Management, Leadership, and Organizational Change at Amazon

This essay examines management, leadership, and change within Amazon, focusing on its acquisition of Whole Foods in 2017. It discusses strategic leadership's role in facilitating change management and development, emphasizing the importance of HRM in employee management and motivation. The essay analyzes Amazon's readiness to change, highlighting the need for internal and external factor analysis. It explores various management and leadership approaches, such as situational and participatory leadership, and the significance of change strategies for organizational development. The essay also covers the importance of strategic management, ethical leadership, and transformational leadership in navigating change, mentioning Kotter's Change Management Model. It concludes by emphasizing the need for leaders to understand the consequences of change and adapt leadership traits accordingly, highlighting how the Whole Foods acquisition made Amazon more competitive and created new business opportunities.

Management,
leadership and change

Contents
INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................3
ESSAY.......................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................................15
Lessons learnt...........................................................................................................................16
Appendix..................................................................................................................................17
SWOT analysis.........................................................................................................................17
PESTLE analysis.....................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................20

INTRODUCTION
The leadership and human resource management are considered as two important
functions of the organisation which are effective in managing employees and human resource
management is most important one due to its functions (Armstrong, and Taylor, 2020). The
change management is also an integral component of the organisation that supports a
company to perform key functions according to the need of business. Strategic leadership is a
key concept which helps in designing policies and plans related to leadership and its
functioning. The different business organisations should focus on strategic leadership in order
to facilitate change management and development. The essay will also include focus on
SWOT analysis of the company to focus on strengths and weaknesses of a business entity. In
this essay, various approaches to management and leadership which are effective in order to
deal with different consequences related to employee management. This reprot includes
example of Amazon companu which is an e-commerce company operationg in different parts
of the world . The Amazon was founded in the year 1994 and its headquarters are situated in
United States of America. This essay will include organisational change which Amazon
experienced when it acquired Whole Foods in the year 2017.

ESSAY
Amazon is an online shopping app that helps its customers in reaching various goods
and products and other facilities to be available at their doorstep. Amazon has global reach
with availability of all kinds of goods and products, allowing its customers to have a large
variety of resources and choices. These choices are unlimited and allows its customers to opt
for their choices from all the available options. Amazon lets it’s all users to have anything
and everything from all over the globe as it has global reach and the availability of its
products at their doorstep makes its different and unique from other applications. Amazon is
founded by Jeff Bezos and is performing key operations related to e-commerce in various
countries. The change faced by Amazon is faced when it acquired Whole Foods in the year
2017. This bought major change in the operations and management of company. The
Amazon is getting prepared for facing the change and also managing change according to
current competitive surroundings. Strategic change is termed as key technique in order to deal
with future objectives and goals.
The HRM is termed as key and main body of an organisation, which is helpful in
increasing employee's management in a precise manner. Readiness to change is ability to deal
with situations and issues based on change. The HRM is also concerned with providing
motivation to employees (Role of HRM in a business, 2022). With the support and help of
motivation, HR manager can increase the mental strength in employees as well as can
develop emotional intelligence (Banfield, Kay, and Royles, 2018). The capability of a
company to face the change is strength of a company which is required to facilitate key
operations and development-based perspectives. Readiness for change should be there in the
employees of Amazon to face change with a strategic approach. In the business world, it is
key responsibility of a business to put emphasis on analysing major internal and external
factors for facing the desired change according to market demand. The Leadership is also one
of the important activity of an organisation supports a business to manage key operations
related to change with effectiveness (Beattie, and Wyer, 2019). In an organisation, it is key
role of management to facilitate leadership management using appropriate tools and
techniques. The human resource management also plays a major role in providing training to
employees for gaining competitive advantage. Conflict management is also facilitated by
HRM in an organisation in order to achieve key advantages in management of employee
problems.

The HR management of a company is also effective in making precise culture of the
organisation. With the help of culture management, a company can develop effective internal
environment which is good for employee management. The internal environment of an
organisation is essential to be maintained and developed with the help of major policies and
plans. In leadership, there are various activities and functions which are helpful in controlling
the employees. Change management is the important function of leadership which helps
employees to get more comfortable according to situtaion. All major business organisations
which are competing in the international marketplace like Amazon should take into
consideration key approaches to management and leadership. The management of a business
should include key considerations which are important for welfare of whole organisation.
Situational leadership and participatory leadership are also one of the major approaches
which helps a leader to act according to the situation (Clepper, 2018). All major business
organisations should develop a key approach in performance management to focus on
different aspects of business development. In the overall development of an organisation,
human resource management is also responsible for providing professional training and
development. This is one of the major roles of a company to include hiring of employees on
the basis of market demand and their qualifications. The Human resource management also
play an important role in increasing business strength by managing all the employees of
company.
The change strategy is considered as key approach which helps an organisation to
overcome change (Change strategy of a business, 2022). In the organisational development,
change strategy plays a key role by increasing organisational strength with the help of ethical
approach (Crosweller, and Tschakert, 2020). The planning of a company according to
situation of marketplace is also facilitated with management strategies related to change. In
order to facilitate change management, it is key duty of an organisation to put emphasis on its
strengths and weaknesses. It is major responsibility of a business to analyse all major factors
associated with internal and external environment in order to develop a precise and focused
approach in the business world. After acquiring Whole Foods company, Amazon should
implement change strategy with full control and supervision in order to achieve key results.
Company should also put emphasis on different business associated factors and its
surrounding environment to include positive business practises on key and major basis.
Policies, strategies and processes of an organisation should be changed or reviewed from time
to time for more growth and development of that organisation. These all are changed with the

