Contemporary Issues in Management: Leadership, Culture, and Strategy

This report analyzes contemporary issues in management, focusing on the relationship between leadership and personal values, as well as the impact of leadership styles on organizational culture and performance. The first assessment discusses the importance of translating personal values into calculated action for effective leadership, drawing on the article 'The Discipline of Building Character.' The second assessment involves an essay that examines two organizations, Coca-Cola and an unnamed second company, with different leadership styles. Coca-Cola is used as an example of transformational leadership. The report also suggests alternative leadership styles for each organization to overcome challenges in contemporary management. The analysis covers key concepts such as transformational leadership, organizational culture, and the importance of aligning company values with individual values. The report emphasizes the need for managers to make tough decisions and foster a harmonious work environment to achieve organizational goals. The report also highlights the importance of managers identifying the potential in each individual and allowing them to perform to the best of their capabilities. Overall, the report provides a detailed overview of leadership challenges and strategies in contemporary management, including examples from Coca-Cola's leadership approach.

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Title: Contemporary Issues in Management
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Contemporary Issues in Management 1
Table of Contents
Assessment 1..............................................................................................................................2
Assessment 2..............................................................................................................................7
References................................................................................................................................13

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Assessment 1
The difference between leaders and followers is that there is a capacity in leaders to
accommodate the needs of the people and convert their values into action which can help
them to achieve the desired results. There are many choices which a person faces in his day to
day life. As well explained in the article “The Discipline of Building Character”, it can be
understood that there are often many choices which a person faces. The choices are not in
terms of ethical decisions wherein they have to choose from right or wrong. However, the
choice is between two rights which make the problem altogether difficult to solve without
taking some hard decisions (Badaracco, Jr., 2006).
The basic attribute that segregates different people is the personal values that a person
follows. It is a result of personal experiences which enable them to take difficult decisions.
This allows them to face an adverse situation and effectively draw out concrete conclusions.
Some decisions are very tough as it requires an immense knowledge and thorough
understanding, without which a final decision cannot be made. There are various ways in
which a manager solves these kinds of problems.
An idea can be the foundation of the solution to a business problem, but for
adequately solving a problem one has to build an action plan based on the personal values
inhibited in them. This will enable them to take calculative action which will be effective in
solving a business problem (Jenkins, 2014). A manager has to identify what are the crucial
points which have to be considered while taking up any responsibility for the activities in the
business.
Time and again, it is the responsibility of the managers to take decision for the
business, so that there is no ambiguity on the part of activities done in a business. Managers

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have to act as superior to drive calculative action through their personal values. On several
occasions, a manager has to face different choices for making a decision wherein each choice
will serve a different purpose. Also, the choices will seem too difficult. This will lead to
constraints within an organization and the manager has to take decisions tactfully in order to
encourage a sense of gratification within the stakeholders in a business (Renko et al., 2013).
Managers and companies have to define the core values based on which they will
work. This will harmonize the culture within an organization and will enable managers to
take effective decisions. Managers have to define for themselves and for the organization as
to what values will it serve and how it will go through the entire process. There has to be a
defining moment for the activities to be done in a business so that the workforce knows the
decisions has to be made in case of a dilemma. The decisions taken in the organization shall
be such that it takes into consideration the needs of the workers. Managers should take care
of all the ethical concerns that can impact the employees. If not, it will lead to an
environment of distrust within the workforce (Yahaya and Ebrahim, 2016). Additionally,
company executives have to consider the needs of all its stakeholders to take better decisions
in day to day business of a company.
Managers can effectively increase their importance by taking effective decisions
while performing the day to day activities in the organization. The manager will be allowed
to take high stake decisions which will improve their worth to the organization. The process
of becoming high performing leaders will be established through acting on the personal
values of the managers and how effectively they can handle crisis situations. There are
various examples wherein one person enabled an organization to have a grand vision which
in turn enabled them to reach new heights. There have been numerous instances in the
organization where the people are dedicated to solving problems every day and there are no
boundaries to the output they give to the organization. When an organization fosters talent it

