HomeResearch & Knowledgeback to HomeOrganizational Behaviorback to Research & KnowledgeJan van Hasenbroek (A): A “red-pencil” leader at a crossroadsback to Organizational Behavior

Case Study

Jan van Hasenbroek (A): A “red-pencil” leader at a crossroads

By Susan Goldsworthy, Kamran Kashani and Lisa Simone Duke

9 pages

June 2020

Order this case study

Reference: IMD-7-2059

Jan Van Hasenbroek, an entrepreneur founder and managing partner of IG&H consulting firm, is in trouble. He is known in his company as the “red pencil” manager for his micromanagement of consultants’ works, often with a red pencil correcting or modifying their presentations. That leadership was once tolerated but it has become increasingly dysfunctional leading to the departure of valued consultants and partners and a drop in the company’s growth. Meanwhile, Jan’s marriage has fallen apart due to his total devotion to his work at the expense of his family. The case raises choices faced by Jan, whether to step back and let someone else to lead IG&H, a company he has devoted his entire career to; or to stay on but with a different leadership behaviour—if he can or willing to make the change. The reader not only has to assess Jan’s current leadership but also recommend an action that is in the interest of IG&H and its growth ambitions.

Learning Objective

To use the example of a dysfunctional management behaviour as a provocative vehicle to discuss and raise questions about what effective leadership could mean and what might be some of its fundamental behavioural features.
To demonstrate the core idea in the adage “What got you here will probably fail to get you there.” A leadership behaviour for a small, entrepreneurial company (as IG&H was in its early days) will have to evolve as the organization grows into a larger, more complex operation needing to attract and motivate high calibre talents who are hard to attract and easy to lose.
To get a closeup view of a leader’s inner drives and emotions as barriers or boosters to his/her effective behaviour.
To provide personal insights and pointers touching on the above objectives through the video interview with Jan for case (A).

Keywords

Organizational Behavior, Leadership, Entrepreneurial Organization, Entrepreneur, Consultancy, Knowledge Management, Micromanagement, Psychology, Leadership Dilemma, Work-Family Balance, Individual Behavior

Settings

Europe, Netherlands
IG＆H, Business Management Services, Consultancy
2012-2020

Type

Field Research

Available Languages

English

Related material

Video

IMD case studies are distributed through case clearing houses. In order to browse the collection and purchase copies please visit the links below.

The Case Centre

Cranfield University

Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email [email protected]

Harvard Business School Publishing

60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]

Asia Pacific Case Center

NUCB Business School

1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]

IMD retains all proprietary interests in its case studies and notes. Without prior written permission, IMD cases and notes may not be reproduced, used, translated, included in books or other publications, distributed in any form or by any means, stored in a database or in other retrieval systems. For additional copyright information related to case studies, please contact Case Services.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

This case study is part of a series

Jan van Hasenbroek (A): A “red-pencil” leader at a crossroads
Jan van Hasenbroek (B): Going back to school

This case study is part of a series

Jan van Hasenbroek (A): A “red-pencil” leader at a crossroads
Jan van Hasenbroek (B): Going back to school

Keep reading

Article

Ego overdrive: Allmachtsfantasien und Selbstsucht sind derzeit en vogue. Mit welchen Strategien können wir gegensteuern? Eine Anleitung.

“It's as if the whole world had suddenly not only suspended all the rules, but also switched on the turbo”, remarked one of my clients recently. Since the profound political and cultural change in mood, which the British-American historian Niall F...

Leadership Organizational Behavior

By Merete Wedell-Wedellsborg

in Harvard Business Manager

June 2025, vol. 6, pp. 14-19

Article

The workplace psychological contract is broken. Here’s how to fix it.

When Amazon announced in September 2024 that it was requiring people to come into the office five days a week rather than three, the reaction was swift and negative: A poll of 2,585 Amazon professionals found that 91% were dissatisfied with the ne...

Organizational Behavior Workplace Well-being

By Anne-Laure Fayard and John Weeks

in HBR.org

6 May 2025

Article

The value of emotional intelligence in business

We may understand the importance of managing emotions in our personal lives, but what about the applicability in business life? After all, business is about business and rational, logical information, right? Wrong! Many studies show that companies...

Leadership Organizational Behavior

By George Kohlrieser and Andrew Kohlrieser

in Chartered Management Institute blog

22 April 2025

Article

Five conflict resolution techniques to apply at work

Conflict in the workplace is not only inevitable – it’s essential. Disagreements, when handled well, are opportunities to strengthen relationships, unleash innovation, and build more resilient teams. Yet for many professionals, conflict still feel...

Organizational Behavior Leadership

By George Kohlrieser

in People Management

17 April 2025

Book Chapter

Toward a shared agenda for necessity entrepreneurship research: Definitions, theories, and perspectives

Salient future research opportunities emerge when we rethink how to define and theorize necessity entrepreneurship (NE). In terms of defining NE, we outline its complex and contextualized nature, emphasizing the need for more nuanced conceptualiza...

