Leadership in Business: Systems Thinking, Innovation, and JW Marriot

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership in business, using the JW Marriot case study as a focal point. It begins with an introduction to the application of systems thinking within the organization, exploring its role in fostering innovation and change. The report delves into how systems and organizational theories, including complex adaptive systems and collective leadership, informed leadership practices and decision-making at JW Marriot. It further examines the implementation of systems and organizational design, evaluating the impact of these changes. The analysis considers the disruptiveness of these implementations and offers a discussion on applying the theories to personal practice. The report concludes with a summary of the key findings and insights gained from the case study, highlighting the importance of leadership and systems thinking in achieving organizational success, particularly in a competitive business environment. The report underscores the significance of considering both internal and external factors, ethical considerations, and team dynamics in organizational design and leadership strategies.

Running head: LEADERSHIP IN BUSINESS
Leadership in Business
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Application of systems thinking......................................................................................................2
Analyse the manner in which systems and organisational theories informed leadership practise. .4
Explaining the implementation of systems and organisational design............................................6
Evaluating the disruptiveness of the implementation of systems....................................................8
Applying the theories for personal practise...................................................................................10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................12

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Introduction
In the modern world it is important to take into consideration the approaches that include
management of different styles that include leadership as well as innovation. According to Raelin
(2017), in order to gain success in a competitive business, it is necessary that every organisation
create an atmosphere of innovation and change so that leadership practises and decision making
practises can be considered as an essential part of organisational success. The study focuses on
the issues that exist in JW Marriot following the application of the systems theory as well as the
innovative process of surviving in the business market. JW Marriot is one of the leading hotels in
the world and due to this the disruptive innovation is one of the effective implications for the
organisational success. At the same time, practise of leadership is also taken into account for the
success of the hotel in a competitive environment.
JW Marriot is a luxury hotel chain of Marriot International. It was established in 1984
with the first hotel being opened in Washington DC. One of the unique characteristics of the
hotel is that it has a higher tier than other hotels of the Marriot International as it offers more
luxurious rooms and amenities. Overall, JW Marriot has been located in 83 different places
worldwide (Marriott.com, 2018).
Application of systems thinking
Systems thinking are a holistic approach that analysis and focuses on the manner in
which the constituent part of systems can interrelate and work overtime with a context of larger
systems. As stated by Priest and Gass (2017) the application of the systems thinking provides a
contrast to the traditional analysis that helps in the study of every productive system in an

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organisation. In the case of JW Marriot, systems thinking can be implemented in areas that help
in bringing about a reputed financial reputation in the market. At the same time, it also helps in
analysing the external environmental that may cause problems in areas that provide opportunities
for development. In this regard, the current economic state of the country as well as the hotel
needs to be considered.
As seen from the analysis of the case study presented by Gharajedaghi (2011) the
economic condition of the country as well as the organisation can be explained as a cynical
phenomenon that helps in understanding the business activities within the workplace. However,
one of the satisfaction parts of the hotel is that recession does not apply in the current scenario of
the hotel. JW Marriot possesses the ability to diagnose the changing behaviour of the customers
by ensuring that customers that exist can be dealt with in a smart manner.
The systems of JW Marriot can be attributed to the fact that it provides an environment
that deal with the management of lodging products. This is mainly done based on the specific
characteristics and requirements of the market. According to Bolman and Deal (2017), JW
Marriot has a tendency to segment its markets based on the optimum service mix it provides to
the customers. As seen from the earlier analysis the hotels of JW Marriot provide luxurious
accommodations for the customers. Therefore, it can be said that the satisfaction of the
customers are usually taken into consideration by focusing on the empowering properties related
to the formulation of minimal supervision (Berry and Berry, 2018).
Another significant systems management support that JW Marriot undertakes is the fact
that it has a unique quality to manage its brand. In this regard, a holistic systems management is
taken into consideration by JW Marriot. According to Northouse (2018), holistic approaches are

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concerned with the assumptions and knowledge methods that help in the implication of
disciplines in an organisation. In the case of JW Marriot, the hotel provides an analysis of the
brand management that takes place within the business thereby helping it to increase its brand
image and reputation in the concerned departments.
The purpose, values as well as the process that exists within an organisation is taken into
account while trying to understand the systems and its application. As observed by Tannenbaum
and Schmidt (2017) the application of systems thinking is done mainly on the whole instead of
the parts. This offers complex systems that help in the concentration of the interfaces and
boundaries that exist within the management. Therefore, an observation can be made from the
case study that highlights the effectiveness of the core components within the business of JW
Marriot. At the same time, the reservation system required for enhancing the marketing and sales
of the hotel can be applied to understand the systems of human resource management.
At the same time the core management and the critical process of the organisation needs
to be taken into account for the effectiveness of the success in the market. Therefore, it can be
said that JW Marriot that internal and external environment of the company is one of the most
important aspects that needs to be related within an organisation. Hence, it can be said that
application of a proper organisational theory can help in the build of leadership among an
organisation. Without proper leadership skills it can be difficult for JW Marriot to maintain a
balance between the internal and external threats of the environment.

