Leadership Theories and Styles Analysis

This assignment requires a detailed analysis of different leadership theories and styles, including Situational Leadership, Path-Goal Theory, Transformational Leadership, Trait Theory, and others. The student is expected to provide in-depth explanations of each theory, along with relevant examples and illustrations. The assignment also involves an examination of the Jack Ma Way, Democratic Leadership Style, and other notable leadership approaches. A comprehensive review of the literature and a critical evaluation of the theories are essential components of this assignment.

Leadership and Management
Style of Jack Ma.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Leadership is an art of influencing, motivating and guiding people in the right direction
so that particular purpose. Jack Ma is considered to be optimum leader and manager who can
efficiently handle, manage and lead the Alibaba and its various ventures. It can be concluded that
Jack Ma is more a leader than a manager. He is the founder and Chief Executive Chairman of
Alibaba Group. Alibaba is a Chinese multinational technology conglomerate which works on e-
commerce, retail and online marketing. This report has focused on analysing the article on “The
Jack Ma Way” written by David Barboza in New York Times. The characteristics and skills that
helped Jack Ma for being a leader has been identified in this assignment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS...................................................................................................1
Is Jack Ma a manager or a leader or both?.............................................................................2
The characteristics and skills of Jack Ma that have helped him drive the company forward 4
Consequences of taking his style too far................................................................................7
Jack Ma will be right person for Alibaba...............................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Leadership is an art of influencing, motivating and guiding people in the right direction
so that particular purpose. Possibilities and tools for better marketability of shock-liner
recommendations or motive can be accomplished in an effective and efficient manner. Being a
leader is responsible and a challenging task and not everybody can do it perfectly. Jack Ma, is an
entrepreneur, investor and one of the richest persons in China. He is the founder and Chief
Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group. Alibaba is a Chinese multinational technology
conglomerate which works on e-commerce, retail and online marketing. This report will focus on
analysing the article on “The Jack Ma Way” written by David Barboza in New York Times
(Barboza, 2014). The characteristics and skills that helped Jack Ma for being a leader will be
identified in this assignment. The consequences of taking his leadership style will be identified.
The rational underpinning whether Jack Ma is a manager or leader or both will be provided and
whether Jack Ma is suitable for Alibaba Group will be determined in the study. The whole report
will be supported by theories and robust evidences.
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Is Jack Ma a manager or a leader or both?
Leadership is considered to be one of the most challenging and complex tasks. A leader
has to deal with lots of critical situations and work collaboratively with team so that the common
goals and purpose can be accomplished. Jack Ma is considered to be a perfect example of a
successful leader (Clark, 2016). With his leadership and managing skills, he was able to become
one of the most renowned and richest men in China. After analysing the article, it can be
understood that Jack Ma is both; a leader and a manager. He has started from the bottom and
reached to the apex position in China. He started Alibaba from the small apartments and gather
his 17 friends to discuss about the future of e-commerce in China. The motive of gathering
friends to retain their support and ask for opinions which can enhance the position of the
organisation in China. This represents that Jack Ma follows democratic leadership style.
Situational Leadership Theory
Illustration 1: The Jack Ma Way
(Source: Barboza, 2014)

Situational leadership theory is best suited on leadership style followed by Jack Ma.
Situation leadership theory was proposed by Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard in which they
described that a leader or manager of an organisation adjust his or her style according to
situations and circumstances which best fits to the development level of the followers he or she
trying to influence (Haslam, Reicher and Platow, 2015). In simple terms, there is no specific
leadership style adopted by leaders or managers and they can change their style as per the
situation.
Participative Leadership theory
Illustration 2: The Situational Leadership
(Source: Situational Leadership, 2018)

