Leadership and Management Theories and Their Impact on Workplace Effectiveness: A Case Study of Hays

This report discusses different theories and styles of leadership and management and their impact on workplace effectiveness. It also evaluates the significance of workplace culture on the performance of various organisations. The report is based on a case study of Hays, a British international executive search firm.

Part-1: Leadership and
Management in the
Workplace

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK...............................................................................................................................................3
P1. Different theories of leadership in relation to the managerial activities...............................3
P2. Explore different theories of management in relation to the leadership and managerial
activities......................................................................................................................................5
M1. Theories of leadership and management can influence the workplace effectiveness.........7
P3. Different styles of leadership and management and their applications in varieties of
situation.......................................................................................................................................7
M2. Compare the impact of different styles on decision-making...............................................9
P4. Factors that influence the cultural development in the workplace.......................................9
M3. Evaluate the significance of workplace culture on the performance of various
organisations.............................................................................................................................10
D1. Critique the impact of various approaches to leadership and management.......................10
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................10
REFERNCES:................................................................................................................................11
Books and Journals:..................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
The leadership and management both plays an essential in any organisation. Both terms
are inter-related with each other but have different perspectives in order to manage
organisational activities in an effective way. Management is consist with all such activities such
as planning, organizing, directing and controlling. Whereas, leadership relates to an art or ability
that is used by a person to influence or inspire others to improve the organisational and
individual's productivity (Farrell, 2018). Both leaders and managers shares a common goal
among employees so that they can understand what they are require to do for the business. The
report is based on the Hays organisation that is a British international executive search firm. It is
headquartered in London, England. It has worldwide operations in more than 33 countries. It has
speciality in recruiting senior board and managerial positions which necessitate highly
experienced quality leaders. The following report is based on various theories and models related
to leadership and management in various companies. Lastly, it outlines various factors that deals
with development of culture in the company.
TASK
P1. Different theories of leadership in relation to the managerial activities.
Leadership explains an art of inspiring and motivating a group of individuals to behave
towards certain activities so that common goals of the company can be achieved. It captures the
essentials of being prepared and able to guide others. Effective leadership in an organization is
dependent on both original and borrowed ideas that are communicated in an effective manner so
that others can enable themselves to engaged as the leader wants them to act (Rosenbach, 2018).
It pertains making sound and complicated decisions, develop a clear vision, set attainable
objectives and deliver knowledge and essential tools and equipments to attain such
organisational aspirations. In context of Hays, the following are the leadership theories:

Behavioural theory of Leadership:
This theory of leadership believes that leaders are build and not born. The main focus is
on the particular actions and behaviours of leader rather than their characteristics or traits. It
regards that effective leadership is an outcome of several learned skills. It is often known as style
theory. Pattern of behaviour are noticed and categorized in this theory (Forde, Torrance and
Angelle, 2021). Some of the leadership styles consists people-oriented leaders, task-oriented
leaders, status-quo leaders, country club leaders, dictatorial leaders and many more. At last, the
actual behaviours and actions matters and that defines the success of a great leader in this theory.
Benefits:
 Chiefly, the leaders can know and decide what actions and behaviour they want to
implement in his leadership in order to become an effective leader.
 It allows flexibility and adaptability in different circumstances. It proposes that anyone who is capable can become a leader.
Drawbacks:
 As it allows flexibility, it is not suitable in particular circumstances. There are a lot of leadership styles that form from this theory but there is not an
appropriate one for every situation.
Contingency theory of leadership:
This theory often known as situational theory. It suggests that no one styles of leadership
supplant others. It tells that leadership is dependent on the in-hand situation. The main focus on
specific factors related to the environment that might influence which specific style of leadership
is best appropriate for the situation. Overall, it pertains that no single leadership styles is best in
all the circumstances. It takes the certain leadership styles and explains that great leaders can
mould their leadership patterns situationally.

