A Management Report of Steve Job’s Leadership Style in Apple Inc

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This report analyzes Steve Jobs' leadership at Apple.

Sensitivity: Internal
Developing Leadership and Management 1
BA (Hons) Business Management
6HR510 – Developing Leadership and Management
Assignment
A Management Report of Steve Job’s Leadership Style in Apple Inc
Yanthrawaduge,D,H,W,Fernando
ID-17017

Sensitivity: Internal
Developing Leadership and Management 2
Contents
Executive Summary...................................................................................................................3
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
Part 1: A critical evaluation of the styles of leadership and management.................................5
Part 2: An evaluation of the leadership styles used in Apple.....................................................8
Part 3: Leadership development intervention..........................................................................11
Conclusion................................................................................................................................13
References................................................................................................................................14

Sensitivity: Internal
Developing Leadership and Management 3
Executive Summary
The review on the movie Steve Jobs and the Leadership techniques or used for the betterment
of the Apple Inc. different types of leadership style is also discussed here. The evaluation is
done on the basis of leadership techniques which a company adapt to create the market or
customer reach. An explanation about the CEO of Apple Inc. Steve Jobs faces different types
of problem in choosing the type of technique for the leadership which can be used in this big
company.

Sensitivity: Internal
Developing Leadership and Management 4
Introduction
Leadership is known as the ability to convert the vision into actions. Leadership is the root of
social influence and does not include the authority or the power into it. Leadership means
going forward with everyone and it requires others because if there is no one then whom a
person would lead. There is no defined personality to become a leader anyone can perform
the leadership activity. Management is the art of making others do the work as per your
demand. Development management is known as the process of managing the development of
pro-actively in the local area to gain the vision and goals of the local planning. This study
will include a review of the movie Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs is the founder of Apple Inc. and
there is a biography. The movie was released in 2015 which was directed by Danny Boyle
and written by Aaron Sorkin. This movie was based on the book with the same name ‘Steve
Jobs’ which was released is 2011and written by Walter Isaacson. The movie was premiered
in Telluride Film Festival and was released limitedly in New York City. The actors in the
movie were Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, and Jeff Daniels.

Sensitivity: Internal
Developing Leadership and Management 5
Part 1: A critical evaluation of the styles of leadership and management
There is not one style of leadership for all type of people or business because the work for all
the company may be different from each other and every company uses various types of
leadership style which will be best suited to their business type so that they can earn more
profits (Mahdinezhad and Suandi, 2013).
The understanding of the different types of leadership style provides the senior-most
executive to accept the change and characteristics of their company. These leadership styles
help the organisation to choose the better manager for their company.
Steve Jobs always take care of the type of leadership style which is used for the company that
is why Apple Inc. is the best technology company which produces phones, laptops and
personal computers (Nanjundeswaraswamy and Swamy, 2014).
The different types of leadership styles are as follows:
- Autocratic Leadership: Autocratic leadership is known as the opposite of democratic
leadership. In this type of leadership, the decision in the company is taken by the
leaders without taking any kind of suggestion and input from anyone who should
report to them. The employees of the company aren't taken into consideration and no
consultation is taken by them in order to take direction from them for decision. The
employees are expected to only follow the decision taken by the authority of the
company. But, in Apple Inc., the employees of the company are allowed to take part
into the process of decision making and the consent of all the workers is important for
it to move further over that decision (Du, et. Al., 2013).
- Democratic leadership: democratic leadership is known as the name suggests the
decision is taken with the contribution of the employees of the company. After all, the
decision is in the hands of the main authority of the company but the consultation is
taken by the members of the company and each of the employees of the company has
an equal say to the process of decision. This type of leadership style is one of the most
effective and efficient styles because it gives a lower level of employees to work as an
authority which will help them in the future position in the company. It also explains
and reflects how a company should take the decision to make it effective on the
working of the organisation. Steve Jobs knows the importance of democracy and the
democratic style of leadership in the organisation so that workers can get to know
about the working of the company. The rights of the employees of Apple Inc. are very

