Leadership and Management in Amazon: An Organisational Report

This report provides an in-depth analysis of organizational behavior within Amazon, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers. It explores the key skills and qualities that contribute to effective leadership and management, examining the differences between the two and their common purposes. The report delves into motivational theories, including Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory and Vroom's Expectancy Theory, and how these theories can be applied to improve employee motivation and address issues related to staff rewards. The report discusses how Amazon can leverage effective leadership and management strategies to improve its overall performance in a competitive business market. It also covers the application of these theories in creating a positive and healthy work environment. The report also examines the practical applications of these concepts within the chosen organization, Amazon.

Organisational
Behaviour

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................3
TASK 2..........................................................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Organisational behaviour is a study of human behaviour within organisation. It is an
effective strategy to enhance employees and company productivity. It is a process of evaluating
internal and external factors that affect productivity of organisation (Ashkanasy and Humphrey,
2011). In this report, company which is chosen here is Amazon which is UK multinational
electronic commerce company. It is founded by Jeff Bezos. This company also offers their
product via international shipping to various other countries. In this assignment is based on, roles
and responsibilities of leaders and managers, their skills and qualities that make them good
leader or manager. In this report, discussion has been done on issue related to motivating and
rewarding staff which was arise in company and various factors have been discussed through
which this issue can be overcome.
Task 1
Organisational behaviour is refers to a study of controlling human behaviour in an
organisation. It gives more emphasis on nature and behaviour of employees and groups working
within an organisation (Ates and Bititci, 2011). In this context, it is essential for the chosen
organisation Amazon as it helps them in making an effective organisation in competitive
business market. Leaders and managers of organisation plays a crucial role in improving its
overall performance in a business environment.
Leader
A leader is a person who is responsible to motivate its staff members towards achieving
their specific aims and objectives. In this context, effective leadership will helps Amazon in
making efficient and effective workforce and also to gain competitive advantage in a business
market.
Role of leaders in an organisation
Leaders plays a crucial role in making effective workforce in an organisation. In this
context, the main role of Amazon leaders are described below:
 Its main role is to motivate its team members to achieve their specific goals and
objectives
 The accountability level of leader is limited to its team members only and
operates in both formal and informal business structure.

Manager
A manager is a person who controls and manages all business operations with a motive to
achieve organisational goals and objectives. In this context, it will helps the chosen organisation
Amazon in improving their performance in a dynamic business environment.
Role of Managers in an organisation
Managers help an organisation in achieving its pre set targets in a business market (Avey
Palanski and Walumbwa, 2011). In this context, the main role of managers of Amazon are
described below:
 Its main role is to make effective business strategies that will help an organisation
in retaining its productivity for a longer run
 A manager has accountability toward its subordinates and also towards helping an
organisation in improving its overall growth
Management
Management is a process of getting the things with the helps of employees in an
organisation. It presents in every organisation as it helps them in making effective business
strategies and also helps them in organising and directing these strategies towards their definite
purpose in a business environment (Boje, Burnes and Hassard 2011). In this context, effective
management is important for chosen organisation in order to improve overall performance of an
organisation in a business market. For instance, the management of Amazon prepares various
guidelines for its employees regarding the use of new technical equipments in their business
operations, which leads in making its workforce effective. They also makes business strategies
for organisation with a motive to use future opportunities as competitive advantages.
Leadership
Leadership refers to an ability of leaders of an organisation to motivate and guide its
subordinates in order to achieve their specific goals and objectives. It is a skill, which is required
for both leaders and managers in order to make their workforce effective and efficient in a
business environment. They identifies future visions and guides their staff members in achieving
those vision, which simultaneously helps an business entity in improving its overall performance.
In this regard, effective leadership also plays a vital role in an organisation and also helps its
employees in achieving job satisfaction.