Entrepreneurship Venture Capital Organizational Behavior

By Katrin M. Smolka, Pursey Heugens, Sophie Bacq and Angelique Slade Shantz

in Smolka, Katrin M. (Ed.); Heugens, Pursey (Ed.); Bacq, Sophie (Ed.); Slade Shantz, Angelique (Ed.) / Necessity entrepreneurship: Getting beyond the binary (Research in the sociology of organizations, vol. 92), pp: 13-35 / Leeds: Emerald, 2025

Article

CDL saga casts spotlight on succession and why family businesses struggle with it

Decades of stability can unravel overnight, but sustaining both family harmony and corporate success is a perpetual challenge. Succession is among the buzzwords as all eyes are on City Developments Limited (CDL), where a bitter leadership feud has...

Family Business Leadership Organizational Behavior

By Marleen Dieleman

in The Straits Times

6 March 2025

Article

From Boomers to Gen Z - Lessons Every Generation Can Learn

From Boomers to Gen Z, each generation has unique experiences and insights to share. Discover how cross-generational learning fosters growth, innovation, and understanding in today’s world.

Culture Leadership Organizational Behavior Talent Management

By Katharina Lange

in I by IMD

Article

Managing Multiple Role Identities - Family Enterprise

Leaders of family firms are struggling with multiple role identities, and poor board management is putting the future of family enterprises at risk.

Corporate Governance Culture Family Business Operations Organizational Behavior

By Alfredo De Massis, Cristina Bettinelli, Manisha Singal and John Davis

in I by IMD

Article

How to get your kids engaged in the entrepreneurial family galaxy

Family businesses hold a unique place in the economic and social landscape. They represent not just entrepreneurship but also heritage, values and a legacy passed down through generations.

Family Business Organizational Behavior Entrepreneurship

By Alfredo De Massis and Emanuela Rondi

in Belfast Telegraph

8 January 2025

Article

Holiday season burnout: How can family businesses manage workload and rest

The holiday season is a particularly demanding time for many businesses, especially for family-owned enterprises. The combination of increased business demands, tight deadlines, and family expectations can create a perfect storm of stress and exha...

Family Business Workplace Well-being Organizational Behavior

By Alfredo De Massis and Emanuela Rondi

in The European Business Review

21 December 2024

Ego overdrive: Allmachtsfantasien und Selbstsucht sind derzeit en vogue. Mit welchen Strategien können wir gegensteuern? Eine Anleitung.

By Merete Wedell-Wedellsborg
in Harvard Business Manager June 2025, vol. 6, pp. 14-19

Summary

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Leadership

Organizational Behavior

Browse all topics

The workplace psychological contract is broken. Here’s how to fix it.

By Anne-Laure Fayard and John Weeks
in HBR.org 6 May 2025

Summary

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Organizational Behavior

Workplace Well-being

Browse all topics

The value of emotional intelligence in business

By George Kohlrieser and Andrew Kohlrieser
in Chartered Management Institute blog 22 April 2025

Summary

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Leadership

Organizational Behavior

Browse all topics

Five conflict resolution techniques to apply at work

By George Kohlrieser
in People Management 17 April 2025

Summary

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Organizational Behavior

Leadership

Browse all topics

Toward a shared agenda for necessity entrepreneurship research: Definitions, theories, and perspectives

By Katrin M. Smolka Pursey Heugens Sophie Bacq and Angelique Slade Shantz
in Smolka, Katrin M. (Ed.); Heugens, Pursey (Ed.); Bacq, Sophie (Ed.); Slade Shantz, Angelique (Ed.) / Necessity entrepreneurship: Getting beyond the binary (Research in the sociology of organizations, vol. 92), pp: 13-35 / Leeds: Emerald, 2025

Summary

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Entrepreneurship

Venture Capital

Organizational Behavior

Browse all topics

CDL saga casts spotlight on succession and why family businesses struggle with it

By Marleen Dieleman
in The Straits Times 6 March 2025

Summary

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Family Business

Leadership

Organizational Behavior

Browse all topics

From Boomers to Gen Z - Lessons Every Generation Can Learn

By Katharina Lange
in I by IMD

Summary

From Boomers to Gen Z, each generation has unique experiences and insights to share. Discover how cross-generational learning fosters growth, innovation, and understanding in today’s world.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Culture

Leadership

Organizational Behavior

Talent Management

Browse all topics

Managing Multiple Role Identities - Family Enterprise

By Alfredo De Massis Cristina Bettinelli Manisha Singal and John Davis
in I by IMD

Summary

Leaders of family firms are struggling with multiple role identities, and poor board management is putting the future of family enterprises at risk.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Corporate Governance

Culture

Family Business

Operations

Organizational Behavior

Browse all topics

How to get your kids engaged in the entrepreneurial family galaxy

By Alfredo De Massis and Emanuela Rondi
in Belfast Telegraph 8 January 2025

Summary

Family businesses hold a unique place in the economic and social landscape. They represent not just entrepreneurship but also heritage, values and a legacy passed down through generations.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Family Business

Organizational Behavior

Entrepreneurship

Browse all topics

Holiday season burnout: How can family businesses manage workload and rest

By Alfredo De Massis and Emanuela Rondi
in The European Business Review 21 December 2024

Summary

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications