Object of this exercise

You, Richard York III, VP of Administration for Anglia, Inc., are determined to take over and retain leadership of the company. Your strategy for achieving your goal is twofold: 1) complete management restructuring [ie, oust all members of the current leadership] and 2) compromise any rivals [eliminate the competition for the CEO position]. Your resources are these: in-house training for the desired position, a complete lack of scruples, power base within the company with Mr. Buckingham and Mr. Stanley, personal knowledge of the weaknesses of the other players, great acting and smooth-talking abilities, a shrewd and devious mind. Your major liability is your image as a supportive, hard-working, company-line man who doesn't aspire beyond your present position. You are not particularly attractive and have a large birthmark on your face that you have attempted to conceal by growing a beard.

Make a prioritized "to-do" list that will get you to the top and keep you there. (Hints available from William Shakespeare.)

Current scenario

This company has just gone through a disastrous series of changes in leadership. Approximately equal amounts of stock are now owned by two different factions: the Lancaster family and the York family.

Current players in this game

The Cabinet

CEO
Your older brother, Edward York, who had a heart bypass a year ago.

VP of Production

Your younger brother, George York (name at birth was Clarence, but he hates it).

VP of Personnel

Your older brother's wife Elizabeth, who has put many of her loyal followers in middle-management positions within her department.

Chief Counsel

Mr. Stanley, who has great personal loyalty to Edward and Elizabeth, but who has recently married the former Mrs. Richmund (owner of multiple shares of York family stock) and is now Harry Richmund's father-in- law. He dotes on his youngest son, George.

Public Relations

Mr. Buckingham, who has a strong sense of loyalty to you and has worked with you on many top-secret projects in the past (also knows people in the local Mafia).

Potential rivals for CEO position

Richard York and Edward York Jr.
Your older brother's sons, who are both currently top students in the Harvard School of Business. They have worked in the company since high school and are very popular with members of the Cabinet; it is generally assumed that one of them will succeed your brother as CEO.

Lizzie

Your older brother's daughter, who is a feminist and an MBA from Stanford; she is currently being groomed by her mother for a middle-management position.

Mr. Harry Richmund

Stands to inherit from his father a controlling interest in Lancaster family stock and who has access to a large share of York family stock through his mother's side of the family. Harry has a lot of connections in the old- boy network, especially with important members of the board of stockholders. He is unmarried, but has been seeing Lizzie in secret for about 6 months. He is currently working for another major company and seems to be a fairhaired boy suitable for grooming for a top CEO spot.

Others

Widow of former CEO
Mrs. Anne Neville, not a businesswoman herself but extremely well-connected to the Lancaster family. Years ago you helped your brother discredit her husband so that he had to resign leadership of the company.

Current CEO's mistress

Mrs. Jane Shore, his secretary of 10 years (rumored to have gotten her job during his wife's leave-of-absence 10 years ago).

Stockholders

Generally apathetic, anxiety-ridden, and easily swayed.

Chairman of the Board

The starched shirt Mr. Ely who is easily manipulated.

Mafia hitman

Sid Tyrrel, once employed by Mr. Buckingham.