Leadership Theories and Organizations: Benefits for Aspiring Leaders

This report discusses the benefits of understanding leadership theories and organizations for aspiring leaders. It covers topics such as leadership styles, evaluating contributions, applying strategies, and evaluating motivational theories. The report also focuses on Kevin Johnson's leadership style and its impact on Starbucks' financial performance.

LEADING BUSINESS
ORGANISTAIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
PART 1.......................................................................................................................................................4
1) Why is a systematic understanding of leadership theories and organizations beneficial for aspiring
leaders?....................................................................................................................................................4
2) Why is an ability to evaluate the contribution that individuals, leaders and stakeholders make in
creating and executing the mission and vision.........................................................................................5
3) Why is an ability to apply appropriate leadership strategies in order to maximize organizational
potential?.................................................................................................................................................6
4) Why is an ability to critically evaluate a range of motivational theories?............................................7
5) ‘Potential Leadership Style’................................................................................................................8
PART TWO.................................................................................................................................................9
a) Introduction of report..........................................................................................................................9
b) ‘Servant’ leadership style and the challenges associated with practicing it in the volatile, uncertain,
complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environment.......................................................................................9
c) Kevin Johnson’s leadership style focusing on Starbucks improved financial performance...............10
d) Johnson have such a strong personal brand as an effective global leader..........................................11
e) Recommendations as to what you believe Johnson could do to build on his current success and
maintain Starbuck’s sustainability.........................................................................................................12
f) Conclusion expressing view as to whether Johnson is an effective role model for aspiring leaders...13
CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Leading a company is attained by vision casting and also motivating the teams by praise
inspiration an encouragement. Leaders mainly use vision of company or mission as starting line.
Leading is use of influence to motivate the staff members to attain goals of company (Asman,
Y., 2019). This report is divided in to two different parts one is reflection and other is related to
Starbuck’s Leadership Style. Starbucks is American multinational coffeehouse chain in
Washington. It was founded in year 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker.
There will be discussion about the servant leadership style and challenges which are related with
it. The leadership style of Kevin Johnson by focusing on Starbucks to improve the financial
performance ha been discussed.
PART 1
1) Why is a systematic understanding of leadership theories and organizations beneficial for
aspiring leaders?
a. Two fundamental questions that leaders need to ask themselves?
According to my opinion that two questions which leaders should ask from themselves
are is this best use of my time and other one is that Am I helping make the others better.
b. Two key aspects of leadership?
As per my opinion that there are different aspects of leadership but there are two main
aspects of the leadership which are trust and confidence these both are helpful in making the
leaders successful.
c. Leadership theory (style)?
Leadership style is manner of providing direction, executive plants and also motivating
people. Leadership style is helpful in providing the right direction to the team member so that
they can work effectively and focus on attaining the specific aim and objectives.
d. Different leadership styles.

There are two leadership styles leadership styles that are appropriate for the current
volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) business environment. Laissez-faire and
transformational are the main leadership styles because in this leaders give the importance to its
employees.
e. Aspiring leaders need an in-depth understanding of a range of leadership styles?
Aspiring Leaders offers an experiential, realistic approach to inspiring people to
incorporate what they have learned by acting as active team leaders and putting in place tools
and requirements to help facilitate the learning process. There is a need of in-n depth
understanding of range of the leadership style to aspiring leaders because they can include the
team members so that they can feel that they are main part of company.
2) Why is an ability to evaluate the contribution that individuals, leaders and stakeholders make
in creating and executing the mission and vision
a. Organizational mission and vision?
Mission of an organization is related to business, its objectives in approaches in order to
reach to set objectives. Vision of company states about the desire position of an organization.
The components of Vision and Mission statements are combined to give statement of company
goals, values.
b. Contribution do individuals typically make in executing the mission and vision?
The main contribution that individuals typically make in implementing the vision and
mission of an organization is to understand about the strategies in also work towards it. This
developed the measurable objective through which the company can gain the success.
c. Contribution do leaders typically make in executing the mission and vision?
The leaders contribute in implementing vision and mission is to guide the employees,
communicate about the strategies so that they can focus on attaining the set vision and mission of
company. The main role of leader is to guide the employees and also motivated so that they can
work effectively.
d. Contribution do stakeholders typically make in executing the mission and vision?