For instance, the leaders of Amazon supports, motivates its team members in their work
and allocate work in accordance with the skills and knowledge of an individual, which helps an
organisation in getting efficient and effective outcomes from their workforce. They also monitor
their team members with a motive to provide them appropriate training and development
sessions.
Difference between leadership and management
Basis Leadership Management
Functions The main function Amazon leaders is
to motivate and influence its team
members towards achieving their
specific goals and objectives.
The main function of Amazon
managers to make an effective
business strategy, while operating
business activities in order to increase
overall growth of an organisation.
Applicability In this context, leadership function in
Amazon is applicable in both formal
and informal structure.
On the other hand, management
function is applicable only in formal
structure of Amazon.
Concept Amazon's leadership function is quiet
narrow because leaders role is to
motivate its subordinates to achieve
their specific aims and objectives.
On the other hand, management
function of Amazon is a wider concept
as compared to its leadership concept.
Focus Leadership in Amazon gives more
emphasis on encouraging a positive
change in their workforce.
Management gives more emphasis in
bringing stability in an organisations
overall performance and growth in a
competitive business environment
(Bolino, and et. al., 2013).
Traits For effective leadership, it is essential
for leaders of Amazon to be honest,
innovative, good communicator and
motivates its team members.
While effective management requires
that a manager of Amazon should have
accountability and positive attitude
towards overall business operations.
Common purpose of leadership and management

The leadership and management function can be used effectively from the same person in
an organisation. It is essential for an individual to have right skills and knowledge for performing
leadership and management function (Carpenter, Berry and Houston, 2014). In this context, it is
important for Amazon to implement leadership and management strategies effectively, which
helps the chosen organisation in retaining their productivity for a longer duration in a dynamic
business environment. These both functions will provide direction to its employees to pursue
their objectives and also in making an organisation productive. The major similarities between
leadership and management describes below:
 Both leadership and management of the chosen organisation involves working and
surrounding with employees of an organisation, as success of an business entity majorly
depends on effectiveness of its employees
 They both working in a functional structure of an organisation and they are also the
foundation for an organisations success in a competitive business market.
 The main purpose of both leadership and management is to achieve organisation and
employees aims and objectives in a specific time period
 Management and leadership of Amazon gives more emphasis to utilise and allocate
resources efficiently in a business market
 They both influence the work environment and structure of an organisation.
Some motivational theories
Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory of Motivation
Two-Factor theory was developed by scientist Frederick Herzberg in 1959. This theory
says that some factors give satisfaction and some factors give dissatisfaction at work place (Choi,
2011). These factors are categorized as motivators and hygiene factors.
Motivational factors
Motivators are related with job i.e. what opportunities (promotion, recognition and
responsibilities) you get and how amusing your work is. They give satisfaction in positive
manner and employees are motivated to work more efficiently. In this context, these factors are
essential for Amazon as they represented needs which were described as additional benefits
given to its employees. This include

Achievement- In this regard, it helps employees of Amazon to achieve their specific
goals and objectives, which leads in generating job satisfaction among workforce of an
organisation.
Appreciation- Work done by employers should be recognised and applauded by
managers (Colquitt, and et. al., 2011). Appreciation will help employees of Amazon to work
more efficiently and effectively which will eventually lead to success of organization.
Growth opportunities- Motivation plays a vital role in any organization as it helps its
employees to work efficiently towards their objectives. In this regard, it helps Amazon in
providing advancement and growth opportunities to their deserving employees, in order to
motivate them to perform well.
Liability- It is necessary for employees to take responsibilities of work done by them,
which helps Amazon in taking accountability for their business activities.
Importance of work- The work assigned to Amazon employees should be meaningful,
challenging and interesting the helps employees to get motivated.
Hygiene Factors
Factors which are responsible for creating motivation at work place are referred to as
hygiene factors (Demir, 2011). In regards to this context, if these factors are not present in
Amazon than it will leads in creating dis-satisfaction among its workforce. Hygiene factors are
also known as maintenance factors or dis-satisfiers as they are needed to escape dis-satisfaction.
Physiological needs of individuals are symbolized in this factor. These factors include:
1. Salary – In this factor, it is essential for Amazon to pay reasonable and appropriate
salary to their employees. The Salary should be competitive and equal with respect to
other industries in same domain.
2. Verge benefits – In this context, it is essential for Amazon to provide extra facilities for
family members of its employees like health care programmes, which will indirectly
helps an organisation in gaining their employees loyalty.
3. Working conditions – The working environment of an organisation should be clean,
hygienic and safe. In this context, the chosen organisation Amazon keeps their workplace
well maintained and up to date.

