Leadership Styles and Management Practices in Indian Conglomerates

This report provides an in-depth analysis of leadership and management practices within two prominent Indian conglomerates, Reliance and TATA. It explores the crucial link between leadership and management, highlighting their combined impact on organizational success. The report delves into various leadership theories, including trait theory and situational leadership, and examines how these theories have been applied by the founders of both companies. It compares and contrasts the leadership styles of Jamshedji Tata and Dhirubhai Ambani, illustrating their decision-making processes and their ability to adapt to different situations. The report also discusses the importance of both leadership and management for achieving organizational goals and objectives, and concludes by emphasizing the significance of leaders who can also function effectively as managers.

Individual Report

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Leadership and management both are crucial aspect for growth and success of
organisation they both links with each other and provide ultimate support organisation in
achieving its pre-determined goals. Present report is based on two organisations i.e. Reliance and
TATA both are operating their functions at Global level and headquarters are situated in India.
This project will discuss about the leadership concept along with relationship between leadership
and management.
Main Body
Leaders are the one who influences or encourages their colleagues so that desired goals
can be obtained in a limited time-frame. Several leadership theories are used by the founders of
TATA and Reliance Industries so as to grabbing growth and sustainability in market. Some of
these are given as below:
Trait Theory of Leadership – This theory describes the kind of behaviour and
personality which are essential for an individual to become a successful leader. In addition, this
theory is an earlier assumption that says leaders are born along with it, this theory also consists
of several characteristics which defines individuals who having these qualities and traits can
become successful leaders (Wang and Hsieh, 2013). It is highly based on characteristics of many
leaders i.e. successful or unsuccessful that provides support the leaders in getting effectiveness
about their decisions. Additionally, this theory says that people are born with specific traits or
qualities and all these traits encourage the individuals to become successful in their workplace.
There are several traits such as inspiration, motivation, extroversion, self-confidence etc. all of
these provide support to individuals in becoming successful in their life. This theory not
basically states that individuals will become successful whereas, these traits are solely defines
that these traits makes the individuals to better suited to leadership. In context of TATA and
Reliance Industries, Both of the founders Jamshedji Tata and Dhirubhai Ambani have better
desires and they are highly inspired for becoming successful in their life. Due to which, they
both are known across the world for their strong leadership and working structure. Dhirubhai
and Jamshedji both were leaders from their birth as they not only manages their personal life but
also become successful in their professional life.

Situational theory of Leadership – This theory of leadership states that no leadership
style is appropriate as it states that decisions of leaders are highly based on the situations. Along
with it, this theory also supports leaders to make best decisions or strategies according to the
conditions. In addition this concept states that, most successful leaders does not take supports of
a single leadership style whereas, they prefers to chose leadership style as per the demand of
condition. For example – large number of employees performs their functions within an
organisation but some of them likes autocratic and directive style as they have capability to
perform functions but they wants support of leaders in completion of task. Apart from that, some
others employees wants democratic environment at workplace as they are motivated and highly
skilled due to which they does not requires any guidance or support for completing their given
task. Hence, it can be said that leaders can't depend on a single theory or style they have to
change their behaviour or style as per the requirement of their followers or situations. Both of
the founders Dhirubhai and Jamshedji Tata have strong ability to take decisions due to which
they does not depended on a single leadership style or theory they made changes in their
behaviour according to the requirement of situations so as to establishing their ventures in
market. For example – Jamshedji Tata founder of Tata group was a true situational leader as they
have good knowledge about the situations and taking decisions because of which they have
purchased oil meal in 1869 and converted it into Cotton meal because in those time Indian
citizens are highly prefers to purchase country made clothes. This is clearly shows that
Jamshedji Tata prefers to adopt situational leadership style. Dhirubhai Ambani was also a true
situational leader as they critically analyse the situations and made better decisions of
establishing oil refinery in India. Because in those time, Indian Government was paying huge
import duties for importing crude oil from foreign nations this was the situation that encourages
Dhirubhai Ambani for establishing Oil refinery in India. Hence, it can be said that both leaders
i.e. Dhirubhai and Jamshedji were true situational leaders as they have made decisions according
to situations so as to benefiting themselves and the nation (Birasnav, 2014).
Link between Leadership and Management – Both of the founders i.e. Jamshedji Tata
and Dhirubhai Ambani were not only good leaders whereas, they were good managers as they
have manage each all tasks and functions according the demand of workers so that desired
dream can become successful easily. From the opinion of researchers, leadership is an art which
encourages another individuals for performing their duties whereas, management is a scientific

term that is related with completion of work in given deadline. Both are interrelated as without
leadership any work can't be managed effectively that can leads the failure within the workplace.
Therefore, it can be said that formation of successful organisation is highly depends on both
aspect and it is not easy to separate them.
Comparison between Trait and situational leadership – Trait theory describes that for
becoming successful individuals should have posses some specific qualities or characteristic
whereas, situational defines that no quality or characteristic requires whereas, for becoming
successful leaders should analyse the situations and then make decisions. Trait includes special
characteristic of an individual such as self-confidence, Integration etc. that encourages them for
becoming a good leader. Apart from that, situational leadership does not require any
characteristic as it says that leaders have to take decisions as per their skills and abilities or
demand of situations (Gloppen, 2012).
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, It can be concluded that leadership and management both are
crucial aspect as they supports the organisation in achieving its desired goals and objectives in
stipulated time-frame. It has been also concluded that Leaders can become successful managers
but managers can't become successful leaders as leaders are those who encourages the
individuals for performing work whereas, managers are those who posses pressure on their
workers for completing the work. Therefore, it can be said that leaders can become successful
managers but managers can't become successful leaders.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Wang, D.S. and Hsieh, C.C., 2013. The effect of authentic leadership on employee trust and
employee engagement. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal.
41(4). pp.613-624.
Birasnav, M., 2014. Knowledge management and organizational performance in the service
industry: The role of transformational leadership beyond the effects of transactional
leadership. Journal of business research. 67(8). pp.1622-1629.
Gloppen, J., 2012, September. Service design leadership. In Conference Proceedings ServDes.
2009; DeThinking Service; ReThinking Design; Oslo Norway 24-26 November 2009
(No. 059, pp. 77-92). Linköping University Electronic Press.
Online
Leadership style of JRD TATA, 2010. [Online]. Available through;
<http://www.managementparadise.com/forums/indian-management-thoughts
practices/200240-leadership-style-jrd-tata.html>
Characteristics of the Most Effective Leaders, 2012.[Online]. Available through;
<https://effectivemanagers.com/dwight-mihalicz/4-characteristics-of-the-most
effective-managers/>