Respond to the 3 following discussion posts separately with separate reference lists. Citations: At least one high-level scholarly reference in APA per post
from within the last 5 years
1. Introduction
The case explores the motivational factors of a young entrepreneur: Melodie Stewart.
Melodie is a young entrepreneur that decided to stop working for someone when the last company she worked for, Atlantic Women, went bankrupt. She
decided to become the boss of herself. She partnered with a friend, Kim Doherty, and they started their business: Pro-Net. The goal of Pro-Net was to help
customers build mutual beneficial connections (Hurst, n.d.).
Elements of the case
1) Root problem of the case. Several problems arise in the course of Melodie’s professional and personal growth. From the problems that Melodie faced her
necessities emerged, hence what motivated her. Consequently her ascent of the pyramid of needs of Maslow and Alderfer emerges as well. The following
are the problems of the case: economic independence, little consideration by potential customers due to young age and gender, growing business, health
and well-being.
2) Diagnose the fundamental causes
Economic independence of Melodie. After the failure of Atlantic Women she found herself without a job, she had to invent something in order to return to be
financially independent. Her solution was to start her own business. At this stage she was motivated by physiological and safety needs, she needed money in
order to live and to feel safe. Therefore she was at the base of the pyramids of Maslow and Alderfer (Laegaard & Bindslev, 2006).
Little consideration by potential customers. At the beginning of her business she was not taken into much consideration because of her young age and her
gender. Here she was motivated by social and esteem needs, therefore she was in the middle of the pyramids of Maslow and Alderfer (Laegaard & Bindslev,
2006). The solution to this problem was to focus on their business and not to “fight the gender thing” (Hurst, n.d.).
Growing business, health and well-being. Over time it became difficult to handle large amounts of work. Melodie and Kim stayed up late and couldn’t get
enough time to enjoy life. Consequently they decided to work smarter, not harder (Hurst, n.d.). They did so by focusing on the service they were strong on:
training. At this point Melodie was at the tip of Maslow and Alderfer pyramids. Melodie and Kim were in fact motivated by the need for self-actualization
(Laegaard & Bindslev, 2006). They wanted to be professionally satisfied and have time to dedicate to their passions and health as well.
3) Possible alternatives available to the partners.
As for Melodie’s financial independence problem following Atlantic Women’s bankruptcy, Melodie could have accepted a job offer from one of her clients to
meet her physiological and safety needs.
In regards to the youth and gender problem, an alternative could have been to “fight the gender thing”, but she would have removed focus from the business.
Finally, in order to have more time to devote to health and well-being, she could have hired someone who could help them.
4) Evaluate their plan of action (decision/implementation).
They managed to build a business from scratch, they never gave up despite various obstacles, they always maintained good communication with each other
and made decisions democratically. They have therefore shown that they have strong business ethic, passion for what they do, and that no barrier is
insurmountable. My only humble advice is that they could have hired someone that could have carried out bureaucratic activities in order to free up precious
time.
5) State the importance and relevance of the case to the study of business.
It is important and relevant because Melodie’s entrepreneurial development shows how her needs and therefore her motivations change. In fact, Melodie
passes from physiological and safety needs, to social and esteem needs and finally to self-actualization needs, thus following the hierarchy of the
motivational pyramids of Maslow and Alderfer (Laegaard & Bindslev, 2006). Her path can therefore be a practical example that shows what motivates an
entrepreneur or an employee.
References
Hurst, D. (n.d.). Young entrepreneurs — Seizing opportunities and new directions. Acadia Institute for Case Studies. Acadia University.
Laegaard, J. & Bindslev, M. (2006). Organizational Theory. Bookboon.com
