Leadership and Management: A Case Study of General Electric (GE)

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management practices at General Electric (GE), examining the leadership styles and managerial skills of key figures including Jack Welch, Jeff Immelt, and Henry Lawrence Culp Jr. The report delves into specific situations within GE's history, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of these leaders and their approaches to challenges. It also explores the application of leadership theories, such as situational and system leadership, within the context of GE's organizational structure and operational environment. The analysis covers the evolution of GE's leadership through significant market, competitive, and structural changes, offering insights into how leadership has shaped the company's performance and adaptation over time. The report provides a thorough case study of GE's leadership journey and the impact of different leadership approaches on the company's success.

TOPIC

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Various leadership qualities and managerial skills according to situation of organisation of top
managers of General Electric. ....................................................................................................1
Analyse and identify strength & weaknesses of respective leaders and also analyse theories
such as situational and systematic leadership theories. ..............................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
..............................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Leadership is define as practical skill which encompasses ability of group, individual or
organisation which guide or influence entire organisation and team members. It is a process of
social influence in which individual can enlist support and aid of others in attainment of common
task (Rosenbach, 2018).
In this report General Electric is choose. This organisation is one of prominent business
in USA which is registered as public corporation which is gone by competitive and significant
market. Company is operating in various segment such as healthcare, power, digital industry,
aviation and so on.
This reports covers role of leaders and functions of managers in terms of Global Electric
various leadership qualities and managerial skills of top level management. Also it consider
strengths and weaknesses of leaders and different theories of leadership.
MAIN BODY
Various leadership qualities and managerial skills according to situation of organisation of top
managers of General Electric.
Jack Welch
The late Jack Welch was CEO of General Electric in 1981 to 2001, he was considered as
not probably ideal leader. But he has three aspects of leadership such as recruit right people, as
he was passionate in staffing right people according to right role. Another aspect was he always
speak with their candor as he always asked issues of employees and also delivered feedback in
right manner. Last one is insatiably curious. As he had always hunger of learn.
Situation: Transformation of company which is known for light-bulbs and appliances to
a multinational corporation. There are various managerial skills and leadership qualities of Jack
Welch which focus on achievements and actions are discussed below:
Leadership qualities: Jack Welch simply use 4E and P framework which leadership
qualities of him which is discussed below: Energy: This quality is considered as a quality for going actions on thrive and relish the
changes. Jack Welch was always have positive energy which mainly was optimistic and
extroverted (Antonakis and Day, 2018). He always makes friends and communicate with
them easily.
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 Energise:In this type of leadership it is ability for getting others to revved up. In terms of
Jack Welch he was energise which leads to apparent in depth knowledge of their
organisation and having strong persuasion skills in themselves. Edge:This skills leads to making appropriate decision in courageous manner. As in terms
of respective former CEO he was smart and have ability for accessing situation from each
and every angle even they don't have appropriate information about it. Execute: This type of leadership skills examines that ability to execute that job done in
appropriate manner. Jack Welch had distinct and unique skills which have ability for put
decisions and push them in actions by unexpected obstacles, chaos and resistance which
have outcome for executing about the outcomes.
 Passion: In Jack Welch he was passionate about everything which is related to deep,
heartfelt and authentic excitement in their working in company. He really cares about his
employees, friends and colleagues (Ladkin, 2020).
Jeff Immelt
He is an American business man which currently working as venture partner in New
Enterprise Associates. Former he stepped down as CEO of General Electric in 2017. There
many many leadership qualities and managerial skills of Jeff Immelt which is described below:
Situation: As Jeff Immelt have to execute billion company as he become legendary
CEO of GE. There is a situation about in revenue system. So there are many skills which helps in
overcoming the problems such as diversification in their products and also making corporate
culture which helps in encourage development of people which leads to shift of culture for
customer satisfaction. Take personal responsibilities for growth of business: In terms of Jeff Immelt he have
leadership quality of taking responsibilities which leads to growth of business operations
(Roe, 2020). He makes certain decisions which is financial well being for company. He
always place their employees first for making the business which is transferable and self
sustainability. Understand depth, context and breadth: In terms of Immelt, he always considered as
how company is going to be fit and respond in world. So he have skill as making decision
which sometimes trivial as well as gargantuan. He always learn about complexity of all
circumstances which is surrounded for each and every decision (Thomas, 2020).