Sensitivity: Internal
Developing Leadership and Management 6
high and important in the growth of the company. Employees play a very crucial role
in increasing the profits and market share of the company and this is very well known
by Steve Jobs so this style is used by the company in a very effective way
(Amanchukwu, et. Al., 2015).
- Laissez-Faire leadership style: the laissez-faire is the type of leadership style which is
least used by the company or the authority member of the company. The term laissez-
faire means "let them do", it means the authority of the company gives the power to
the lower level of employees to do or take the decision as they want. This is the type
of leadership style which empowers employees and this is the way of showing trust in
their employees by the company and giving importance to the work done by them.
This leadership style also has the disadvantage is that it restrict the development
process of the company and give less emphasis on the work of the organisation.
Instead, each employee looks for self-development and growth. It is very important to
keep an eye on this form of leadership style so that there would be no dispute between
the employees of the company. Steve Jobs is the one who always looks after the
matter of the employees and understands the concerns and problems of employees
who are working in the organisation.
- Strategic Leadership: the strategic leadership style is also one of the most used styles
of leadership by the companies (Isaacson, 2012). In this leadership style, the strategic
leaders of the company take care of both the parts of companies which are the
company's main operations and the opportunities for growth. The main motto of this
type of leadership style is to maintain the working conditions of the company stable.
Steve Jobs know the stability of the working condition in the company is important;
the employees of the company take care of it.
The leadership and management are linked to each other but there is a slight difference
between both of them like being a leader there is no need of studying or any degree but for
being manager an individual should be graduated from any university. There are different
types of management style which a manager uses in the company to make workers or
employees work as per their requirement:
- Inspirational management style: this type of management style is not an easy task but
it is very effective if implemented carefully and safely. This type of inspirational
management needed high skills to manage the people or employees in the company.

Sensitivity: Internal
Developing Leadership and Management 7
The honest attempt to keep the employees of the company in the development
methods in both in and outside the workplace.
- Authoritative style of management: this type of management style is also important
for the company because sometimes it is important and mandatory for the company to
take the harsh decision for the betterment of the company (Bilton, 2014). To control
the chaos in the company or to solve the problem and resolve the disputes going on
between the employees of the organisation then this type of management style is used.
Not only Steve Jobs but all the owners or the directors who run their own business
have to take the difficult and dictator decision to keep the company in a good position
which will eventually make the company be on track.
Therefore, Steve Jobs is the man who carried on Apple Inc. with full pride and respect which
makes this company the best electronic and technological company. The movie also depicts
the same and shows how hard Steve Jobs worked to be the best in this business.

Sensitivity: Internal
Developing Leadership and Management 8
Part 2: An evaluation of the leadership styles used in Apple
The people who are in the management position in the company which should create the style
of the leadership. The style selection is ambiguous over the personal trait of the leader.
Finally the selection of the style has to be done by the leader which will be effective in the
current situation. The general type of leadership consists of autocratic, participative,
democratic and laissez-faire and each type of leadership style has different importance, style
of working and value in the organisation. Autocratic leaders are the type of leaders in which
leaders tell their subordinates what to do or what a company expects from them (Isaacson,
2012). The subordinates in the autocratic leadership style aren't involved in the process of
decision making and carry very less autonomy or say in the company. A democratic leader is
a leader who asks for the input from the subordinates and performs what has been decided by
the majority of the employees or workers of the company. So people say that a leader who
chooses the democratic style of leadership style is more of a provider than a leader. In the
participative leadership the leader has to consider their subordinate in the leadership actions
and process of decision making, but they keep the power of taking the decision with them
only. In laissez-faire type of leadership the leaders allow their subordinate to take the
decision. This form is not famous in the companies because it increases the dispute between
the workers or the employees because they might not be able to come up on some decision. In
this study there will be an explanation of the leadership styles which is used in the Apple
incorporation by its founder and CEO Steve Jobs. In this company there are so many different
types of leadership style which is used because Apple Inc. is a very big company which is not
managed by a single form of leadership. Steve Jobs is famous for the ability to give speeches
and motivate audience (Kane, 2014). Steve Jobs was able to motivate the employees of the
company. Steve Jobs was carrying very charismatic abilities that were needed by transmitting
the ideas with the help of metaphors and with the help of story-telling. Steve Jobs was not
only motivated the people or employees but also force them to work effectively and
efficiently. Jobs was explained as manipulative, dishonest and boorish but it is okay because
for being an owner of the company one should be like this to face the clever people or
businessmen who are standing as their competition in this growing market.
 Autocratic leadership:
In the movie Steve Jobs this type of leadership is explained by the writer and director
of the movie in a very efficient way. It shows that the member of the staff and team in
the movie have very less opportunity to take the suggestion from the people because

Sensitivity: Internal
Developing Leadership and Management 9
Steve Jobs wants to open a company but don't want to waste the time, so Jobs opened
the company named Apple mackintosh which produces a mobile phone, laptops and
computers. Most of the people are treated like this in this type of leadership style.
This leadership style leads to an increased level of absenteeism and turnover of the
staff. The Apple Inc. uses this type of leadership style some time because when
leader tends to order their subordinate what activates need to be performed and what
to not, they expect from them to understand and follow their instructions (Rauf,
2014).
The apple company was started in 1976 successfully by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak the
founder of this company which initially rising with a high rate. It also produces another type
of products including computers.
Steve Jobs as the founder of the Apple corporation prefer the autocratic type of leadership
style which helps the authority of the company to take the quick decision in the company.
Jobs always demand both types of decision-making style from both sides (Oke, et. Al., 2009).
Jobs sometimes decide impossible deadline which was impossible to meet but this company
is constantly moving forward with full enthusiasm and dedication. The growth of the
company is just because of the tendency of the company to take a decision as quickly as they
can because this will help the company to earn the profits and grow faster. Due to this style of
leadership style which is adopted by Steve Jobs make the company feels under pressure
sometimes and in some ways Apple Inc. was better without Jobs. But due to the decision
making the power of the Jobs made the production of I Pods, I Phones possible. It was a
tough and difficult decision for both the company and the workers who were working in the
company at the time when this decision was taken by Jobs. Only the leader like Jobs can
apply the autocratic leadership which can stand by the outcry of the public for this type of
basic functionality.
In the company, some type of situation can be described as the urgent condition in which
autocratic type of leadership style can be suited best in that situation but there are some
workers who worked under this type of style and have a problem with it. Times where there
is high-stress level in the company, some workers also prefer an autocratic style of
leadership, so that there should be one decision in the company and one man to take the
decision (Westley and Mintzberg, 1989).