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Analyse the manner in which systems and organisational theories informed leadership
practise
Several systems as well as leadership practise can be considered in order to understand
the effectiveness it has on an organisation. For example, the application of complex adaptive
system theory can be used to understand the non linear dynamic system that exists in an
organisation. As stated by Fairhurst and Connaughton (2014) individual parts does not determine
the success an organisation can have on the whole. Therefore, in the case of JW Marriot, the
application of the systems required for the development of the hotel is interrelated to one
another. Complex adaptive systems can help in the development of a relative system within an
organisation.
On the other hand, Antonakis and Day (2017) the application of a complexity network
can help in the development of relationship between buyers and sellers within a business. In the
case of JW Marriot, the company need to establish a strong base so that it can continue its
growth in the market. As seen from the case study, JW Marriot has faced problems in terms of
financial position. Therefore, it can be said that establishing a network of buyers and sellers can
help in the development of the company as well as identify the areas that need to be improved
upon in terms of financial capacity.
Another consideration that can be made is the fact that the application of systems theory
can help in the development of JW Marriot in terms of its internal as well as its external
capabilities. As seen from the case analysis, JW Marriot needs to understand the abstract
phenomenon that provides independence to the temporal scale of existence. For JW Marriot,
distinct parts of the organisation in terms of open and closed systems need to be considered. As
stated by Champy (2018) JW Marriot can anticipate the future needs of the people and ensure

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that financial performance along with output can be taken into consideration for the development
of the hotel and its expansion.
However, in order to achieve these tasks it is necessary to understand the leadership
tactics that need to take place. As considered by Tourish (2014) collective leadership can be
considered as a social process that is usually aimed at attaining individual goals and requires
collective coordination between the members. This includes collective coordination between the
employees as well as the employers. For JW Marriot to improve its performance, it is necessary
that the company provide collaborative as well as shared decision that describes similar concepts.
In this regard, it can be said that the adoption of the collective leadership style can help JW
Marriot to undergo a process of change that include having a proper hold of its financial
condition.
Therefore, organisational theory as well as an informed leadership practise can have a
severe impact on the effectiveness of an organisation as well as ensure that group members be
included to understand the effectiveness of organisational success. As stated by DuBrin (2015) it
is necessary to understand the importance of the application of leadership styles within an
organisation as it helps in dictating the factors that lead to success. In the case of JW Marriot, the
application of leadership styles can help in providing an idea about the manner in which internal
and external factors of the organisation can be managed at the same time. Hence, an analysis can
be made that helps in identifying and implementing the systems as well as the implementation of
organisational design of JW Marriot.

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Explaining the implementation of systems and organisational design
It has been evidence from the case study that JW Marriot underwent changes in the
organisational design based on the assumptions made for the success. According to Covin and
Slevin (2017) property owners are real customers of Marriot and therefore can be considered as a
threat for the business. Hence, it is necessary to ensure that costs of availing the service of the
hotels be reduced so that regular customers can have an opportunity for enjoying the success of
the hotel. As seen from the analysis, an urgent necessity exists for the reduction of the cost by a
large magnitude to overcome the weakness it possesses.
In this regard, it can be said that the role of the people within the organisation need to be
analysed so that the innovation of the business can place. One of the manner in which JW
Marriot can address the issue is by ensuring that teams are developed. As stated by Shapiro and
Stefkovich (2016) teams help in the development of a proper organisational method so that a
large area of grounds can be covered within a limited period. JW Marriot need to ensure that the
application of collective leadership style be implemented in the teams so that the hotel can
provide all types of employees in its departments. The variety in terms of culture and thoughts
brought about in terms of teams can be considered as a success for the organisation.
At the same time boundaries in the form of ethical considerations need to be taken into
account. As seen from the case study, customer based approach is adopted by JW Marriot so that
it can establish growth in the business. Hence, it is necessary to maintain ethical boundaries that
help in the proactive impact of the organisation. The ethical considerations can be made based on
teams so that every people can contribute for the success of the hotel without a feeling of being
violated within the organisation. According to Shamir, Arthur and House (2018), it can be useful
if the interactive teams decide the policies that are best for the development of the organisation.

