Individual Case Study Analysis of Virgin PLC

This report analyses the leadership and managerial style of Sir Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin PLC, and the effect of power, influence, and conflict on the company. It also examines the various motivation strategies used by the company to increase employee engagement and productivity. The report uses the Elton Mayo human relation theory and Maslow Hierarchy of Needs to evaluate the company's management style and motivation strategies. The report recommends strategies to increase organisational performance.

Individual case study analysis
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INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Managerial style of the CEO using suitable managerial model.............................................3
Examine if any step was taken by the CEO to bring about a change in organisation structure in
order to achieve high performance and analyse the organisation culture brought about by the
CEO of that firm and its influence on the employees............................................................4
Leadership style of the CEO of that firm to enhance the organisational effectiveness..........4
Effects of power, influence and conflict at the chosen company...........................................6
Various types of motivation strategies used at your chosen company...................................7
Corporate examples and literature to justify your research....................................................8
Recommendations (strategies) to increase organisational performance?...............................9
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
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INTRODUCTION
A business environment is inclusive of number of factors those who have tendency to
impact upon business decision making and operations. It is essential for organisation to evaluate
extent of the impact of these factors upon business objective in order to further align roles and
responsibilities of employees with organisational objectives (Hilton, Arkorful and Martins,
2021). In order to overcome negative impact of these factors this can be done with the help of
effective leadership style, managerial style motivation strategies etc. In order to perform business
operations in this competitive world it is important for an organisation to analyse various
elements in business environment. This will help company to undertake use of effective
management as well as leadership style to enhance motivation of employees.
This report include discussion on Virgin plc a British multinational venture established in
1970. This organisation is operating in complementary industry and was founded by Sir Richard
Branson and Nick Powell. Company headquartered in London, England United Kingdom and
offer high-quality services and products to consumers around the world. Report discusses
leadership and managerial style of respective organisation. In addition to this effect of power
conflict and influence with different types of motivation strategies implemented within
organisation is also discussed in this report.
MAIN BODY
Managerial style of the CEO using suitable managerial model.
Sir Richard Branson is a passionate manager who basically believes in undertaking
innovation as well as risk as a style of management. Richard Branson CEO of Virgin plc believes
that manager of a company is required to embrace and explore opportunities and further go
beyond the limit in order to be successful. It has been identified that respective company with
democratic style of management works with individual to solve complex concern. With help of
this type of management style Richard Branson encourages creativity which helps in
strengthening relationship with them (FAKHRI, 2021). Furthermore, it has been underlined that
with the help of democratic style of management CEO of Virgin plc interact with employees
which acts as a core value of company management, as this helps them to take employees
opinion as well as ideas from them in order to encourage new ideas and innovativeness
(Chorbadzhiyska and Mironova, 2021). Sir Richard Branson believes that each and every
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employee have unique talent that helps respective organisation to have innovative ideas. In
addition to this according to Richard Branson demoralizing and killing of employee spirit and
moral significantly lead company to measure major drop in its overall profitability and
productivity. Thus, to mentor workforce with organisation Richard loves to spend time with
them without making any discrimination. It has been evaluated from the managerial style of
CEO of this organisation that humbleness plays important role and with the help of democratic
style of management Branson develops trust with workers to increase organisational growth. It
has been evaluated that with the assistance of Elton Mayo human relation theory CEO of
respective organisation focus upon the importance of informal relationship between employers
and employees. This theory mainly emphasizes upon making employees a significant supportive
part of organisation team and facilitate high development as well as growth. This theory has
tendency through which leaders and managers can maximize productivity (Afolayan, 2021). This
theory helps Virgin PLC influence productivity and efficiency with the help of good relationship
with various individual operating in organisation. Furthermore, as per this theory it has been
elevated that employee’s productivity can be significantly increase if they are connected with
organisation. Thus, from the discussion it has been evaluated that democratic managerial style of
respective company not only help in encouraging employees bit it also helps in increasing the
performance level towards organisational objectives.
