Shackleton Leadership Style: A Case Study on Crisis Management

This case study examines the Shackleton leadership style and its effectiveness in managing contemporary business crises, particularly within organizations like Sainsbury. The report identifies common management issues such as high employee turnover, job dissatisfaction, and technological advancements that can hinder organizational performance. It highlights how Shackleton's leadership principles, including motivation, collaboration, and strategic planning, can mitigate these challenges. The study recommends that organizations adopt a more inclusive and transparent culture, empowering employees through involvement in decision-making processes. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of proactive crisis management planning, risk assessment, and continuous skill development to enhance organizational resilience and promote sustainable growth in a dynamic business environment. Desklib provides access to similar case studies and solved assignments for students.

Case study

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
In the world of modernisation and industrialization, management of a company is quite
challenging to operate a business. The dynamic change in the business world brings lot of
hurdles for many industry to develop their technology, products and ideas to survive in the
competitive market. Business environment is complex and varied. In the 21st century , there are
many barriers that prevent managers and the management to achieve their organisational goals
and profit in the market (Brandebo, 2020). Businesses are putting all their efforts to overcome
such barriers to improve their performance and productivity of the organisation. There are
Shackleton leadership style that plays significant role to deal with the success of an organisation
and direct their employees to increase their efficiency towards the achievement of organisational
goal.
This report will examine the contemporary issue that creates business crisis in an
organisation. Further, it will analyse the leadership style that helps to foster the performance of
the organisation along with the recommendation that enhance the business value and growth.
TASK
The Shackleton's leadership style is the most unique leadership style that helps the
leaders to direct and lead the team through motivation technique and encouraging them to
achieve the set goal in a specified period of time. It is believed that Shackleton Leadership style
promotes strong relation among the employees to boost their morale and confidence. The skills
and knowledge has been recognised in the employees with the help of Shackleton leadership
style, As per this style, the leader is a cautious one who lead their member to cross the ice in
Antarctica with the aim of achieving the exploration. He also followed their members to
encourage their efforts in most effective way. It brings sense of belongingness and harmony
among the members to easily deal with the uncertainties and challenging business environment.
The Shackleton leadership guides the member of the organisation to deal with challenges and
threats that may arise in the business world (Faisal, Albrecht and Coetzee, 2020). It promotes
collaboration of ideas, thoughts , imagination and commitment to reduce stress level of the
employees at workplace. It requires proper plan and strategies to guide the team members

towards the achievement of organisation goal. It involves adoption of new methods, policy and
rules that helps to develop new vision and mission of the organisation. Shackleton believes in
team working and effective implementation of task among the members. The clear outlines of
assigned task and project helps to develop decision for the growth of an organisation. It promotes
honesty and idealistic approach of each of the employees working in an organisation. It is
important for the organisation to make effective planning to protect the management of finance
and investment to survive in the competitive market. The planning is executed with the help of
better leadership system who implement those set plans for improving the performance of the
organisation in the market. The management crisis is very common nowadays due to drastic
change in the external factors that not only reduce the efficiency of the organisation but reduce
the earning capacity of an organisation (Farr and Bailey, 2019). It is believed that company's
reputation is an important asset and continuos risk may harm it. The Shackleton leadership style
provide assistance to deal with business crisis. The leadership style follows the strategic rules
and principles to recover the actual performance. It avoids the risk of loss and liability, provides
the legislation to safeguard the position of business. This type of Leadership style identifies the
key personnel and recognise their efforts and potential to handle the situation. Communication
between the members is an essential part of crisis management and helps to evaluate the
effective decision for betterment of an organisation.
There are many contemporary issue arises in 21st century that crates lot of competition and
complication in the corporate world. There is rise in employment turnover, job dissatisfaction,
advancement of technology , conflicts and disputes etc.,are some of the reason that declines the
productivity of company. The organisation chosen for defining the concept of contemporary
management is Sainsbury, UK based retail store that provides quality services and food. It was
established in the year 1869 by the John James and Mary Ann with the aim of inspiring and
delighting their customers with tasty food. The change in various factors affect the overall
performance of the Sainsbury. But they have framed strategic management that impacts the
organisational functioning and growth (Ghaderi, King and Hall, 2021). The management crisis
plan is made to reduce the arises due to market fluctuation, external factor and changes in
government policies etc. The instability in the working culture and business environment
reduced the potential growth of the supermarket chain in the United kingdom. This could have a
significant influence on Sainsbury's because of risk in workforce cost and globalisation are such