motive of achieving goals and objectives effectively and efficiently. These changes also lead
the entities to be updated with all the new trends, innovations and inventions that are going
on in any economy. Amazon uses this change for keeping updates with new trendy things and
all other benefits that come with these changes. The strategic management and leadership are
two most important elements which are responsible for growth and development of company
(Doyle, and Brady, 2018).
The change in strategies and process are like putting people first. It is important to put
people first for overall growth and development, being people and customers as the most
important part for Amazon, it is necessary to fulfil all needs and wants of customers for
overall growth and development of it. With change in the management model, Amazon also
gets benefits in different ways as this change in model can reduce various costs and can
increase the overall efficiency of its staff members and employees. Amazon can also
empower its employees by making their communication as the strongest part or working
essential part of it. With more implementation and functioning of change related leadership
styles and more involvement of employees within its functions can also lead to more effective
working and operating of its functioning in between its staff members and employees The
preparetery leadership is considered as major approach which helps a leader to get ready for
the new change situation. The selection of transformational leadership is most appropriate for
a company in order to develop effectiveness in change management based approachhes
(Evans, 2020) Amazon should try to make all its changes more exciting to work and for its
usage among employees. With this, staff members will be working more fairly and honestly
for and with the organisation. When these changes are made, Amazon should make sure to
notice its high and low points or features or functions, making it weak points strong and
strong points a little stronger. Resistance should also be considered by the top-level
management as an important part of changing strategies and other process. This resistance
acts as a barrier for growth and development for Amazon. Keeping in mind all these
resistances, there solutions and other ways to implement them should be considered for
overall growth and development. The HR team and management should be responsible for all
human resources of Amazon, be it workers, delivery agents, employees or any other staff
members. It is necessary for a leader to be more ethical to employees in order to make
employees full of honesty and integrity. Leaders should get their work done from the
employees on proper time and HR team, manager should also fulfil all its duties and
responsibilities on proper time with great outcomes for the company. The transformational

leadership is considered as key approach which also results in managing a team with full
change in strategies and actions (Faupel, and Süß, 2019).
It is essential for a business entity like Amazon to focus on implementing best
practices related to strategic leadership and change in order to lead the marketplace. It is one
of the major roles of a leader to choose one of the major strategic theories of leadership for
facing the change. In the recent times, it is key role of a business to focus on implementation
of right approach to develop systematic leadership operations. The main leadership theory
which Amazon can choose to implement in the organisation is Trait theory. The trait theory
of leadership states that leaders are born not made. The trait leadership theory includes
different personality factors which play a key role in increasing leadership’s strength. These
personality factors are openness to experience, extroversion, Neuroticism and agreeableness.
Next is transactional theory which states that good leaders reward positive actions and punish
negative actions. The leadership should take assistance of strategic management to focus on
key plans and policies. In the transformational theory, the great leaders can stimulate their
employees to be more creative and reach their full potential. Change management models are
considered as key approach in handling key situations of the company (Galli, 2018) In order
to face the major change, it is crucial role of a leader to develop critical understanding of the
consequences and issues related to change and choose essential trait accordingly.
The change process at Amazon was led with full-fledged actions and goals which are
essential in increasing overall development of the organisation. The change was led by
leaders in the form of HR manager and top level manager which took all administrative
actions (Heathfield, 2019). This is one of the major role of a leader to focus on analysing the
current situation and act accordingly. Change which was faced by Amazon in acquiring
Whole Food company also made it more competitive and increased its market potential. The
training and development to different employees of Amazon was also a key The Acquisition
based change also created different business opportunities which were effective in making
company more dynamic. The supply chain management of the organisation should be also
controlled by leaders at Amazon after acquisition in order to gain effectiveness in major
operations. In order to deal with key consequences of the acuisition, it is crucial for a leader
to take assistance of transformational leadership for better results. First is Kotter’s Change
Management Model is used by Amazon management and this change model is most popular
in world. In this change model management focuses on employee’s response to change in
increase urgency in this management create some urgency between all employees in

