Business Case: Who would you promote?

Jun 28, 2021 25 Comments

Here is a business case for you.

You are a senior manager at a big-tech company. You have two individual contributors (IC) you are considering for promotion to manager.

The first IC is a long term employee for the company and been there with you since you started the team. He already manages a group of contractors for you and holds down the fort when things get crazy. Team assumes him to be in charge in many cases, but he does not have a recent high impact project under his belt.

The second IC is younger and worked as a contractor under the first IC. He was hired for his contribution few years back. He did a high impact project last year. He has good potential and already promoted as Sr. Engineer last year.

If you promote first IC everything will align organically. Team will find it appropriate, he is already managing people, and most importantly he has been there for a while so he can leverage his network.

If you promote the second IC, you will be rewarding for his outstanding contribution. However, he doesn’t have the soft influence over the team. He is remote, making it more complicated. Finally, he will now manage the first IC who used to manage him previously, making the relationship complicated between two leaders in your team.

Who would you promote? Why?

#management #promotion #tech

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 TOP 25 Comments
  • New
    YGvp37

    New

    YGvp37
    1st every single time. 2nd is a douche. Who cares about high impact project. Generals fight wars not battles.
    Jun 28, 2021 0
  • Splunk
    pipal

    Go to company page Splunk

    pipal
    Narration of your case is already skewed towards IC1
    Jun 28, 2021 0
  • Dell
    darpanet

    Go to company page Dell

    darpanet
    Plot twist: OP is the first IC and got passed over for 2nd.
    Jun 28, 2021 1
  • Google
    d-ll-b

    Go to company page Google

    d-ll-b
    I don’t understand why is this even a question, of course the first one
    Jun 28, 2021 0
  • Microsoft / Mgmt
    RadKandor

    Go to company page Microsoft Mgmt

     RadKandor
    2nd. He's young and ambitious.

    The 1st one has peaked and is doing a good job managing the team.

    By promoting the 2nd you will either push them out of the company or get a valuable, but unreliable, ally that will help you to leverage yourself as a manager. Promote based on impact, potential and growth speed, not based on loyalty. Never fails.

    Come on, this is a dog race. You bet on the top dog or the underdog. Never the middle. This is like management 101.
    Jun 28, 2021 2
    • This explains everything the Salesforce people always said about the ex- Microsoft management people.

      Like... I totally get it now.
      Jun 28, 2021
    • Microsoft / Mgmt
      RadKandor

      Go to company page Microsoft Mgmt

       RadKandor
      That's an unfortunate consequence on how people are measured and rewarded. If you want to really change the culture, you need to change the metrics.

      Satya has done lots of good things, but he didn't touch this.

      Not sure why he didn't. Maybe the problem is the board, that doesn't want to touch the Bill Gates Golden Rule? Maybe it's the head of HR?

      Truth that matters is that no one had the guts.

      But it's someone's fault and I can guarantee you it's not the managers' fault.

      We don't make the rules, we just enforce them.
      Jun 28, 2021