Fierce Creatures Who Are the Main Stakeholders

Fierce Creatures

Who are the main stakeholders in the zoo acquisition?

There are two directly opposing groups in the zoo acquisition. The first group, represented by Rollo, is comprised of the new purchasers of the zoo and the people who thus have a financial stake in the success and progression of the zoo. Rollo has been given strict instructions that the zoo is to be completely and thoroughly reorganized to both increase attendance and provide a surge in the profit margin of the enterprise. His employers, Octopus Inc. demand that each business in the empire have a 20% profit margin. At present the zoo is not making any profit whatsoever. These are the financial stakes involved in the equation. On the opposing side of the equation are those who are involved with the zoo in its current iteration. They have an emotional stake in this acquisition because they are mainly concerned with zoology and with the welfare of the animals in the zoo. This side represents the emotional stakeholders in the dichotomy.

2. How are the values of the stakeholders being expressed in the meeting?

The values are being expressed by the various factions according to their position on the subject. Since Rollo is serving Octopus, he represents the financially-minded people, it is logical that he uses only logical, unemotional appeals to make his point to his listening audience. Antithetically, the zoo workers are basing their position on their emotions. They have developed a relationship with the animals and with one another that they do not wish to be changed. Thus, the side of the zookeepers can only explain to this man in terms of an emotional appeal, something that he does not yet understand or that he at the very least pretends not to be able to understand.

3. What are the important dilemmas apparent in the stakeholders' dialogue?

Each of the two opposing sides sees themselves as being correct in the dialogue between factions in the zoo. For Rollo, functioning as the speaker for the Octopus Company, the dilemma of the park is that it is not making a profit and is therefore requiring of reorganization and restructuring. His job has been based upon the understanding that he will bring the profit of the zoo up to the levels that have been dictated by his employers. Any ethical feeling he has about the right to mistreat and even kill helpless animals are checked by his need to fulfill his obligations. For the zookeepers, Rollo's policy that only fierce animals be allowed to live in the zoo forces them to outright lie about the attitudes of their animal friends. They are also emotionally distressed at the idea that Rollo demands that creatures that are not fierce enough to draw attention be executed. Thus, they are literally being asked to serve as executioners of animals with whom they have developed close relationships.

4. Discuss the following statement. Stakeholder dilemmas need to be understood and reconciled if leadership transitions are to be effectively implemented in a corporate acquisition.

One of the most important dynamics in the film Fierce Creatures is the way in which Rollo acts to his subordinates when he begins taking charge of the zoo and how his expressed views turn out to be diametrically opposed to his real emotional feelings. For him, the business side of things has nothing to do with emotional connections. Yet, for the rest of the zookeepers, the way they view the profession and the location of their occupation is by the emotions that they have for and with the animals under their care. Rollo understands how the zookeepers feel about their animals although he initially pretends to scoff and diminish the importance of those feelings. The zookeepers simply cannot understand how the Octopus company and its representative in the their sphere Rollo can undertake a business such as a zoo and allow their emotions to be uninvolved in their actions. Because Rollo take such a position against his employees at the outset of their relationship, the initial transition from the old leadership to his new guidance is difficult. Had he made a more concerted effort to appeal to the emotions of the zookeepers and to understand why the feel reluctance to engage with a leader who was more focused on financial success than anything else, then the transition would have gone much more smoothly.

5. If you were in Rollo's position, how would you have conducted this meeting?