Examine if any step was taken by the CEO to bring about a change in organisation structure in
order to achieve high performance and analyse the organisation culture brought about by
the CEO of that firm and its influence on the employees.
Innovative methods, vibrant ideas and creative spirit facilitate Richard Branson to accomplish
high success and performance by launching the combination of company of Tele west, NTL, and
Virgin mobile as Virgin Media as to create largest foreign company around the world, with more
than hundred million customers and approximately 13000 employees across the provinces of
United Kingdom ((The way we all work is going to change. 2021). To effectively bring this change
Branson take advices from executives and managers in which managers and leaders are required
to discuss the same with employees. This inspires workers within company to think like an
entrepreneur from this merger (Ekemam and Okpara, 2021). However, it has been identified that
a lot of difficulties has been faced during reconstructing but with the help of aligning managerial
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heads and employees on the right place Sir Richard Branson offer a proper guidance to company
to effectively bring new change, as to take use of more development and growth opportunities to
increase competitiveness in industry. Furthermore, it has been underlined that Richard Branson
empower and encourages whole staff to bring change in effective manner by making them aware
about the current business situation and the way to treat consumers in effective manner.
Furthermore, it has been underlined that Sir Richard Branson develop high performing
culture in which organisation leaders are constantly engage in encouraging and inspiring workers
to provide them support to go and extra mile. In this with the help of new leadership concept
such as transformational leadership Sir Richard Branson focus upon change management which
allow organisation to inspire employees in a successful manner. In this by taking assistance of
Lewin's change management model Virgin PLC bring change. It has been identified that Virgin
PLC mainly known for innovative and cool alternative against other rivals in industry, as this
organisational workplace structure offers innovative productive and positive culture which is the
successful contribution of Richard Branson leadership and management style (Ali and Anwar,
2021). In addition to this Richard Branson unconventional informal style and attitude allow
Virgin PLC to provide a positive workplace culture which helps in retaining talented and skilled
employees for longer time. From Virgin PLC work culture, it has been evaluated that sir Richard
Branson leadership style not only focus upon money as a measure to retain talent with an
organisation but they also offer exciting work culture, salary hike according to performance and
effectively inspire employees to deliver their best.
Leadership style of the CEO of that firm to enhance the organisational effectiveness.
Leadership style of Richard Branson is transformational which makes Virgin PLC to
especially known for significant qualities like innovative work place, value for money, creativity,
quality, adventure, reliable, return on investment and fun at work. As like many other
organisations Virgin PLC goes through number of ups and downs. However, with strong
leadership style of Richard Branson Virgin PLC successfully engage in delivering valuable to
customers. Transformational leadership style of Richard Branson not only encourages and
empowers workers in organisational workplace but also provide them a workplace atmosphere
which makes them to feel like home (Pour and Hosseinzadeh, 2021). It has been identified from
the Richard Branson leadership style that he does not expect employees to follow him blindly, as
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he provides employees a freedom to be creative and innovative which helps Virgin PLC to be
highly creative workplace environment. With the help of this attitude Richard Branson develops
an atmosphere which allow employees to make mistake and undertaker risk, as it is the main
reason which helps organisation to innovate and discover new ways to increase innovativeness in
industry. This helps company to ensure long-term sustainability in industry (How Richard
Branson motivates his staff. 2017). With the help of motivated and enthusiastic attitude Richard
Branson encourages and promote talent by offering them significant opportunity to shine on their
own. It has been underlined that transformational leadership style of Richard Branson and with
effective entrepreneurial attitude Virgin PLC continues to inspire employees which is helping
respective organisation to develop new age leaders. This leadership style allows Virgin PLC to
be leading organisation in this highly competitive business environment. Furthermore, it has
been evaluated that Virgin PLC offer flexible working to employees in which workers have
power to take decisions at lower level (Memon, 2021). This helps organisation to influence
creativity and talent within employees which makes employees to stay within organisation for
long period of time. Thus, it has been underlined that with the help of effective leadership style
Richard Branson who is known for his entrepreneurial knowledge offer a positive workplace
structure in which employees are motivated and encouraged to be creative and innovative in
order to undertake risk. This attitude helps Richard Branson to develop strong relationship with
workers which automatically increases organisational ability to enhance overall profitability.
