Poor Simon. I am sad to see him go, he should have had 2 more weeks (Alex should have gone). However, Simon did make a catelogue of errors (not all his fault):
Error #1 deciding to be PM. Bar Michael, everyone else on Simon's team had already been a PM (Alex and Claire - fish task; Sarah - restaurant task, Jenny - laundry task. However, the only successful one was Claire who felt this gave her a right to slag off Simon.
This was the hardest project as it involved creativity, as well as the usual management issues of sales, logistics, marketing and production etc which made it a tough call for a PM. For example, the fish task in week 1 needed far less creativity.
The PM was always going to be either Michael or Simon as they had not lead before. Michael wisely didn't want to 'step up to the plate' and Simon was eager/ desperate to have a go after last week's boardroom discussion with Siralan. Simon never inspired confidence in the others. He should have been less brave, let Michael step up to PM, but do a good job as the logistics person ie what Clare was doing and prove that there is more to him than being a 'grafter'
Error # 2 becoming the photographer as well as the PM. He should have got Claire, Alex or Jenny to do this
Error #3 choosing a beauty theme. a) what does he know about beauty? he's a squaddie - made it hard on himself b) beauty will only really appeal to women. High risk strategy igoring 50% of the population ie male customers c) if you are going to do beauty then it must be top notch. it was a bit tacky
Error # 4 Not being firmer with Alex-the-weasel when appointing him as no2 (mind you, if Simon had made Alex the photographer he would have not had these problems)
Error # 5 arguing with Claire in the middle of the shopping precinct in front of customers - this played into her hands
Error # 6 looking for picture frames when he had delegated product logistics to claire and alex
Error # 7 not coming up with a system to identify the customers in pictures, they should have tested this before setting up production
Error # 8 Keeping the product portfolio simple. Less jigsaws and more mugs
Error #1 deciding to be PM. Bar Michael, everyone else on Simon's team had already been a PM (Alex and Claire - fish task; Sarah - restaurant task, Jenny - laundry task. However, the only successful one was Claire who felt this gave her a right to slag off Simon.
This was the hardest project as it involved creativity, as well as the usual management issues of sales, logistics, marketing and production etc which made it a tough call for a PM. For example, the fish task in week 1 needed far less creativity.
The PM was always going to be either Michael or Simon as they had not lead before. Michael wisely didn't want to 'step up to the plate' and Simon was eager/ desperate to have a go after last week's boardroom discussion with Siralan. Simon never inspired confidence in the others. He should have been less brave, let Michael step up to PM, but do a good job as the logistics person ie what Clare was doing and prove that there is more to him than being a 'grafter'
Error # 2 becoming the photographer as well as the PM. He should have got Claire, Alex or Jenny to do this
Error #3 choosing a beauty theme. a) what does he know about beauty? he's a squaddie - made it hard on himself b) beauty will only really appeal to women. High risk strategy igoring 50% of the population ie male customers c) if you are going to do beauty then it must be top notch. it was a bit tacky
Error # 4 Not being firmer with Alex-the-weasel when appointing him as no2 (mind you, if Simon had made Alex the photographer he would have not had these problems)
Error # 5 arguing with Claire in the middle of the shopping precinct in front of customers - this played into her hands
Error # 6 looking for picture frames when he had delegated product logistics to claire and alex
Error # 7 not coming up with a system to identify the customers in pictures, they should have tested this before setting up production
Error # 8 Keeping the product portfolio simple. Less jigsaws and more mugs
