Diversity, Groupthink, and Leadership: A Detailed Case Study Analysis

This assignment presents a case study analysis focusing on the concepts of diversity, groupthink, and leadership styles within organizational settings. It addresses questions related to personal experiences with groupthink, the role of diversity in idea generation, and the impact of leadership on team dynamics and organizational culture. The analysis covers specific cases, including one about diversity failing to end boardroom groupthink and another about transformation and change at Leeds Rhinos under the leadership of Gary Hetherington. The assignment further explores different leadership styles, such as transformational and transactional leadership, and their effects on productivity, absenteeism, satisfaction, and turnover within an organization. The study uses the IGOPAST framework to assess the impact of leadership on individuals, groups, organizational culture, productivity, absenteeism, satisfaction, and turnover, providing a comprehensive overview of leadership's multifaceted influence.

Running head: CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
Case 12.2
Answer to Question 1
I have experienced Group Think within the team in which I worked in my previous
organization. The group of which I was a part consisted of diverse type of people who
belonged to different backgrounds and areas. Groupthink had thereby proved to be quite
useful for the effectiveness of the team. I had been a part of the group which was formed for
the purpose of completing a project which was provided to the company (Ashikali and
Groeneveld 2015).
Answer to Question 2
The groupthink based activities were able to play a major role in developing my team
building based skills in an effective manner. I was able to coordinate with the members of the
team and further solve issues which had occurred within the organization. The complex
issues and projects were thereby managed effectively by the members of the team. My
communication skills had improved in an effective manner while working within the team.
However, in some situations I had faced major issues when my group members did not agree
unanimously on a certain decision which had been taken by the group (Lewis and Tatli 2015).
Answer to Question 3
Diversity within a group is able to play a major role in the generation of new ideas.
The diverse group of people are able to provide different ideas based on different issues.
Proper identification of new opportunities is possible with the coordination of different types
of people who are a part of the group. This creativity levels of the group are also affected in a
huge manner by the diverse group of people. People who belong to different backgrounds are
thereby able to provide different types of ideas within the operations of the group

2CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
(Stephenson 2017). Diversity is thereby able to play a major role in improving the creative
quotient of the group and implementing new ideas.
Case 13.1
Answer to Question 1
a. The strategy which has been developed by Hetherington is based on development
of a supportive environment within the team. The advantage of this strategy is that the team
performance can be improved and a culture of belonging has been developed.
b. The unexpected changes which can take place within the team can affect the power
based on the decisions that have been taken by the CEO. The collaboration and teamwork
will play a major role in the success of the team in future (Stephenson 2017).
Answer to Question 2
The leadership style which has been depicted by the CEO of the internet
conglomerate IAC is transformational in nature. The leader has been able to listen to the
needs of employees and further take decisions related to diverse business operations
conducted by the company (Forbes.com 2018).
Answer to Question 3
The leaders of innovative companies need to develop a vision and share it with the
others. The trust levels between the leaders and employees in innovative organizations will
play a major role in developing innovation based activities.
Answer to Question 4
The leadership style of Blatt in IAC had depicted some major attributes of the
transformational and transactional nature. The leader was known for his loud behaviour

3CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
among the colleagues. He had a reputation of a temperamental chairman and on the other
hand he took the decisions based on opinions provided by employees (Forbes.com 2018).
Answer to Question 5
I – Individuals – The individual members of the teams in Rhinos have been
influenced by the leadership of Hetherington.
G - Groups – The different groups which have been developed under the leadership
of Hetherington are affected by the positive environment.
O – Organizational culture – The organizational culture which had been developed
by the CEO is positive in nature.
P – Productivity – The increase in productivity was based on increase in turnover of
the organization (Ashikali and Groeneveld 2015).
A – Absenteeism – The rates of absenteeism had decreased due to effective work
environment.
S – Satisfaction – The levels of satisfaction of the team members had increased under
leadership of Hetherington.
T – Turnover – The increase in turnover of the organization was based on improved
productivity of members (Ashikali and Groeneveld 2015).

4CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
References
Ashikali, T. and Groeneveld, S., 2015. Diversity management in public organizations and its
effect on employees’ affective commitment: The role of transformational leadership and the
inclusiveness of the organizational culture. Review of Public Personnel
Administration, 35(2), pp.146-168.
Forbes.com 2018. [online] Forbes.com. Available at:
https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2012/0507/strategies-barry-diller-iac-greg-blatt-
internet.html#57ed5c2a3f2c [Accessed 3 Oct. 2018].
Lewis, C. and Tatli, A., 2015. Leadership and diversity. Managing Diversity and Inclusion:
An International Perspective, p.47.
Stephenson, J.H., 2017. Leadership and Diversity Management. In Servant Leadership and
Followership (pp. 81-107). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.