Effects of power, influence and conflict at the chosen company.
In a company power, influence and conflicts are three essential elements that can affect
employee’s performance and overall organisational objectives. Power is an essential concept
which allow organisation to increase employee’s motivation and encourage them to accomplish
organisational goals in an effective manner. Virgin PLC operates as a widely recognised as well
as respected brand, as this organisation take advantage of management style which based upon
trust and support (Savolainen, 2021). Within organisation leaders and managers offers higher
degree of freedom to workers which effectively increase employee’s contribution in
accomplishment of business goals. If employees are free to utilise their ideas practically then
they tend to be highly creative and innovative. This help in solving complex problems in
effective manner. Managers as well as leaders of Virgin PLC with the help of positive power
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effectively treat employees with respect. According to French & Raven five forms of power
there are different powers which include legitimate power, expert power, referent power,
coercive power and reward power. Among from all these powers Virgin PLC with the help of
reward power encourages employees in an effective manner. There are two types of power
which can be positive or negative in organisation. If only few individuals have power, then it
tends to reduces creativity and innovative ideas in company and also lead to a decrease in
employees’ motivation. In Virgin PLC managers and leaders with the help of positive power
create an effective workplace structure which helps in promoting employee engagement, as
positive power significantly act as a mechanism for the success of Virgin PLC. In this individual
with high power in company influences employees with the help of developing trust and
encouraging them to share ideas and opinions. Power strategic plays important aspect for Virgin
PLC which allow managers and leaders to value employees creativity. For this company
executives undertake advantage of stronger communication in which they take feedback from
employees to solve conflicts. It effectively increases efficiency of Virgin PLC as with the help of
positive power company encourages and influence stress free workplace environment that helps
in enhancing collaboration among employees. Respective organisation top executives believe
that it is essential to provide a stress-free environment in which ideas and opinions of employees
get valued to perform business operation in this highly competitive world. If employees are free
to undertake decisions and share their opinion and view point then it helps organisations to bring
changes (Tian, 2021). In addition to this Virgin PLC leaders and managers effectively
encourages positive conflicts in order to increase employee engagement and creativity.
Respective organisation mainly aims toward developing an atmosphere in which employees
shared their new and innovative ideas which helps in increasing productivity of companies. From
the analysis it has been evaluated that power, influence and conflict acts as a positive element
forward Virgin PLC success, as in this company offer freedom to workers to take risk, bring
innovative ideas and come up with innovativeness. Positive power allows managers and leader to
influence employee’s creativity and encourage healthy conflicts which helps Virgin PLC to
become the first choice of workers to work in.
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Various types of motivation strategies used at your chosen company.