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Organisational learning can be considered as an effective manner in which knowledge
can be gained about the information related to the dimension of the organisation. For example,
the core competencies of the organisation include the brand management by analysing the
property management that exists in an organisation. Therefore, profitability can be considered as
a method of organisational learning so that external customers can be attracted using methods
that highlight the components of business. In this regard, Daft (2014) stated that every manager
within an organisation needs to take up specific roles so that the managers can help in the
development of the organisation.
Every unit in the organisation can be associated with separate business possibilities that
take into account the processes that help in capturing the ideas and needs of the customers.
Along with this, one of the applications of the business can be considered in terms of developing
an interactive policy system that can help in the success of JW Marriot. In this regard, the
importance of disruptive innovation can be taken into consideration while implementing
organisational changes.
Evaluating the disruptiveness of the implementation of systems
As per the case study, it can be seen that the organisational process of JW Marriot has
been undergoing rapid changes in the operating system. According to Lussier and Achua (2015),
rapid changes can be managed by considering the implementation of systems thinking within the
business and due to this it provides an analysis of the factors that can help in understanding the
innovation required for success. One of the considerations that need to be made is the fact that
JW Marriot need to undergo changes that pertain to the development of a feedback process.

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In order to implement changes within the organisation, it is necessary that JW Marriot
provide an understanding of the factors that lead to the development of interactive policy within
the business. According to Drucker (2014), disruptive innovation can help in creation of new
market value within the business so that displacement of the market leading organisations can
take place. Products and alliances that exist between the customers provide an understanding of
the values that exists within a business. JW Marriot can implement the necessary feedback
process so that innovation of the business along with the development of teams can take place
without problems. The case study also suggests about the creation of a system that can help in
the continuity of training as well as a scope of education.
Such policy can be considered as a corporate social responsibility of JW Marriot mainly
because it analyses the requirements of the society. Hence, development of the society can help
in the automatic increase of customer base which in turn can help in the development of the
organisation. Klenke (2016) is of the opinion that human resources can help in the development
of proper profitability in an organisation so that it can develop its process and systems. As seen
from earlier experience, it is essential that a reservation system be designed so that differential
base prices can be dependent on the needs of the users.
According to Boin, Stern and Sundelius (2016), concept development along with concept
implementation need to be considered as an essential guideline for organisational success. In this
regard, it can be said that JW Marriot can implement the process related to establishing
guidelines so that operating procedures can be based on maintaining brand identity. Feedback
and interaction related to advertising can be made based on the price analysis and gain the
market requirements of the business. Hence, an analysis can be made about the manner in which

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theories related to the personal practise can be applied for the development of business so that
JW Marriot can continue to provide and maintain the sales that exist within the business.
Based on the analysis it can be said that depending on the application of innovation in the
organisational design, flexibility need to be made that depends upon the changing conditions in
an environment. Hence, a feedback can be provided that can help in the application of the
systems theories as well as innovative theories for the development of personal practise. At the
same time, the manner in which JW Marriot can continue with the business process can help it to
increase its reputation in the target geographical areas of the world.
Applying the theories for personal practise
Systems thinking can help in the development of ideas that relate to focusing on the
holistic approach of a system. The constituent part of a system can be considered as a manner in
which systems can get to work overtime and can be interrelated with the different parts of an
organisation. Therefore, it can be said that a larger context can be developed that can help in the
development of systems thinking so that a company like JW Marriot can continue its
development within the organisation.
During my career growth I can use systems thinking in developing strategies that take
into consideration every factor that can be associated with the general system. I can use it to
reduce the inconsistencies that exist between the actual flows of a system along with its excepted
flow. Hence, it can be said that the application of systems thinking can help in understanding the
activities of the organisation as well as ensure that daily concerns of the managers are managed
in a proper manner. I can use the systems thinking to reduce any type of managerial issues and

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ensure that overall structure of the business can be taken into consideration based on its
application.
The study has made a drastic change in the manner in which the world can be viewed.
Earlier I was of the belief that reputed organisations carry out easy activities for gaining success.
However, with the analysis of the report, it can be said that parts related to the system can be
considered as an effective manner of developing business.
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be said that the application of an innovative approach can help in the
development of any organisation within the market. Innovation can help in maintaining an
alignment of the activities that exists between actual results and the expected results of an
organisation. This can help in the proper analysis of the business environment so that application
of systems thinking can be considered. People can be considered as an important factor for the
success of an organisation so that development and advancement of the systems can help in
developing the systems theories based on the application of business.
At the same time, it can be said that on a personal point of view, the application of
systems thinking can help in the development of a holistic approach of an organisation. The
manner in which systems thinking can increase provides an idea about the scientific approach as
well as the work approach that exists within a business. For JW Marriot, the application of
business management and project management can help in the development of sales and ensure
that human resource management activities can ensure continuity of the business.

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