4. Communal relations – According to this factor, an organisation should makes efforts to
eradicate conflicts arises in a workplace. Relationship between employees, subordinates,
peers and superiors must be acceptable and appropriate.
Limitations of Two-Factor theory
1. Productivity is ignored and focus is on satisfaction.
2. Analysis is to be made by raters. Findings should not be spoiled by analysing them in
different manner by raters.
3. Employee may be satisfied or dis-satisfied depending upon kind of job he has been
allotted. There was no measure to judge satisfaction of individual.
4. Theory focussed on situational variables rather than complete factors.
Vroom's Expectancy Theory
This theory gives more emphasis on maximising the pleasure and minimising the pain
arises in staff members due to pressure of work (Elstad, Christophersen and Turmo, 2012).
Vroom's theory states that behaviour of individual is based on outcome and it also helps Amazon
in creative a positive and healthy work environment in dynamic business environment.
Three variables which comprise this theory are -
1. Expectancy – It refers to believe that hard work is essential for employees of an
organisation to achieve their specific goals and objectives. In this context, there is a direct
relation between success and efforts made by employees of Amazon. Level of confidence
and expectations are different for each individual about what they are capable of doing.
2. Instrumentality – When goal is achieved there is belief that a reward will be given for
its completion. It is necessary for Amazon employees to trust their team in order to
achieve their specific goals and objectives. It also helps employees to believe that, if goal
is reached then they will be given hike in salary on completion of goal. In order to avoid
confusion and conflict performance standard should be made clear.
3. Valence – Managers of Amazon should make sure that reward given to employees is
valued by them and is given to them on basis of their potential performance
(Fagbohungbe, Akinbode and Ayodeji, 2012). Employees are motivated to work if
reward being given to them is being valued by them or if they need it then only they will
work hard. Higher authorities should be sure about kind of motivation they are giving to
employees for their hard work.

According to the motivational theories, it is essential for Amazon managers and leaders
to motivate its employees to perform their best, which leads in improving overall growth of an
organisation in a competitive business environment. As mentioned in the above report, that
additional allowances and suitable working conditions makes employees effective and efficient
in relation to the assigned task. In this regard, managers and leaders are already working to
minimise the work load of their employees, by delegating the work according to skills and
competence of an individual.
The managers and leaders of Amazon should also consider limitation of motivational
theories that they are selecting in operating their business activities. It will helps an organisation
in gaining competitive advantage in a business market. It is also essential for leaders and
managers of Amazon to reward their employees in accordance with the outcomes arises from
assigned task. It will leads in continuously motivating its employees towards their goals and
objectives. The community relation factors also plays a vital role in improving overall growth of
an organisation as it is essential for Amazon to create a positive and healthy work environment
by making efforts to eradicate their employees conflicts (Glendon, Clarke and McKenna, 2016).
It will helps in building a strong relationship between employees and top level managers of an
organisation.
Skills and qualities of a good manager and a leader:
A manager or a leader could be considered as a person who assigns, appoints and
arrearage work to a group of individuals working with him. It is being found that Amazon's
managers is required to have right characteristics based on all the ethical considerations so that
he/she can assign tasks to an individual as per the acquirement. Decision making, Delegation,
Team Building, Planning are some of skills that are needed for manager of Amazon so that
effectively he can manage the tasks at workstation. Here, Corporate social responsibilities and
ethical duty is to involve aspects of marketing and publicity. Here, both managers or leaders are
responsible for raising awareness of Amazon's commitment to CSR and generating publicity
around organisation’s altruistic endeavours.
On the other hand, finally, corporate social responsibility managers are also responsible
for recruiting, managing and training junior staff members of Amazon.

