- Subject: Leadership in Organizations. - Mandatory book for this week's assignment (file attached - please include in citations): Yukl, G. A. (2013). Leadership in organizations. Harlow, Boston: Pea

E ssay # 1: C ase S tu dy: C onso lid ate d P ro ducts

C onso lid ate d P ro ducts is a m ediu m -s iz e d m an ufa ctu re r o f c o n su m er p ro ducts w it h n on-

unio niz e d p ro ductio n w ork e rs . B en S am ue ls w as a p la nt m an ager fo r C onso lid ate d

P ro ducts fo r 1 0 y e ars , a nd h e w as w ell lik e d b y th e e m plo ye e s. T hey w ere g ra te fu l fo r

th e fit n ess c e nte r h e b uilt fo r e m plo ye e s, a nd th ey e njo ye d th e s o cia l a ctiv it ie s

sp onso re d b y th e p la nt s e ve ra l t im es a y e a r, in clu din g c o m pa ny p ic n ic s a nd h olid ay

partie s. H e k n ew m ost o f th e w ork e rs b y n am e, a nd h e s p e nt p art o f e ach d ay w alk in g

aro und th e p la nt to v is it w it h th em a nd a sk a bout th eir fa m ilie s o r h obbie s.

B en b elie ve d th at it w as im porta nt to tr e at e m plo ye e s p ro perly s o th ey w ould h ave a

s e nse o f lo ya lt y to th e c o m pany. H e tr ie d to a vo id a ny la yo ff s w hen p ro ductio n d em and

w as s la ck, fig urin g th at th e c o m pany c o u ld n ot a ff o rd to lo se s kille d w ork e rs w ho a re s o

d if f ic u lt to r e pla ce . T he w ork e rs k n e w th at if th ey h ad a s p e cia l p ro ble m , B en w ould tr y

to h elp th em . F or e xa m ple , w hen s o m eo ne w as in ju re d b ut w ante d to c o ntin ue w ork in g,

B en fo und a noth er jo b in th e p la nt th at th e p ers o n c o u ld d o d esp it e h avin g a d is a bilit y .

B en b elie ve d th at if y o u tr e at p e ople r ig ht, th ey w ill d o a g ood jo b fo r y o u w it h out c lo se

s u perv is io n o r p ro ddin g. B en a pp lie d th e s a m e p rin cip le to h is s u perv is o rs , a nd h e

m ostly le ft th em a lo ne to r u n th eir d epartm en ts a s th ey s a w fit . H e d id n ot s e t o bje ctiv e s

and s ta ndard s fo r th e p la nt, a nd h e n eve r a ske d th e s u p erv is o rs to d eve lo p p la ns fo r

im pro vin g p ro ductiv it y a nd p ro duct q ualit y .

U nder B en, th e p la nt h ad th e lo w est tu rn ove r a m on g th e c o m pa ny’s fiv e p la nts , b ut th e

se co nd w ors t r e co rd fo r c o sts a nd p ro ductio n le ve ls . W hen a noth er fir m a cq uir e d th e

co m pany, B en w as a ske d to ta ke e arly r e tir e m en t, a nd P hil J o n es w as b ro ught in to

r e pla ce h im .

Phil h ad a g ro w in g r e puta tio n a s a m an ager w ho c o u ld g et th in gs d one, a nd h e q uic kly

b egan m akin g c h anges. C osts w ere c u t b y tr im min g a n um be r o f a ctiv it ie s, s u ch a s th e

fit n ess c e nte r a t th e p la nt, c o m pan y p ic n ic s a nd p artie s, a nd th e h um an r e la tio ns

tr a in in g p ro gra m s fo r s u perv is o rs . P hil b elie ve d th at tr a in in g s u p erv is o rs to b e

su pportiv e w as a w aste o f tim e. H is m otto w as: “ If e m plo ye e s d on't w ant to d o th e w ork ,

g et r id o f th em a nd fin d s o m ebody e ls e w ho d oes.” S uperv is o rs w ere in str u cte d to

e sta blis h h ig h-p erfo rm ance s ta nd ard s fo r th eir d epartm en ts a nd in sis t th at p eople

a ch ie ve th em . A c o m pute r m onit o rin g s yste m w as in tr o duce d s o th at th e o utp ut o f e ach

