Leadership and Culture Analysis: A Case Study of Sainsbury's

This report provides an analysis of leadership styles and organizational culture within Sainsbury's, a British company offering diverse products and services. It examines Peter Drucker's and other leadership statements, highlighting the importance of both management and leadership for organizational success. The report explores autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire leadership styles, detailing their advantages and disadvantages within the context of Sainsbury's. It further discusses Sainsbury's organizational culture, focusing on its commitment to community contribution, sustainability promotion, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. The report concludes by emphasizing the necessity of effective leadership for managing organizational needs and achieving goals.

Leadership Report

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Leadership refers to the use of the different types of methods and techniques through
which the various types of followers can be guided so that the attainment of the future goals and
objectives can be done in a proper manner (Alrowwad and Abualoush, 2020). Therefore, it
becomes quite important that the use of Leadership skills can be made by the leaders so that they
are able to enhance the overall level of efficiency and effectiveness in the future. This report is
based on Sainsbury's. It is a British Company which provides a wide variety of products and
services to the customers quite effectively and efficiently. In this report, a detailed and specific
focus will be made on the role which Leadership plays in the organizations.
MAIN BODY
Peter F Drucker's statement is Management is about doing the things right and
Leadership is about doing the right things. Therefore, it can be stated that both of them are quite
important for the organizations and thus in this way the attainment of the goals and objectives
can be done. Thus, it can be stated that the in an organization there is a requirement of both of
them so that the functioning takes place in the right manner. The development of appropriate
skills and qualities by the leaders can therefore help them in ensuring that the organization
attains sustainable level of success in the future.
Faye Wattleton's statement is that The only Safe chip in a storm is leadership. Thus, it
can be said that when there are tough situations within a particular organization then the
safeguarding can be done through the use of appropriate leadership skills and competencies
which can be quite helpful. Therefore, in this way it can be stated that the safety can be
maintained in a right way if the leaders are able to understand the situation fully and take an
appropriate action which will help them a lot to make the right progress in the future.
Sundar Pichai's statement is that A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions,
decisions and outcomes for everyone. This means that a leader should make sure that the
democracy is respected within the organization and therefore everyone is given appropriate
chance to provide their views quite effectively and efficiently. Thus, in this creative and
innovative ideas can be developed and therefore they can be used appropriately as and when
required within the organization.
1

There are various types of leadership styles which are present. It is important to make
sure that a proper evaluation of these styles can be done which will help the organizations a lot
quite effectively and efficiently in a right manner. An explanation of the leadership styles is as
follows-
Autocratic leadership style- In this particular style, there is a higher level of autocracy
which is present within the organization (Antonakis, 2021). Therefore, it can be stated that this
creates an impact on the organizations and thus no importance is given to the advice of the
people within the organization. In Sainsbury's, this style can create an impact as the leaders take
their own decisions by using this style and also this leads towards the development of autocracy
within the organization.
Advantages-
 When the use of this particular style is made then it can lead towards faster decision-
making which can therefore ensure that the appropriate decisions can be taken in the right
manner within the organization (Bennis and Thomas, 2020). Thus, in this way it can be
stated that this is an important style whose use can be made within the organization.
 The use of this style can lead towards an increase in the overall productivity level
(Crayne and Medeiros, 2020). Therefore, in this way it can be stated that this will help in
ensuring that the management of the particular level of needs and requirements can be
done within the company.
 This style can help in deriving of the short-term results within the organization which will
thus help a lot in ensuring that the company can make the right progress quite effectively
and efficiently.
 It is a style which creates focused targets for everyone and therefore in this way it can be
stated that this helps the organization in managing out the wide range of needs and
requirements.
Disadvantages-
 In this style, a higher-level of dependency is created on the leader and therefore if the
leader is unable to take the right decision then this can create a particular level of impact
on the entire organization.
2

 The correction of poor results is quite difficult in this style and therefore it can affect the
organizational processes. Therefore, it can be stated that the poor results which have been
obtained can thus affect the organizations and their processes.
 The work burden of leader increases a lot when the use of this style is made. Thus, in this
way it can be stated that it affects the ability of the leader a lot. Therefore, in this way
decision-making capability of the leaders can be impacted.
 Ignorance of the skills of the workers happens when this style is used. Therefore, in this
way it can be stated that in this way it affects the leaders a lot. This is so because the
workers are not able to contribute in a proper manner towards the organization and its
goals and objectives. This therefore can create a lot of impact on the organization and its
various processes.
Democratic leadership style- In this style, there is a use of the methods and techniques through
which the advice of the different types of people can be taken and thus in this way the right
decisions can be taken in this manner (Gardner and et.al., 2021). Therefore, if this style is used in
Sainsbury's then it can ensure that the decisions are taken after consulting the different types of
people so that the attainment of the goals and objectives can be done quite effectively and
efficiently in a right way. In it, the opinions of the different people within the organizations are
required to be considered and thus this can lead towards using their opinions and ideas in a better
way. Therefore, better decisions should be taken through this style which can be quite useful for
the company. Thus, in this way it can be said that the use of this style is quite important in the
organizations.
Advantages-
 The use of this leadership style can be made for the particular purpose of solving of the
different types of complex problems. Therefore, in this way it can be stated that in this
way the identification of the problems can be done so that they are solved quite
effectively and efficiently.
 Through the use of this style, the development of team relationships can be made
(Guzmán and et.al., 2020). In this way, it can be stated that the teams will be able to
make sure that they are able to contribute at their best towards the attainment of
organizational success in the future which will therefore help the organization a lot.
3

 The use of this style is essential so that the relevant knowledge of the team can be
obtained. Therefore, in this way it can be stated that in this way the team management
can be done in a highly effective manner. It is quite crucial so that the team can work
effectively and efficiently towards the attainment of its goals and objectives.
Disadvantages-
 It can create disharmony if it is misapplied. Therefore, in this way it can be stated that it
can create problems and issues for the organization.
 The use of this approach can lead towards the leaders adopting fence-sitting. Thus, in this
way this approach impacts the organizations.
 This approach may not reach a consensus. Therefore, in this way it can create an impact
on the organizations.
 The use of this approach is not able to provide a clear definition of leadership. Thus, in
this way this approach impacts the companies.
Laissez-Faire Leadership Style- In this particular style, the leaders of an organization
make sure that the decision-making power is provided to the different types of subordinates and
therefore in this way they are able to make sure that they can effectively and efficiently take the
side role and thus the attainment of the leadership goals and objectives can be done (Lee and
et.al., 2020). For Sainsbury's, it is quite important that the use of this style is made so that the
management of the needs and requirements can be done quite effectively and efficiently.
Advantages-
 This approach can lead towards personal growth and higher-level of motivation of the
employees.
 It can lead towards various learning and development opportunities which can be used in
a proper way (Li and et.al., 2021).
 It can be highly helpful in ensuring that the encouragement to innovation among the
employees can be provided.
 The use of this approach can lead towards faster decision-making by the employees and
therefore can help the organization a lot.
Disadvantages-
 This approach can lead towards confusions and thus can affect the team performance
which will create problems and issues.
4

 This approach can make the employees very careless in nature and therefore this can
create an impact on their overall level of performance and thus can create problems and
issues.
 In this approach, the entire blame of non-attainment of the goals can be put on the team
and employees which can therefore create an impact on them.
 This approach can lead towards avoiding of true leadership. This therefore can create an
impact on the performance level.
Organizational Culture- Sainsbury's is a company which has an organizational culture
which is aimed at contributing towards creating a better community (Ospina and et.al., 2020).
Therefore, it aims to make sure that the maximum contribution can be made towards the
community in a proper manner. This will also help the company in ensuring that it is able to
effectively and efficiently manage its different types of needs and requirements in a proper
manner. Overall, it can be stated that it is a company which makes sure that the creation of a
positive culture is done and therefore the society's goals and objectives are attained which will be
quite helpful for it.
It aims to make sure that the promotion to sustainability can be provided which will thus
be quite helpful in ensuring that the attainment of the goals and objectives of society can be
done.
Diversity and inclusion- Sainsbury's can make sure that it is able to identify the way in
which the different types of employees from diverse backgrounds can be properly inducted
within the organization (Samim and et.al., 2020). Thus, in this way it can be stated that the
company will be able to make sure that it can effectively and efficiently help in ensuring that the
workers are able to make the right progress in the future which can help them a lot.
Also through the adoption of appropriate policies here the company is able to make sure
that the attainment of a higher-level of efficiency and effectiveness level can be carried out.
Therefore, in this way the company will ensure that it is able to appropriately manage the wide
range of diverse needs and requirements in quite a proper manner. The company is thus able to
make its working environment quite positive in nature and therefore in this way it is quite helpful
for it in making the required progress in the future.
5

CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be concluded that Leadership refers to the use of skills and
abilities for leading the people within the organization. It is thus quite necessary that the its use is
made for the purpose of management of the particular level of needs and requirements in a better
way. Thus, in this way it can be stated that a true leader is a person who should be able to display
strong leadership qualities so that the followers are guided in an appropriate way so that they can
improve their performance and contribute at their best effectively and efficiently towards the
company.
6

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Alrowwad, A. A. and Abualoush, S. H., 2020. Innovation and intellectual capital as intermediary
variables among transformational leadership, transactional leadership, and
organizational performance. Journal of Management Development.
Antonakis, J., 2021. Leadership to defeat COVID-19. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations.
24(2). pp.210-215.
Bennis, W. G. and Thomas, R. J., 2020. Crucibles of leadership. Harvard business review. 80.
Crayne, M. P. and Medeiros, K. E., 2020. Making sense of crisis: Charismatic, ideological, and
pragmatic leadership in response to COVID-19. American Psychologist.
Gardner, W. L. and et.al., 2021. Authentic leadership theory: The case for and against. The
Leadership Quarterly. p.101495.
Guzmán, V. E. and et.al., 2020. Characteristics and Skills of Leadership in the Context of
Industry 4.0. Procedia Manufacturing. 43. pp.543-550.
Lee, A. and et.al., 2020. Leadership, creativity and innovation: a meta-analytic review. European
Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology. 29(1). pp.1-35.
Li, P. and et.al., 2021. Country differences in the relationship between leadership and employee
engagement: A meta-analysis. The Leadership Quarterly. 32(1). p.101458.
Ospina, S. M. and et.al., 2020. Collective dimensions of leadership: Connecting theory and
method. Human Relations. 73(4). pp.441-463.
Samimi, M. and et.al., 2020. What is strategic leadership? Developing a framework for future
research. The Leadership Quarterly. p.101353.
7