Management and Leadership Styles - Term Paper Example

? Management and Leadership Styles Table of Contents Introduction 3 Discussion 4 Definition of Leadership and Management 4 Evaluation of the relationship among Management and Leadership 5 Steve Jobs- A Leader or a Manager of Corporate business world 6 Effectiveness of the leadership style of Steve Jobs 8 Findings 9 Conclusion and recommendation 10 References 12 Introduction In this age of competitive rivalry and economic slump, proper management and control of the human resources of an organization is the most essential requirement. Without which an organization may not proper in the entire globe in the future era. This is because, human resource is the prime strength of an organization but it need to be maintained and controlled properly so as to achieve the future goals. However, to do so, it is essential to recruit effective and experienced leaders as well as managers within the organization. They act as a catalyst in guiding and inspiring the human resources or the employees of an organization so as to enhance their level of performance and dedication towards work. Side by side, the leaders and managers also motivate them towards work so as to improve the productivity and efficiency of the organization thereby amplifying its image and profit margin in the market among others. Along with this, it also helps in enhancing the popularity and equity of the organization thereby amplifying its level of sustainability to a certain extent in the future era among others. Therefore, it might be sated that leaders and managers are the guiding forces that might improve the efficiency and competence of the employees as well as the organization so as to cope up with varied types of challenges. This essay is divided into five phases and it mainly highlights the importance of management and leadership within an organization. Along with this, it also clearly depicts the relationship among the two different terms. Other than this, it also describes the managerial and leadership style of the CEO of Apple, Mr. Steve Jobs in terms of decision making and employee management. Discussion Definition of Leadership and Management Leadership and management are the two interchangeable terms that helps in enhancing the level of sustainability of an organization in the market. Leadership is described as the procedure of social influence with the help of which, an individual supports and assists others to accomplish the objective or goal. Moreover, leaders are those individual, who inspire the employees to improve their level of devotion in order to enhance the productivity of the organization. Along with this, the leaders also help to guide and direct the human resources or the employees in such a way so that, it might enhance their efficiency to a significant extent as compared to others in the organization. Other than this, the term leadership is also described as a process to enhance the trust and faith of the employees, customers or the stakeholders thereby improving their relationship with the management. Side by side, the leaders also attempt to enhance the level of coordination among the employees and management of the organization so as to accomplish the future targets in an effective way. Along with this, it also helps in improving the interpersonal relationship among the employees thereby reducing the range of conflicts, lockouts and attritions. Thus, it might be portrayed that leadership skills, attitudes and values help to present proper direction to the employees or the organization to become successful in future. Similarly managerial style or management is often described as the individual liable for controlling and supervising a group of members or staffs within an organization. It is done so as to attain the objectives or targets of the organization in an effective way. In order to do so, management always tries to plan, organize and schedule the ideas and information of the group members so as to accomplish the objective in an efficient way. So that, the objective of the organization might be attained in a successful way without any sort of defaults. Thus, management might be revealed as a human activity that helps in enhancing the productivity and performance of the organization and the employees so as to achieve fruitful outcomes (Stacey, 2012, p. 456-478). Evaluation of the relationship among Management and Leadership Sutherland & et. al. (2010), describes that both management and leadership are part of a same organization but work in diverse perspectives. Management or manager of an organization undergoes planning and scheduling of the ideas and tasks so as to accomplish it successfully. On the other hand, leader of an organization accomplishes the objective by inspiring the followers or employees through his character or behavior. Thus, it might be described that managers are highly concerned with the efficiency and performance of the employees whereas the leaders are more anxious about the success of the outcome. This is because; the managers spend long stressful hours to accomplish a specific task but the leader’s complete the tasks through stirring activities and modeling behaviors. Due to which, the managers achieve a promotion or position by ability but leaders achieve it by power and temperament (Sutherland & et. al, 2010). Other than this, leadership is a procedure to motivate other individual or employees to work in a specified way to attain the future objectives. It may be possible only by enhancing the level of dedication towards the assigned duties and responsibilities of the organization. On the other hand manager is a tactical individual highly capable and intelligent to tackle any difficult situation in an effective way. So that, the operations and functions of the organization might remain