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produces newer leaders every day in each business cycle. There can be many examples of
such activities promoting the growth of the company as well as the managers working.
Leaders are exceptional in handling stressful situations so that the general workforce
can tackle the activities led by the managers. There is always peer pressure on employees to
perform. However, a good leader identifies the potential in each individual and lets them
perform to the best of their capabilities. If a leader identifies the best talents of its
subordinates, it will seamlessly allow the workforce to ensure that all the activities are done
in the required manner. There has been a considerable improvement in the performance of
employees wherein a manager allows himself to get in touch with his subordinates. A
harmonized workforce would always work in tandem with the requirement of the leaders
(Yaghi, 2017).
There are some decisions which are considered as defining moments during the
business activities. These moments arise on the occasions where there are conflicting
scenarios wherein the manager has to take a decision in the best interest of the organization.
However, these are tough decisions which allow them to enrich their experiences and evolve
as per the requirements of the business. Also, an effective leader will allow the workforce to
foster their idealism so that individual interests are not hurt during the working of an
organization. The leadership is effective only when the objectives of the organization are
fulfilled along with the support of the workforce. The workforce will do anything for a leader
if he fosters their individual interests.
In considering the needs of the organization, leaders shall involve a strategy of self-
inquiry wherein it involves judging the activities required in an organization and considering
what is the measure which will suit the best for a course of action. A proper self-analysis will
enable a manager to define core values on which he will base his decisions. This will, in turn,

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allow him to establish a suitable course of action which will benefit the organization and also
ensure that there is no possibility of errors while decision making. There are numerous ways
in which a manager can gather the required information and analyze the outcomes of the
decision made. However, he has to be self-aware about his own values so that it enriches the
organization and fulfill his own personal needs. Any manager shall ensure that there is a
proper streamlining between the activities of an organization and the core values incorporated
in it (Yang, Huang and Wu, 2011).
As a summary of the above discussion, it can be noted that the path to becoming
leaders from managers entails a lot of understanding and thought to achieve the required
goals within an organization. There has been a lot of debate over this issue and an opinion
can be formed that only when a manager puts in his core personal values into critical action
he cannot be a leader in true essence. There is always a room for improvement if a manager
follows his core values and ensures that there is a well thought out plan which will enable the
workforce to achieve the desired results. A workforce is driven effectively when their
idealism matches with the company values. They have to be taught about the required efforts
and ensure to achieve the best practices in a company.
There are many moments where depicting a good character will establish a good
image for the company and will foster a humanitarian relationship within an organization.
There are moments where some tough decisions have to be taken. The decisions are not tough
because they require any ethical judgment between right and wrong. However, they require a
decision between two rights where no particular solution is wrong. Ethical judgment is easy
to make as a person knows that there is something wrong with the other activity (Maclagan
and Campbell, 2011). However, where there are decisions which require choosing between
two rights, managers have to take help from their personal values. When a manager
successfully identifies the right course of action which harmonizes the culture within the

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organization and allows it to achieve newer heights, then it will be positive for the manager.
The major characteristic which can enable the manager to become a leader will be to define
good personal values and imbibing the same within an organization.
By reviewing the articles, we can know the different requirements which have to be
known by managers to achieve a leadership quality which will enable them to solve difficult
questions within a business organization. There is always a requirement to ensure that a
business runs with a set of positive values within the organization and a set of a workforce.

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Assessment 2
Company 1: Coca-Cola HBS AG
Coca-Cola was started in 1969 and changed the state of how bottled drinks are sold all
over the world. It followed immense marketing strategies which enabled it to make the public
familiar with the product and then further increase its sales so that it could reach every
household. It also marks an occasion wherein it was manufacturing record number of
products and was known to a majority of customers around the globe. It can be seen that how
a beverage company with the help of proper advertisement strategies can cover the major part
of the world and can achieve economies of scale through which it can achieve unmatched
growth (Talug, 2018).
Coca-Cola follows a leadership approach wherein it introduces different products as
per the requirement of the intended customers and fulfills their requirements in an effective
manner. It also ensures that different segments of customers have a different basket of
products to choose from. It firmly follows a transformational leadership style and also
ensures that the managers and the workforce are aligned in a better manner so as the company
objectives are suited to individual requirements and form a basis for the achievement of
results in an organization (Rosch and Priest, 2017).
Coca-Cola has become a leadership icon which has enabled it to capture a high share
in the market. This has been possible as a result of the different activities incorporated by the
management of the company. It fosters the growth of its managers, which has enabled them
to utilize their talents for the growth of the company. The performance of the company has
also been commendable as it has achieved high continuous growth in the past years and has
been able to post higher profits for all its stakeholders. It can be seen that the managers have
made it their priority to ensure the company interests are placed before any individual’s

