The Practices in Leadership During Post Bureaucratic Era

In section 1, I shall discuss the concept of bureaucracy in leadership by drawing upon the article by Koremenos (2005) and the impact of bureaucratic leadership in Kodak’s bankruptcy (Kotter, 2012). In section 2, I shall show how the practices have changed by drawing light upon the use of skills, style and contingency approaches in leadership in a non- bureaucratic environment (Browning, 2007) and support it by relevant examples. Moreover, in section 2, I shall support my argument by illustrating the writings of Bolden and Golsing’s (2006) regarding the use of competency approach in a post bureaucratic environment. Rather than leaving it there, in section 3, I attempt to explore the implication, need and benefits of virtuousness as discussed by Cameron (2011)and organizational compassion from the writing of Dutton, Frost, Worline, Lilius, and Kanov(2002). In conclusion, I shall question the effectiveness of different approaches in post bureaucratic era in producing better leaders, if it is really relevant or if bureaucracy is required in some organization to function better.

During the age of rapidly changing organizational environments, some bureaucratic leaders emphasized on historical methods to solve problems. Leaders of bureaucratic era were complacent, driven by goals; they discourage independent thinking, add layers of control to protect their status and restrict the flow of information to aid their power. As described by Koremenos (2005) in her research on IDOA's former leadership style:

Director Otwell communicated directly only with her Division Managers. When asked whether she had had much contact with more subordinate levels, she stated: ‘No, I never felt the need to. That wouldn’t have been my role anyway.

This beh...

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Bolden, R. & Gosling, J. 2006, ’Leadership Competencies: Time to Change the Tune?, Leadership, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 155-156

Browning, B.W. 2007, ‘Leadership in desperate times: An analysis of Endurance: Shackelton's incredible voyage through the lens of leadership theory', Advances in Developing Human Resources, vol. 9, no. 2, pp 183-98

Cameron, K. 2011, 'Responsible leadership as virtuous leadership', Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 98, no. 1, pg- 26- 30

Dutton, J.E., Frost, P., Worline, M.C., Lilius, J.M. & Kanov, J.M. 2002, 'Leading in times of trauma', Harvard Business Review, vol. 80, no. 1, pp 56- 61