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FlyOne Airway's decision to acquire TrueGear Fuels Inc. proved to be ill-fated because its managers had overestimated their abilities and skills. They believed that they had the skills to manage such diversified businesses and create additional shareholder value. However, the acquisition failed to create the anticipated synergies because the managers' capabilities were restricted to the airlines industry. What does this scenario best illustrate?

A. Managerial empathy
B. Managerial feasibility
C. Managerial hubris
D. Managerial capitalism

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The FlyOne Airway's acquisition of TrueGear Fuels Inc. represents Managerial hubris, where managers overestimated their ability to manage a diversified business, leading to the acquisition's failure to create anticipated synergies.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario described best aligns with the concept of managerial hubris. Managerial hubris refers to the overconfidence displayed by managers in their decision-making, often leading to an overestimation of their capabilities and the anticipated benefits of their choices.

In the case of FlyOne Airway's acquisition of TrueGear Fuels Inc., the managerial team's decision to diversify into the fuels industry demonstrates a form of hubris. The managers, skilled and experienced in the airline sector, may have overestimated their ability to navigate the complexities of the diversified business of fuels. This overconfidence likely led them to anticipate synergies and benefits that, in reality, were not realized.

Managerial hubris often arises when decision-makers believe their expertise in one domain can seamlessly transfer to another, more diverse area. In this case, the overconfident assumption that skills honed in the airline industry would seamlessly translate into success in the fuels business resulted in a failure to create the expected shareholder value.

The inability to recognize and adapt to the unique challenges of the fuels industry, coupled with an overestimation of managerial competence, underscores the impact of managerial hubris in strategic decision-making. It serves as a cautionary tale highlighting the importance of a realistic assessment of capabilities, careful evaluation of diversification strategies, and an understanding of the specific challenges posed by ventures into unfamiliar business domains.

User Ted Karmel
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