Employees, customers and investors are meaning stakeholders which express but some
other stakeholders such as Government and communities also give their contribution in mission
and vision of company mission statements are longer as comparison to vision. Stakeholders help
in understand the constituencies stand to gain success.
e. Aspiring leaders need to be able to evaluate the contributions of the above?
It is necessary for the aspiring leaders to evaluate contribution because they know about
their role in execution the mission and vision at workplace. As they play a main role in guiding
the employees and also provide them better direction for achieving the mission and vision of
company.
3) Why is an ability to apply appropriate leadership strategies in order to maximize
organizational potential?
a. Leadership strategy?
Strategic Leadership is an ability to persuade others to make decisions willingly that
improves the potential for long-term success of the company while preserving financial stability
in the short run.
b. Change leadership?
Changing leadership seems to be the ability to influence and encourage others through
personal activism, vision and motivation, and access resources to create a powerful change
platform. Change leaders play a main role in selecting as well as motivating high performing
team.
c. Organizational potential?
Organizational potential is a way the company is structured is fundamental determinant in
which it can deliver a high efficiency potential that is realized in the way work structures,
processes or procedures are structured and way workforce is inspired and motivated.
d. Business context?

As per my opinion that the business context is an overview of factors that affect the
company from multiple viewpoints like how decisions were made and what business eventually
seeks to accomplish. Organizations use the business context to define primary impacts for the
implementation of strategic initiatives.
e. Aspiring leaders need to understand a broad range of leadership strategies that can be
applied?
Aspiring leaders requires understanding wider range of the leadership strategies that can
be applied because this helps in enhance the skills such as decision making, problem solving,
listening and others for proper guidance to team member’s ad also motivate them.
4) Why is an ability to critically evaluate a range of motivational theories?
a. Motivation theory?
The motivational theory is to discover what inspires people to work towards an objective
or an outcome. Some motivational theories distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic factors in
which the former involve the desire, pleasure and ability of a person to take part in such an
activity.
b. Two categories of motivational theories?
According to me there are two different motivational theories such as Maslow's
Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg's Two-Factor Model. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is based on
the priorities level and Herzberg's Two-Factor Model presents the job factors as contributing to
either satisfaction or dissatisfaction.
c. Employee motivation?
Employee motivation is characterized as degree of commitment, dedication, persistence
and innovation the employees of an organization bring to the work. Increased workplace
satisfaction usually contributes to greater commitment and productivity. Employee satisfaction is
therefore one of the most significant management considerations.
d. ‘Appreciative inquiry technique’?

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is an approach to change management which focuses on
recognizing what works well, evaluating why this one works well but then doing some of it. In
an organization, Appreciative Inquiry can evolve in whatever direction people concentrate their
attention on within the organization
e. Aspiring leaders need to be able to critically evaluate a range of motivational theories?
There is a need to aspiring leaders need to be able to evaluate range of motivational
theories. Motivational theories help in motivate the employees and also providing then intrinsic
and extrinsic benefits.
5) ‘Potential Leadership Style’
a. Your potential leadership style?
My potential leadership style is democratic styles as I include my team members in the
process of decision making and also consider their opinions so that they can feel that they are
part of company.
b. Your key strengths?
My strengths are decision making is as I can able to take the decision in favour of
employees as well as organizations. Other than this, I have problem solving skill as strengths.
c. Your key challenges?
My face the challenge regarding the dependability because I cannot able to depend on
someone and take my own decisions.
d. Personal development do you need to undertake in order to develop your leadership
ability?
Personal development helps me in developing the leadership ability as this helps in
determine my skills and also weaknesses. I have to work on my weaknesses and also convert
them into strengths for enhancing my leadership abilities.