w ork e r c o uld b e c h ecke d c lo se ly a gain st th e s ta ndard s. P hil to ld h is s u perv is o rs to g iv e

a ny w ork e r w ho h ad s u bsta ndard p erfo rm an ce o ne w arn in g, th en if p erfo rm ance d id n ot

im pro ve w it h in tw o w eeks, to fir e th e p ers o n . P hil b elie ve d th at w ork e rs d on’t r e sp ect a

s u perv is o r w ho is w eak a nd p assiv e . W hen P hil o bse rv e d a w ork e r w astin g tim e o r

m akin g a m is ta ke , h e w ould r e prim an d th e p ers o n r ig ht o n th e s p ot to s e t a n e xa m ple .

P hil a ls o c h ecke d c lo se ly o n th e p erfo rm an ce o f h is s u p erv is o rs . D em andin g o bje ctiv e s

w ere s e t fo r e ach d epartm ent, a nd w eekly m ee tin gs w ere h eld w it h e ach s u perv is o r to

r e vie w d epartm ent p erfo rm ance . F in ally , P hil in sis te d th at s u p erv is o rs c h eck w it h h im fir s t b efo re ta kin g a ny s ig nif ic a nt a ctio ns th at d evia te d fr o m e sta blis h ed p la ns a nd

polic ie s.

A s a noth er c o st- c u ttin g m ove , P hil r e duce d th e fr e quency o f e quip m ent m ain te nance ,

w hic h r e quir e d m ach in es to b e id le d w hen th ey c o u ld b e p ro ductiv e . B eca use th e

m ach in es h ad a g ood r e co rd o f r e lia ble o pera tio n, P hil b elie ve d th at th e c u rre nt

m ain te nance s ch edule w as e xce ssiv e a nd w as c u ttin g in to p ro ductio n. F in ally , w hen

busin ess w as s lo w fo r o ne o f th e p ro duct lin es, P hil la id o ff w ork e rs r a th er th an fin din g

so m eth in g e ls e fo r th em to d o.

A s a noth er c o st- c u ttin g m ove , P hil r e duce d th e fr e quency o f e quip m ent m ain te nance ,

w hic h r e quir e d m ach in es to b e id le d w hen th ey c o u ld b e p ro ductiv e . B eca use th e

m ach in es h ad a g ood r e co rd o f r e lia ble o pera tio n, P hil b elie ve d th at th e c u rre nt

m ain te nance s ch edule w as e xce ssiv e a nd w as c u ttin g in to p ro ductio n. F in ally , w hen

busin ess w as s lo w fo r o ne o f th e p ro duct lin es, P hil la id o ff w ork e rs r a th er th an fin din g

so m eth in g e ls e fo r th em to d o.

B y th e e nd o f P hil’s fir s t y e ar a s p la nt m an ager, p ro ductio n c o sts w ere r e duce d b y 2 0

perc e nt a nd p ro ductio n o utp ut w as u p b y 1 0 p erc e n t. H ow eve r, th re e o f h is s e ve n

su perv is o rs le ft to ta ke o th er jo b s, a nd tu rn ove r w as a ls o h ig h a m ong th e m ach in e

opera to rs . S om e o f th e tu rn ove r w as d ue to w ork e rs w ho w ere fir e d, b ut c o m pete nt

m ach in e o pera to rs w ere a ls o q uit tin g, a nd it w as b eco m in g in cre asin gly d if f ic u lt to fin d

any r e pla ce m ents fo r th em . F in ally , ta lk o f u nio niz in g w as in cre asin g a m ong th e

w ork e rs .

Q uestio ns

1. D escrib e a nd c o m pare th e m ana geria l b ehavio r o f B en a nd P hil. T o w hat e xte nt

does e ach m anager d is p la y s p ecif ic r e la tio ns b ehavio rs ( s u p portin g, d eve lo pin g,

re co gniz in g) a nd s p ecif ic ta sk b e havio rs ( c la rif y in g, p la nnin g, m onit o rin g)? T o w hat

exte nt d oes e ach m anager u se p artic ip ativ e o r in sp ir a tio nal le aders h ip ?

2. C om pare B en a nd P hil in te rm s o f th eir in flu ence o n e m plo ye e a ttit u des, s h ort-

t e rm p erfo rm ance , a nd lo ng-te rm p la nt p erfo rm an ce , a nd e xp la in th e r e aso ns fo r

th e d if f e re nce s.