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 Align and manage time:Immelt is well known leader, which set priorities and always
focus on them. He always set priorities, measures the outcome and reward themselves. So
he makes profit and loss statement which helps in for identifying the cash flow statement.
 Stay true to their own style: In words of Jeff Immelt, leaders have quality as fit with any
situation. He says leadership is a intense journey in every individual. It is all about being
aware about themselves. He have quality for undertaking all the situations which can be
considered for attainment of goals and objectives which is made by managers & leaders.
Henry Lawrence Culp Jr.
He is an American Business executive. He is been CEO and chairman of General Electric
since October 2018. he is considered as first outsider which is running company around 126 year
history.
Situation: Due to condition of financial disaster which is due to coronavirus has been
caused. Markets are in tumbled and every company is taking a beat. As GE makes many
aviations as company is making air-plane engines for Airbus and Boeing which makes
profitability division which makes billions of revenue for company. There are some leadership
qualities of Henry Lawrence Culp Jr. which are discussed below: Communication skills: For every leader he should have good communication skills that
makes individual for cope up with all situations. With having proper communication
skills leader can understand the situation of customers as their preferences are
continuously changing so he works on principal as “ customer talk we listen”. As
customers are considered as insights which are critical for development this can be done
by communication messages and strategies (Daniëls, Hondeghem and Dochy, 2019). Systematic thinking: In context of Henry Lawrence Culp Jr. he is runjning the business
in appropriate manner which leads to increase in revenue of company. As he always think
in systematic manner. He use systematic approach which is connected to strategies and
results in streamlined manner. As he makes many programmes which are flexible enough
which evolves the business operations.
 Continuous improvement: In terms of CEO of GE he have leadership quality of
continuous improvement by using appropriate technology platform which is helpful in
changes in outcomes. This can be done by connecting different audience which are fresh
and new.
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Analyse and identify strength & weaknesses of respective leaders and also analyse theories such
as situational and systematic leadership theories.
Strength and weaknesses of Jack Welch:
Strengths:
 He has strong relationship with existing suppliers and other individuals of supply chain.
This leads to increase in services and products by giving the appropriate skills of their
suppliers and supply chain partners (Bratton, 2020).
 Major strength of former CEO of GE was he managed regulations and business
environment. As due to competitive strategy company needs to navigate in business
environment which builds strong relationship with political networks.
 By using service quality and superior product this leads to increase in market share of
company and increase in loyalty in current customers.
 Jack Welch had a wide array of copyrights and patents which is by innovation and buying
of rights which is by creators. This can leads to challenge for industries in competitive
world.
Weaknesses:
 Major weakness in context of Jack Welch was lack of workforce diversity which leads to
not enough growth of company in its domestic market. This leads to reduction in
potential success in international market segment.
 Due to implementation of technology which leads to back end processes which is not able
to harness power of technology in front processes.
 Track record which is considered on environment is not encourage this leads to backlash
of customers as now consumers have more focus on environmental protection as this is
considered as integral part of doing the business.
Strength and weaknesses of Jeff Immelt:
Strength:
 In terms of Jeff Immelt, GE's venture as due to unique services and products which is
given by CEO has gained global recognition which ranked world's largest company in
last years.
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 In terms of CEO, there are various diversified lines on their products which conducts as a
strength of Jeff Immelt, these technology are mainly range from energy, aviation,
technology which is used by him (Johnson and Hackman, 2018).
 He have strength as environmental initiatives which is considered by individual which
leads to green economy and having social responsibilities.
Weaknesses:
 There is huge weakness from side of Jeff Immelt as he is performing in under energy
sector. This is due to fluctuations in price of oil which is caused by shortage in supply.
 As there is too much diversification which is considered as dangerous for company. This
results in over stretching in decision-making process.
Strengths and weaknesses of Henry Lawrence Culp Jr.
Strength:
 He is successful CEO which builds professional relationship with their team members
which leads to sustains business in successful manner.