organization so that employees of amazon become motivated and perform their task with
more responsibility and engage them in process only. Amazon’s management have to build a
team which have different types of skills and knowledge which help them organization to
perform different task. Vision which is set by an organization of Amazon must be realistic, it
is practically possible to achieve those objectives of organization and vision help employees
to motivate their work because they know that what they are working for to achieve so it is
important that organization must have clear vision. The main effect of transformational
leadership is, it increases the chances of handling the new situation in a precise manner.
Communicate with employees in organization and tell them about changes being
implemented so that they what is going in organization and they also prepare for that change
and plan the work accordingly. Performance management was also a key factor which was
very helpful in supporting the change (Kerber, and Buono, 2018). Selection of appropriate
leadership theory also created a good direction in order to make the change successful. The
change was very much successful with the support of essential strategy and approach. The
change was also successful as it increased profitability and revenue of company. The change
also helped Amazon to achieve competitive advantage and move ahead of competitors in a
well-defined manner.
HR involvement must be there related to a business in maximum manner in an
organisation for the development of key objectives and goals (Lee, 2018). Also, with the
support of HR involvement, an organisation can develop key approach at the marketplace and
face change in a precise manner. Leaders include various skills and competencies which are
important for leading the team in an organisation. Leaders at Amazon focus on development
of key skills in themselves as well as in employees to perform key operations. The time
management skills are important for a leader to be developed in order to facilitate key
operations and functions. Skill related to management of time helps a leader and employees
to manage day to day tasks with efficiency. It is also major duty of the human resource
management to consider environmental surroundings in order to perform sustainable
practices. All major companies focus on development of time management skills in order to
gain competency edge. In order to face the change, decision making skills should be also
present in a leader in order to develop effectiveness in key operations. The leader should also
have leadership skills and must choose the best leadership style to manage the employees
(Lumbers, 2018). Leader at Amazon use democratic leadership style to manage key
employees. Democratic leadership style is a major tool which helps in formulating key

decisions of the organisation. It is one of the major role of a leader to focus on
implementation of democratic leadership style to increase participation of employees. The
selection of appropriate change management models should be there in an organisation to
develop effectiveness. The leader at Amazon also focuses on development of employees by
rewarding them with key monetary and non-monetary benefits. Human resource management
of a business should also help employees by providing quick resolution of the problems
(Macke, and Genari, 2019). The main role of human resource management is to focus on key
functions of the company and achieve main aims and targets of the organsiation in a set
period of time. It is essential for the company to focus on goals and objectives and achieve
them with key focus on management-based approaches.
The leaders at Amazon also focus on implementation of best and suitable leadership
style in order to lead the marketplace (Marshall, 2019). In order to gain effective edge over
different competitors, it is essential for Amazon to focus on development-based targets. In
order to increase the competitive strength of a company to analyse the major factors which
are important for considering key approach to the organisation. Board of directors and top
level management should focus on analysing their needs and wants of employees to perform
operations in a better manner (Mantulenko, and Aleshkova, 2021) In the stiff competition era,
it is major role of a business to analyse the employee demands and needs which are important
for development of a company. The different companies should develop a systematic
marketing approach in order to gain competency edge. The support of executive is essential
for a leader in order to develop necessary approach in dealing with major situations. This is
one of the major roles of a business to focus on organisational growth with key emphasis on
tools and techniques for overall growth. The main function of a business at the marketplace
should be development of various factors that are required for company development. –
Leadership will lead to influence skills and capabilities of employees so that they can conduct
task and activities in effective manner (Mendez, 2020). The Amazon company regularly
focuses on implementing participative leadership style which increases the involvement of
employees in key functions of the organisation. The different employees of the company are
also motivated with the support of participative leadership style. Also the main functions of a
company are increased with the key focus on management styles and their implementation. In
the recent times, different business organisations support the participative leadership style to
take decisions with less involvement of risk. The Amazon company also issues key

guidelines which are important for development of appropriate leadership styles and also
ensures their implementation.
This is one of the major roles of top-level management and board of directors of
Amazon company to develop planning framework and strategy. In the recent times, many
companies focus on increasing business strength by taking into consideration key models and
theories.. The SWOT analysis will help Amazon to analyse its current situation and act
according to key market forces and demand. In the development of a company, it is essential
role of management to focus on analysing key factors which are associated with internal and
external environment. In the supply chain of the organization, it is essential to take into
consideration decisions made by leaders. The management of Amazon company should
perform SWOT analysis with the help and support of professional employees to maintain
optimum decorum at the marketplace.
In this section, example of situation where Amazon has acquired Whole Foods
company is taken into consideration. This acquisition bought major change in the company
and is demanding management roles in order to deal with situation.
Now Amazon apply of application key chain models in organization that is help management
to find out each potential areas of business and implement different strategies to reduce or
minimise those hurdles which come have to prepare before start the process. This change
model helps employees of organization to improve their communication and make effective
strategy in reference to organization survival in market for long term. There are various types
of change model which management of organization have to apply to become more effective
in making and implementing strategy and make organization sustain long term in market.
First change model is Kotter’s Change Management Theory is used by Amazon management
to motivate people for their work and their responsibility which they are assigned by
organization management (Mira-Bohigas, 2021). This will help to build change in team with
their leaders of different skills and ability of their each department of organization.
Management have to communicate every time with their change management process so that
they know the working status and they make sure that everyone knows there role to perform
in their organization. In this management of Amazon create a short-term goal to break their
change management into achievable steps towards their main primary objectives. Second is
McKinsey Change Management Model is used by Amazon’s management to plan strategies
and prepare structure of organization. In this also management have to examine how much