Sensitivity: Internal
Developing Leadership and Management 10
Although, Steve Jobs is the supporter of autocratic leadership style and this helps in the faster
decision process taken in the shorter period of time. The disadvantage of this leadership style
is that subordinate didn’t learn their problems and mistake made by them and their managers
are actually decreasing their skills which lead to poor
performance of the company.
So, the leadership style used by Apple Inc. is autocratic which leads the organisation to earn
profits, growth and innovation in technology. The simple answer to the question whether
autocratic leadership can lead to the success of the company which is no because everyone
wants to give their contribution in the betterment of the company and want to earn a
respectable status in the company.

Sensitivity: Internal
Developing Leadership and Management 11
Part 3: Leadership development intervention
A good organisation is one which has different leaders so as to guide the employees who are
working under them. It is seen that leaders of the company are the main person who defines
the goals of the company and they also impact the internal working environment of an
organisation. While the term leadership development means a process of building leaders for
the future so that they are able to tackle the issues and can direct the group towards the
organisational objectives and mission. The organisation such as Apple Inc. has developed
various ways to find the leadership skills in their employees so that they are used in future to
direct the company and help them to fulfil the desire of maximising the organisation goals
(Dewar, et. Al., 2017). As per the view of Steve Jobs, he said that leaders not born by birth
but are identified in the different situation that arise in front of them. As one leader in the
organisation is not self-sufficient to tackle all the situation that arises in front of them, hence
it is required to develop a plan that will help in identifying the leaders for the company so as
to tackle the situation which arises in front of them.
It is seen that the ideal leadership practice is flexible, proactive, analytical and changes as per
the position and the situation that arise in front of them. There are various traits that should be
found in the leader so as to achieve the objective of successful leadership (McCauley-Smith,
et. Al., 2015.). Hence some of the leadership traits include:
 The leader should inspire and motivate the other staff
 They should display high integrity and honesty.
 They should drive results for the company.
 And they should have the ability to develop other people with them.
As Apple is considered to be the world most reputed company which was led by Steve jobs
who showed the way of functioning of the organisation. But due to the recent loss of Steve
Jobs the company started to suffer and left various competencies untouched which should be
tackled through the development of new leaders (Storey, 2016). Hence the company is
focusing on the development of different areas so as to increase their leadership strength and
to achieve the end goal of profit maximisation of the company. These areas of leadership are
categorised below:
 The company is focusing on redefining the leadership profiles so as to better respond
to the current business requirements.
 They are also targeting future leadership needs.

Sensitivity: Internal
Developing Leadership and Management 12
 And should make a plan for continuous development culture within the organisation.
As these are the areas which are required to be developed for the development of the
leadership. The main competency that is to be developed by the company is focusing on
redefining the leadership profiles for capturing the current business requirement. This has to
be done by the company more quickly as they are currently working in the industry of
technology which changes very rapidly so the leaders of the company should be forced to
adapt to the changing market and to achieve the objective of the market leader. While for this
development to achieve within the organisation and to build good leaders various leadership
interventions would be used. Hence for developing the leader for the future company should
introduce the action learning programme in their organisational structure, as well as the
leadership culture development, should be used here (Terlecki and McMahon, 2018).
The action learning is an approach where the leaders are developed by bringing the real
problems on which the action is to be taken so as to achieve the objective of leadership
development. This would help in improving the skills of problem-solving and they would
also help in developing the solution for the group. Hence through this leaders would be
developed in Apple Inc. which would lead to help in solving the problem of future
predictability of market and fulfilling the customer’s needs. As the action learning technique
is best suited for the company such as Apple Inc. because it would enhance the personal,
professional and organisation development.
Hence this can be seen that decisions and actions that the leader takes for the organisation
have a long-lasting impact on them. While this is seen that leaders nowadays need to be
proactive so as to build the team which is able to do all types of jobs that are required. While
they should also work on identifying the high potential team members so that the output of
the organisation is high.