An Analysis of Leadership and Management at the Amazon Company

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership and management theories within the context of the Amazon company. It begins with an introduction to management functions and the selection of Amazon as a case study. The main body of the report explores various theories, including Taylor's scientific approach, situational theory, Hertzberg's two-factor theory, and Adams' equity theory, with applications to Amazon's organizational practices. It examines the team effectiveness model and the characteristics of ethical and value-based leadership. Furthermore, the report analyzes the impact of leadership and management theories on Amazon's mission and vision statements, along with an examination of the ADKAR model for managing change within the company. The report concludes with recommendations for Amazon, referencing relevant sources throughout.

Management

Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
2.1 Taylor's scientific approach...................................................................................................1
2.2 Application of Taylor's scientific approach in organisational context..................................1
2.3 Situational theory..................................................................................................................2
2.4 Application of situational theory in the organisation............................................................2
3.1 Hertzberg theory....................................................................................................................2
3.2 Adams Equity theory.............................................................................................................2
3.3 Team effectiveness model.....................................................................................................3
3.4 Analysis of any one theory in the chosen organisation.........................................................3
4.1 Ethical and Value based leadership characteristics...............................................................3
4.2 Application of effective management or leadership in context of ethics in the organisation
.....................................................................................................................................................4
5.1 Mission or Vision of the Amazon company.........................................................................4
5.2 Type of culture or leadership followed by the Amazon company........................................4
5.3 Analyse the impact of leadership or management theory on vision statement of the
company......................................................................................................................................5
6.1 Framework for managing tools.............................................................................................5
6.2 ADKAR Model.....................................................................................................................5
6.3 Analysis of model in the Amazon company.........................................................................5
7. CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................6
8. RECOMMENDATION ..............................................................................................................6
REFERENCE...................................................................................................................................7

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report summarises that, various theory of leadership and management approaches
which help the organisation to perform well in the organisation. This report choose the Amazon
company which is multinational US based online retail company. It is the largest e-commerce
organisation that focuses on cloud computing, artificial intelligence and e-commerce
marketplace. This report contain different perspective of different leadership style , motivational
theory which affect the management or leadership. How effective management or leadership
contribute in the organisation to make them successful to achieve their business goals &
objectives. By use of these theories, how it will impact the vision or mission of the company
through following different change model in their business.

1. INTRODUCTION
Management include the process where manager of the company manage whole process
and understand the overall responsibility of the organisation. It include various functions such as
planning, organising, controlling, staffing and motivating their employees (Avolio and et.al.,
2014). It will increase efficiency as well as effectiveness of the business to achieve their
business goals & objectives. To be understand better, report choose the Amazon company for the
application of various elements. Amazon is US based multinational technology company which
is situated in Seattle, Washington which focuses on e-commerce. Founder of the company is Jeff
Bezos and it was founded in 1994. This report include various theories in the perspective of
leadership & management in the organisation and apply motivational & tram working principle.
In addition, analysis of management & leadership theory which contribute in the business and
impact the ethical or value framework. Along with this, how manger & leader facilities the
change by using various tools and methods.
MAIN BODY
2.1 Taylor's scientific approach
It is also called classical management theory which emphasized efficiency of the
workers. According to Taylor, rather than scolding employee on their each mistake try to provide
reward which motivate them to increase their potential to increase productivity of workers.
Because workers not enjoy their work so they required close supervision. For this manager need
to divide task in small series it will help the company for the better supervision. Four principle of
this approach which required to follow by the organisation. Such as replace work by rule of
thumb, match workers potential with their capabilities, monitor work performance and distribute
task between employees & manger.
2.2 Application of Taylor's scientific approach in organisational context
Manager of the Amazon company provide proper training and development program to
increase their creative thinking which help them to determined the efficient way to perform their
task. Taylor's scientific approach provide the different prospective to motivate or encourage their
employees to perform their job which increase efficiency. It is manager's responsibility to
measure performance and provide proper supervision or instruction to ensure that employees
using most appropriate way to work. Manager need to involve their workers in the organisational
1