3. If y o u w ere s e le cte d to b e th e m anager o f th is p la nt, w hat w ould y o u d o to a ch ie ve

b oth h ig h e m plo ye e s a tis fa ctio n a nd p erfo rm an ce ?

E ssay # 2: C ase S tu dy: A ir F orc e S upply S quadro n

C olo nel P ete N ova k w as a ssig n ed to c o m mand a n a ir fo rc e s q u adro n th at a ir lif te d

su pplie s to c o m bat u nit s d urin g th e K ore an W ar. T he s q u adro n h ad m ore th an 2 00 m en

and s e ve ra l c a rg o p la nes. Wh en h e a ssu m ed c o m mand, th e s it u atio n w as b le ak. T hey

w ere s h ort o f s u pplie s, p ers o nne l, a nd r e pla ce m en ts . O rg aniz a tio n a nd c o ord in atio n

w ere p oor, a nd th ere w as lit tle c o o pera tio n a nd te am work a m on g d if f e re nt s e ctio ns.

M ora le w as lo w d ue to th e u nre le ntin g w ork lo ad, th e c o n sta nt b ic ke rin g a nd

dis a gre em ents , a nd th e s tr e ss o f fly in g in to c o m ba t z o n es. Colo nel N ova k h eld a m eetin g o f th e s q u adro n to in tr o duce h im se lf a nd ta lk a bout h ow

im porta nt th eir m is sio n w as to th e s u cce ss o f th e w ar e ff o rt. H e ta lk e d a bout h ow th e

m en in th e fr o nt lin es w ere c o untin g o n th e s q u adro n to b rin g th em th e s u pplie s a nd

am munit io n th ey n eeded to k e ep th e e nem y fr o m o ve rru nnin g th e c o untr y . H e r e m in ded

th em th at e ve ry m an h ad a v it a l fu nctio n in th e o pera tio n o f th e s q uadro n.

T hen C olo nel N ova k s e t o ut to le arn a bout m ore a bout th e m en in h is u nit , b egin nin g

w it h th e o ff ic e rs . H e h eld fr e quen t s ta ff m ee tin gs w it h th e s e ctio n h eads a nd s o m e k e y

nonco m mis sio ned o ff ic e rs ( N CO s) to d is cu ss th e m eth ods u se d to c a rry o ut th e m is sio n

of th e s q uadro n. H e v is it e d th e e nlis te d m en a t w ork a nd o ff d uty , ta lk in g to th em a nd

sh ow in g a p ers o nal in te re st in th e m . H e lis te ned to th eir c o m pla in ts , a nd w heneve r

possib le tr ie d to d eal w it h th eir c o n ce rn s a bout th e p oor liv in g c o ndit io ns a t th e b ase .

H e fle w a lo ng w it h th e a ir p la ne c re w s o n s o m e o f th e s u p ply m is sio ns. O n o ne

occa sio n, w hen s u pplie s w ere d esp e ra te ly n eeded a t th e fr o nt lin es a nd th e s q uadro n

w as s h orth anded, h e p it c h ed in a nd w ork e d b esid e th e m en a ll d urin g th e n ig ht to lo ad

th e p la nes.

It w as n ot lo ng b efo re C olo nel N ova k h ad le arn ed e ach p ers o n ’s n am e, w hat h is jo b

w as, a nd s o m eth in g a bout h is b ackg ro und. A s h e fo und o ut m ore a bout th e c a pabilit ie s

of th e m en, h e r e org aniz e d th e s q u adro n to p la ce p eople w here th e b est u se c o uld b e

m ade o f th eir s kills a nd e xp erie nce . In s ta ff m ee tin gs, d is a g re em ents w ere d is cu sse d

and w ork e d o ut, a nd r e sp onsib ilit ie s w ere a ssig ned w hen a ll c o n ce rn ed w ere p re se nt.

A uth orit y w as c le arly d ele gate d to r e duce c o n fu sio n a nd d uplic a tio n o f o rd ers . T he

N CO s w ere h eld r e sp onsib le fo r th e a ctio ns o f th eir m en a nd, w it h in lim it s , th eir

d ecis io ns w ere e nfo rc e d w it h out q uestio n.

