Organizational Structure and Leadership at Thomas Cook

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Thomas Cook's organizational theory and practices. It begins by examining the management style, focusing on the transformational approach employed by the CEO, and discusses the functions of management including planning, organizing, leading, controlling, and process coordination. The report then delves into the organizational structure, outlining steps to improve performance and culture, emphasizing mission, vision, and value awareness, business practices, leader and employee behaviors, and continuous improvement activities. Furthermore, it describes leadership styles, particularly democratic, autocratic, transformational, and transactional approaches, with an emphasis on how transformational leadership enhances organizational effectiveness. The report also analyzes the effects of power, influence, and conflict within the company, using the French and Raven model to explore reward, coercive, legitimate, expert, and referent power dynamics. Finally, it discusses various types of motivation, incorporating corporate examples and literature to support its findings, and concludes with recommendations for enhancing organizational performance.

Organizational theory and
practices
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
A) Examine management style and functions of management...................................................3
B) Analysis steps with regard to organization structure for improving performance and culture.
.....................................................................................................................................................5
C) Describing leadership style for enhance organizational effectiveness...................................6
D) Analyses the effects of power, influence and conflict at company........................................7
E) Discuss various types of motivation.......................................................................................8
Corporate examples and literature...............................................................................................9
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS..........................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12
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INTRODUCTION
Organizational theory is refers with the set of interrelated concept, definition which
explains the effective behaviour of individual and group who interact with each other to perform
activities intended towards accomplishment of a common goals. This is very important and
effective study which is help to organization in order to identify the pattern and structure they
use for solving problems, maximize efficiency as well as productivity or most important meet the
expectations of stakeholders. The present report is based on “Thomas cook” which is a British
global travel group. It was formed on 19 June 2007 by the merger of company. The group is
operated into two separate segments a tour and an airline. Recently, company have 21000
employees by serving global area. Company offers ample number of product and services such
as charter and schedule passenger airline, package holiday, hotels and resorts facilities. The key
people of company are Executive chairman. Thomas cook listed into the London stock exchange
and Frankfurt stock exchange. The company has effective name and logo which is help to build
trust and loyalty of customers.
The report wills going be discussed and analysing the management style of Thomas cook.
This will examine the different management style and principle or function of management. Here
is analysis the steps taken with regards to organization structure in order to achieve better
performance and culture impact on the employee performance. This will also describe leadership
style for company with aim to enhance organizational effectiveness. Report will include effects
of power, influences and conflicts within the company as well as discuss various types of
motivation for improving employees’ performance. The motivation is very important and
effective part of the company which will presented effectiveness on employees and boost them
for giving hard contribution to achieve goals and objectives of company in an effective manner.
here will use appropriate corporate examples and literature to justify the stand. This will based
on discussed and debate suggestions as well as recommendations for increase organizational
performance in effective manner.
MAIN BODY
A) Examine management style and functions of management.
Management is consisting with the effective planning, prioritising and organizing work
efforts to accomplish objectives within the business organization. A management style is refers
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with the proper management within organization. Here is present the best management style
which is used by CEO of Thomas cook is transformational management style.
Transformational management style:
Transformational manger is more innovators. That kind of manager manger is usually
believe the changes and growth is the only eth effective way to stay ahead of curve, that push
their employees past into the comfort zone. That is help to make more capable with making
effective and original thoughts. This help to motivate employees to keep and leading to improved
team performance (Management style, 2017). This is the best and effective management style
which is used by CEO of Thomas cook in order to motivate employees and make them dedicated
as well as happy. This management style has some principle such as simplification, motivation,
facilitation, innovation, mobilization and preparation of working environment. Through that
manager is able to make changes within the organization as per their required and make its
positive success of company by accepting challenges. For example: company faces lack of
innovation into company and customers are not satisfied with services. In that, manger is used
transformational management style through that manager have chance to think about innovation
as per customer requirements. With that employees are highly dedicated towards working and
happy with changes as that ready to give hard contribution for achieve goals and objectives of
company.
This management style help to think innovative for working. Company management is
also having various functions of management which are help to make effective working
environment. Those are as follows:
 Planning is the main function of management in that manager builds planning for
company by thinking innovative.
 Organizing is the other function of management in that manager organizes training and
another program for employees in order to motivate them towards success (Manning,
2017).
