Leadership and Change Management Assignment - (Doc)

LEADERSHIP AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT
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Table of Contents
PART 1............................................................................................................................................4
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................4
State and explain the benchmark styles on the Leadership Grid given by Robert Blake and Jane S
Mouton with their popular terminology ..........................................................................................4
2. What is ‘leadership development’? Identify and summarise the nature of various leadership
development programmes................................................................................................................7
3. Assess the impact of cultural factors on leadership practice taking into account the basic
dimensions of National Culture.......................................................................................................9
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................10
References .....................................................................................................................................12
PART 2..........................................................................................................................................15
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................15
1. Identity and discuss different varieties of changes that are facing the business world today. ..15
2. Reasons why individuals and groups resist change and management’s plan to overcome the
difficulty. .......................................................................................................................................17
3. Briefly present the four theoretical perspectives on organizational change..............................20
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................21
References .....................................................................................................................................22
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PART 1
Introduction
Leadership can be defined as an overall ability of a person to make sound decisions and
also motivate the employees of a company to perform well. Unlike management, leadership
cannot be taught but it can be learnt or enhanced by coaching and mentoring (Furusten, 2014).
Focus of the present study in on Solaris which is a Malaysia based IT Solutions Company. It has
been involved in providing web development, marketing as well as branding solutions since last
15 years. This has been made possible by its dedicated employees who are led by a good team of
management. The report has laid emphasis on identifying the bench mark styles on Blake and
Moulton’s Leadership Grid. This will be followed by discussing the meaning of leadership
development and the nature of various programs that can be used by Solaris IT solutions. Last
but not the least; focus will also be given on analyzing the impact of cultural factors on
leadership practices as per national culture of Malaysia.
State and explain the benchmark styles on the Leadership Grid given by
Robert Blake and Jane S Mouton with their popular terminology
The managerial grid model has been given by Robert Blake and Jane Mouton in year
1964 (Cameron and Green, 2015). The present section focuses on various benchmark styles that
are present in the model.
Figure 1 Leadership Grid
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(Source: Clayton, 2017)
The model has focused on five kinds of leadership styles on basis of two areas being concern for
people and production which are represented on x and y axis respectively. The theory has been
evolving and developing on a constant basis. Recently there was an addition to two styles as well
as a new element named as resilience (House and et.al., 2013).
The Indifferent or Impoverished leadership (1, 1)
This style has a presence of leaders where there is minimum concern for people as well as
production. This is in form of a very low focus on creating systems to get job done in a better
manner followed by little interest in creating a motivating team culture. This results in producing
disorganization and disharmony within organization. This kind of style should not be used by
Solaris IT solutions as it causes an increased amount of dissatisfaction in employees and lack of
harmony while they work in teams (Van der Voet, 2014). Other than this, there is also an
increase in employee turnover rates which puts undue pressure on existing employees and may
make them feel demotivated. This may further impact IT firms on account of inefficient
operations thereby resulting in decreased sales and profit figures.
The Country Club or Accommodating leadership (1, 9)
These are kinds of leaders who make sure to focus on employees in all possible areas
and meet there needs and requirements in best possible manner. This treatment is based on the
assumption that staff members will generate maximum result on account of self-motivation and
good work culture. This type of leadership style should be adopted by Solaris IT solutions as the
employees will be happy, motivated and also work in greater harmony within teams. However
the organization may face low productivity issues as the concern for production in this leadership
approach is less.
The Status Quo or Middle-of-the-Road leadership (5, 5)
In this type of leadership style, the leaders are able to maintain a balance between needs
of staff as well as that of organization but are not able to focus adequate on any of them. There is
equitable consideration for both production and people while formulating decisions. Minimal
efforts are rendered by them for facilitating staff achievements and production level also reaches
to minimal possible level (Cameron and Green, 2015). This kind of style can be adopted in the
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company as employees are neither contented nor discontented with work but there is a presence
of good harmony among team members. However the organization receives only average
employee performance.
The Dictatorial or Produce, Perish or Control leadership (9, 1)
This kind of leadership can be compared to autocratic style as focus of the leaders is on
production-related matters rather than on needs of employees. There is a presence of increased
direction and domination from the leaders as there working is based on belief that work
efficiency can only be achieved through discipline (Kuhne and Stockdale, 2017). There is also no
room for any human interaction and employees are just considered as a resource. This all results
in short term productivity followed by high employee turnover rate (Marchington and et.al.,
2016). Solaris IT solutions can adopt this kind of leadership style when there is a presence of
high work pressure and is required to form crucial decision within limited span of time. But in
other times it may cause an increased amount of employee dissatisfaction followed by
conflicting situations in group working. The result will be increase in employee attrition and a
short lived performance level.
The Sound or Team leadership (9, 9)
As per many research scholars, the above mentioned leadership style is the most effective
and should be adopted in Solaris IT solutions (Van der Voet, 2014). The leaders in the firm will
show increased commitment towards organizational values and also focus on motivating as well
as empowering employees. These leaders consider employee motivation and there empowerment
as a crucial factor in creating a team work culture (Festing and et.al., 2013). This not only results
in creation of satisfied employees but also increase overall productivity levels of organization.
On application of this leadership style, the management at Solaris IT solutions may gain
extremely cohesive team, satisfied staff members and motivated employees who are ever ready
to render extra efforts for organization. There is also a decrease in employee turnover followed
by attraction of skilled staff members.
The Opportunistic leadership (Any of the above mentioned 5 Positions)
These are those kinds of leaders who try to take advantage of every situation. This is
done by adoption of any leadership style that will help in attainment of objective. The leaders
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