Wi th in tw o m onth s, th e e ff e cts o f th e c h a nges w ere e vid ent. T he o ff ic e rs a nd e nlis te d

m en le arn ed w hat w as e xp ecte d o f th em a nd b egan to s e e th em se lv e s a s a n e sse ntia l

part o f a w ell- ru n o rg aniz a tio n. T hey b egan to ta ke p rid e in th eir a bilit y to a cco m plis h

th eir m is sio n d esp it e th e h ard sh ip s. M ora le a nd te am work im pro ve d. B efo re lo ng th e

sq uadro n b eca m e o ne o f th e m ost e ff ic ie nt in K ore a.

Q uestio ns:

1. Wh at e ff e ctiv e le aders h ip b ehavio rs d id C olo nel N ova k e xh ib it ?

2. Wh at d oes th is c a se illu str a te a bout e ff e ctiv e le aders h ip ?

3. C om pare th e le aders h ip b ehavio r in th is c a se w it h th e b ehavio r in th e p re ce din g

ca se .

E ssay # 3: C ase S tu dy: U lt im ate O ff ic e P ro d ucts

U lt im ate O ff ic e P ro ducts w as a n o ld , e sta blis h e d m an ufa ctu rin g c o m pany in th e

tu rb ule nt o ff ic e p ro ducts in dustr y . D is co unt m erc h a ndis e rs a nd o ff ic e p ro duct

su pers to re s w ere s p re adin g r a pid ly a nd a lt e rin g th e tr a dit io nal d is tr ib utio n c h annels

o nce d om in ate d b y w hole sa le rs a nd s m alle r r e ta il s to re s. T he g ro w in g p ow er o f th e

su pers to re s w as fo rc in g m anufa ctu re rs to im pro ve c u sto m er s e rv ic e . T he tr a dit io nal

m anufa ctu re rs w ere b ein g c h all e nged b y n ew c o m pa nie s m ore w illin g to c u t p ric e s a nd use te ch nolo gie s fa vo re d b y th e s u p ers to re s, s u ch a s e le ctr o nic o rd ers a nd b illin g.

U lt im ate O ff ic e P ro ducts w as lo sin g m ark e t s h a re a nd p ro fit s w ere d eclin in g.

R ic h ard K elly w as th e d ir e cto r o f in fo rm atio n s yste m s, a n ew ly c re ate d p osit io n in th e

co m pany. Wh en th e C EO m et w it h R ic h a rd to d is cu ss h is n ew r e sp onsib ilit ie s a nd

obje ctiv e s, s h e e xp la in ed th at it w as e sse ntia l to s p e ed u p o rd er p ro ce ssin g a nd

im pro ve c u sto m er s e rv ic e . R ic h ard k n e w th at th e o rd er p ro ce ssin g s yste m u se d b y th e

co m pany w as o bso le te . H e p re pare d a p la n to a uto m ate th e s yste m a nd g ot a ppro va l

fr o m th e C EO fo r it . T hen, h e p urc h a se d n ew c o m pu te r w ork sta tio ns a nd a s o ftw are

p acka ge to s u pport th em . T he s o ftw are w ould e nable c u sto m ers to m ake e le ctr o nic

o rd ers , a nd it w ould im pro ve o rd er p ro ce ssin g, b illin g, a nd in ve n to ry c o ntr o l. H ow eve r,

m onth s a fte r th e e quip m ent a nd s o ftw are a rriv e d , it w as s till w ait in g to b e u se d. T he

m anagers fr o m s a le s, p ro ductio n , a cco untin g, s h ip pin g, a nd c u sto m er s e rv ic e c o uld n ot

agre e a bout th e r e quir e m ents o f th e n ew s yste m , w hic h w as n ece ssa ry to g et it

o pera tin g. T hese m anagers w ere R ic h a rd ’s p eers , a nd h e h ad n o d ir e ct a uth orit y o ve r

th em . E ve n th ough h e e nco ura ge d c o o pera tio n, m ee tin gs a m on g th e m anagers u su ally

e nded w it h h eate d a ccu sa tio ns a bout w ho w as r e sp o nsib le fo r th e c o m pany’s

p ro ble m s. M ost o f th e m anagers d is a g re ed a bout th e r e aso n fo r th e d ela ys in fillin g

ord ers , a nd s o m e q uestio ned th e n eed fo r a n e xp e nsiv e n ew s yste m . M eanw hile , th e

C EO w as b eco m in g im patie nt a bout th e la ck o f p ro gre ss. S he m ade it c le ar th at, a fte r

sp endin g a s m all fo rtu ne o n n ew te ch n olo gy, s h e e xp e cte d R ic h ard to fin d a w ay to

r e so lv e th e p ro ble m . R ic h ard d ecid ed it w as tim e to ta ke a d if f e re nt a ppro ach .