activities, it will increase interest of employees in the business so manager of the company spend
time for the planning & training. It will allow them to perform well in their task.
2.3 Situational theory
It is the leadership style in which leader adopt different style to tackle with situation
occur in the organisation and it has to be solved by the leader. Leader or manager of the
company use their own style to fit the development level of employees through influencing them.
Manager of the company need to analyse the organisation condition and then choose according
to the requirement. It will include contingency theory, path goal theory and situational leadership
model.
2.4 Application of situational theory in the organisation
Amazon company's manager adopt contingency theory which provide the overall
overview to the manager to follow best management practice which help the organisation to
achieve their business goals & objectives (McCleskey, 2014). Manager identify the problem
which occur in the company and try to resolve it rather then overcoming by itself. Such as
confusion in the task which they have to perform so manager have to take initiative and clear all
the confusion through setting proper meeting with the whole team. Manager have responsibility
to provide proper guidance, monitoring and control the situation by following leadership style.
3.1 Hertzberg theory
It is also called two factor theory or herzberg motivational hygiene theory, it is stated that
in the organisation have certain factors which affect the employees satisfaction level and cause
dissatisfaction. It include two factors which affect the satisfaction of worker, first one is
motivation and second one is hygiene factor. Motivation help the employees to perform their
best to achieve their task objective and cause them to work harder. Lack of hygiene factor will
reduce the working capacity of worker and it include the companies policy, relationship with
others, remuneration, working condition, salary etc.
3.2 Adams Equity theory
This theory develop by the J. Stacy Adams in 1960 for the workplace and psychologist.
This theory try to balance employees inputs and received output which maintain balance in the
organisation and encourage them to further perform well in their task. Because workers compare
their own performance with their peer's performance and get demotivated if is lower then others.
2

They also compare other elements such as salary, incentives, promotion, rewards and
appreciation. If they think equality in the environment then they motivated or if they find
unfairness in the organisation then they get demotivated.
3.3 Team effectiveness model
This model increase the effectiveness of employees which improve capacity to
accomplish their organisational goals & objectives. Where manager have to instruct each
employees regarding their common goal which they have to achieve because they follow
different goals it will create confusion in their work. So team members not able to achieve their
task. Manager need to set proper plan and communicate to all regarding every changes in the
plan over the period of whole task. In this model manger plays very important role to achieve
business objectives & goals.
3.4 Analysis of any one theory in the chosen organisation
Manager of Amazon company follow team effective model in their organisation where it
have huge responsibility to manage whole team to succeed in their goals. For the completion of
task with efficient team manager need to fix meeting before starting their work. Firstly they have
to provide clear goals & objectives which they required to achieve. Manager have to
communicate with all regarding strategies which they going to follow because it will reduce the
confusion regarding task (Pinder, 2014). Employee engagement develop better relation among
the team or with manager.
4.1 Ethical and Value based leadership characteristics
In the organisation leader have to follow some characteristic which provide ethical or
value based leadership. There some characteristics which is discussed below:
 Ethical leader always be fare and justice.
 Leader should respect their followers.
 Leader should be honest and have emotions.
 Take value driven decision for the organisation
 Focusing on team building which help the business to achieve goals & objectives.
 Encourage and motive their employee to perform well by using various leadership style.
3

4.2 Application of effective management or leadership in context of ethics in the organisation
In the Amazon company, manager have to follow ethical or value based characteristics
which help the company to perform well in their organisation. Manager or leader have to take
effective decision which is beneficial for the business as well as for employees. To achieve
business goals & objectives manager need to motivate their employee so they can perform well
in there area. Along with this, focuses on team building through regular communication, share
common goal or maintain regular flow of information so workers always updated with the latest
information. If any dispute develop in the company, so it's manger's responsibility to resolve it
without any baseness (Shah, 2014). They have to listen both parties point of view and give their
decision according to that. Manager need to be honest because it will help them to develop
various strategies which is beneficial for the organisation not for personal interest of any single
party. By use of ethical values, followers are more connected with company or customer become
loyal for the longer period.
5.1 Mission or Vision of the Amazon company
Mission: Mission of the Amazon company is to satisfy customer through focusing them
and to fulfil their needs and become biggest retail company in the world. Company focuses on
customer obsession rather then focussing on commemoration.
Vision: Vision of the company is to become Earth's most customer centric company
where consumers can find each & every item which they required to satisfy their needs. All
things are available in their online stores, they discover every things which help the customer to
satisfy their desires.
5.2 Type of culture or leadership followed by the Amazon company
According to Amazon, they are most customer centric organisation that means they
majorly focuses on customer satisfaction level. Because good customer experience helps the
business to grow and it will provide lower product price. Company adopt situational leadership
style where they change their decision making process according to the situation which occur or
affect the company. In the organisational culture, manager focuses on their vision, promote
creative thinking among their employees and being committed with their shareholders for the
longer period.
4

