Leadership Case Study

This case study focuses on Lawrence Weinbach, the CEO of Unisys, and his emphasis on communication methods, feedback, coaching, and conflict resolution. It evaluates his use of feedback and explores his communication methods with customers, shareholders, and employees. The study also discusses the importance of effective communication in transforming the success of Unisys.

Leadership Case study
Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................1
1. Which major topic of the Communication module (Communication, feedback, coaching,
conflict) was Weinbach’s primary focus as he took over as CEO of Unisys?.......................1
2. Which communication method did CEO Weinbach use within his first few days with
customers and shareholders and then with employees? Which method of communication did
he primarily use with all the three groups?............................................................................1
3. Was Weinbach’s communication focus on sending or receiving messages?..................2
4. How would you assess Weinbach’s use of feedback?.....................................................2
5. Did Weinbach use coaching? If yes, how?......................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION
The current report is based on a case study having its focus on a rising star leader Lawrence
Weinbach. He took over as CEO of Unisys with steering company policies and emphasis on de-
emphasising commodity PC’s along with importance of communication methods in transforming
success for Unisys. This report comprises of evaluation and answers of Five questions based on
case study.
Main Body
1. Which major topic of the Communication module (Communication, feedback, coaching,
conflict) was Weinbach’s primary focus as he took over as CEO of Unisys?
Unisys corporation is running as a business from more than 130 years and contributed to
the computer revolution since then. But after the introduction of mainframe computer the success
and performance level of Unisys was under threat. Thus, Larry Weinbach took over the position
of CEO of Unisys to come up with more effective steering strategy and de-emphasising
commodity PC’s. Lawrence Weinbach has awarded with the EXCEL award for being a best
business communicator thus, most viable and effective set of communication was used by him
to boost performance of Unisys. The major topic of communication module of Lawrence
Weinbach is based on taking feedback from customers and employees as he sent letter to
customers and other shareholders to write their queries and responses to him along with asking
for improvement ideas from its employees (Harris and Mayo, 2018). Thus, the main focus and
emphasis of communication model of Lawrence Weinbach is based on taking feedback to
improve and enhance business performance and reputation through leading enhanced connection
and interaction with its customers and employees.
2. Which communication method did CEO Weinbach use within his first few days with
customers and shareholders and then with employees? Which method of communication
did he primarily use with all the three groups?
The communication method which was used by CEO Weinbach within his first few days
with customers and shareholders and then with employees comprises of taking direct feedback
from these parties by sending letters to customers and shareholders to allow them to write about
the queries and personally responded directly to CEO Weinbach (Irvine and Brundrett, 2016).
Apart from this, to boost the motivation and confidence level of employees he talked with more
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than 12000 employees and asked for their perceptive and views to improve the working of
Unisys. But just within in 6 moths Weinbach received for more than 4500 e-mails thus, it
become difficult to respond to them. Therefore, primarily CEO Weinbach comes up with a “ Ask
Larry” intranet to respond to shareholders and employees in a more generic way along with a
monthly letter to make its employees feel important and more aware with the policies and
strategies of company as effective method of communication with all three groups.
3. Was Weinbach’s communication focus on sending or receiving messages?
The main focus and emphasis of CEO Weinbach was based on leading transformation in
Unisys from a hierarchical flow of information to a more efficient and decentralised flow of
communication which is based in taking regular responses and feedback from three most crucial
aspects of business (Glowacki-Dudka and Griswold, 2016). Thus, communication of CEO
Weinbach was not only focused on sending or reviving messages but consists of a more generic
response to the suggestion and queries of customers, shareholders and employees to lead
improvement in business of Unisys. Use of “ Ask Larry” Intranet and monthly newsletter was
also made by CEO Weinbach to make its employees feel important along with leading better
connection and awareness in customers, shareholders and employees about the operations and
polices of company.
4. How would you assess Weinbach’s use of feedback?
CEO Weinbach has made the best possible use of feedback module of communication as at
the time when he was appointed as CEO of Unisys, the company is facing lack of confidence
among its shareholders, customers and employees. Thus, the best way to rebuild that confidence
is only possible through leading effective communication and interaction with them. CEO
Weinbach always stands for good communication and had also win the Excellence
communication leadership award thus, the strategies and ways adopted by him was best one to
lead enhanced awareness and interaction with three pillars of company which comprises of its
customers, shareholders and employees along with building better reputation and brand image
that could only possible through effective communication and taking regular feedback (Szeto and
Cheng, 2018). CEO Weinbach has adopted an idea of sending letters to customers and
shareholders to introduce himself and polices of company along with seeking responses and
concerns towards the company and a direct communication with vice president was also set.
Further, to built confidence in employees regular feedback and effective communication was set
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out with them to allow new ideas from them to ensure improvement in Unisys. Further, adoption
of a “ Ask Larry” intranet was made by CEO Weinbach to allows more generic response to the
feedback along with a monthly newsletter to ensure better awareness and make them feel
important for betterment and improvement of Unisys.
5. Did Weinbach use coaching? If yes, how?
Through current case study there is no evidence that use of any kind of Coaching was
made by CEO Weinbach but has been observed that the vision of CEO Weinbach is based on
motivating employees, customers and other shareholders who are taken is three pillars of the
company. Thus, the main focus and emphasis of CEO Weinbach is on boosting morale and
confidence level of customers, employees and shareholders to build enhanced reputation and
brand image for success of Unisys by the way of effective communication (Hughes, Boklage and
Ok, 2016).
CONCLUSION
On the basis of above assignment a conclusion can be drawn that CEO Weinbach is a
successful business person and rising star leader who plays vital role in success of Unisys. The
main focus and emphasis of CEO Weinbach is on building morale and confidence of employees,
customers and shareholders which is best possible by the way of effective communication and
obtaining regular feedback. At last, a summarisation can be made that use of “Ask Larry”
intranet and monthly newsletter is an effective way to lead awareness in employees and make
them feel important.
REFERENCES
Books and journal
Glowacki-Dudka, M. and Griswold, W., 2016. Embodying authentic leadership through popular
education at Highlander Research and Education Center: A qualitative case study. Adult
learning. 27(3). pp.105-112.
Harris, J. and Mayo, P., 2018. Taking a case study approach to assessing alternative leadership
models in health care. British Journal of Nursing. 27(11). pp.608-613.
Hughes, J.E., Boklage, A. and Ok, M.W., 2016. A case study of technology leadership in situ: A
high school iPad learning initiative. Journal of School Leadership. 26(2). pp.283-313.
Irvine, P. and Brundrett, M., 2016. Middle leadership and its challenges: A case study in the
secondary independent sector. Management in Education. 30(2). pp.86-92.
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Szeto, E. and Cheng, A. Y. N., 2018. How do principals practise leadership for social justice in
diverse school settings? A Hong Kong case study. Journal of Educational
Administration.
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