factors that affects the profitability and productivity of the organisation. So, it is important for
them to consider the management crisis plans to provide safety and security from any
unpredictable events to the organisation . The crisis management helps the Sainsbury to develop
the contingency recovery plan to avoid undesirable act of the employees and stakeholders within
the organisation. It is quite important for the management to ensure safe and healthy
environment to its employees to avoid conflicts and mismanagement of work among them.
Without a plan, the risk cannot be managed effectively. Therefore, the management crisis tool is
important factor for every organisation while framing the plans and goals (Laitinen and
Ihalainen, 2022). The technological change and innovative ideas are the key to success for an
organisation as it helps the company to survive in the market by reducing all the risk that may
threat their growth. The Sainsbury does not allow their employees to take part in decisions
making , this leads to confusion and chaos among the employees related to work and projects.
They are not clearly defined their roles and responsibilities which brings dissatisfaction among
them. All these management issues affects the growth of the Sainsbury company. These kinds of
management issues are causing serious problem to retain in the competitive market for a long
run. This is the main reason for losing the talented employees who have specialised skills and
knowledge to ensure growth of Company. The internal environment must be positive in order to
enhance the efforts of their employees and management .
Recommendation
It has been suggested to the management of the Sainsbury that they are required to
modified their organisational culture and leadership style to avoid the uncertainties and dynamic
business environment. The Shackleton Leadership style is the most effective strategic tool that
help the leaders to manage task and work to bring transparency in the working culture. It is
important for company to give more freedom and involving in the process of decision making to
motivate them for the common goal. The organisational culture must be created positive so that
thoughts and ideas can be easily shared to frame effective plans. It brings unity and peace among
members that leads to increase in productivity. It reduces the chances of conflict and dispute
among the employees in an organisation (Mather, 2020). The management crisis plan must be
frame to understand the reason and impact of uncertainty of business market and alarm the
company to take preventive measure to overcome such barriers. They should provide training

and skill development programme to enhance their creativity and knowledge in the relevant
field. They are required to give attention to risk assessment, liability and security to ensure the
safety of the employees. The management is requires to frame business case by establishing a
link among the organisation plan and mission to balance the performance of an organisation.
They are required to use the resources in most efficient by avoiding its wastage during the
uncertain and unpredictable business condition. At the time of crisis, the employees and other
stakeholders provide convenient way to access communication from other business community
to understand the market behaviour and demand to survive in the competitive market.
CONCLUSION
From this above report, it has been concluded that there are many contemporary issue that
affects the management of an organisation as it involves factor life poor coordination, high
employment turnover, lack of communication , leadership skill etc. However, Shackleton style of
leadership plays significant role to reduce the impact of such crisis and ensure the growth of an
organisation. It encourage the employees towards the achievement of common goal. It direct the
employees to involve in the process of decision making to ensure their participation in the
success of the company. It boost up the morale and confidence of employees. Adoption of new
technology and innovative ideas promote the higher growth and increase the productivity and
efficiency of their employees. Therefore , it is important for the management to consider all the
essential factors to cope up with the drastic business environment.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Brandebo, M.F., 2020. Destructive leadership in crisis management. Leadership & Organization
Development Journal, 41(4), pp.567-580.
Faisal, A., Albrecht, J.N. and Coetzee, W.J., 2020. Renegotiating organisational crisis
management in urban tourism: strategic imperatives of niche construction. International
Journal of Tourism Cities, 6(4), pp.885-905.
Farr, M. and Bailey, D., 2019. Uniting business continuity management and operational risk
management. Journal of business continuity & emergency planning, 12(4), pp.294-300.
Ghaderi, Z., King, B. and Hall, C.M., 2021. Crisis preparedness of hospitality managers:
evidence from Malaysia. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights.
Halan, D., 2021. E-tailers adaptation during early stages of “social distancing causing crises”: an
exploratory study. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management.
Laitinen, I. and Ihalainen, J., 2022. Organisational learning during the coronavirus pandemic: A
case study on models for extended learning and complexity management. Journal of
Adult and Continuing Education, p.14779714221079367.
Mather, P., 2020. Leadership and governance in a crisis: some reflections on COVID-
19. Journal of Accounting & Organizational Change.
Ozanne, L.K., Ballantine, P.W. and Mitchell, T., 2020. Investigating the methods and
effectiveness of crisis communication. Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector
Marketing, 32(4), pp.379-405.
Saide, S. and Sheng, M.L., 2021. Knowledge exploration–exploitation and information
technology: crisis management of teaching–learning scenario in the COVID-19
outbreak. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 33(8), pp.927-942.