Richard Branson is especially known for his great leadership style as well as values that he
places within workplace of Virgin PLC. For respective organisation workers come first which
makes this company a positive workplace to work for, as it recognises staff value in an effective
manner. Furthermore, it has been evaluated that this organisation focusses upon employee
recognition importance and take advantage of various forms of effective motivation strategies as
to duly create a culture in which employees hard work and potential get recognised as well as
praised. Virgin PLC undertake different types of motivation strategies such as offering flexibility
to workers, developing trust with them with the help of strong relationship, offering them
training on regular period of time, providing bonuses and annual leaves etc (Richard Branson
Leadership Style. 2021). In addition to this it has been identified that Virgin PLC managers and
leaders with the help of Maslow Hierarchy of Needs which is effective motivational theories
fulfil top to bottom level need of employees. This theory includes different basis of needs such as
psychological needs, safety needs, love and belonging need, self-esteem and self-actualization
needs (Kosmann and Lucio, 2021). This motivational theory assist organisation to fulfil all the
basic needs of workers with organisational. For example, in context with psychological needs
Virgin plc make sure that employees are being provided with healthy and safe atmosphere in
which easy access of food and other basic necessities to workers is being provided. Along with
this, in terms with safety needs leaders and managers of Virgin plc ensures that financial security
to employees is being provided with the help of implementing all the essential employment
welfare and health and well-being laws in order to provide safety to employees against any
accident or injury. Furthermore, in terms with love and belonging needs company effectively
develop interpersonal relationship among workers with the help of conducting different type of
activities and making them perform their roles and responsibilities in a team. While in terms with
esteem need Virgin plc make sure that each and every employee get respected. In this company
also make sure that all the employees get dignity and reputation without discrimination on any
basis. While at last in terms with self-actualization need to enhance personal growth Virgin plc
provide rewards and promotion to workers according to their performance. Thus, from the above
analysis it has been identified that Virgin plc take use of various forms of motivation strategies in
order to praise hard work of each in every employee in workplace structure. With the help of
Maslow Hierarchy of needs company focus upon basic factors like status, securities, salary,
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working condition, relationship with managers, level of supervision etc which helps Virgin plc to
acknowledge employee’s contribution in organisational goals. All these motivational strategy
helps Virgin plc to increase employee’s motivation and provide them a positive workplace
environment. However, this has been evaluated that Virgin plc rivals such as British Airways,
Spirit Airlines etc in different industries provide more attractive motivation packages to workers.
Corporate examples and literature to justify your research.
According to the above analysis of report this has been evaluated that yet different forms
of motivation strategies is being undertaken by Virgin PLC such as annual leave, training, use of
reward power and flexibility to motivate and encourage employee’s performance, competitors of
respective organisations such as British Airways undertake advantage of attractive measures to
enhance workforce motivation. For example, British Airways provide employees highly
competitive salary as compared to other rivals in industry. They also offer various benefits such
as free car parking facility, child care, season ticket loan, income protection and well-being to
work force which helps in increasing overall competition of British Airways in market. Along
with this, with the help of Herzberg's two-factor theory of motivation British Airways motivate
employees while fulfilling their basic needs (Pineda, 2021). This theory helps organisation to
promote job satisfaction as well as growth of employees by focusing on different factors such as
salary and supervision which helps in recognising employees and make them more creative,
committed and productive. It also helps respective organisation to influence motivation of skilled
and talented individuals by taking use of various motivation strategy and techniques. Virgin PLC
competitors significantly looking forward to increase organisation profitability and ability to
influence attention of more talented employees to provide higher satisfaction to consumers. This
makes Virgin PLC to make certain modification in their motivation practices to attract more
talent comparatively to rivals.
Recommendations (strategies) to increase organisational performance?
From the analysis of Virgin PLC, it has been identified that respective organisation
undertake use of efficient motivation strategies in order to encourage and motivate others.
However, it has been underlined that competitor of Virgin PLC with various motivation tactics to
attract number of talented individuals. In this there are certain recommended practices offered to
respective company.
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Digital technology for training:
Virgin PLC managers and leaders is recommended to conduct in depth research of the
motivation strategies and tactics that competitors with industry is using. This will help them to
identify the factors that will assist them to develop strong motivation strategies (Siruri and
Cheche, 2021). Along with this, managers and leader are required to take use of cross functional
teams, offer number of wellness programs, provide more incentives such as vacation days, offer
mentoring opportunities with the help of digital learning, provide education development
opportunity to embrace employee’s personal growth, take more benefits and perks, offer
mentorship programs in order to motivate employees. All these factors will significantly Virgin
PLC ability to attract talent comparatively to other rivals in industry.
Competitive motivation strategies:
Today's business world is highly competitive in which digital technology is playing
important role. Technology offers cost effective way through which organisation offer flexible
opportunity to employees. Leader and manager of Virgin PLC is recommended to use digital
technologies in which employees within the workforce can learn from their tablet, smartphone
and other portable methods. This technology will help Virgin PLC to provide wide range of
courses with different training options in a flexible and cost-effective manner. This strategy will
allow Virgin PLC to increase self-lead professional development. By taking use of video-based
training, mobile learning automation and virtual environment Virgin PLC can enhance extent of
training and development courses, through which employees can enhance their personal and
professional knowledge. This will significantly help organisation to perform roles and
responsibilities with highly talented workers.
