Virgin Group: A Modern Business Analysis

This assignment analyzes the business philosophy and leadership style of Sir Richard Branson in relation to the success of the Virgin Group. It explores how Virgin Group has adopted modern organizational practices, such as innovation and technology, to achieve long-term growth. The analysis includes examples from specific Virgin ventures, highlighting their customer-centric approach and commitment to expanding globally.

Leadership
1

Executive Summary
Leadership play important role in each and every organization. With the helps to this
business firm make motivated to their employees for giving better performances. Each person
holds different types of leadership personality which make him successful. Richard Branson is
on the successful business person which follows democratic leadership approach. His main
concern is always remained employees and entities performances. He believes in adopting cost
efficient and innovation techniques so they can expand their business easily.
2

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
ANALYTICAL DISCUSSION ......................................................................................................3
a) Richard Branson's leaderships style and Business Philosophy...............................................3
b) Behavior and personality traits of Richard Branson ...............................................................4
c) Impact of leadership styles on performance and employee's motivation ...............................4
d) Impact of Globalization on Virgin ..........................................................................................5
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................6
RECOMMENDATION...................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
3

INTRODUCTION
Each Individual own different leadership approach and business philosophy. In the
modern era there are many types of leadership approach are available which can be used by
leader. The present report based on the Richard Branson and its leaderships styles through
which they encourage to their employees (Beck and Cowan, 2014) It makes analysis on his
business philosophy, personality traits and impact of leadership styles employee's performance.
ANALYTICAL DISCUSSION
a) Richard Branson's leaderships style and Business Philosophy
Richard Branson is Chairperson of the Virgin Group. He is responsible for look over 200
companies worldwide. He is famous for his success in business field with unique characteristics
which are attributes to his success. Branson's management style and leadership skills were
learned to his day to day activities. His does thing in his own way and his own style. His
leadership style believes to involved to people in decision-making process.
Leadership styles
Richard Branson leadership style belongs to the democratic leadership style. As
according to this leadership style leaders of organization involved their employees and
subordinated in their decision-making process. Richard is also followed similar leadership to
motivated to their workers (Chemers, 2014). Virgin group always give more prioritizes to their
employees. Through this leadership style Branson empowering their workers. This style reflect
in Virgin organization clearly. In the company they make team at different level and give
freedom to make their decisions at their won level with full delegation.
Business philosophy
Richard Branson follows Human relation theory. He has focused on developing people in
organization. He has worked on identifying key potential of their employees and try to improve
their skills. Virgin group goal is to provide all employees with as much information as the
executives have. Virgin Group always motivating to their employees so they can understand their
work. Along with Richard also believe in adopting cost efficient and innovation to measure
productivity of organization. He also focuses on performance and maintenance, through which
he develops innovation and improve their business skills.
4

b) Behavior and personality traits of Richard Branson
Richard Branson play different types of behavior which set him under possessed by the
leader. In the present era he is role model for many young people by setting highly ethical
behavior fir young people (Daft, 2014). He has very concerned about his employees and
productivity or organization. He tackles each situation with positive way this is reason that he
generate high profit even during recession.
Behavioral Theory
This leadership classified as study of specific behavior of leaders. This theory is based on
the psychology on leader and researched on the inner mental status on individual. With the help
of this leadership approach individual can determined significance on person behavior and their
results. Richard Barnson had acquired behavior which based on the highly concerned on the
employees and production. They set different types of team at each level in organization which
stated his commitment towards employees. Such approach leads a trust relationship and respect
for each other.
Trait Theories
Richard Branson displays the democratic leader. He makes clear communication with its
employees and displays high level of self confidence. In Virgin Group communication is key of
leadership style. Trait which applicable on the Barson is self confidence, cooperative, energetic
and task oriented (Frohlich and Oppenheimer, 2015 ). He provides all important information to
their employees which helps to them for achieving their targets. He is always cooperative in
nature and highly ambitious in its business project. Virgin group is collective group of company
and its offering different types of services to their customers such as mobile, finance etc. All
these shows his achievement in organization.
c) Impact of leadership styles on performance and employees's motivation
Richard Branson leadership and businesses management approach is based on the
employees' relation and organization's production. His leadership styles is much inspired by
democratic approach (About us. 2017) This approach has also impacted on enterprises and
individual's performance.
Impact of leadership styles on performance of company
5