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interest. In case of conflicts, both the outlook has to be studied and a proper system has to be
developed so that there are no further conflicts within an organization.
There have been many instances where the company is able to meet customer
expectations as it is able to judge the behavior of the customer and how they are responding
to the introduction of new products. The existence of an effective leader will enable a
company to achieve the desired results so that it will be in tandem with the business forces in
the environment which will, in turn, enable it to maximize the capabilities of the workforce
and the managers (Oreg and Berson, 2011). Coca-Cola employs an open approach while
taking most of its employees and ensures proper training and feedback is given about each
activity. This will lead to a thorough understanding of the requirement and the processes
needed to make informed decisions in the business environment.
It is interesting to note how a company is able to stand despite so many adverse
situations against it. If effective leadership is maintained, it will enable the company to align
its activities in such a manner that it will increase production and eliminate any loopholes
within the processes. There are various issues during activities which, if ignored may pose a
serious threat to an effective work environment. Coca-Cola through its advanced supply
chain activities and streamlining of processes have been able to achieve the required goals
which have enabled the organization to achieve such huge success in such a limited amount
of time. The company has grown multiple times since its initialization in the 1960s.
Even if the growth of the company has been commendable, there can always be an
improvement in the position and the outlook of a company. There are many leadership
strategies which can be adopted to ensure that the objectives of the company are met
effectively and there is a streamlined relation between the activities and the results of the
same. One of the important leadership styles that Coca-Cola can adopt is Democratic or

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Participative leadership style. Taking into account the employees input and managing
workforce effectively can be a remarkable shift to ensure that the company is able to deliver
the right goods and services within the stipulated time frame. Coca-Cola can diversify in
terms of beverages and can enter into different segments of the same by taking initiatives as
shared by their employees. This leadership strategy will help them to focus on diversification
so that there are different activities which can be added to the domain in which a leadership
focuses.
Coca-Cola can also change its strategy by focusing on the differentiation rather than
focusing only on the beverage sector. It can change the management in such a way that
activities will be segregated and there will be different verticals within the company. This
will allow the company to tap a large market and spread across different segments where it
has not reached before (Irefin and Mechanic, 2014). Changing from vertical movement to
horizontal movement within organizations can lead an organization to expand in terms of
revenue and major activities involved to achieve the end results within a business.
In essence, the leadership of the company matters to such a great extent only due to
the reason that there is a scope of change within every sphere of business. There are various
opportunities which can be utilized to ensure that the proper results are being achieved by any
organization. There shall be no ambiguity as to what is the way ahead for a big organization.
It has to be looked into with utmost care that employees are kept at the center of each
leadership strategy and they are given proper guidance and feedback to achieve the desired
results within an organization. The leadership of a company shall not be based on different
aspects which have a little effect in the decision making i.e. the cast, creed, gender, or any
other characteristic which has only a limited effect. It can be seen within a company that the
thought process of the managers is transferred to the lower level of employees and it plays a
crucial role in whether a company is able to manage the activities involved in the same.

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Company 2: Credit Suisse
Being incorporated in 1856, Credit Suisse is an important organization in the financial
services industry. It has made a breakthrough in gender equality and making a workplace
friendly towards the female counterparts in the business. The core leadership strategy adopted
by the company has enabled the female workforce to be a part of the financial services
industry and serve in the different domains which were previously occupied only by the male
members of the industry (Vinkenburg et al., 2011). The company intensely follows the
bureaucratic leadership style and there has always been a dominance of organization where
norms of social and cultural activities are considered and an equal opportunity is given to
each and every member of the society.
Credit Suisse has made a very strong image in society and has emerged as a leader in
the financial services industry. For more than 100 years, this company is working in this
domain and has achieved newer heights with the coming years. There has been substantial
growth within this organization which is a result of the combined efforts of the workforce
within the organization. It can be seen that the organization has been able to cope up with
different adverse situations in the past, but has emerged successfully through effective
leadership and focus on quality and customer satisfaction. The leadership approach adopted
by the company is gender equality and customer satisfaction which have worked wonders for
it and has allowed it to post regular growth and profitability in the business scenario. It has
set a great example for peer organizations which are struggling for an equal standing in the
business environment.
Credit Suisse also believes in transactional leadership style wherein it supports its
staff and employees in terms of rewards and performances and ensure that they serve the
customer in the best possible manner. It has been able to achieve a superior standing in the

