Leadership Styles and Project Management Techniques for J & J Furnishings Ltd

This report examines the application of leadership styles and project management techniques within the context of J & J Furnishings Ltd, an Australian furniture company seeking to implement a new operational handling process. The report analyzes the effectiveness of democratic leadership, explores the use of tools like Gantt charts, PERT, and CPM, and discusses the application of power dynamics to influence the project team and motivate collaborative work. It also outlines steps to mitigate challenges faced by the project team, ensuring a smooth workflow and a successful final product.

Leadership for the Contemporary
Organisation
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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
A: Explain why you might choose one of the leadership styles discussed in this module’s
learning resources over another style when managing the highlighted project team.....................4
B: Describe which tools and techniques discussed in the resources you might use as a project
manager to influence this project team...........................................................................................5
C: Explain which of the six types of power as described in Raven (2004) you would employ to:7
1: Influence the project team.......................................................................................................7
2: Motivate the team members to work collaboratively..............................................................7
3: Impact the project’s success...................................................................................................7
D: Describe the steps you might take, as project manager, to alleviate challenges faced by your
project team before those challenges grows large that they damage the work environment or the
final product. Explain why..............................................................................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................12
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Introduction
This report is based on the J & J Furnishings Ltd which is a furniture company in Australia and
ships its furniture to other retailers and customers. The company needs to change its current
operation handling process and needs to implement the new one which effectively integrates all
the activities and operations of the business and deliver high-quality standards to its customers
on a global level. To manage the project and increasing the efficiency of the business, it is highly
required by the leader to communicate and build effective team bonding among the employees so
that all the activities are effectively handled and managed. J & J Furnishings Ltd is a large
company having a large number of employees working in every department, as a result of which
it is highly required to adopt the best suitable leadership style to manage their work process and
get the desired outcomes.
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A: Explain why you might choose one of the leadership styles discussed in this module’s
learning resources over another style when managing the highlighted project team.
For handling and managing the project team, different companies make use of different
leadership styles for getting effective results. J & J Furnishings Ltd is the company which makes
use of democratic leadership style, as it considered as the most effective and positive style to
manage the performances of the employees and ensures the success of the project. For
development and implementation of the appropriate software and work process, it is highly
important for the manager to make use of the democratic leadership style as it involves the
different ideas and viewpoints of the employees which makes the process much easier and
simpler.
Democratic leadership style is better than the other styles as it enables the company to get
desirable outcomes for a project. Autocratic leadership style or coercive style is the one in which
all the authorities lies in the hands of the managers and the leaders (Raza, 2015). This leadership
style creates a hectic work environment for the employees which affect their working. Coaching
leadership style includes the teaching of new things to the employees and basically focuses on
the improvement of the employees’ skills and abilities. Laissez-faire leadership style is the one in
which all the authorities and work processes are handed over to the employees with minimal or
no interference of the managers and leaders. This style is less effective as the employees are not
supervised and the work process is not effectively monitored. This may cause many issues and
problems.
Pacesetter is the style in which the manager eliminates the weaker employees as they expect
highest standards of working. This develops huge pressure among the team members.
Democratic, authoritative or the participative leadership style is the most suitable style as it
creates a positive impact of the performances of the employees and also develops a strong
communication and bond among the employees and the senior management of the company
(Johnson, 2018). This style enhances the functioning of the project and the entire business and
helps the management in gaining effective outcomes.
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B: Describe which tools and techniques discussed in the resources you might use as a
project manager to influence this project team.
There are certain tools and techniques which are used by the project manager of J & J
Furnishings Ltd to handle and manage the project of software development and implementation
and also the change in the work process. Tools and techniques are important to be used by the
project manager to enhance the performance of the employees and motivate them to increase
their contribution. To influence the project team and getting effective outcomes, the following
are the tools and techniques which will be used by the project manager:
 Gantt chart: It is a tool which enables the project manager to effectively complete all the
activities and identify the resources and time required to perform each activity of the
project. With the help of this tool, the project manager is able to guide the team regarding
the monitoring of the different activities of the project and its functioning.
 PERT and CPM: PERT is the tool with the help of which the manager is able to
calculate and evaluate the time duration of each task. Shortest time duration taken by
each activity to be completed are evaluated and chosen. CPM is the tool with the help of
which the manager is able to analyze the critical path of the project (Müller & Jugdev,
2012). These are the tools which make the project much simpler and effective and help
the project team to carry out the project in an effective manner.
 Performance appraisals: It is the method which is used by the manager to appraise the
performance of the team members and also enhance their capabilities and knowledge for
the development and growth of the project and the business. Appraising the work of the
employees motivates the team members to enhance their work.
 Leadership style: The project manager of J & J Furnishings Ltd is required to adopt the
best leadership style i.e. democratic style in which all the employees and team members
actively participate in the decision-making process and work with good coordination
(Davis, 2014).
 Motivation: This is the essential technique which is required to be used by the project
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manager to influence the project team. Various motivational techniques are used to
enhance the working of the team members for getting effective and desirable outcomes
and also ensure successful implementation of the software.
 Training: Appropriate training is required to be provided by the project manager to
enhance the skills of the team members and thus the functioning of the project. Success
criteria will be set so as to enhance the performance of the employees accordingly
(Bryde, et. al., 2013).
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C: Explain which of the six types of power as described in Raven (2004) you would employ
to:
1: Influence the project team.