PART TWO
a) Introduction of report
This report states about the Kevin Johnson who is President and chief executive officer of
Starbucks Company. He is passionate servant leader and proudly carries on human connection
Legacy of Starbucks; driving core strategies of company for growth and also provide services to
more than 330000 partners which wear green apron around world. Kevin Johnson is working to
improve the customer service that question and organization to develop innovative with phrases
as well as expanding its business in China (Atzori, Shapoval and Murphy, 2018). The approach
of Johnson is showing progress and fulfills the progressing of each operating metric by
consisting the sales. There will be discussion about the leadership approach that is mainly used to
by Johnson and it also focus on increasing the productivity of company.
b) ‘Servant’ leadership style and the challenges associated with practicing it in the volatile,
uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environment
In the servant leadership style, the main goal of a leader is to serve. It is different from
the traditional leadership where main focus of leader is thriving of company. Server leader shares
power input requirement of staff members first and also help the people to develop better skills.
It inverse no which put customer service associate as a main priority. Servant leadership is a
theory of leadership focused on idea that most successful leaders are working to help others
instead of gaining influence or taking control. The foregoing others may include employers,
associates, fellow workers and the broader community (Avila, Parkin and Galoostian, 2018). On
the basis of given case study, Kevin Johnson uses the servant leadership style as it consider the
other people or employees in the business process, take their opinion and also focus on fulfilling
their requires along with the organization. It is one of the effective leadership styles that is not
focus on the result only but forms meaningful bond of respect and trust among leaders and team.
Other than Starbucks, Marriott hotel follows the servant leadership and states that it provides the
competition advantage to business. This leadership style takes care of staff members and they
will take care of customers. It is helpful in providing the benefits to company. Servant
Leadership makes a difference by a positive outlook which serves. Servant leaders often draw
criticism, but it is difficult to doubt their desire to do what is right and to support their team and

organization. The servant leaders mainly determine the gap that hinder fulfillment as well as
compel them to attain them, helping n any way that they can.
Other than this, there are some challenges related to servant leadership styles practicing
in the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environment. Servant leaders benefit
by selfless helping to reduce or eradicate structural dysfunctions. Servant leadership is also an
extremely useful tool for leaders in the VUCA world, but it has its challenges and does not fulfill
all of the needs of a leader who wants to change the context in which it is operating and develop
at the same time. It sound is impressive, and it's very challenging to do and demands that the
leader has excellent skills for people at all levels. In context to this, less motivation and the
productivity are the main challenges in servant leadership. Minimization of both the subject
manager's authority and overall business management role ( Garvin, 2016). If workers see their
boss catering excessive to their needs, they may be less likely to see it as an authoritative figure.
Stepping continuously into fixing issues or doing the job, teaches the team to sit back and make
less effort in delivering output and put less thought into solving problems or disputes.
c) Kevin Johnson’s leadership style focusing on Starbucks improved financial performance
According to the given case study, Kevin Johnson uses the servant leadership style. As a
servant leader, Johnson proudly carries on the legacy of the human connection in Starbucks serve
more than 330,000 partners and also driving the core strategies for growth of an organization.
Johnson is responsible for leading Global operating business of Starbucks and supports the core
functions for instance marketing, Technology, human resource and digital platforms. In an
interview, Johnson said that his main focus is not improving the financial performance of
company and also deal with ethical challenges. Johnson is taking more measured approach to roll
out of Reserve as well as Roastery store. The main contribution of Johnson is to make
improvement in customer service that pushing an organization to develop innovating beverages
as well expanding its business in China. In context to this, Starbucks company has opened its
mobile application to take order from the people which are not members of its reward programs
in expect delivery service nearly 25% of its 8000 from the company operated stores in United
States (Krishna, 2018). The main approach of Kevin Johnson is showing the process and also
making the business successful. Investors appear to bullish regarding Johnson strategy and
Starbucks value shares rose by nearly 15%. In context to improving in the financial performance