The organization's structure of Virgin group is based on the Organic. As per this structure
employees work together and coordinates tasks. Richard 's leadership styles is also promoted
such environment in company that all employees work together and make effective coordination.
Impact of Branson's leadership approach on company is that it provide much verbal
communication and helps to individuals to create network of persons(Garrow, 2015). As per this
leader approach people can work with different capabilities which also leads to over time.
However, such leadership approach also create problems in business firm such ad work process
tends to be unpredictable.
Impact of leadership styles on employee's motivation
Richard Barson follows visionary model of leadership. He is one of those leaders who
focuses on innovation and have strong vision for future. He also focuses on training and
communicating its subordinates. In the business firm they hire different types of people who
belongs to different types of background along with their qualification. This make strong moves
to encourages employees work with creativity (Nahavandi, 2016). Impact of his leadership
approach is that it helps to employees to think creativity and develop new products for
customers. It also makes them able to think diversity and adopt open climates in business firm.
d) Impact of Globalization on Virgin
Globalization has huge impact on Virgin group. This impact may be positive or negative
in nature. With introduced of the Globalization company gets new business opportunities to
expand their business and its also leads to competition in market (Tourish, 2014). This
competition can also relate to the product, prices, target market and technological adoption.
It also makes impact on organization's performance. With the help of globalization
Virgin Group have to face high level of competition In UK market. The company have to adopt
new technology to retain and attracts new customers in its business. Along with this to raise
competition in the market they need to also provide high competitive salary to their workers.
Due to Globalization foreign investment is also raised and organization they to create
global network for their business. Virgin Group is also seeking towards it and conducting its
business operation in more than 200 countries.
Virgin group as Post-modern organization
6

A post modern organization is that organization which is preparing for the future and
they adopting such technologies which helps to them for maintain long term business growth.
Virgin group can be considered as post modern organization as their plans are based on the long
term. Its vision is clear as they want to expand their business and attracting more customers in
its business (Ward, 2016). Company and its management team are more focuses on innovation
and technology. For example in Virgin Atlantic , Cabin Crew are more welcoming and helpful to
towards their customers so they can generate more customers' loyalty.
CONCLUSION
Summing up the above report it can be concluded that Sir Richard Branson is a dynamic
personality. His leadership and business philosophy both helps to Virgin Group more expanding
business. He is truly a visionary, self confidence and energetic person who take seeking toward
enhances skills and production of organization.
RECOMMENDATION
Virgin group is international organization which conduct its business operation in more
than 25 countries. It consists many types of ventures in it business and rapidly expanding it
business. Richard Branson is chairperson of company.
The organization and is leaders need to recognize new technologies and techniques which helps
to them for expanding their business. In order to ensure long term growth in the domestic and
international market they also need to provide cost effective services to their customers so they
can attract more customers in its business.
7

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Beck, D.E. and Cowan, C., 2014. Spiral dynamics: Mastering values, leadership and change.
John Wiley & Sons.
Chemers, M., 2014.An integrative theory of leadership. Psychology Press.
Daft, R.L., 2014. The leadership experience. Cengage Learning.
Frohlich, N. and Oppenheimer, J.A., 2015. Political leadership and collective goods. Princeton
University Press.
Garrow, D.J., 2015. Bearing the cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the southern Christian
leadership conference. Open Road Media.
Nahavandi, A., 2016.The Art and Science of Leadership -Global Edition. Pearson.
Tourish, D., 2014. Leadership, more or less? A processual, communication perspective on the
role of agency in leadership theory. Leadership.10(1).pp.79-98.
Ward, J., 2016. Keeping the family business healthy: How to plan for continuing growth,
profitability, and family leadership. Springer.
Online
About us. 2017. [online] Available at: <https://www.virgin.com/virgingroup/content/about-us>
[Accessed 23th May 2017].
8