Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Marriott's Corporate Governance -Leadership

Marriott operates using a board leadership structure that is not uncommon in public companies. However, the Marriott Company does apply one unique twist to corporate governance that gives the organization a competitive advantage over other entities in the hospitality industry. That unique aspect is that J.W. Marriott, Jr (son of the Marriott Founder, J.W. Marriott) serves the company as Chairman and CEO.

Unlike similar organizations with two separate individuals serving in each of the aforementioned roles, Marriott has eliminated (to some extend) the confusion that could exist with two separate individuals acting in leadership roles for the company. This also eliminates the disconnect that can occur between upper management and the Board of Directors of large companies when it comes to the role and responsibility of senior management. Senior management's primary responsibility is to increase the value of the company or the investment of the shareholders. Sometimes this "goal" gets lost, especially when senior management is compensated based on short-term performance, etc. and they can lose site of their primary responsibility and fail to consider the future effects of current decisions.

However, with the CEO or senior management leader position being held by a shareholder, it is more likely to expect that decisions will be more thoroughly considered by the CEO, because there is simply more at stake than an annual compensation bonus.

Monday, August 30, 2010

MGT 656- Green

I have chosen Marriott International as the corporation I will follow during this semester because I have always been intrigued by this organizations ability to provide consistent quality service to me wherever I am. Of course, it is easy to see how the upscale hotel and resort divisions can provide consistent and quality service, however, what has amazed me is the ability of the lower and mid-scale market entrants (particularly those that are franchised), can provide similar quality, whether I am in San Antonio or Eastern Kentucky.