Kurt Lewin discovered three main leadership styles which assists leaders in decision
making process. These are Autocratic, Democratic and Laissez-Faire. Under democratic
leadership style, leaders gather his or her team members in order to gain suggestions and
recommendations to cope up with certain situations (Tan et.al., 2015). The final decision though
depends on leader but opinions help him or her to face problem in the most effective and
efficient manner. Jack Ma was dedicated towards his dream of becoming millionaire and work
tirelessly to obtain it. Jack Ma was precocious child and always ready to obtain new knowledge
and education. In order to learn English, he and his friend visits nearby hotel where he interacts
with foreigners to gain more knowledge about English. He passed out from National College and
took a teaching job of $14 a month. Being frustrated with his lack solid employment
opportunities after graduation in the early 1990, Ma, visited United States of America in 1995 as
a translator. There he became aware about internet and its benefits. After doing search for
various countries, Ma became shocked that there were no representatives from China online.
Illustration 3: Democratic Leadership Style
(Source: Analyse of Kim Dae Jung’s Leadership Style, 2018 )

Ma immediately saw the potential business opportunities of the internet and the way it
could facilitate the small and medium Chinese enterprises to do business with the rest of the
world. Jack Ma as a leader build a robust empire and group in China and brings internet
revolution in the country. Now, Alibaba has become one of the leading online stores in all over
the world giving intense competition to its counterparts like eBay and Amazon (Chen et.al.,
2015). With an ambition to become millionaire, Jack begins constructing his organisation. Jack
Ma was a leader and a manager. He appropriately manages all the tasks effectively and
efficiently which are necessary for developing his organisation and lead the time in right
direction so that desired goals and objectives can be accomplished. Jack Ma made quick and
precise decision which would be beneficial for his organisation and stakeholders who are part of
it.
The characteristics and skills of Jack Ma that have helped him drive the company forward
The characteristic of Jack Ma reflects directly on his work. He is risk taking and
persuasive, passionate and innovative, persistent and tenacious. Jack Ma was determined to make
his dream into reality and for this, he works tirelessly along with his friends and work
collaboratively. Collaborative working is an essential concept in leadership (Osman and Alibaba,
2015). In order to describe the traits of leader,
Trait Theory of Leadership

Trait leadership theory can be applicable. The trait theory of leadership concentrates on
different personality, traits and characteristics that are linked to successful leadership across
variety of situation (Dinh et.al., 2014). The trait theory of leadership is an early assumption that
leaders are born and due to this belief, those that possess the correct qualities and traits are better
suited to leadership. There are different traits which be possessed in the leader in order to
become successful leaders. These traits includes physiological tratis such as height, weight, etc.
Demographic traits includes age, education and socioeconomic background. Psychological traits
including cognitive and thinking abilities.
Great Man Theory of leadership
According to great man theory of leadership, leaders are born not made. Great leaders
will arise when there is great needs (Tourish, 2014). The theory was proposed by Thomas
Carlyle in which he described that great leaders are not made but born. These leaders possess
specific characteristics and traits which can never be teach or learned.
Illustration 4: Trait Theory
(Source: Trait Theory of Leadership for Task Oriented Successful Leader,
2017)

A leader must know that his or her team needs time to time motivation. If leader fails to
provide adequate motivation to his team then the team will scatter and no one will able to work
effectively and efficiently. By using his experience of teaching, Jack Ma accumulated his team
very well and able to attain the desired goals and objectives. In this context, the detailed analysis
of characteristics and skills of Jack Ma are described as below:
Skills Jack Ma Innovative: Jack Ma is innovative and creative when it comes to business. From his
innovation, the birth of Alibaba can be possible. He took ideas from world and mould it
in a creative and efficient manner which results in absolute and effective organisation. Learning and comprehending: Jack Ma possesses learning and comprehending skills
which help him in acquiring new and adequate knowledge (Jin, 2017). A leader must
learn new and innovative and further, articulate it in an efficient and effective manner so
that the organisational goals and objectives can be accomplished effectively.
 Leadership skills: Leadership skill possessed by Jack Ma helps in accumulating his team
and friends effectively as well as they collectively able to establish Alibaba. In order to
enhance the performance of team members, it is essential and equally important for the
leader to provide effective and rudimentary guidelines to his or her team. Jack Ma with
his leadership and influential skills are able to persuade his friends and motivate them to
work with him so that China can also represent leader of online market.
Characteristics of Jack Ma
Jack Ma is not only powerful leader and manager but also a man full of unique and efficient
characteristics. With his determined nature and persistent behaviour, he was able to build a vast
empire in China that any man could possibly dream of. In this context, the characteristics of Jack
Ma is described below:
Determined: Jack Ma is determined and ambitious about his goals and objectives. Through his
determination, he was able to develop and establish Alibaba which is one of the biggest e-
commerce chain in China (Zhang and Bartol, 2010). A leader must be determined and ambitious
regarding his or her goals and objectives. If the leader is determined, than he or she can influence
his or her team in the right direction.