CONCLUSION
According to the above report it has been concluded that employees play essential role for
all the organisations irrespective of its size and scope. In this company is required to manage its
workforce with the help of different strategies such as motivational strategies, leadership style
and strong management style in order to fulfil their needs and demands. From this report it has
been identified that strategies like Maslow hierarchy of needs effectively assist organisation to
identify level of needs of employees and further fulfil them with effective strategies. This
strategy significantly assist organisation to fulfil business objective in effective manner. This
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report states that there is high competition in business environment in which digital technology
and offering recognition to employees plays essential role through which organisation can be
retain them for longer period of time. With the help of this company can perform their business
operations with skilled and experienced candidates which significantly enhances organisation
goodwill and profitability in industry.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
FAKHRI, M and et. al., 2021. Democratic Leadership Practice to Construct Clan Organizational
Culture in Family Companies. The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics, and
Business, 8(1), pp.803-811.
Hilton, S.K., Arkorful, H. and Martins, A., 2021. Democratic leadership and organizational
performance: the moderating effect of contingent reward. Management Research
Review.
Chorbadzhiyska, D. and Mironova, N., 2021. Communication As A Factor Of Leadership
Style. Economics and Management, 18(1), pp.72-80.
Afolayan, O.T., 2021. Management Theories and Contemporary Issues in Managing Libraries in
Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice, pp.1A-13.
Ekemam, H.I. and Okpara, C.C., 2021. AN EXAMINATION OF THE BENEFITS OF STAFF
REDEPLOYMENT IN FORMAL ORGANIZATIONS: A CASE STUDY OF ALVAN
IKOKU FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, OWERRI. African Journal of
Social and Behavioural Sciences, 11(1).
Ali, B.J. and Anwar, G., 2021. The mediation role of change management in employee
development. Ali, BJ, & Anwar, G.(2021). The Mediation Role of Change Management
in Employee Development. International Journal of English Literature and Social
Sciences, 6(2), pp.361-374.
Pour, M.J. and Hosseinzadeh, M., 2021. An integrated framework of change management for
social CRM implementation. Information Systems and e-Business Management, 19(1),
pp.43-75.
Memon, F.A., 2021. Improving Employee’s Engagement in Change: Reassessing Kurt Lewin’s
Model. City University Research Journal, 11(1).
Savolainen, R., 2021. Cognitive Authority as an Instance of Informational and Expert
Power. Libri.
Tian, M., 2021. Power Bases and Power Tensions: A Critical Analysis of Education Inspection
Policies and Practices in China. Leadership and Policy in Schools, 20(1), pp.6-20.
Bonner, B.L., Soderberg, A.T., Meikle, N.L. and Overbeck, J.R., 2021. The effects of
experience, expertise, reward power, and decision power in groups. Group Dynamics:
Theory, Research, and Practice.
Kosmann, G. and Lucio, R.D., 2021. Dignity as Perceived by Suppliers in the Business-to-
Business Segment. In Organizational Dignity and Evidence-Based Management (pp.
203-218). Springer, Cham.
Pineda, A.J.S., 2021. An action research in bringing improvements in the work from home
(WFH) experience of a regional business team through effective employee experience
programs.
Siruri, M.M. and Cheche, S., 2021. Revisiting the Hackman and Oldham Job Characteristics
Model and Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory: Propositions on How to Make Job
Enrichment Effective in Today’s Organizations. European Journal of Business and
Management Research, 6(2), pp.162-167.
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Online
How Richard Branson motivates his staff. 2017. [Online]. Available
throughhttps://mentorlist.squarespace.com/blog/gf32
Richard Branson Leadership Style. 2021. [Online]. Available
throughhttps://financhill.com/blog/investing/richard-branson-leadership-style
The way we all work is going to change. 2021. [Online]. Available
throughhttps://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/way-we-all-work-
going-change
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