This paper will discuss the simulation, "Leadership in Action". The simulation is based on a company called Smith & Falmouth(S&F), who requires assistance to provide the company with conceptual information about the organization structure and to provide specific recommendation to be successful in the next three years. This paper will describe the formal culture of the organization and how this structure compares with other organizational structures. How the companys informal culture influences their effectiveness and formal structure will also be addressed. The role of power and politics will be looked at as well as which leadership style would be the most effective for the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for S & F's structure and culture.
Organizational Structure is defined by McShane-Von Gilnow as the division of labor as well as the patterns of coordination, communication, work flow, and formal power that direct organizational activities. (http://www.stu.uophx.edu/secure/resource/resource.asp Chapter 17 p 506) The current structure of S&F resembles a Functional Structure. This type of structure organizes employees around specific knowledge or resources. (Chapter 17 p 516) This can be seen by how S&F is currently divided into the following workforce product divisions: a web development team, a logistics team and a marketing team. The project manager of S&F is currently responsible for handling the web operations team, who has six members. This team is responsible for maintaining online sales, comprising the website, and handling the online payments. The project manager is also responsible to work closely with the logistic manager who has three members in his logistics team. The logistics team is accountable for managing or...
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...r must set challenging goals, continually seek improvement and shows a high level of confidence that the employees will assume responsibility and accomplish these goals. (Chapter 17 p 424) By empowering S&F's employees, a shift in organizational culture will naturally occur, thus allowing the organizational culture to be strengthened through the actions of founders and leaders.
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 The purpose of this paper is to identify and contrast the different styles of leadership exhibited by two characters found in the 1949 movie Twelve O’Clock High starring Gregory Peck as General Savage, Army Air Forces general. Based on a true story, Twelve O’Clock High is a inspirational account of the highly dangerous precision daylight bombing missions carried out by US Army Air Force’s 918th Bomber Group in England during the last part of World War II. In the beginning of the movie the squadron is commanded by general Davenport. It is very clear that General Davenport’s main concern is the wellbeing of his men. He obviously had developed close interpersonal relationships. The men of the squadron were completely devoted towards Davenport and they trusted any decision that he would make. General Davenport’s affection for his men comes to interfere with his ability to lead them. The squadron suffers heavy losses to planes and heavier losses to soldiers. One instance that clearly demonstrates Davenport’s incapability to uphold his responsibilities as the leader is when he jeopardizes the well being of the entire squadron by ignoring protocol and flying out of formation in the attempt to save one plane. When it becomes apparent to Davenport’s superiors that his emotional feelings have become an obstacle to his effectively leading the squadron they relieve him. General Savage who is ordered to take over the underachieving bomber group experiencing heavy losses because of poor technique and lack of focus. Savage takes a kind of tough love approach, holding his men to the highest standards. Savage makes the point that the ultimate objection of the squadron is to successfully complete the assigned missions. Throughout the movie Savage constantly makes it absolutely clear to the squadron that no one individual’s wellbeing will be placed ahead of the entire team and the success of the team. Initially the changing of the preceding General dispirits the squadron. They felt that General Savage was uncompassionate considering the men as nothing more then numbers that were dispensable at his convenience. After several missions that were marked by a remarkable turnaround in success the man eventually come...
Assess how communication and collaboration, and power and politics influence group (i.e., the organization’s) dynamics.
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The world of today is filled with successful men who have become great leaders in their field of expertise and achieved many extraordinary and remarkable things. People usually wonder what these great men have that they lack and what should they do in order to even achieve similar feats. The answer to such an intriguing and complicated looking question is surprisingly simple! It is to have a heart and the attitude of a great leader. Young men are taught that if they study hard enough and long enough, they might be able to achieve some things in life which, unfortunately, is a wrong notion proved wrong by a remarkably successful man named Bill Gates. He was a college dropout but still managed to be the founder of one of the biggest IT Mammoth – Microsoft. He is just a famous example, but there are thousands other in every corner of the world, making a mark for themselves despite their poor qualifications. Their amazing ability to manage and lead is what really sets them apart. There are sayings that leaders are born, not made, but, if you follow the life of any great leader and ask them, most will give you an answer that they learnt everything they knew through the lessons of life, an open mind & positive self motivation. These points are important if you aspire to become successful and be the guy everyone else looks up to for inspiration. There are various kinds of leadership techniques that can be learnt and imbibed by anyone who is willing to go the distance. Among the many ways of being a leader, the one that seems to be the most promising is a lately evolved concept of authentic leadership.