Persistent: From the analysis of article it can be explicitly understood that Jack Ma behaviour
was persistent. Once he determined his goal, he becomes persistent towards it in order to
accomplish it (Strom, Sears and Kelly, 2014). This characteristic can be seen in leaders who are
born to be successful. Proactive: Instead of being reactive, Jack Ma was proactive when it comes to formulate
precise plans and decision. Proactive leaders are more successful in their field. Jack Ma is
a proactive child since he was 12 year old. Because he was so interested in learning
English, he rides on biker for nearly 40 minutes to the hotel near the city of Hangzhou's
West Lake. Through his proactive characteristic, he was able to thrive his organisation in
the competitive environment in China. Risk Taker: Jack Ma is indeed risk taker from his childhood. He was never afraid to take
risk in order to acquire innovative and appropriate knowledge. A leader has to take risk at
certain area in order to attain maximum benefits. Jack Ma risk taking characteristic helps
him in bringing Alibaba, Alipay, and other subsidiary companies which helps in
enhancing the productivity and profitability of the organisation.
Visionary: Jack Ma, is hard-working, diligent, charismatic and apart from this he possesses a
very strong vision. He collectively work with his team and friends, shares them a powerful vision
which gave rise to one of the most dominating company in China. For a leader being a visionary
is complimentary and necessary characteristic. This helps them in creating a powerful team with
definite vision (Kompaso and Sridevi, 2010).
Consequences of taking his style too far
Jack Ma is a powerful and ambitious leader. Through his leadership style he was able to
build a vast empire in China which is now dominating in the world. He is persuasive and prefers
to work in team. The leadership style followed by him changes according to the situation so that
the company's aim and objectives can be ascertained. Though, there were certain areas where
Jack Ma has taken risky and unanimous decisions which can affects the organisation and board
drastically. For instance, with the relationship started getting soured, Mr Ma, transferred the
ownership of Alibaba's fast growing online payment service, Alipay, to an entity which later he
controlled. He didn't get permission of Alibaba's board and just went ahead and did it. This can
affects the psychology of board members and could evoke the feelings of distrust and disbelief.

Jack Ma is positive leader who always thinks about his workforce before organisation. He is
social person who loves to interact with his team and workforce in order to enhance their
motivation. In order to attain the organisational goals and objectives, it is essential for leader to
motivate and enhance the performance of team (Suharti and Suliyanto, 2012).
Contingency of leadership theory
According to contingency theory of leadership the ability of leader is contingent upon
various situational factors which includes leader's preferred style, capabilities and behaviours of
followers (Avolio and Walumbwa, 2014). Contingency theory are considered as class of
behaviour that elucidate that there is no perfect way to lead the organisation and leader has to
change his or her style on the basis of situation and conditions.
Transformational Leadership Theory
Transformational leadership can be identified at all level of organisation. Such types of
leaders are visionary inspiring, charismatic, risk takers and thoughtful thinkers (Storsletten and
Illustration 5: Transformational Leadership
(Source: Transformational Leadership, 2018)

