David Brown is the owner of Huckle Buckle Beanstalk, a small high-end toy store in Staunton, Virginia. Brown has recently fired his store manager, Jeff Gibson, for theft—a decision that affected the remaining employees in a way Brown did not expect—and is under pressure to hire a new store manager. Brown is considering three applicants and has asked them to come in for an interview. Each presents a different mix of experience and skills on paper, and through the interview process, Brown hopes to learn additional information about each applicant's approach to management.
Brown is challenged to consider his business's needs and the different opportunities and challenges presented by each of the candidates, since none is a perfect fit. Because Brown needs the store manager to be responsible for daily operations while he focuses on strategy, he needs to make a decision quickly.
This case can be useful in a range of courses, especially ones focused on entrepreneurship, management of small enterprises, and human resource management.