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financial market because of its approach towards equality and customer satisfaction
(Fitzsimons, James and Denyer, 2011). The organizations which grow quickly are often
frowned upon. However, it has proved that using unconventional strategies may also boost
sales and attract customers towards us. By employing a fair share of female employees, it not
only develops a more humanitarian approach, but imbibes a sense of belonging within
different sectors of society. By running for a very long time, the company has established a
good brand image and has emerged as a market leader in terms of customer satisfaction
(Murer and Hagen, 2014). There are various approaches which can be learned from Credit
Suisse by current business owners so that they can achieve better results in their service
industry firms.
The leadership basically consists of top-level management, which includes different
views of various top-level personnel. A detailed analysis of each decision is taken and the
effects are measured. This helps to know the outlook of different segments of individuals
towards a decision. This is a good approach in business as it allows the leader to judge the
requirements of each segment of the society and then, in turn, allow them to make adequate
changes in the same. There is always a scope of improvement if we consider the choices to be
made by keeping in mind the requirement of all the stakeholders. If in case there are clashes
between the choices, there is always a scope of improvement if all thoughts are considered.
There is always an edge with an organization which follows proper leadership
strategies while considering the activities in a business. However, it cannot be judged
beforehand if a policy is better for an organization or not. It is a very hard process to know
the outcomes of an event, but it can be made better with a well thought-out decision making
and using reliable sources to measure the outcome of a decision. This will enable the
managers to establish sound practices which take into consideration all the requirements of a
given activity and proper results can be achieved from the same (Bhatti et al., 2012). Credit

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Suisse has been a pioneer and goes to an organization wherein all the required activities are
matched with the activities of the workforce and a healthy business environment is created as
a result of the same.
To improve or re-consider the leadership strategy of Credit Suisse by employing
female members and ensuring highest customer satisfaction, it is crucial to note that there are
many ways in which a good thing can become better. There are various different approaches
which can lead to a better understanding of the requirements of the customers leading to
higher growth in the future years. It is recommended that the company should follow servant
leadership or situational leadership style. By following this approach, it can make
authoritative and collective decisions and involve a strategy of focused market penetration
through different measures which can enable it to survive in the tough market competition.
Also, market penetration will enable the company to cover a higher range of customers so it
can foster its growth to serving a higher range of customers.
Also, there may be problems arising due to the contemporary nature of management,
which hinders the process to develop and ensuring target completion. There is always a scope
for improvement within the defined processes. Market penetration will enable them to
achieve a high sense of satisfaction as they would be serving a wide range of customers and
will generate higher revenues as compared to the regular transactions within a business.
Leadership strategies play a defining role in knowing whether a company will be able
to achieve the desired results within a working environment. Proper implementation of a
strategy requires expertise as to how the activities will be planned so that there is no
ambiguity on the course of action to be followed by the workforce (Jenkins and Allen, 2017).
The best leadership strategy would be to establish effective communication within the team
which will enable them to get the desired results from the efforts put into a business vertical.

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It has to be ensured that the communication channels are adequate and ensure proper
implementation of the business strategies.

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References
Badaracco, Jr., J. (2006). The Discipline of Building Character. [online] Harvard Business
Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2006/01/the-discipline-of-building-character [Accessed
12 Apr. 2019].
Bhatti, N., Maitlo, G., Shaikh, N., Hashmi, M. and Shaikh, F. (2012). The Impact of
Autocratic and Democratic Leadership Style on Job Satisfaction. International Business
Research, 5(2), p.192.
Fitzsimons, D., James, K. and Denyer, D. (2011). Alternative Approaches for Studying
Shared and Distributed Leadership. International Journal of Management Reviews, 13(3),
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Irefin, P. and Mechanic, M. (2014). Effect of Employee Commitment on Organizational
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Jenkins, D. (2014). Teaching Leadership Online: An Exploratory Study of Instructional and
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Murer, S. and Hagen, C. (2014). Fifteen Years of Service-Oriented Architecture at Credit
Suisse. IEEE Software, 31(6), pp.9-15.

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Oreg, S. And Berson, Y. (2011). Leadership And Employees’ Reactions To Change: The
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