This article discusses Indra Nooyi's problem solving skills and conflict management approach. It explores how she used design thinking and inductive thinking to solve problems. It also highlights her negotiation skills and leadership style.
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Running head: INDRA NOOYI PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS1 Indra Nooyi Problem Solving Skills Name Institution Affiliation
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INDRA NOOYI PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS2 Problem Solving and Conflict Management Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo is a great problem solver. Nooyi uses "design thinking" approach as one of her problem-solving skills. Design thinking is a way of finding new solutions to a problem. It starts with the observation of a problem where you first understand the context culture of a problem and the needs of your consumers. (Kliever, 2015). Nooyi's design thinking approach can be seen where he gave her direct reports a camera and an empty photo album to take pictures of anything to come up with a good design. She wanted customers to have a perception of the products on the shelves. A six week period went by only a couple of photo albums were taken. They talked about packaging design to tackle this problem which drove them to the decision of hiring Mauro Porcini, Designer (HBR, 2015). Indra Nooyi was also an inductive thinker, a tactic that helped her shape her leadership style. She has the ability to think of problems in micro terms then zoom the solutions out. Through inductive thinking she could determine when she needed to change the marketing approach and the direction of the design on PepsiCo products. She checked on different stores to assess how products like, Pepsi Cola, Tropicana, Frito- Lay, etc. were displayed in the nearby stores. Her observations were used to improve the design and marketing of PepsiCo products. The initiative tells a lot about Nooyi's leadership since she did not delegate the task to someone but took the trouble herself. I would use Nooyi's decision thinking and hands-on approach since this is what made her successful as PepsiCo CEO. Instead of delegating and requesting such information from her employees, she took the initiative herself. This is contrary to the
INDRA NOOYI PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS3 traditional leader approach to problem thinking, and this made her unique and successful. I would, therefore, have to possess the knowledge and skills of Nooyi to be a successful organizational leader. Conflict Management In conflict management, Nooyi has the talent of showing high standards of performance and excellence. She listens to everybody and gives negative feedback with humor (Nisen, 2014). According to her, her employees play a huge role in handling her problems. She is often faced with a conflict of building her career and raising her family. To her, dealing with such conflicts involves coping mechanism. You have to train your family to cope and do the same to the employees at the workplace (Nisen, 2014). Conflict involves the goals, values, interests, and needs of all parties involved. I would adopt Nooyi's conflict management approach and not view conflicts as a setback but the opportunities that require improvement (Hawkins, 2017). Conflict management style will involve finding appropriate solution for both parties without bias by the use of accommodative approach. Negotiation Nooyi is a tough and successful negotiator. Nooyi’s negotiation skills have enabled Pepsi to be among the largest food and beverage companies in the world (Venkataraman et. Al., 2017). She made several deals such as acquiring Tropicana Company and Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods. Some leadership problem-solving skills include professionalism, thinking out of the box, not finger-pointing, collecting data, being positive, and monitoring the results.
INDRA NOOYI PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS4 All these applied appropriately demonstrates effective communication and enables resolutions for arising conflicts. References Hawkins, P. (2017).Leadership team coaching: Developing collective transformational leadership. Kogan Page Publishers. Kliever, J. (2015).Design thinking: learn how to solve problems like a designer.Canva. Retrieved from:https://designschool.canva.com/blog/design-thinking/ Nisen, M. (2014).PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi says her colleagues help her raise her kids. QZ.com. Retrieved from: http://www.qz.com/228734 PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi on design thinking.Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from: https://hbr.org/ideacast/2015/08/pepsico-ceo-indra-nooyi-on-design-thinking.html Venkataraman, S., Summers, M., & Venkataraman, S. (2017). PepsiCo: The Challenge of Growth through Innovation.Darden Business Publishing Cases, 1-22. What is problem solving?MindTools. Retrieved from: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_00.htm