Inspiring Historical Manager
Dame Sue Ion is the inspiring manager selected. She was the Group Director and the Principal Technology Officer at BNFL Nuclear Services. She was in charge of the whole technology group besides holding a pivotal role in administration and regulation of nuclear energy. Ion’s social responsibility related to passion she had for culture, history and tradition of North West England. She was actively involved in ensuring that the environment and prospects of NW featured in the nationwide science and technology strategy for United Kingdom (Vetter, 2010).
BNFL’s main strength stems from being a global nuclear company while its weakness was changes in the nuclear sector due to expansion of geographical coverage of activities. The main opportunity was growth in the nuclear market globally whiles its threat was fuel data falsification.
During Ion’s tenure, the then Prime Minister and Ministers of Wales and Scotland inculcated her recommendations on short and long term tactical guidelines over and above representing the United Kingdom in the nuclear sector. Ion’s term as a manager had a niche in the market owing to her tremendous skills in funding projects related to nuclear examination and expansion.
While working at BNFL, Dame Sue Ion also represented her country and company in global oversight and review committees; chairing the Euratom Science and Technology Committee and Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee in the United States of America. As a manager, Sue experienced slight uncertainty; however, she was innovative in management of BNFL's UK R+D group and other resources within the confines of a budget of £100 million annually.
According to Zolfagharifard (2010), BNFL selects employees on a competitive basis depending on individual skills and competencies. In order to retain the high skilled management and staff members, it offers a challenging commercial setting, with proper motivation and rewards.
Using the Big Five model personalities, Ion as a manager is open to experience. She ventured into a relatively new field in her studies at Lancashire and studied sciences and mathematics. She ventured into nuclear energy; a field dominated by men and became influential in it owing to her innovation and development in the sector. She is also outgoing, and compassionate. Finally, regarding neuroticism, she is secure and confident.
Success and groundbreaking achievement motivated Sue Ion. This motivation led to her recognition as a distinguished expert in the field of nuclear energy. Sue was a participative leader because she considered and encouraged peers and her team members to make their input; however, she bore the responsibility of making the final decision. This was why she was recognized for convincing the then Prime Minister Tony Blair to change the policy of the government regarding nuclear energy.
As a manager, Sue communicated effectively by succeeding in managing her portfolio at BNFL besides supervision capital investment plans valued at more than £300 million, at a time of significant changes internally and the global nuclear sector. This required effective communication skills (Zolfagharifard 2010).
On an opportunity to work with Sue, the selected topic would be safe and efficient use of nuclear energy and the group structure would be communication networks to ensure exchange of information and ideas on the topic. Control in the manager’s organizational system was important to focus on the goal, for example, normative control in the form of team norms.
Sue involved her peers and team members through delegation of responsibilities. This was important to ensure motivation of employees and efficient performance of her managerial duties, such as project supervision. In conclusion, Dame Sue Ion was an Honorary Fellow of APM besides holding up project organization in the nuclear industry (Vetter, 2010).
References
Dame Sue Ion advises the UK and US governments on technical questions to do with nuclear power. (January 01, 2013). Professional Engineering, 26, 5.)
Vetter, J. (2010). Knowing global environments: New historical perspectives on the field sciences. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Zolfagharifard, E. (May 04, 2010). Dame Sue Ion, veteran nuclear fuels expert. Engineer, 4.