TASK 2
Organisational behaviour is study of human behaviour within organisation. It aims to
build smooth working relationship. This concept helps to ensure employee welfare and make
them effective for company to achieve objectives and goals (Huhtala and et. al., 2013). It is
important for Amazon leaders and managers to use effective methods to facilitate good working
condition in their workplaces. Recently, Amazon faced an issue related to motivating their staff
and rewarding them in order to improve their performance. Hence, there are some factors
mentioned below with the help of which Amazon's leader and manager can enhance motivation
and performance of their employees.
Apart from this, it is being analysed that motivation plays a crucial role in every single
business organisation. In present case, since Amazon was facing issue which was related to
motivation where staff members were not performing well because of less motivation while
performing tasks at workplace (Fullerton, 2014). This led Amazon to face ample number of
issues which was related to their profit margins and it also raised employees turnover rates.
Nature of the issue (Motivation in Amazon) : This issue came in front when there were
a few number of cases took place related to discrimination, ethical and employee turnover rates
also got raised. Away with this, it has also been analysed that the policies and other strategies of
staff were also not that good enough which impacted negatively on behaviour of staff which
directly demotivated them. This impacted drastically on overall performance level both staff and
on Amazon's as well (Kehm, 2014). Motivation can easily be raised through profit margins. On
the other hand, it has also been analysed that unclear expectations or requirements, lack of
adequate materials, personal business investment and lack of employee rewards or pay. Including
this, employee motivation process is extremely important in Amazon as workers are valuable
asset in order to help company to achieve their goals in effective and efficient way.
Modern competitive world, Amazon's staff was also facing ever-growing challenges
regarding commitment, engagement, belief, recruitment and retention level. With the help of a
number of studies on “Motivation”, it could easily be analysed that individuals with different
cultures needs different sorts of motivations, some gets motivated in monitory terms and some of
them gets motivated sharing their thoughts with employers. Thus, it is much necessary for
Amazon to do proper analysis and then go through a number of strategies and select the best one
so that its employees may easily get motivated with whatever tasks they are being provided by

leaders and managers of Amazon. Industries show that employees who are passionate about their
jobs and the organizations in which they work are in the minority.
Causes of lack of motivation in Amazon: There are eight key problem mentioned below
that are causing lack of motivation in Amazon:
 Unreasonably high standards & expectations: In past recent days, Amazon raised their set
of standards. Company has developed that in order to enhance their top -tier level of
talent. This unreachable expectations make their employees stressful and this results in
not achieving their goals and objectives. In order to combat this cause company can
provide effective training to their employees to make them meet company goals.
 Unhealthy competition among co-workers: Unhealthy competition creates negative
impact on performance of both employee and company. In Amazon there is a competition
prevailing between person, not with activities. This is very harmful as it creates unhealthy
environment in organisation(Trybou and et. al., 2014). It also harms company
performance to be more productive. Mangers of this company must take preventing
measures to overcome this cause. They can make teams to accomplish their targets and
project. This will not only create smooth and friendly working environment but also helps
them to complete their targets in given time frame.
 Lack of benefits: Lack of benefits can decrease abilities of employees to perform better.
While by providing them various benefits can enhance wish to work harder. In Amazon
company is lacking behind by providing benefits to their workers. This results in
unproductive employees in their organisation and decrease in quality of their work. Thus
to overcome this factor, company various benefits like, travelling expenses, job appraisals
and vacations to enhance their level of performance and quality of work.
 Lack of praises: When employee and work done by them are valued and appreciated then
their satisfaction and productivity raised. In Amazon there is a lack of culture of praises
and recognition. Praises help employees to raise their standard of work this results in
creating outstanding workplace for them to work. As it is known that people want to get
valued and respected for their contribution. Thus, company can overcome this factor by
adopting this culture of giving praise to their workers in workplace.
 Job insecurity: Job insecurity among employee can affect their performance. If workers
are working in unstable jobs they only invest their enough time in sharing rumours this