effective for longer period of time thereby retaining its image and sustainability (Woellner, 2013, pp. 456-478). As a result, the profit margin and total sales of the organization might also get enhanced thereby amplifying its reputation in the market among others. Due to which, the rate of retention of the experienced employees within the organization might get enhanced, thereby reducing the ratio of attrition. By doing so, an organization might effectively retain its dominance and supremacy in the market among others (Porter, 1986, pp. 378-456). Therefore, it might be described that leaders or managers act as the backbone of any organization thereby amplifying its position and ranking within the minds of its target customers. This might be possible both by planning and organizing the ideas along with motivation and inspiration, i.e. management and leadership is equally essential for any organization. Steve Jobs- A Leader or a Manager of Corporate business world Leadership is described as an art to guide or control the activities of a specific group within an organization. Moreover, it is also described as the ability of a leader to influence the members of a group or association to act for a common cause. By doing so, the inner confidence and motivation of the employees gets enhanced thereby amplifying the total productivity of the organization. Side by side, a leader also tries to share all sort of information and knowledge among other employees so as to analyze their view point regarding the matter. This might prove effective for the organization to resolve any challenging situation in a coordinated way. Similarly, a manager is an individual, who plans and discusses the pros and cons of an idea among all the followers or co-members before implementing it within the organization. It is done, so as to analyze and evaluate the inner desires and motives of his fellow-members regarding the idea. Along with this, a manager is also responsible for implementation of corrective measures in order to resolve difficult or problematic situations. Thus, it might be clearly depicted that both manager and leader is the person responsible for planning, controlling and delegating varied responsibilities of work. Hence, leader or manager of an organization is the most vital obligation, without which it may not prosper in its future era (Sutherland & et. al, 2010, pp. 48-72). Consequently, Steve Jobs might be described both as a leader as well as a manager. This is because, in a very small age, he became able to convince Wozniak to assist him in developing computers in Apple Inc. This proved extremely effective for the organization of Apple Inc thereby amplifying its recognition and fame in the market among others in this aggressive market. Side by side, as Steve Jobs was an unconventional leader so he always desired, best performance from his workers. Due to which, he became able to retain the reputation and brand image of Apple Inc in spite of extreme economic downturn. Other than this, Steve Jobs always tried to enhance the inner confidence and motivation of the employees by presenting inventive ideas for the introduction of products and services thereby amplifying the brand loyalty of Apple Inc in the market. However, this became possible only due to bureaucratic style and blunt presentation of criticism to his employees or followers. Bureaucratic style of leadership is a type of style, in which the leader comprises of a lot of control and influence over his followers or employees. And the employees in this type of leadership style include very less power to present any sort of suggestions or ideas. This is mainly because; in such style the leader or the manager (Steve Jobs) is the most powerful person responsible to delegate varied types of activities and policies. And so the employees or followers had to follow his ideas and thoughts just as Apple Inc. In Apple Inc, all the followers had to obey the orders of Steve Jobs as he is the ultimate person to assign responsibilities. Moreover, in this type of leadership style, the leader presents varied types of ideas and policies such as collaboration with Microsoft so as to enhance the level of supremacy and reputation in the market among others. Side by side, it might also prove effective for the organization of Apple Inc to present varied types of innovative products and services thereby fulfilling the desires and requirements of the customers. As a result, the level of loyalty and trust within the minds of the customers might get enhanced resulting in improvement of the brand value of Apple Inc. Apart from this, due to Steve Jobs sheer intelligence and astuteness, Apple Inc became able to purchase NeXT and NeXTSTEP operating systems. It proved extremely effective for the organization in future thereby amplifying its range of profits and net income by 30% and 56% among other competitors in the market. Other than this, Steve Jobs also implemented the system of rewards that might enhance the level of dedication of the employees towards work. As a result, the level of productivity and performance of the employee might get enhanced along with the loyalty and position of the organization in the entire globe. Thus, it might be depicted from above mentioned points, that Steve Jobs is an extremely visionary and passionate leader or manager of corporate business. In addition, Steve Jobs also comprised of a risk taking attitude, which is one of the significant characteristics of bureaucratic leaders. As a result of which, he opened the Apple retail stores in the year 2001 for the customers to test various computers, software’s and other devices. Although, everybody sensed it as of high risk, still Steve Jobs made it extremely effective for Apple Inc that enhanced its position and market share. Therefore, this risk-taking