A report by Dow Jones suggests that it isn't business as usual at Wendy's as the company's management team finds itself being distracted by a possible sale instead of being fully focused on getting the restaurant chain turned around.
Last month, Wendy's board announced it was looking into various strategic alternatives for the company.
John Glass, an analyst at CIBC Markets, has since described a "surreal feel" around the restaurant chain's headquarters in Dublin, Ohio.
"Striving to fix the business while simultaneously attempting to sell or otherwise recapitalize it stand in contrast to each other," wrote Mr. Glass in a research note. He expressed concern that moving to sell the company at this juncture could "undermine management's attempt at a fundamental recovery, as our experience is that these processes are extremely distracting."
Bob Bertini a spokesperson for Wendy's, told Dow Jones, "Management can only worry about what management can control."
Mr. Bertini said the company was focused on creating value for its shareholders and "we're moving forward with implementation of the strategic plan."
Discussion Questions: Looking beyond just Wendy's, how does senior management keep itself and subordinates focused on executing a strategic plan when bad news and sale rumors abound? Does the role of a CEO/president have to change in any way during periods such as this?