Leaders have a responsibility to ensure that the organization is running effectively. In addition, the decisions that are made should be in the best interest of the organization, therefore, the leader should ensure that the decisions are moving the organization closer to its vision. According to Manning and Curtis (2015), there are 10 qualities that influence the leadership process: Vision, Ability, Enthusiasm, Stability, Concern for others, Self-confidence, Persistence, Vitality, Charisma, and Integrity. Leaders have to consider these 10 qualities when making effective decisions about the organization. Conversely, when these qualities do not influence the decision-making process for leaders, the organizational leader is not possessing
(2014) is “the way in which leaders interact, make decisions, and influence others in the organization” (p 237). The culture needs to foster cooperation from all areas of an organization, while providing the ability for adaptation and growth. Not all organizations culture will be the same, there is not a correct one that can blanket all organizations to cozy success. (3) Talent Systems. Human capital drives all organizations, the right people need to be in the right jobs with the correct opportunities for growth and advancement. There must be a constant search for strategic thinkers and leaders able to step up with called upon. The authors mention “Talent Sustainability” (p. 248), there must be enough qualified employees ready to move up so the organization will not stall while searching for others to replace others due to attrition, or other opportunists. (4) Organizational Design, must take a number of variables into account while providing structure to an organization. Hughes et al. (2014) state “the design of the organization is a trade-off between options, each with advantages and disadvantages” (p 253). The correct design can help clear the hierarchy of an organization and the proper channels for
Yukl, G. (2010). Leadership in organizations. (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
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Growing up in a rough neighborhood, positive role models were not present in my everyday life. Fortunately, I created a personal understanding of what it took to be a true leader when Marcelo Neveleff became my coach. Coach Marcelo was my club soccer coach throughout my teenage years, and Marcelo demonstrated three key tenets that made me realize what it took to be a great leader. From his guidance and inspiration, I have drawn that in order to become a successful leader, I must be goal oriented through determination within myself by leading from the front. This reflects that there is a specific goal that I, as a leader, must be willing to reach that will inspire others to do the same. To become a successful leader, I must also be empathetic
One of the topics in organizational development today is leadership. Leadership is what individuals do to mobilize other people in organizations and communities. According to Kouzes & Posner, there are five practices and ten commitments of exemplary leadership. The five practices of exemplary leadership include: Model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart. In the Leadership Challenge, Kouzes and Posner found similar patterns and actions of leadership that created the essentials to achieve success. Utilizing the research conducted by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, I have created a leadership plan that would apply to the Admission Department at Texas Wesleyan University.
Leadership can be shown through any person in any type of situation. In a classroom discussion, on the playing field, or in public a sign of a leader is evident. A person is born a leader. Certain humans know what to do when the time calls for it. Many people in positions can be entitled a leader such as basketball players. Even a famous movie star can be given this title. These people are not true leaders. True leaders are the belaboring teachers and the intellectual speakers. These are the people who show that leadership is an action, not a position.
Leadership is essentially the ability to motivate. An effective leader can motivate others toward reaching a common goal. Leaders are different than managers in that leaders inspire others to do the work needed while managers generally tend to manage the tasks associated with completing the goal.
Leadership is something that is heavily prevalent in the workforce and in the world today. Being a leader, in my opinion, takes someone (or a group of people) who is willing and able to lead a few or many people. Not every leader though is successful or leads in a positive way. There definitely exists both good and bad leadership. Many leaders fail while many achieve extraordinary milestones. But everyone, not just leaders, have their pitfalls and rough patches in life. I know that I myself have some weaknesses as a leader, and that is what I want to take some time to reflect on.
As far back as history can be told mankind has struggled between balancing culture, power and politics. Many wars have been fought and many people have placed their lives on the line in order to stand up for what they believe in. The combinations of culture, power and politics have spilled over into the workplace. In today’s business environment individuals have much more to worry about than just completing their assigned tasks. Organizational culture, power and office politics influence day to day operations as well as govern the atmosphere within the organization. The amount of impact that power and politics have in the workplace, directly reflect the organization’s culture formally as well as informally.
The old system of management has undergone many changes within the last century. An employee once performed the assigned job duties during the allotted hours and then went home. Now employees are encouraged to grow, give input, and to contribute for the good of the organization. There is a plethora of information for leaders to learn why and how to grow personally thus allowing the organization to grow as well. This new emerging leader is a transformational leader.