of Starbucks, Johnson at been admired for Ethical approach to leadership as support for
customers in order to make informed as well as improve nutrition choices. In this, Starbucks
company is committed to help is too much to make the inform nutrition choices at it is part of
fundamental change to Global Business. It has led a way through making a commitment to
minimize added sugar by 25% in indulgent beverages by 2020 and reduced by 20% in any syrup
that is mainly used when developing the new drinks. This is fully transparent with its consumers
on nutrition value of its drink and food offerings. Calorie and nutrition content of its drink and
food is mainly displayed on its website, display cases and menu boards. It has been stated that
Johnson is bringing level of innovation as well as transportation transformation in Starbucks
organization. There has been an incident happen in Starbucks about the racial discrimination and
recording this in an interview Johnson’s apologize and said that it is necessary to know our plans
to investigate pertinent facts and also make any required changes in our practices which would
prevent such reference from ever happening again. On the other hand, Johnson assures that
Starbucks stand formerly against the any kind of discrimination or the pressure profile.
Regarding the racial biasness, Starbucks Company will provide training to around 1, 75,000 staff
members across country and this will become part of on boarding process for the new partners.
The curriculum will only be design through nationally recognized experts in the Starbucks is
many planning to make this available for the other organization to use.
There are some negative elements of leadership style of Johnson in context of working
not well. On the basis of present case study that there are 379 Teavana stores in United States
which has closed as a result of the underperformance. Helping acquired at Atlana best retailer
that is Teavana holding in 2012 Starbucks had invested in rights to develop as well operated new
Prince Italian bakery location outside the Italy and sale its products industry and reserve stores
(Mayer, 2018). In regards to arising incidents of racial discrimination Starbucks Coffee
organization closing it’s more than 8000 company owned stores in United State to conduct the
racial bias education.
d) Johnson have such a strong personal brand as an effective global leader
On the basis of case study that Kevin Johnson is a strong persona brand as effective
global leader. It makes the Starbucks Company successful as this has a strong customer base.
Others have celebrated the tech-savvy creativity of Johnson and the success of the company in

China, while others criticize the poor sales of food and drinks as well as products in the United
States. Under the leadership of Kevin Johnson, Starbucks firm has continues to invest on some
other kinds of beverages that remain on tap along (Taecharungroj, 2017). It consists the cold
brew, blonde espresso and Teavana iced teas. Kevin Johnson believes in the innovation and also
provides the better services to its consumers for making the business successful. Having served
on the board of directors in year 2009 and become president and chief operating officer in 2015,
Johnson was well known within Starbucks before taking the helm too, Johnson has led attempts
to merge Starbucks' mobile pay services. Other than this, developing on innovations on
application of Starbucks, Kevin Johnson shared the detailed about strategy that aims to develop
digital relationship with more than 60 million US consumers per month which are not Starbucks
rewards members. Under the leadership of Johnson, Starbucks chain hopes to grow roughly
around 26000 locations to 37000 by 2021 (Peiritsch, 2019). There are some plans which open up
to the 30 upscale the Roastery coffee shops in all around world. Johnson brings the
transformation as well as innovation level to Starbucks Company. Johnson is a great leader as he
fulfills the requirements of employees along with the Starbucks. Johnson uses the servant
leadership styles as to motivating the people so that they can able to provide the better customer
services to people. In an interview, Spokesman of Starbucks said that Schultz and Johnson share
same objectives for future of the Starbucks but Johnson has laid out disciplined approach in
order to testing them. Other than this, Kevin Johnson focus on eliminating the any kind of ethical
issues from workplace and also make improvement in the financial performance of company for
getting competitive advantages at global level.
e) Recommendations as to what you believe Johnson could do to build on his current success and
maintain Starbuck’s sustainability
On the basis of mentioned case study, there are some recommendations which Johnson
could do to develop current success as well as maintaining the sustainability of Starbucks.
Johnson is a good leader and he gives his contribution behind making the business successful
and also gains the better sustainability. Johnson gains the success in many areas but in some of
the areas he faced some complexities and this developed negative impact on the organizational
performance. When Starbucks continues to grow in new markets and improve its position, local
and national rivalry will gradually come from different rates. Many of these have been and may
come from small stores or local coffee shops and others from the regional rivals of Starbucks.