 Leading is also function of management in that management lead to whole team and staff
member towards changes which are implemented into company as per customers
requires.
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 Controlling is the main function of management of Thomas cook. In this manager of
company is make proper control on employees and staff member by providing proper
guideline for completing work in an effective manner. Process is the last function of management where all above functions are coordinate
together by following step by step working style.
Those are the main function of management which are help to Thomas cook to maintain proper
discipline working environment.
B) Analysis steps with regard to organization structure for improving performance and culture.
Thomas cook success and quality of services as well as customer satisfaction have invited
the proper attention of various experts and industry which is looked into organizational features
of company. This is the best and one of crucial aspects which have higher contributed to the
success of company is the organizational culture. In order to improve performance and culture of
company here is include some steps which are as follows:
 Step 1 mission, vision and value awareness is the main stage of company. At this stage,
company management is frame vision and objectives which are actually describe people
culture throughout organization (DiMartino and et.al., 2018). Here is management look
towards aware people are of organizational values.
 Step 2 business practices to support culture are significant part of culture from
experiences people have with the core business practices. Here is management cope up
with the organizational values teamwork and some of the business practices. In this
management maintain string communication within the company.
 Step 3 leader behaviours is also important and effective for the business and for
management practices which are create more effective and valuable supports. Positive
behaviour of leaders is help to build motivation in employees for working in better ad in
effective manner.
 Step 4 employee behaviours is important part of the company because employee are
giving their hard contribution for achieving goals and objective of company by
considering vision, mission and organizational structure (González-Rodríguez and et.al.,
2019).
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 Step 5 continuous improvement activities are considers as the plan and invigorate. This
includes the level of involvement with planning, rewards system, training and
development of employees.
Those are the main changes which are important for Thomas cook to improving performance and
organizational culture in effective and in valuable manner. With the help of those steps, manager
is able to complete working in better manner. By following step by step working into company,
the employees have proper knowledge and idea of working. Thomas cook organizational
structure is involve focus as well as committed towards maintaining strong customers
engagement department. This highly contributes to the company engagement and better
communication process with customers. This commitment has effective focus on company to
deliver highest level of customer satisfaction.
C) Describing leadership style for enhance organizational effectiveness.
The leadership style at the Thomas cooks has been long talked about discussed in the
industry circle. This has invited into the keen eye of several experts. The company is more
flexible to inspirational leadership which is evolving and updating the changes in the business
condition and time (Foster, Min and Zickar, 2017). The best leadership style is help to improve
the commitment of employees to improve its services and with the higher profit numbers. This is
the condition towards the continuous improvement which is laid special emphasis on skilled
workforce. Here is represent the some of the leadership style which are as follows:
 Democratic leadership: in that leaders are makes their decision which are based on the
inputs of the each team member. Those types of leaders are making their decision after
considering followers ideas and viewpoints. This is one of the best effective leadership
style because that is allows to lower level employees to exercise authority to need to use
wisely in the future. This creates more effective and valuable for the business.
 Autocratic leadership; in this leaders are not consider ideas and viewpoint of
employees. In that leaders are make their decision by own without any discussion. This
can affect to performance of employees as well as company growth because through that
employees feel de-motivated with their leaders.
 Transformational leadership: this type of leaders is always transforming and improving
convention of company (Prajogo and Cooper, 2017). Employees are might be have a
basic set of the tasks ad goals. In that leaders are highly encourage to employees for
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working in better and also in effective manner. This encouragement is form of leadership
among the growth minded because it motivates employees to see them capable.
 Transactional leadership: this leadership style is the fairly common in today because
manager reward their employees for giving better and effective performance within the
organization. Like the marketing team receives a scheduled bonus for helping generate a
certain number of leads by the end of working.
Leaders of Thomas cook is used transformational leadership to motivate employees by making
them more capable for giving hard contribution toward working style. This creates more
effectiveness and benefits for company in order to achieve goals and objectives of company.
Through that employees are highly motivated and able to think more innovative towards working
style is help to enhance organizational effectiveness.
D) Analyses the effects of power, influence and conflict at company.
