A Historical Succession at Xerox
Q1
The succession of Burns to the top position at Xerox is historic in many ways. Besides being the first African woman to take the lead of a major U.S corporation, she also succeeded another woman. The fact that Burns was taking a position previously regarded as a preserve of men was a cause for excitement. The gusto in which she took her job is also historical. Within days of appointment, burns was heard fully assumed her responsibilities and she was out to Europe to meet with the companies staffs. Immediately after her appointment, Burns indicated that she was out to restore the fortune the glory of Xerox. The appointment of an unusual CEO when Xerox was facing problems was, indeed, historical. The fact that burns had also risen from humble background was also a point to note. Since her earlier days at Xerox, burns had exhibited unusual leadership qualities and an unusual grasp of the company’s profile. She had risen all through the ranks to pint that even during the reign of her predecessor she was the power behind the throne. It appears that most of the people who had come close to her were only holding their breadth for the final confirmation.
Jones, G.R & George, J.M (2007) Contemporary Management. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.