The team members of the project are influenced by certain factors and elements as a result of
which the outcomes of the project are influenced. Reward power of the manager can be used so
as to motivate the employees to perform more effectively. Reward power includes the
motivational techniques which are provided to the employees according to their performance
level and position in the team. Rewards may also differ according to the different needs and
demands of the employees working within a team. The performance can be enhanced with the
help of the motivational factors and techniques which is possible with the reward power of the
project manager (Thamhain, 2013). Referent power of the project manager can also be adopted
as with the position of the manager, the employees are motivated for performing their duties and
want to be like the manager in terms of everything. This power influences the performances of
the team members in a positive manner.
2: Motivate the team members to work collaboratively.
For motivating the employees to work within a team with a team spirit and also work
collaboratively the manager makes use of legitimate power in which power of the manager is
according to the position and value it has in the organization. Under this type of power, the
instructions and suggestions of the manager are followed willingly. The project manager can
motivate the employees to work with a team spirit and the employees will follow it willingly
(Davis, 2014). The referent power of the manager can also be used in which the manager
represents its collaborative working skills which motivate the employees to do the same and get
effective results for the project.
3: Impact the project’s success.
For ensuring the success of the project, the project manager is required to adopt the expert power
in which the knowledge is the power source. The project manager with the help of the effective
execution of the available knowledge about the project can influence the success of the project
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and can ensure the successful implementation in all respects. When the project manager will
have the required knowledge and is specialized in handling the project, they gain respect from
the employees and their instructions are followed effectively. Legitimate power of the project
manager positively encourages the employees to follow their instructions and gain effective
results. The success of the project is influenced by many factors (Lunenburg, 2012). The skills
and knowledge of the manager will help the manager to guide and direct the entire project and
legitimate power of the project manager motivates the employees to follow the instructions and
advice.
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D: Describe the steps you might take, as project manager, to alleviate challenges faced by
your project team before those challenges grows large that they damage the work
environment or the final product. Explain why.
The main aim of the project manager of J & J Furnishings Ltd is to implement the software and
enhance the work process of the business for delivering a quality to the customers and gaining
the desirable outcomes. In such a large project, there are various challenges which are
encountered by the manager and are required to be alleviated for ensuring smooth functioning of
the project team members. Following are the steps which are followed by the project manager to
overcome the challenges:
 The project manager ensures that the roles and responsibilities of each project team
member are clear and understandable so that the functions are performed in an effective e
manner.
 The project manager identifies all the risks associated with the project, resources required
for each activity of the project and also develop an effective plan in advance so that the
functioning of the project can be ensured in an effective and appropriate manner (Schiff,
2015). Effective strategies will be developed for eliminating the risks and its impact on
the entire project.
 An effective team will be built having the required skills and abilities to perform the
tasks. The project schedule will be developed by the project manager to ensure that all the
activities are completed within the specified time by the project team.
 Develop team coordination and team spirit among the project team members so that there
is no emergence of communication issues. Proper training will be provided to the team
members for performing their responsibilities in an effective manner.
 Selection of experts is ensured for effective completion of the tasks, testing is done to
ensure effective final product, the scope is controlled, and formal governance is followed
(Madsen, 2016). Every process is continuously monitored to ensure that there is a smooth
work process and effective conclusions are drawn.
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These steps are important to be taken for overcoming the challenges in advance and ensuring that
the project is completed without any deviations and errors. It is also ensured by the project
manager that effective results are achieved from the completion of the project and no harm is
caused to the working environment or the software implementation. The challenges and issues
are solved at the prior stage so that high standards of performance can be developed and
maintained.
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Conclusion
From the above report, it has been concluded that different companies make use of different
leadership style for getting effective results with the efforts and ideas of the employees. For
improving the performance of the project team, the project manager makes effective use of
certain tools and techniques. The project manager is the one who builds coordination among the
team members and motivates them to improve their efficiency and overall performance for the
enhancement of the project. Steps are taken by the project manager of J & J Furnishings Ltd to
eliminate the risks and reducing the impact of the challenges faced by the team members.
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References
 Bryde, D., Broquetas, M., & Volm, J. M. (2013). The project benefits of building
information modelling (BIM). International journal of project management, Vol. 31, No.
7, pp. 971-980.
 Davis, K. (2014). Different stakeholder groups and their perceptions of project
success. International journal of project management, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 189-201.
 Johnson, R. (2018). 5 Different types of Leadership Styles. [Online] Chron. Available at:
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/5-different-types-leadership-styles-17584.html.
[Accessed on: 7 May 2018]
 Lunenburg, F. C. (2012). Power and leadership: an influence process. International
journal of management, business, and administration, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 1-9.
 Madsen, S. (2016). 8 Steps to overcome the challenges of Managing a Larger Project.
[Online] Strategy Execution. Available at:
https://www.strategyex.co.uk/blog/pmoperspectives/overcome-challenges-managing-
larger-project/. [Accessed on: 7 May 2018]
 Müller, R., & Jugdev, K. (2012). Critical success factors in projects: Pinto, Slevin, and
Prescott–the elucidation of project success. International Journal of Managing Projects
in Business, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 757-775.
 Raza, A. (2015). 12 Different Types of Leadership Styles. [Online] Wise Toast. Available
at: http://wisetoast.com/12-different-types-of-leadership-styles/. [Accessed on: 7 May
2018]
 Schiff, J. L. (2015). 7 Ways project managers can anticipate, avoid and mitigate
problems. [Online] CIO. Available at: https://www.cio.com.au/article/565027/7-ways-
project-managers-can-anticipate-avoid-mitigate-problems/. [Accessed on: 7 May 2018]
 Thamhain, H. (2013). Managing risks in complex projects. Project management
journal, Vol. 44, No. 2, pp. 20-35.
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