Benefits:
 It focuses on the value of a situation (Örtenblad, 2018). Leaders are able to shape their leadership styles as per the demand of the certain
circumstance.
Drawbacks:
 It may not concentrate on the psychology of the workers or the workplace itself.
 It may not concentrate enough that how styles of leadership can change over period of
time.
P2. Explore different theories of management in relation to the leadership and managerial
activities.
Management explained as all the tasks and activities undertaken for accomplishing the
aspirations of workplace by continuous activities such as planning, organizing, directing and
controlling the financial, human, information, physical resources of the company to complete
aspirations effectively and efficiently. With an addition to Hays, the management theories are as
follows:

Scientific theory of management:
This theory was developed by Frederick Taylor. He was the first individual to
acknowledge work performance scientifically. He signified that the point at which employees are
forced to work hard is not the right way to get outcomes (Lange, Bormann and Rowold, 2018).
He suggested to simplify the work and tasks in order to rise up the workplace productivities.
According the viewpoint of scholar, money was the main incentive for which employees work
that is why he introduced the “fair day's wages for a fair day's work” concept. This theory is
practiced in the entire world. The resulting collaboration between managers and workers
germinated into the group work that workers now love and enjoy. It promotes specialization,
standardization, extensive training and supervision and assignment based on the ability. Only
through such exercises a workplace can achieve productivity and efficiency.
Benefits:
 It improves the production as it focuses on steady enhancements in operations of
business.
 It brings fruitful collaboration between employers and employees, resulting in improved
teamwork. As the theory is dependent upon observations and experiments, it reduces inaccuracy.
Drawbacks:
 It needs a huge capital investment due to the establishment of work study, training of
employees, planning team and so on. Although the planning is a benefit, but the drawback of planning is that it develops
inflexible work which leads to dissatisfaction and carelessness. This resulting in reduced
productivity.
Human Relations theory of management:
It was introduced by Elton Mayo, who believed in the experiments configured to enhance
the productivity that set the human relations foundation. He intention was to focus on the
changing working conditions such as break time, lighting and the length of the workday. Every
change he was experimented was resulting in the improved performance (Harris and Mayo,
2018). This emphasises a rise to the theory that workers are more willing to do work by giving
personal attention and being a part of a team than they are by even workplace conditions or
money incentives.

Benefits:
 It focuses on the improvement of employees' productivity.
 It reduces or removes workplace grievances. It builds strong human relations.
Drawbacks:
 It excludes the road map of work.
 It only focuses on the human theory.
M1. Theories of leadership and management can influence the workplace effectiveness.
It is analysed that both leaders and managers plays an important role in the workplace. It
is very essential that managers and leaders set a clear vision, goals and defined rules and policies
which determines the organisational effectiveness. If employees know and understand what they
have to do for the company then this will show in the high level of productivity.
P3. Different styles of leadership and management and their applications in varieties of situation.
Management or leadership styles relates to the particular philosophies and methods
leaders or managers exploit when directing and supervising their teams. In case of Hays, the
managers or leaders use such styles in the decision-making, planning or organising work,
perform disciplinary actions, reward performances as well as to exercise the power. In relation to
Hays, the following are different styles of leadership and management:
Authoritative:
In this style, a leader or manager follow a top-down concept to guiding. A leader or
managers tackle independent decision-making which does not allow any or less input from their
followers (Krajcsák, 2019). They develop clear and particular policies that are followed by
everyone and they do not tend to request any feedback from followers. It is appropriate where
the efficiency is more desirable or in critical circumstances when it is important to make quick
decisions.
Benefits:
 It involves less time to make crucial decisions. Mistakes can be diminished in the implementation of plans.
Drawbacks:
 It lacks with team work or collaboration. It rises employees' turnover rate.

