BA Business Studies: Contemporary Management Issues Report Analysis

This report delves into the characterization of Shackleton's leadership style, highlighting its significance in navigating contemporary business crises. It explores key lessons derived from Shackleton's approach, emphasizing their applicability to modern organizational challenges. The report further analyzes an organizational situation, specifically focusing on Marks and Spencer, through the lens of various leadership schools, critically evaluating its performance. It provides detailed recommendations for enhancing performance and boosting value within the chosen business context, drawing on the principles of effective leadership. The report concludes with a synthesis of findings, underscoring the importance of proactive crisis management and the pivotal role of leadership in achieving organizational objectives.

Contemporary
Management Issues

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
Characterisation of Shackleton’s leadership style. Important lessons which can be learned the
article in the context of contemporary business organisations in a crisis...................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
In relation to a business example of choosing, critically analyse and evaluate an organisational
situation by drawing on the schools of leadership. Also, recommendations for improving
performance and enhancing value...............................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
It is important for business to manage its resources so that it can yield higher profit. In
today's dynamic business world, it becomes challenging for business to operate their functions.
Rapid change in business creates challenges and it is needed to upgrade technology and products
in order to remain competitive in dynamic environment. There are many obstacles which limits
growth of company and makes it complex for manager to overcome these barriers. So it is
important to formulate effective strategy which will enhance productivity of company as well as
performance. This project report is based on Shackleton leadership style which contributes in
attainment of goals effectively and efficiently. This report will cover contemporary issues which
creates business crisis within organisation. In addition to that, it will analyse leadership style
which help in enhancing performance of company along with justified recommendation for
growth of company.
TASK 1
Characterisation of Shackleton’s leadership style. Important lessons which can be learned the
article in the context of contemporary business organisations in a crisis
Leadership plays an important role in defining success of business organisation.
Shackleton leadership style facilitates leaders in directing and motivating workforce towards
accomplishment of organisational goals and objectives (Kang, Diao and Zanini, 2020). It also
helps in boosting morale of employees along with maintaining healthy relationship with
stakeholders of company. This style of leadership helps company in leading their team members
towards fulfilment of objectives. It makes employees more productive by filling them will
motivation so that they can work with peak potential. It facilitates in creating harmony among
team mates and makes it easier to anticipate uncertainties. This type of leadership instructs and
guides member to deal with uncertainties and challenges which may threat to company's
performance. It facilitates in maintaining collaboration, sharing of thoughts and ideas as well as
to reduce stress level of employees within workplace. It encompasses with various new policies
to be introduced in order to create vision and mission of company. Shackleton believed that work
can be done effectively and efficiently if it is allocated to right team with correct implementation.
He believes in honesty and idealistic approach to each employee working in company. It is
needed to formulate effective management planning strategies and to use its resources optimally

which contributes in attainment of goals within time frame period. Planning can be done by
effective leadership style in order to enhance company's productivity and performance.
From the article of Koehn (2010), it could be learned that there are various business crisis
due to several factors which lowers down efficiency of company along with declining
profitability (Koehn, 2010)). It may affect company's reputation too and Shackleton leadership
facilitates in dealing with such crisis effectively. It follows management principles in order to
recover from impact of pandemic. It can analyse employee's efforts so as to find capability to
solve issues. It is needed to have effective communication among team members which can
facilitate in solving problems by taking correct decision. Various contemporary issues such as
unemployment, technological upgradation, job dissatisfaction, disputes and conflicts are some
contemporary issues.
TASK 2
In relation to a business example of choosing, critically analyse and evaluate an organisational
situation by drawing on the schools of leadership. Also, recommendations for improving
performance and enhancing value
The company that have been chosen in this report to discuss contemporary management is
Marks and Spencer, a British multinational retailer, headquartered in Paddington. It was founded
in 1884 by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer. Its main focus is to provide quality clothing
with reasonable price. In order to eliminate impact of crisis, it formulates management strategies.
There are various factors that affects profitability of company. Having a foster environment
facilitates in boosting employee morale and more employee engagement which makes it easier to
attain organisational goals. In today's digital world, technology makes work easier and leads to
effective working. There is biasness among workers based on salary which may cause job
dissatisfaction. All the issues affect company's performance and brings down profitability.
Company is losing its existing employees because of above factors and needed to be taken care.
As company lacks in leadership style which creates complexities in operating and directing its
workforce.
Recommendation
As company is facing various issues and it is needed to take corrective measures in order to
elevate its performance. It is important to improvised organisational culture so that it can

eliminate risk and avoid uncertainties. Shackleton leadership style helps leaders in managing
their task along with other activities. Company should be given right to employees to give their
suggestions and opinions in decision making as it creates a sense of involvement and feel valued
part of company. The organisational culture must align with goals and objectives and must be
provided with foster working environment so that employees can work with peak potential
towards attainment of goals (Iszatt-White, M. and Saunders, 2017). There should be complete
harmony among employees so that they can coordinate and use their relevant skills in making
project or task successful. It is needed to formulate crisis plan in order to identify reason and its
impact on business. Effective strategies help in eliminating risk associated with management
crisis.
CONCLUSION
From the above information, it was concluded that contemporary issues can bring down
efficiency of company along with declining in overall performance. It is important to take
immediate and corrective measures which will minimise its impact on business operation. It can
be eliminated by Shackleton leadership style in which it provides the way to handle such crisis. It
helps in motivating employees and boost morale. It also enhances self-confidence. Technology
helps in effective working with less human interaction. By opting this leadership style, company
can improve productivity and performance of company and makes it easier to accomplish
organisational goals. So it is important to undertakes all factors in order to minimise impact of
business crisis.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bragg, M., 2018. The Endurance: Three Lessons in Leadership from Ernest
Shackleton. GPSolo, 35, p.7.
Iszatt-White, M. and Saunders, C., 2017. Leadership. Oxford University Press.
Kang, J., Diao, Z. and Zanini, M.T., 2020. Business-to-business marketing responses to COVID-
19 crisis: a business process perspective. Marketing Intelligence & Planning.
Koehn, N., 2019. Leadership forged in crisis. Leader to Leader, 2019(91), pp.26-31.
Online:
Koehn. N. F. 2010. Leadership in Crisis: Ernest Shackleton and the Epic Voyage of the
Endurance. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.gonder.org.tr/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/salvipdf.pdf