Liu Bai is an MBA from US who is currently working at Tate & Lyle, a sugar trading company in London.
Liu liked living the cosmopolitan life. He was also enjoying his financial security and independence after
his recent promotion. Liu was a Chinese who had been brought up in Malaysia. Liu had left his home ten
years back leaving behind his family business (which he was to succeed) and his family as he considers
his father, Hong, as irrational and extremely critical. His mother Yi on the other hand was powerless who
sided with Hong when Liu left the family. Liu has not talked to them in five years.

Liu receives a call from Hong one day who tells him that their family firm (which competed directly with
Tate & Kyle) was struggling recently due to various factors. He wanted Liu to rejoin him or else he will
have to undersell the firm. Liu has asked him for two week time. Growing up and then working for his
father for two years, Liu realized that Hong’s leadership was endangering to the business because of his
autocratic, controlling and mistrustful attitude and working again with him would bring back all these
issues once again though the upside is that Liu is surely to succeed the company in near future. This has
put Liu in a dilemma if he should agree to his father and come back leaving behind his independent and
comfortable life or refuse him.

Problem Statement:
What decision should Liu take after he received the call form his father Hong asking him to rejoin the
business?

Options:
1. Listen to his father’s problems and rejoin his family business once again.
2. Refuse his father and keep living and working as he is.
3. Rejoin the business on the condition that his father agrees to give him complete authority of the
company and step down as any decision making authority himself.
Criteria for evaluation:
1. Liu’s Independence
Any decision that Liu takes should keep his independence of working and the happy life he is
currently leading.

2. Career Plan Ahead

Liu’s decision also affects his future career, so the decision should be made keeping this in mind
as Plantation Sugar Trading is not doing well and running that business may not b a good
decision.

3. Liu’s Past Experience

Liu should not be subjected to the same atrocities which he suffered growing up and working
with his father.

Evaluation of options:
1. If Liu rejoins his family business after his father’s call, he gives up his present life and his
independence of working, and would be subjected to the same atrocities by his father. It will
also affect the bright future prospects he has in London. The only upside is that he will be a sure
successor to his family firm.
2. If Liu refuses his father, he would still have the independence of working he has and continue
enjoying the life he is. It will also not affect the bright future prospects he has in London. He
would also not have to bear the controlling and autocratic attitude of his father again.
3. If Liu rejoins the business on the condition that his father agrees to give him complete authority
of the company and step down as any decision making authority himself, he will have the
independence of working. Though it would affect his future prospects in London, he would
succeed his firm which is great nonetheless. The biggest downside is to live with Hong and it is
still unsure if he would be happy after his decision.

Recommendation:
Liu should refuse his father and continue living on his own.

Action and Implementation plan:

1. Liu should call his father after two weeks as he promised and explain to him his current work
and how he is enjoying doing it.
2. He should tell him about his bright future prospects in London and how he does not want to
leave it behind.
3. He should also explain I detail to his father the reasons for leaving his home and how it would be
better if he continues to live as he is.