Leadership Application Paper: Smartphone Company Case Study Analysis

This leadership application paper analyzes a case study of a smartphone manufacturing company's leadership retreat, focusing on the company's social contribution and ethical responsibilities. The paper examines the ethical dilemma arising from the potential dangers of the company's products, particularly smartphones, and the conflicting viewpoints of the CEO, marketing manager, and other leaders. The marketing manager raises concerns about accidents caused by device misuse, prompting a discussion on the company's role in promoting safer usage. The paper assesses the ethical stances of different leaders, evaluating the industry leader's role in promoting responsible product use and the importance of incorporating negative aspects in the overall business model. It concludes by highlighting the significance of ethical and socially responsible leadership in mitigating the potential harm caused by the company's products and ensuring long-term sustainability. The paper references DuBrin's work on leadership, providing a theoretical framework for its analysis.

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Leadership Application Paper
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Summary
The case study is about a day retreat organized for top-level leaders in a manufacturing company
that makes smartphones and tablets, among many other devices. The main aim of the retreat was
to discuss how well the company was contributing to the society, and as pointed out by the
Technology chief and the CEO, the company, through its products, made life more comfortable,
allowing users to access information easily and making people productive (DuBrin, 2015, p.
165). It's with a touch of a button that one can have access to all information they need; the
devices also enabled companies to hire few people, thus lowering the cost of production as they
embrace technology. However, the marketing manager raises a point during the conversation
about a rising number of deaths and accidents caused by these devices. He acknowledges that
there are laws in different states forbidding using phones while driving, but they have been
largely ignored. He asks the company to consider a way that it can use lead its customers in
using the devices in a way that won't harm or kill others. Still, the company CEO thinks that not
their responsibility but rather a responsibility for schools and local governments.
Question 1
The industry leader plays a vital role in the promotion of the product through advertising and
other means. Since the company creates the products, it can also encourage safer use of the
products by warning people of the harmful consequences that the smartphones and other devices
have on their lives and the lives of other people when misused. The company can also develop
technology that detects when a person is driving and automatically switch off the call and
chatting options to avoid some of these accidents. As an industry leader, the company can initiate
programs that will foster ethical behavior inside and outside the company; these will sensitize
and convince the customers to carefully use their smartphones and other devices.

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Question 2
The company should keep Derek as the marketing manager. Although his perspective seems
negative, he sees the picture from a realistic global point of view stating the facts and analyzing
how the company is involved and if it's responsible for the problems. Dereck presents an
essential factor that many have not realized since its necessary to analyze all the advantages and
disadvantages so that you can work on improving the situation. It's through analyzing such
negative situations created by the company products that a company can contribute to providing
the solution, thus making it socially responsible and thus help in the marketing of the company.
Derek is thus morally responsible and honest than other leaders in the company (DuBrin, 2015,
p. 150). Derek also openly supports the uses of smartphones and the industry since they make
people's lives more comfortable and provides a lot of jobs to people. The main reason for him is
for the company to be socially responsible and aware of the cons of the product in the industry is
selling.
Question 3
The opinion of Olivia and Raphael shows that they are unethical and irresponsible. The duo
Olivia and Raphael deny responsibility for the deaths that are caused by smartphones; they only
mention the benefits and advantages of using smartphones and how their devices have helped the
society. They forget about all other problems that the devices may cause to customers and the
whole community in general since they believe that they cannot be held responsible for issues
that are indirectly generated from their products. They are only concerned with selling the
product, and therefore they do not care what happens to the society; this makes them unethical
leaders who are not socially responsible, and consequently, they cannot present the company as a

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socially responsible company and they can limit the growth of the company leading to
bankruptcy or rather result into conviction of the company (DuBrin, 2015, p. 152).

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References