Essay

Case Analysis

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Case Analysis: Why DineEquity’s CEO Julia A. Stewart Manages Like a Teacher
Earl Steven Creech
California Southern University
MGT 87500
June 1, 2014
Dr. Hoon

Case Analysis

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Case Analysis: Why DineEquity’s CEO Julia A. Stewart Manages Like a Teacher
Introduction
The humorous idiom taken from George Bernard Shaw’s four-act play, Man and
Superman, “…those who can, do; those who can't, teach” (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs, 2002, Retrieved June 1 2014), has been quoted many times to the
chagrin of teachers. This quote certainly fails to apply to CEO Julia Stewart of DineEquity; it
actually sides to the contrary of this case study. Ms. Stewart applies teaching and mentoring
techniques in her management style. There were two problem issues I found that were brought
out in this short case study. There was a father-daughter conflict issue, where Julia felt that the
choice she made early in life to enter into the field of food services, was contrary to her father’s
desired that she follow him into the profession of education. The second issue Julia faced was
how she could apply the lessons from her father’s teaching techniques to the restaurant business
in order to become as successful in her field, as her father was in his. (Kreitner & Kinicki, 2013)
Analysis
Julia expressed the concern that she had greatly upset her father by choosing to become a
businesswomen and not a teacher. Her management coaching style was initially developed from
the influences of her father, a professional teacher. (Kreitner & Kinicki, 2013) After a number of
years, Julia became successful with her career in business. The moment had come, and
opportunity was presented, to demonstrate to her father that she had become successful in
business due in part to his early teachings that she received. By this time, Julia had risen to the
position of Vice President of Taco Bell. Julia’s father was invited to accompany...