There is a need to Starbucks firm to have the strong strategy related to innovation in order to
compete in international markets. Some recommendations are given below:
Regarding the discrimination, Johnson can implement the different legislations and act which
mainly developed through government. Kevin Johnson should adopt the Discrimination Act and
treat all the people regardless on the basis of gender, race, color, age, sexual orientation, religion
etc. This helped in develop the positive impact on mind of people regarding an organization and
this will be beneficial for sustainability of Starbucks firm.
Technology is one of the main component that makes an organizational successful. Regarding
expanding the business or make some changing in existing products, there is a need to Johnson
company to adopt the advances technology which help in make changes in the business and also
given the benefits.
f) Conclusion expressing view as to whether Johnson is an effective role model for aspiring
leaders
This has been concluded from the above mention information that Johnson is an effective
role model for aspiring leaders. The main focus of Johnson is to provide the better working
facilities to employees so that they can perform better and focus on providing the better customer
services. It has been studied that Johnson followed all the ethics and norms while conducting the
business. As studied that Johnson used the Servant leadership approach as enhancing the growth
of business along with improving financial performance. Johnson is really a role model for the
aspiring leaders in an organization
CONCLUSION
From the above mention information it has been stated that leaders plays a necessary role
in an organization by providing the right direction to employees and also motivating them to
work effectively. In the reflection part, there has been stated about the leadership style,
motivational theories and the strengths and issues faced by a leader. In other part, there has been
discussed about the leadership of Kevin Johnson in order to improve the financial performance
of an organization. There has been studied about the sustainability of an organization.

REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Asman, Y., 2019. Starbucks-land. Crit. (84). pp.68-71.
Atzori, R., Shapoval, V. and Murphy, K. S., 2018. Measuring Generation Y consumers’
perceptions of green practices at Starbucks: An IPA analysis. Journal of foodservice
business research. 21(1).pp.1-21.
Avila, M., Parkin, H. and Galoostian, S., $16.7 Million To Save One Reputation: How Starbucks
Responded Amidst a Racial Sensitivity Crisis. Pepperdine Journal of Communication
Research. 7(1). p.4.
Garvin, C., 2016. Sacramento Shakedown: Kevin Johnson's crossover corruption. The Baffler.
(30). pp.160-175.
Krishna, C. G., 2018. Starbucks Communication Strategies–More Than Just a Cup of Coffee.
IUP Journal of Soft Skills. 12(3). pp.23-53.
Mayer, N., 2018. Starbucks corporation (Doctoral dissertation).
Peiritsch, A. R., 2019. Starbucks’ Racial-Bias Crisis: Toward a Rhetoric of Renewal. Journal of
Media Ethics. 34(4). pp.215-227.
Taecharungroj, V., 2017. Starbucks’ marketing communications strategy on Twitter. Journal of
Marketing Communications. 23(6). pp.552-571.
Valuiskaya, E., 2019. Corporate Social Responsibility in Business-to-Business and Business-to-
Consumer Companies: Nucor Corporation and Starbucks Corporation Case Studies
(Doctoral dissertation, University Honors College Middle Tennessee State University).
Winarti, C. E., 2018. Factors affecting Brand Loyalty: a consumer survey at Starbucks Coffee
Cafe in Setiabudi Building, South Jakarta. Russian Journal of Agricultural and Socio-
Economic Sciences. 8(80). pp.259-266.
Zhao, Z., 2017. Starbucks Reserve Roastery Shanghai's 2017 Launch Campaign (Doctoral
dissertation, University of Southern California).
Ziliani, C., 2019. GETTING LOYALTY RIGHT: BARILLA AND STARBUCKS. Loyalty
Management: From Loyalty Programs to Omnichannel Customer Experiences, p.18.
Online

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