Democratic or participative:
A participative or democratic leader or manager uses decision-making procedures that
mainly relies on the workers' input. This involves effective communication and broader
perspectives through all stages of the company. Democratic leader or manager in the company
highly emphasises on their employees and work together with their followers to reach the
ultimate goals. This style is mainly effective when developing long-term decisions that affects
the entire firm.
Benefits:
 It increases the productivity level. It promotes employees' creativity.
Drawbacks:
 It is a transparent process of decision-making due to which it leads to security issues.
 It is a time-consuming process.
M2. Compare the impact of different styles on decision-making.
It is found that different leader uses different leadership and management styles.
Choosing appropriate leadership styles determines the results and production of the company. If
the leader uses authoritative leadership style then the decision-making will be quick and more
prominent for the Hays Company, but if leader or manager is democratic then the decision-
making will be time-consuming (Macdonald, Burke and Stewart, 2018). This kind of leadership
is not suitable in critical situations.
P4. Factors that influence the cultural development in the workplace.
Workplace culture relates to a set of values, practices and expectations that direct and
communicate the actions of all the group members. A collection of traits or characteristics
determines what an organisation is. A great workplace culture represents positive traits that lead
to enhanced performance, whereas dysfunctional culture of company brings out the traits that can
hinder the success of the business. In case of Hays, the following factors can hinder or foster the
development of culture in the company: Top leadership principles: A leadership in the company significantly affects the
policies, rules and procedures set for team members. The values, principles or
philosophies of the leader or manager trickle down to workers to serve end results for
the company. For instance, if the manager of the firm is having simple leadership

philosophy that enables him to treat people with dignity and respect. This can foster the
culture of the company and quality of services can be measured by the experiences of
clients. Nature of business: The motive, operations and market of the company delivers an
impact on the workers' behaviour. For instance, the service of the Hays makes a
significant difference through goods or services in the lives of customers or not. It
delivers an influence on the workplace culture and how workers feel and think about
the working. Recruitment and selection: The type of employees recruited in the workplace delivers
a huge and meaningful impact on the growth and development of company and its
culture. If the employees are adaptable and flexible in the work can foster the
development of culture.
 Differences in background: It is found that the cultural development is also affected by
the cultural beliefs, aspects of work related concepts and so on. If organisation is
having different cultural backgrounds of employees then it might foster or hinder the
development.
M3. Evaluate the significance of workplace culture on the performance of various organisations.
It has been evaluated that workplace culture can hinder or foster the performance of
company. The culture of the company sets expectations for how employees work and behave in a
team (Vandergoot, Sarris and Kirby, 2019). A leader must exemplifies the mission, vision,
objectives and values of the firm so that employees can be directed. A good workplace culture
can foster the productivity, employees' performance and engagement.
D1. Critique the impact of various approaches to leadership and management.
It has been seen that there are different theories and approaches to leadership and
management such as behavioural, contingency, scientific or human relations (Maringe and Sing,
2019). In case of Hays, it is observed that there is no particular leadership approach which can be
fit in all situations. A leader or manager must be flexible in his leadership so that he can shape
his leadership style as per the demand of situations.

CONCLUSION
It is concluded that leaders and managers both possesses an important role in the
company. Management deals with all such activities that are undertaken by the employees to
attain a shared goals and leadership relates to an art of inspiring others to work together towards
that goal. There are various theories and styles of leadership and management has been
mentioned. Organisational culture can be developed if a leader or manager is enough capable to
lead others. Also, factors must be considered by the leader which affects the effectiveness of the
company.

REFERNCES:
Books and Journals:
Farrell, M., 2018. Leadership reflections: Organizational culture. Journal of Library
Administration, 58(8), pp.861-872.
Rosenbach, W. E., 2018. Contemporary issues in leadership. Routledge.
Forde, C., Torrance, D. and Angelle, P. S., 2021. Caring practices and social justice leadership:
case studies of school principals in Scotland and USA. School Leadership &
Management, pp.1-18.
Örtenblad, A. ed., 2018. Professionalizing leadership: Debating education, certification and
practice. Springer.
Lange, S., Bormann, K. C. and Rowold, J., 2018. Mindful leadership: mindfulness as a new
antecedent of destructive and transformational leadership behavior. Gruppe.
Interaktion. Organisation. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Organisationspsychologie
(GIO), 49(2), pp.139-147.
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.
Krajcsák, Z., 2019. Leadership strategies for enhancing employee commitment in TQM. Journal
of Management Development.
Macdonald, I., Burke, C. and Stewart, K., 2018. Systems leadership: Creating positive
organisations. Routledge.
Vandergoot, S., Sarris, A. and Kirby, N., 2019. Factors that influence the transfer generalization
and maintenance of managerial‐leadership skills: A retrospective study. Performance
Improvement Quarterly, 32(3), pp.237-263.
Maringe, F. and Sing, N., 2019. School Leadership in developing countries. Principles of
Educational Leadership & Management, pp.350-370.