staff required and types skills required in employees to perform activity of organization.
Third is ADKAR change Management Model n this model Management of Amazon have to
examine all gaps which is arise while accomplishing the objectives and bridge all gaps so that
next time is not happened in organization while achieving objectives (Morin, 2018). The
change leadership is considered as key approach in maintaining operations of the business
firm. ADKAR stands for Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability and Reinforcement
respectively. This all factors have to focus by management to accomplished organization
objectives. Fourth is Kubler-Ross this model is different from other models because in this
management have focus to employee oriented in Amazon Organization. In this loss of job,
change in work condition and more other health issues of employees in organization have to
understand by management. In this Denial stage where employees are not ready and willing
or accepting change in organization and next stage is and anger where employee lose their
patience level and become anger in organization. Fifth stage is Lewin’s change management
model in this management of Amazon is applied in organization to better understand of
change in structure and this model contain 3 main stages which are first is Unfreeze which is
for preparation stage where employees get prepared for change in organization. Second is
Change in this new strategies and plans is implemented by good leadership and effective
employee communication and third stage is Refreeze where employees are preparing their
mind set and back to their work in organization. Six stages is Bridges Transition Model in
which management of Amazon used for emotional scenarios in organization if employees is
suffering from any emotional stage due to their personal reason then management is
communicate with that employee and try to take out from their emotional state, so that they
able to perform their organizational responsibility which they assign to perform. This Bridges
Transition Model having three steps which help management of Amazon to help out their
employees from emotional stage . First Steps is Ending, losing and letting go means in this
management have to realise employee that which is gone this will never come again, so try
and work hard for next opportunity. Second Step is Neutral Steps in which employees are
stuck between new and old opportunity so for this management guide them in a right
direction to move. Third steps is New Beginning in this employees is finally out from their
emotional stage in their life and ready to accept changes and make comfortable in new
changes in organization (Outram, and Parkin, 2020).
HR leadership is very important aspect for management of organization. HR is pillars
of organization because it always helps management to examine all work forces which is

required to perform an activity of organization. HR is responsible for that they help
employees in organization that they must feel comfortable and if any issue is faced by an
employee then HR have responsibility that they must have to resolve problems of employees
and provide them solution and this will make employee more sustain in organization for long
time (Peters, and Hopkins, 2019). There are different leadership skills which HR has to
perform in Amazon organization. First leadership skills which HR have to play in
organization is Transformational Leadership in this leadership HR have to work with unique
style in organization so that it motivates employees to perform their task with most effective
way (HR involvement, 2022). In Amazon organization HR has to make sure that each
employee is fully potential to perform their task with very unique style so that they influence
other workers to perform and enhance their performance.
Second is Participatory Leadership in this employee must have that skills to take out
themselves from any situation which arise in organization and HR of Amazon should take
care that employees are facing any issue in organization which will hamper their work then
HR should help employee to get out from this situation. Third is Situational Leadership in
which employees of Amazon make leaders according to situation arise and they believe that
this representative can resolve this problem and HR have to take care that this that issue will
not go longer and as soon as possible resolve this problem making good resolution from this
problem. Amazon can also take assistance of transformational leadership to include focus on
key functions of the organization (Philip, 2021). The main approach in leadership focus on
behavior of employees to formulate key regulations and objectives. HR responsibility
because if any issue is arising in organization then HR have responsibility to solve that issue
by making most effective decision so that employees will be motivated for their work and
responsibility in organization. It will enhance their work performance in organization and it
indirectly impact organization growth and achieved organization goal with efficiency. If
problem was not solved by HR, then employee don’t perform their task with full motivation
and it will create another problem in organization and it will affect production and
performance level of organization and employees too. Fourth is Transactional Leadership in
which HR have to motivate their hard worker employees by appreciating their work in front
of all organizational employees and giving rewards so that they also feel motivated for their
responsibility and they are fully potential to their work. If some employees are not
performing their task then HR have to communicate with them and ask about their problems
and make them comfortable so that employees don’t feel pressure for their responsibility and