will badly impact on their as well as other performance. And create negative working
environment. This is the main reason in Amazon which lack their process of motivation.
Therefore, managers of this company have to communicate frequently to erase this cause
from their work culture. They can also encourage transparency to create better sense of
loyalty and trust.
 Poor communication system: In absence of proper communication system it is hard for
both company and employees to work in effective way. Workers end up confusing and
guessing which results in lack of their performance. Poor communication system in
Amazon hinder their path of success and decreased their employees productivity level. In
order to overcome this problem manager of this company need to invest their large
amount of time in making effective communication bridge between all levels of
organisation(Aguenza and Som, 2018).
 Conflicts stress: State of any disagreement between employee is termed as conflicts
stress. In Amazon there is an unhealthy environment which hamper workers growth. In
order to overcome this factor manager to this company must strive to develop healthy
environment and they need to enhance their skill of conflict management. It is very useful
for employee to carry out their work effectively.
Difficulties faced at Amazon
Employers at Amazon faces great level of difficulties at work place and difficulties may
vary depending upon individual employer. They include- high standards and expectations
(employees faces pressure when desired expectations are not met and this lead to distress),
competition among employees ( Amazon needs you to work long, hard and smart, and all these
are must, long working hours become bottle neck), insensitive management ( employees with
medical issues are forced to work at highest ability or pushed out without sufficient time),
benefits are lacking (employees are not motivated to prioritize personal wellness), lack of praise
(employees are not praised for achieving their goals), unfair means of ranking (employees are
accused, they are required to defend themselves related with work they do) and many more
factors are there due to which employees feel difficulties.
Basically motivation is lacking, employees are not motivated to work, motivation not
only refers to giving lectures but rather then praising employees,rewarding them, acknowledging
work done by them and many more benefits are also included. Various theories of motivation are

present and Amazon should acquire anyone of them to increase outcome from employees.
Herzbergs two-factor theory of motivation can be used by Amazon to overcome these
difficulties.
Benefits of motivation in Amazon
Well- motivated employees can provide various advantages to company several are
mentioned below:
 Job satisfaction: Motivation automatically satisfy the need of employee as well as group.
By fulfilling this need of job satisfaction managers of Amazon can make their workers
more concern towards company goals. Organisation can implement various methods and
creative thinking to enhance performance of their workers. As this factor benefits
company to increase their productivity and profitability. Managers need to provide
effective measures in order to provide satisfactory level of job satisfaction to their
employees.
 Learning: Motivation facilitates learning process. It stimulates high interest and
willingness to work. Managers of Amazon need to understand importance of this factor in
order to steady growth. Training managers of this company need to implement effective
motivation techniques to encourage their employee growth and company productivity.
 Productivity: Proper techniques of motivation increases company productivity. Managers
of Amazon can use different methods of motivation to increase motivation level of their
workers. As by implementing sound motivation system organisation can able to meet
their goals in best way. By enhancing performance of employees company can speed up
their growth process.
 More innovation and creativity:Motivation increases working ability of employees and
enhance their willingness to perform better. Amazon can implement sound motivation
culture in their workplace by inspiring their staff towards goals. Motivation increase
quality of work done by workers which results in high productivity of company(Aguenza
and Som, 2018).
 Higher staff retention: Motivation help business to reduce their staff turnover. If
employees are satisfied and motivated then they want to work more for their organisation.
By having sound motivation culture Amazon can reduce their recruitment cost.

Motivation benefits company to enhance quality of their employee performance which
results in high growth.
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report, it has been conclude that organisational behaviour is
an essential part of management. It revolves around the study of human behaviour within
organisation. By having effective knowledge of various factors in organisational behaviour
company can able to maximise their profit and enhance coordination between their employees. It
has been evaluated that by implementing effective motivation techniques in their organisation
company can promote their employees morale which results in achievement towards company
goals and objectives. By enhancing leadership skills leaders of company can able to serve their
subordinates in their best manner. With the help of Hezberg theory of motivation company
management can increase their productivity and employee performance.
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