Power, influences and conflict within the organization is affect to company either in
positive or in negative manner. This help to create more effectiveness of business and create
some issues for business. For analysis the effect of power with the company here is select French
and Raven model are as follows:
 Reward power is based on the idea which leader can grand the valuable reward to their
followers for their best performance is help to make effective and valuable organization
performance. This can affect to business and employee when employer is not give fair
and performance based reward to employees (French and Raven model of power, 2018).
Through that employees are highly de-motivated with working as well as not give best
performance. As per that, performance and behaviour of employee affected to company
and its working progress.
 Coercive power is coming from the idea which leader can penalise those who are
follows their instructions. This give positive impact on work because employees have
fear with penalised and make complete efforts by following complete guidance in
respective manner. This can affect when manager of Thomas cook is abuse to people and
try to insult them. This make employee unhappy and not ready for giving hard
contribution for achieve goals and objective of company.
 Legitimate power is following from person and with job title or position which gives
they right to issue orders (Akgün, Keskin and Kırçovalı, 2019). This can effect to
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Thomas cook in negative manner because when are not able to handle any issues if
leaders and manager is not allotted in proper manner. This affect to company due to
organizational structure.
 Expert power comes from superior knowledge, expertise and experiences is relevant to
the task and challenges face by the group. This can affect to Thomas cook because most f
the time experts are not give decision without understanding complete situation or
decision is wrong.
 Referent power is refers with the linking some information as well as send to other in
negative manner. This can highly affect to business because in that right message reflects
as a wrong conversations of business.
Power is affect to performance of business and Thomas cook. On the other side, conflict is also
affect organization. For example: conflict is generated between two people and both are not like
to working with each other than it is affect in negative manner (Tzabbar, Tzafrir and Baruch,
2017). This is because of the reason employees not discussed about the work and directly
working on topic. Through that work completed but not with correct result and outcome as per
that this gives negative impact on the business.
E) Discuss various types of motivation.
Motivation is most important part of employees which is provide better way to employees
for working in better manner. in respect of the organization, leaders are provide motivation to
employees through gifts, bonus, cash prizes etc. in the context of Thomas cook, company is
provide motivation which more important to satisfied needs and wants of employees. For
understanding in better manner, here is select Maslow hierarchical motivation theory.
Maslow hierarchy of needs is the motivational theory which includes psychology
comprising a five tier model of human needs, often defined as the hierarchical level within a
pyramid.
Physiological needs:
Maslow emphasized our body as well as mind cannot function well if these are not
fulfilled in the proper manner. For example: employees of Thomas cook want to fulfil those
needs in effective manner by attractive salary of employees. Salary is most important part which
is helps purchase water, food and shelter (Maslow hierarchy of need theory, 2020). However, if
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salary is good than help to completely motivated employees for giving better contribution for
working in better manner.
Safety needs:
This refers with desire for protection and security. In respect of Thomas cook, safety
needs refers with saving account, insurance policy as well as safety. This give positive
motivation to employees when Thomas cook provide all those thinks to customers. However, if
employee injured and company is not provided any health insurance than employee de-motivated
because they feel that company is not beneficial.
Belongingness and love needs:
In these elements, Maslow claimed that employee has needed to belong with their social
needs and group (Bratton, 2020). For understanding in better manner here is taking example is
Thomas cook employees seeking for belongingness with the company because this creates great
and positive working environment. This have lacking with this need than employee may suffers
with loneliness due to lack of affection.
Esteem needs:
In this employees are seeks from their followers and staff members. For example if
Thomas cook employer does not respect to their employees and abuse them than it is create
negative impact on employees. In that case employees are highly de-motivated and not ready to
give their hard contribution towards working.
Self actualization:
This refers with desire to grow and this shown the development of fullest potential. In
this employees are like to the select their own version and creative tasks (Weiner, 2020). This is
must be considered by the Thomas cooks is provide equal opportunity and chance to all the
employee for growing as well as developing their performance.
Corporate examples and literature.
The above discussion is based on the proper management with the Thomas cook by making
complete analysis of management style, leadership affect of power as well as motivation for
employees. Those are very important and effective part of the company and for employees. As
per the view of the Foorthuis and et.al., (2016), leadership style is most important and effective
part of company because through that employees are highly feel motivated for working. Leaders
are providing best kind of guidance and direction to employees for working in better and in
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effective manner. For example: Mark Zuckerberg who is the CEO of Facebook is illustrating the
transformational leadership style in the action for company growth. They think that as
encouraging and aggressive and employee has demand constant innovation and growth. This is
the best for company to use this leadership style for company.