5.3 Analyse the impact of leadership or management theory on vision statement of the company
Leadership and manageable theories help the manager of Amazon company to perform
their operational function in effective by using above leadership style. It will motivate employees
to work harder to achieve business goals & objectives. Vision of the company is to become
customer centric company in the world. For this Amazon company identify their customer's
need and then produce products according to that. Provide customer services which help them to
improve their work product quality & attract more customer and increase their customer loyalty.
6.1 Framework for managing tools
It is the tool required by the organisation to change in their working environment. By
following right framework will provide success whether change in culture, organisation or in
digital platform. It contain various frameworks which help the Amazon company to change in
their working environment and it include: ADKAR tool created by the founder of Prosci, Jeff
Hiatt, another one is Lewin model, Mckinsey 7-S etc. These framework help the company to
change in their organisation to increase effectiveness as well as efficiency.
6.2 ADKAR Model
It is a Bottom -UP model which help the business to identify that why changes are
required. ADKAR is Become Aware about the need of change, develop Desire to support the
change, get the Knowledge how to change, Ability to demonstrate behaviour or skills and
Reinforcement to make changes stick (Weske, 2012). It is most adopted model which provide
success to the organisation to change in the organisation and become successful to achieve their
business goals & objectives.
6.3 Analysis of model in the Amazon company
ADKAR model help the company to identify changes and successful to implement it. For
example: In the Amazon company, manager adopt this change model for the further
development. Manager identify the need to change in their delivery options and share this idea
with top management to convince them to give approval for change. After this, marketing &
research team identify the way to change through survey or customer feedback. Provide demo to
fewer consumers and if they like they apply it and stick on these changes for the development of
organisation.
5

7. CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it has been concluded that for the better development in the
organisation, manager have to adopt various leadership and management approach. It will help
the manager to encourage their employees so they can perform well or able to achieve business
goals & objectives. Leadership styles try to increase employees productivity along with higher
satisfaction level. By use of different management tool manager identify changes and apply on
their business which help to increase productivity as well as profitability.
8. RECOMMENDATION
It has been recommended that, Amazon company have to apply follow Mckinsey 7-S
change model which provide the company to identity hard and soft elements. It will provide that
which one directly influence the organisation and which one is not. Soft element are most
difficult to identify. Company need to take regular review on their customer feedback which
provide them clear idea to improve in the organisation. Company going to introduce robot for the
delivery of their product. Amazon also have to provide delivery time because in the current
situation where customer have does not have time to purchase physical and they not available all
the time at home to receive their product.
6

REFERENCE
Books & Journals
Avolio, B. J., and et.al., 2014. E-leadership: Re-examining transformations in leadership source
and transmission. The Leadership Quarterly. 25(1). pp.105-131.
McCleskey, J. A., 2014. Situational, transformational, and transactional leadership and
leadership development. Journal of Business Studies Quarterly. 5(4). p.117.
Pinder, C. C., 2014. Work motivation in organizational behavior. Psychology Press.
Shah, M. H., 2014. An Application of ADKAR Change Model for the Change Management
Competencies of School Heads in Pakistan. Journal of Managerial Sciences. 8(1).
Weske, M., 2012. Business process management architectures. In Business Process
Management (pp. 333-371). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.Schatz, P. and Maerlender, A.,
2013. A two-factor theory for concussion assessment using ImPACT: Memory and
speed. Archives of clinical neuropsychology. 28(8). pp.791-797.
7