decision fulfilled his dream to make the organization the top-most one in the market among other rival players (O’Grady, 2009, pp. 456-489). Hence, it might be depicted that Steve jobs is a brilliant and optimistic leader, who desired to offer value-added products to its customers at an effective price. This became possible only due to the motivational values and attitude of Steve Jobs that inspired the employees or followers of Apple Inc significantly (McInerney, 2011). Effectiveness of the leadership style of Steve Jobs In this age of tough competition, optimistic attitude and risk-taking nature are the two prime requirements of the employees of the organization (Mabey & Lees, 2007, p. 36-78). This is because, without such qualities an employee or a leader may not prove effective for the organization. This is because; such a leader might inspire the employees to invent new products that may enhance the reliability and image of the organization among others. Such type of situation is witnessed in Apple Inc, at the time of invention of iMac and iPhone that surely improved the market share and profit margin from $ US 5.7 billion in the year 2010 to $ US 7 billion in 2011. Along with this, the revenue and brand image of the organization of Apple Inc also enhanced significantly among others (Tar, 2013, p. 82-132). Apart from this, high level of involvement of Steve Jobs with his co-workers also proved extremely effective for the organization of Apple Inc. Due to which, the followers or employees obeyed the decisions of Steve Jobs that highly affected their level of performance and dedication towards work. Along with this, it also enhanced the position and dominance of the organization of Apple Inc in the entire segment among other contenders. Therefore, it might be clearly depicted that the leadership or managerial style proved extremely advantageous and effective for the organization of Apple Inc that enhanced its excellence and global presence. Moreover, Steve Jobs is the main backbone of the organization of Apple Inc that enlisted its name in Fortune 500 companies (McKimm & Philips, 2009, p. 226-289). Findings The leadership or managerial style of Steve Jobs helped to enhance the total sale of the organization among its competitors such as HP, Acer, Dell and Alienware as presented in the below graph. Along with this, the profit margin of the organization of Apple Inc also increased by 60% as compared to other rival players. Due to which, its reputation and brand image also enhanced to a significant extent among others, which is extremely essential for any organization. Hence, it might be said Steve Jobs is the ultimate person for the success of Apple Inc in this aggressive market (Hasan, 2013, pp. 234-267). Conclusion and recommendation Conclusively, it might be described that the leadership or managerial style of Steve Jobs are extremely unconventional in nature. But it acted as the cornerstone for the organization of Apple Inc to enhance its popularity and brand value in the market. This became proved by the invention of MacBook Pro in the year 2006 that not only improved the position but also the equity of the organization of Apple Inc. Other than this, it also attracted wide range of customers of varied income groups and living standards thereby reducing the fear of new substitutes. Side by side, it also helped Apple Inc to enhance its dominance among other existing rivals and new entrants significantly. Moreover, the rate of switchover costs also reduced that enhanced its loyalty and consistency within the minds of the customers. Apart from this, due to high inspiring and motivating power, the inner confidence and self-esteem of the employees enhanced thereby improving their dedication towards work. However, if the system of extra wages might be implemented within the organization of Apple Inc, then the rate of retention of the experienced employees might get enhanced. Along with this, the rate of attrition might get reduced, thereby amplifying its recognition in the market among others. Along with this, if the employees are offered the power to present their own idea and suggestions, before introducing any product or policy then their self-worth might get enhanced. This might enhance their performance as well as the productivity of the organization. Therefore, if the above mentioned points might be implemented within the organization of Apple Inc, then it might retain itself in the top-most position in the market among all other rival players. Along with this, its distinctiveness and culture might also become a unique one in the entire globe. References Hasan, M. R. (2013). Apple Inc. - An Analysis: PESTEL analysis, Porter’s 5 Forces, SWOT analysis, Comprehensive analysis of financial ratios and comprehensive analysis of share performance of Apple Inc. London: GRIN Verlag. McKimm, J. & Philips, K. (2009). Leadership and Management in Integrated Services. London: Springer. Mabey, C. & Lees, T, F. (2007). Management and Leadership Development. London: Sage. McInerney, S. (2011). Steve Jobs: an unconventional leader. [Online] Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/management/steve-jobs-an-unconventional-leader-20111007-1lcmo.html. [Accessed on November 20th, 2013]. O’Grady, J, D. (2009). Apple Inc. New York: Cengage Learning. Porter, M, E. (1986). Competition In global Industries. London: Sage. Sutherland, V, S. & et . al., (2010). Organizational Stress Management: A Strategic Approach. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Stacey, R, D. (2012). Tools and Techniques of Leadership and Management: Meeting the Challenge of complexity. New York: Cengage Learning. Tar, A. (2013). Apple SWOT Analysis. Germany: Oxford University Press. Woellner, J, Z. (2013). Corporate Strategy for Apple Inc Company. London: Sage. Read More