On the other side, Dunst and et.al., (2018) stated that motivation is come with satisfying
needs and wants of employees. For the motivation company need to make focus on social,
physiological, esteem and other needs of employees. By considering those needs of employees
are help to make motivate them as well as enhance their performance towards company. This
creates most of the advantages for company because motivated employees are ready to gives
their hard contribution into company. In contradict manner Garg, (2019) stated that management
style is also important for company for its growth. With the help of transformational
management style, manager think innovative think for company growth. In that management
need to give fair and performance based rewards t employees for better understanding needs of
employees.
Those are the very important and effective thinks which are help to make better contribution
in company for working in better and in effective manner.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
From the above study, it had been concluded that the organizational practices and theories
analyse important for company. In that report has analyse the management style and leadership
style. those has important part of company because through that company had provided better
direction to employees for working has helped to achieve goals ad objective of company in an
effective manner. Power, influences and conflicts has also affected to employees as well as
company. Negative use of power and conflicts between employees has created negative impact
on employee work as well as performance. In the absences motivation, employee felt de-
motivated at working place. For that report had covered Maslow hierarchical need of motivation
theory. At the end of report had been illustrating some examples as well as some views of author
have helped to make effective stand.
As per the above study, here is making some recommendations for company in order t
improve performance as well as effectiveness of company. Thomas cooks should use democratic
leadership style will help to improve decision making power of employees in any situation.
Through that employees have chance to take better decision as per knowing current trends. In
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order to motivate employees, management of Thomas cooks should provide fair and
performance based rewards as well as compensation against of their injuries by considering
health insurances. With the help of this, employees are feeling highly motivated for working as
well as improved performance of company. Management should provide better direction and
guidance to employees by considering step by step process is help to improve performance of
company and enhance ability of employee for performing better as well as giving hard
contribution for achieving goals and objectives of company.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Akgün, A. E., Keskin, H. and Kırçovalı, S. Y., 2019. Organizational wisdom practices and firm
product innovation. Review of Managerial Science. 13(1). pp.57-91.
Bratton, J. ed., 2020. Organizational leadership. SAGE Publications Limited.
DiMartino, L. D. and et.al., 2018. The Influence of Formal and Informal Policies and Practices
on Healthcare Innovation Implementation: A Mixed-Methods Analysis. Health care
management review. 43(3). p.249.
Dunst, C. J. and et.al., 2018. Meta-Analysis of the Relationships between Different Leadership
Practices and Organizational, Teaming, Leader, and Employee Outcomes. Journal of
International Education and Leadership. 8(2). p.n2.
Foorthuis, R. and et.al., 2016. A theory building study of enterprise architecture practices and
benefits. Information Systems Frontiers. 18(3). pp.541-564.
Foster, G. C., Min, H. and Zickar, M.J., 2017. Review of item response theory practices in
organizational research: Lessons learned and paths forward. Organizational Research
Methods. 20(3). pp.465-486.
Garg, N., 2019. High performance work practices and organizational performance-mediation
analysis of explanatory theories. International Journal of Productivity and Performance
Management.
González-Rodríguez, M. R. and et.al., 2019. Hotels’ corporate social responsibility practices,
organizational culture, firm reputation, and performance. Journal of Sustainable
Tourism. 27(3). pp.398-419.
Manning, K., 2017. Organizational theory in higher education. Routledge.
Prajogo, D. I. and Cooper, B., 2017. The individual and organizational level effects of TQM
practices on job satisfaction. International Journal of Manpower.
Tzabbar, D., Tzafrir, S. and Baruch, Y., 2017. A bridge over troubled water: Replication,
integration and extension of the relationship between HRM practices and organizational
performance using moderating meta-analysis. Human Resource Management Review.
27(1). pp.134-148.
Weiner, B. J., 2020. A theory of organizational readiness for change. In Handbook on
Implementation Science. Edward Elgar Publishing.
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ONLINE
French and Raven model of power. 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.businessballs.com/leadership-philosophies/sources-of-leadership-power-
french-and-raven/>
Management style. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/management-styles>
Maslow hierarchy of need theory. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html>
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