 Strength of Culp Jr. is he have ability to delegate tasks and projects to right candidate
according to their helpful and efficient manner.
 He have big picture of thinking which leads to long term ability and capabilities of him as
he makes the business in successful manner (Hughes and et. al., 2018).
 He have strength has he is always passionate about their work which leads to success of
company in effective and efficient manner.
Weaknesses:
 Major weaknesses of there is failing to set clear expectations with their employees.
 Weaknesses of him as requiring constant contact with their team members which leads to
failing in clear expectations and goals.
Leadership theories
There are various leadership theories or models which are focused on qualities among
followers and leaders which is disguised them from other operations. There are some theories
which is discussed below:
Situational Leadership Theory:
This theory of leadership mainly works on assumptions as most effective style which is
changes from situation to situation. As this theory is most successful and effective model as
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leaders are adapt this approach and style in diverse circumstances. This theory commonly
derived from Hersey and Blanchard's situational leadership theory. This model suggests that
there is two key elements which identifies four main leadership approaches such as telling,
selling, participating, delegating where there are four levels which leads to follow the maturity
level. In terms of General Electric, as it is a large organisation which is situated in USA so many
situations are take into consideration for decision making of company. As there is one style
which is appropriate ans sufficient for handling various operation in organisation. There are
some team members which are comfortable in leadership theory or style of autocratic and
directive (Rudolph, Rauvola and Zacher, 2018). On other hand some feel comfortable in
democratic or laissez faire. Advantage of this approach is, it examines need of flexibility,
increase awareness and change requirements. Disadvantage of this theory is it generally focuses
on short term needs which leads to less convey of information among team members.
System Leadership Theory:
This theory enables leaders and managers in company which creates conditions where
individual at all levels work in productive manner to their potential. It creates sound principle
about behaviour of individual for create models of good leadership, system design, social process
and organisation strategy. It gives leaders by tools which helps in predicting behaviour of people
in organisation. This theory mainly defines as style in which managers or leaders have
capabilities and skills which they use in organisation to mobilized, support and enable process in
system levels. There are under some elements of this theory which is discussed below: Look and learn:In terms of GE, leaders create innovative techniques and ideas which are
involve of their employees in decision making process. This mainly considered as
planning part with team members. Commit and convoke:In context of respective company, managers and leaders
communicate their partnership with other organisation and after this they commit
together about the changes that they are need for execute final plan.
 Act with responsibilities: In regards to GE, leaders are taking the accountability for
ensuring that their team members are working in good environment in right manner and
also provide information about changes that are considered for their products (Bush, Bell
and Middlewood, 2019).
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CONCLUSION
In terms of above report it has been concluded as there are many leadership qualities
and managerial skills that are considered by CEO of GE. There are many strengths and
weaknesses which are determined in terms of all leaders. In addition, this report also covers
theories of leadership which helps in grab the issue of situations and system which leads to
motivate the employees and increase in profitability and productivity of company.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Rosenbach, W.E., 2018. Contemporary issues in leadership. Routledge.
Antonakis, J. and Day, D.V., 2018. Leadership: Past, present, and future.
Ladkin, D., 2020. Rethinking leadership: A new look at old questions. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Thomas, N., 2020. The John Adair handbook of management and leadership. Thorogood.
Daniëls, E., Hondeghem, A. and Dochy, F., 2019. A review on leadership and leadership
development in educational settings. Educational research review, 27, pp.110-125.
Bratton, J. ed., 2020. Organizational leadership. SAGE Publications Limited.
Johnson, C.E. and Hackman, M.Z., 2018. Leadership: A communication perspective. Waveland
Press.
Rudolph, C.W., Rauvola, R.S. and Zacher, H., 2018. Leadership and generations at work: A
critical review. The Leadership Quarterly. 29(1). pp.44-57.
Bush, T., Bell, L. and Middlewood, D. eds., 2019. Principles of Educational Leadership &
Management. SAGE Publications Limited.
Hughes, D.J. and et. al., 2018. Leadership, creativity, and innovation: A critical review and
practical recommendations. The Leadership Quarterly. 29(5). pp.549-569.
Roe, K., 2020. Leadership: Practice and perspectives. Oxford University Press.
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