Jakobsen, 2015). According to this theory, leaders have charismatic apple which helps them in
influencing their followers.
The consequences of Jack Ma's leadership style cannot be anticipated as he follows
situational leadership style. For some areas he takes decision on the basis of consensus while in
some areas he takes unanimous decisions. Though, it can be both positively and negatively
affects the functions and organisational behaviour. The disagreement with co-founder of Yahoo
almost affects negatively on the organisational productivity and profitability of Alibaba. Through
this, management of Yahoo made an internet search and advertising deals with Microsoft and
cease its technical support to Alibaba. With effect from this, Mr Ma transferred the ownership of
Alipay to the company he controlled and effectively removing it from the Alibaba Group. For a
leader it is essential for him or her to show calm and serene behaviour before making any
decision. The board and team members are their for support and guidance and hence he or she
does not have to take all the burdens and responsibilities on his or her shoulders. A successful
leader always listen to his or her team and respect their opinions. Jack Ma is surrounded by
smartest, competent, capable and innovative executives and managers. He never believed that he
is best or expert at everything and as a founder he had earned the right to micromanage every
aspect of his business (Batista-Taran, Shuck. and Baralt, 2013). Thus, from the analysis it can be
understood that in order to enhance the productivity and profitability of Alibaba, it is essential
for Mr Ma to focus on the loopholes in this leadership style and improve it efficiently.
Jack Ma will be right person for Alibaba
Alibaba is growing rapidly in China and giving stiff competition to multinational e-
commerce companies like eBay, Amazon, etc. With strong leadership and managerial skills of
Jack Ma, the company was able to attain a remarkable position in Chinese market and in all over
the world. From decades, there has been discussion on difference between the work of leader and
functions of manager (Zhang and Bartol, 2010). Leader influences the team members and
employees while managers allocates the resource and administer the organisational work
effectively and efficiently.
Transactional Leadership theory
According to transactional leadership theory, people are motivated by rewards and
punishment. The social systems work efficiently with explicit chain of command (Haslam,

Reicher and Platow, 2015). The transactional leader works through establishing explicit
structures whereby it is clear what is required for their subordinate and the rewards that will be
given to them for following orders.
House's Path-Goal Theory of Leadership
According to House's Path-Goal Theory of Leadership leaders can take a robust or
restricted approach in clarifying the path so subordinates know which way to go, removing
obstructions that are blocking them, increasing rewards along the route (Dinh et.al., 2014).
According to this theory Leaders who show the way and help followers along a path are
effectively 'leading'.
After analysing the roles and responsibilities of Jack Ma, it can be understood that he played
prominent and significant role in developing Alibaba and its subsidiaries in Chinese market. The
way company is going, only Jack Ma will be the right person to take the organisation to success.
There are some flaws in his leadership and management styles but through proper concentration
and focus, he can overcome those flaws and lead the organisation towards growth and
development. Jack Ma developed e-commerce market in China and also makes the country to be
Illustration 6: Path-Goal Theory
(Source: Path-Goal Theory, 2018)

represented in online market. Through Jack Ma's vision and efforts, Alibaba become leading e-
commerce market in China. Thus, from the analysis it can be understood that Jack Ma is
considered to be one of the optimum and appropriate person for leading the organisation towards
success and development.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be understood that Jack Ma is considered to be optimum
leader and manager who can efficiently handle, manage and lead the Alibaba and its various
ventures. It can be concluded that Jack Ma is more a leader than a manager. He is persuasive,
motivator, persistent and determined about his goal and ambition. He can be considered as a
leader as he enable followers to follow him and a manager as he delegates roles and
responsibilities effective and manages efficiently. He has enormous leadership skills and
characteristic which helps him in accomplishing the desired aims and objectives of the
organisation. In this context, the above report systematically describe the argument that whether
Jack Ma is a leader or a manager. Jack Ma is both leader and manager. The characteristics and
skills of Jack Ma has been discussed in this assignment and the consequences of taking his style
too far has been assessed in this report. Eventually, the appropriateness of Jack Ma to be the
suitable person for Alibaba during time ahead has been assessed in this report.

REFERENCES
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Online
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