H is fir s t s te p w as to g ath er m ore in fo rm atio n a bout th e r e aso n s fo r d ela ys in p ro ce ssin g

and fillin g o rd ers . H e b egan b y h avin g h is s ta ff m ap th e w ork flo w fr o m th e tim e o rd ers

w ere r e ce iv e d u ntil th e fille d o rd e rs w ere s h ip ped. A s h e s u sp e cte d, m any u nnece ssa ry

a ctiv it ie s c re ate d b ottle necks th at c o u ld b e e lim in ate d to s p e ed u p th e p ro ce ss. T he

pro ble m s e xte nded a cro ss fu nctio nal b oundarie s a nd r e quir e d c h anges in a ll

d epartm ents . T he p re lim in ary r e su lt s w ere p re se n te d to th e C EO , w ho a gre ed o n th e

need fo r d ra m atic im pro ve m ents a nd a uth oriz e d R ic h a rd to b egin r e engin eerin g th e

pro ce ss. D esp it e h avin g th e s u ppo rt o f th e C EO , R ic h a rd k n e w th at w id esp re ad

co m mit m ent w ould b e n eeded f o r m ajo r c h a nges to b e s u cce ssfu l. R ic h ard m et w it h th e

departm ent m anagers to g et th eir a ssis ta nce in fo rm in g s o m e c ro ss-fu nctio nal ta sk

fo rc e s. A lt h ough h e k n ew th at o ne ta sk fo rc e w ould p ro bably b e e nough to d ete rm in e

w hat c h anges w ere n eeded, h e w ante d to in vo lv e m ore p eople in th e c h ange p ro ce ss

s o th at th ey w ould u nders ta nd a nd s u p port it . A n o uts id e c o n su lt a nt w as s e cu re d to

a dvis e th e ta sk fo rc e s in th eir w ork . E ach ta sk fo rc e e xa m in ed a d if f e re nt a sp ect o f th e

pro ble m . T hey a naly ze d p ro ce sse s, m et w it h k e y c u sto m ers to le arn w hat th ey w ante d,

and v is it e d o th er c o m panie s to le arn h ow th ey p ro ce sse d o rd ers m ore e ff ic ie ntly . A s

people b egan w ork in g to geth er to u nders ta nd th e s yste m , th ey b egan to r e aliz e h ow

se rio us th e p ro ble m s w ere . T he p artic ip ants w ere a ble to p ut a sid e th eir fu nctio nal

bia se s a nd c o opera te in fin din g w ays to im pro ve e ff ic ie ncy a nd c u sto m er s e rv ic e . E ach

te am m ade r e co m mendatio ns to th e s te erin g c o m mit te e, c o m po se d o f R ic h ard a nd th e

departm ent m anagers . T he C EO a ls o a tte nded th ese m ee tin gs to e m phasiz e th eir

i m porta nce . Wh en o ne o f th e d epa rtm en t m an agers o ppose d a c h ange, e ve ry o ne in the meeting looked at the CEO, who made it clear that she supported the task force

recommendation. Within a year, the company eliminated many of the steps formerly

required to process an order, and the average number of days to fill an order was

reduced by nearly half. Many more orders were being made electronically, and most

mistakes in the billing process were eliminated. As people discovered that they could

actually change things for the better, many of them volunteered to serve on teams that

would continue to look for ways to improve quality and customer service.

Questions1.Why did Richard fail in his first attempt to implement change?

2. Identify subsequent actions by Richard that were more effective for implementing

change in the organization.

3. Evaluate the change leadership provided by the CEO. Essay #4:

What are some reasons why efforts to change organizations often fail? What

are some guidelines to help leaders implement change? Identify several major change

efforts at Microsoft, when Steve Ballmer was CEO, which failed? For each, discuss the

change management issues that you believe contributed to them.

Discussion Question: Give the reasons for the importance and relevance for

leadership effectiveness in these areas of leading: • Planning

• Clarifying

• Monitoring