Leadership in McDonalds during COVID-19 pandemic

Leadership in McDonalds
during COVID nineteen
pandemic

Executive Summary
This report has been prepared with an objective of identifying and assessing
leadership skills that are required to develop and execute effective strategies required for
decision-making amid uncertainties. In the following report, five sections are included – in
first section, introduction of the main theme and contents of the reports are discussed. In the
second section, various leadership theories, styles and models are outlined which have been
discussed in the report further and in the third section these skills and styles of leadership are
analysed. Further, these skills are then compared and analysed in context of leadership of
chosen organisation and an emergent leader. In the fourth section, firstly, current leadership
styles, models and skills practised by leadership of chosen organisation are discussed and
then, contrasted with thoughts and skills of emerging leader and finally a comparison has
been drawn between two. In the last part, a conclusion has been drawn on the basis of above
findings and analysis. And also, recommendations have been made for the skills that will be
beneficial for leaders in not just short-term but in long-term as well and also in not just
regular business conditions but also when uncertainties are prevailing in business conditions
as well.

Contents
Executive Summary...................................................................................................................2
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
Leadership theories, styles and model.......................................................................................4
Outline of leadership theories, styles and model...................................................................4
Evaluation of leadership styles and skills..................................................................................6
Evaluation of leadership styles and models mentioned above...............................................6
Leadership skills.....................................................................................................................7
Own leadership styles and skills............................................................................................8
Leadership styles and skills used by leadership of chosen organisation....................................9
Leadership styles and skills currently practised by McDonalds............................................9
Leadership styles and skills to be used if I were the CEO of McDonalds...........................10
Comparison between my preferred leadership style with leadership style of CEO of........10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................11
References................................................................................................................................14

Introduction
Leadership can be defined as a process of social influence which is aimed at
maximising the efforts of subordinates towards the achievement of a common objective. All
leaders possess certain skills like good communication skills, good team building skills,
negotiation skills, problem solving skills, ability to delegate, motivation skills, flexibility,
adaptation, etc. which are require for leading a team not only in good times but also through
tough and uncertain times (Marques, 2015). Below mentioned report has been prepared with
an objective of identifying, assessing and analysing emergent leadership skills that are
required to develop and execute effective strategies required for decision-making amid
uncertainties like ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Leadership of McDonald’s Corporation (herein after referred as only McDonald’s has
been taken as case study for the purpose of preparing this report. McDonald’s is an American
multinational fast-food company having its headquarters at Chicago. It is famous for its
cheese burgers and French fries but also, offers soft drinks, milkshakes, wraps and desserts. It
as also introduced salads, fish, smoothies and fruits in its menu to attract customers who
prefer healthy foods. It was founded in 1940 by two brothers Richard James and Maurice
James McDonald as a hamburger stand. They chose golden arches as their logo which looks
like English alphabet M and franchising as mode of expansion of their business. It operates
only few restaurants under it while offers two types of franchise model – one, in which
franchisees have to lease properties, owned by McDonald’s and other in which, company
franchises its name to be used with same quality standards to be maintained as company. This
model results in earnings from rent and royalty which forms significant part of company’s
revenue. Leadership of company is represented by its board of directors which is headed by
its President and CEO. He and his team believe driving company growth strategy in a flexible
manner so that they can face challenges brought by uncertainties (Martin, 2015).
This report contains four sections. In first section, various leadership styles and
theories have been outlined. In, second section, above mentioned leadership styles have been
discussed. Also, various skills and qualities that must be possessed by a leader are also
discussed and few leadership skills that are required to be present in leaders of McDonalds
and its comparison with strength and weakness of an emerging leader are also evaluated. In
third section, leadership style and skills that are practised by leaders at McDonald’s are
discussed. Also, discussed are the leadership skills that can be adopted if given a chance to be
CEO of management and then analytical observations have been drawn to compare between
two above mentioned leadership styles and skill set. In the final set, conclusions have been
drawn up based on above mentioned discussions and then an action plan has been
recommended for such skills that can bring benefits and improvements in the business
operations and results in testing times like one brought on by Covid-19.
Leadership theories, styles and model
Outline of leadership theories, styles and model
A leader is one who provides direction to the team, one is leading. There are various
theories, styles and leadership that helps ascertain the required leadership skills to be adopted
and followed. Below mentioned are various leadership theories: