Analysing Leadership & Management Theories in Jeff Bezos' Amazon

This essay provides an analysis of leadership and management theories, using Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon, as a central case study. It examines various leadership theories including trait, behavioral, situational, contingency, transformational, transactional, distributed, ethical, and critical leadership perspectives. The essay explores how Bezos' traits, behaviors, and leadership styles align with these theories, highlighting the application and implications of each within the context of Amazon's organizational structure and practices. It concludes that effective leadership and management are crucial for a company's success, emphasizing key traits such as strong ethics and high moral standards. Desklib offers a wide range of similar solved assignments and study resources for students.

Leadership and
management,
theory and
practice

Table of Content
Introduction
Trait and Behavioural Theories
Situational and Contingency Theory
Transformational and Transactional Theory
Distributed leadership
Ethical leadership and Critical leadership perspectives
Conclusion
References

Introduction
Leadership and management practices are essential elements of successful organisation. The
presentation is prepared on Jeff Bezos who is founder as well as CEO of Amazon.

Trait and Behavioural Theories
Trait leadership theory is propounded by Thomas Carlyle as well as Francis Galton who states that a leader possesses
certain kinds of traits which makes them effective leader. As per trait leadership theory, good leaders have pattern of
characteristics which support their competence to mobilise resources for shared vision. Jeff Bezos have certain traits
that serves as benchmark to lead group of human resources for making claim of credibility. Traits of Jeff Bezos to
manage an enterprise that is Amazon are as follows:
Desire to lead
Integrity
Open mindedness
Extraversion

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Behavioural theory is developed by Dr. Rensis Likert who argues that leader’s success is based
on their behaviour despite of natural attributes. It involves observing together with evaluating
actions and behaviours of leaders when they respond to particular situation. Different behavioural
leadership theories are as follows:
Ohio state studies
Four factor theory

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Application of trait leadership theory benefits in understanding all elements and gives detailed
knowledge about leadership process. Traits of Jeff Bezos help the personality to depict responses
associated to any circumstances in certain manner.
Behavioural leadership theory addresses that behaviours of leader’s foster support on projects.
Behaviours of Jeff Bezos promotes values of their leadership styles by focusing on people and
collaboration.

Situational and Contingency Theory
Situational theory is work of Paul Hersey along with Ken Blanchard that states that effective leaders are able to adapt styles to
situations as well as look towards cues including task, nature of group addition to other factors which contribute in completing
of tasks.
Four styles of situational leadership style are as follows:
Telling
Selling:
Participating
Delegating

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Contingency Theory is proposed by Fred Edward Fiedler who claims that there is no best way for
organising an establishment, leading a venture and making decisions.
Elements of contingent leadership theory in relevance to Jeff Bezos are as follows:
Situational favourableness
Leadership style
Matching styles to situations

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Application of contingency leadership theory gives leader, such as Jeff Bezos a wide range of
ways for reacting to issues and problems faced by Amazon as the theory provides significant
discretion to make rational decisions.

Transformational and Transactional Theory
Transformational theory is working of James MacGregor Burns who claims that leader works with group or
followers that are beyond their immediate self-interests for recognising needed change, inspiration, devising
vision and executing change in tandem to committed group members. Elements of transformational leadership
theory are as described in relevance to Jeff Bezos:
Individualised consideration
Inspirational motivation
Idealised influence
Intellectual stimulation

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Transactional theory was first defined by Max Weber and further developed by Bernard Bass
which emphasises towards basic management functions including controlling, organising along
with short term planning. Jeff Bezos works with transactional leadership style so to motivate and
direct workforce of Amazon through appealing towards their self-interest.

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Implementing transactional leadership style, Jeff Bezos moves human resources in organised
manner for ensuring attainment of specific results in typical timeframe.
Transformational leadership theory is system of supervision which garners higher levels of
respect, trust, and admiration.