Brendan Langille : a case study in selection, turnover and company culture in a small business

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to produce a case study and accompanying teaching note that would allow students to discuss various aspects of selection and hiring in a small family business. This case study follows a young protagonist who is transitioning into his parent’s fast food company. He notices some troubling trends in the business such as informal hiring processes, high turnover and a poor company culture. He is essentially faced with the decision to either take the business in a new direction or continue using his parents’ methods. The accompanying teaching note details elements of the case likely to emerge in classroom discussion, and offers guiding research on these topics. The note considers the implications of the protagonist’s decision and provides information on applicable industry trends. In addition, it explains the value and the process of standardizing selection and hiring in a small business. Finally, the teaching note covers different factors that affect employee engagement and reducing turnover.