DBN 508 Leadership Project: Leadership Practices at Apple Inc. 2017

This project provides an analysis of leadership within Apple Inc., focusing on the marketing department and examining the transformational leadership style exemplified by leaders like Steve Jobs. It includes a job description for a marketing position, emphasizing the need for strong communication and strategic skills. The project also covers a personal development plan, utilizing SWOT analysis to identify strengths (positive attitude, critical thinking) and weaknesses (communication skills, strategy formulation). Cultural sensitivity and SMART objectives are addressed, with activities for implementing the development plan, such as training, job experience, and mentoring. The project concludes by highlighting the importance of effective leadership in managing and motivating teams, referencing various academic sources to support its findings and recommendations. It was submitted as part of the New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 5) DBN 508 Leadership course.

LEADERSHIP
Leadership in Apple Inc.

INTRODUCTION
 Leadership: process to influence people and to
accomplish an objective,
 Never ending process of self-study, training,
education and experience,
 Various leadership styles i.e. autocratic leadership
style, democratic leadership, transformational
style

ANSWER 1
 Selected organization and department- Apple Inc. and
marketing department
 Position title and job description-
 responsible for collaborating with the cross-functional partners,
 To serve as the primary point of contact,
 Participating in the development and implementation of
strategic and tactical business plans,
 To manage the use experience of the website,
 Accountable for building and directing of a cohesive team

CONTINUE…
 Person specification-
 Strong effective communicator,
 Coordinate with the large team,
 Enhance the productivity,
 Expert in the digital and social media strategy
 Ability to reach in the environment of constant change,
 Manage external PR and communication companies and contactors

CONTINUE…
 Leadership style-
 Transformational leadership style,
 Effective to inspire and motivate the
employees,
 Steve Jobs is the perfect example of
transformational leadership,
 always motivated his staff to think beyond what
they already have done

ANSWER 2
 Important to identify the approach towards own
growth and development,
 Various techniques i.e. SWOT and self-assessment
 Identification of strength and weakness-
 Strengths- Positive attitude & Critical thinking,
 Weakness- Communication skills & Strategy
formulation

STRENGTHS
 Positive attitude-
 Effective listener having the ability to manage
interpersonal relationships,
 Ability to put new thoughts and have foresightedness
 Critical thinking-
 Critical thinking to evaluate past performances,
 Helpful for getting various approaches to problem
solving

WEAKNESS
 Communication skills-
 weakness in my non-verbal communication skills. I n
having communicated with different types of people,
my communication skills are not in intelligent
manner.
 Strategy formulation-
 weakness related to the strategy formulation of the
business as I do not have as much quick and
responsive skills to manage the problems.

CONTINUE…
 Need of cultural sensitivity-
 Understanding various cultural aspects,
 Making department head and supervisory staff sensitive to the
needs of the employees working with them,
 Bringing about cooperation and unity among the employees,
 Making various departments sensitive for expansion strategy

ANSWER 3
 Opportunity to improve the current skills
along with the development of new traits,
 Various opportunities inside and outside of
the organization,
 Observed some future approaches and needs

CONTINUE…
 SMART objectives-
 Specific- Enhance my communication and strategy formulation
skills by the personal development plan.
 Measurable- Attend various events and sessions within the
organization.
 Attainable- Feedbacks provided by my friends, colleagues and
family.
 Realistic- proper exercise schedule and communication with my
team members and colleagues
 Time-bounded- Short term goals for 12 months

CONTINUE…
 Activities for implementing the plan of
development-
 Keep the development plan on track,
 Complete the task at the given time,
 Understand the scope of the development plan,
 Identify the rates of changes in the company and then
analyze the scope of personal development plan,
 Training and job experience,
 Mentoring