Case Study Paper on Thirteen Days: A Film About Leadership (Case Study Sample)

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Thirteen Days: A Film About Leadership
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Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u 1.0. Executive Summary32.0. Introduction33.0. Discussion44.0. Analysis95.0. Conclusion106.0. References117.0. Appendix14
1.0. Executive Summary
This paper is a report on the leadership skills demonstrated in the movie titled Thirteen Days (2000). Leadership skill is perhaps the most influencing and most vital theme of an inspirational movie. Therefore, if one wants to properly analyze and evaluate the role of leadership skills in a movie, the person must critically analyze the scenes that portray the leadership skills. The individual also have to deeply analyze the movie in order to recognize and understand how a character is established as a potential leader. This paper is written in the form of a report that tries to critically analyze the presence of the leadership skills by critically analyzing the movie in the light of scholarly evidence.
2.0. Introduction
Since the time when human beings were socialized for the first time, we have always craved for leaders who have extraordinary leadership skills. Leadership can be considered as the ever lighting ray of hope that can guide and help the society to achieve the desired outcomes through struggle, battle, or in a peaceful way. Bennis and Nanus (2007, p. 22) think that leadership is a scientifically managed extraordinary skill which is possessed by only a handful of human beings. These individuals are generally very strong from the psychological aspect. Thus, they become able to control the actions and thoughts of other people. Nowadays, the human society feels the importance of a leader because the world is full of uncertainties and the situation is changing at a rapid pace. Therefore, a potential leader can help us to take specific decisions which may lead to a change in the whole society and global community. The impact of this skill is so huge that it can be traced in several art forms and creative works including movies. Presently, movies are considered as the most convenient medium to convey a message to the people. Therefore, it is highly relevant that a number of movies would try to promote this thing through the portrayal of a leader and demonstrating his leadership skills. Thirteen Days is critically acclaimed by the critics as one of the most efficient and effective movies that present leadership skills. Therefore, we should try to explore the leadership skills portrayed in various scenes of the movie. This analysis will immensely help us to understand the importance and impact of the leadership skills in every possible scenario of both the real life and any art form that represents the human life.
3.0. Discussion
Thirteen Days reflects the leadership skills of the USA President John F. Kennedy who successfully avoided the nuclear war between Russia and the USA, the two superpowers of the world. The events of the movie are concerned with the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The story of the movie is based on real life events and it perfectly covers all the notable happenings during that period and Kennedy's excellent leadership skills to deal with the issue.
In order to analyze the leadership skills in Thirteen Days, one has to properly understand the various aspects of this skill. Bass and Riggio (2006, p.57) have referred to Cox's theory that suggests that a leader might exhibit his controlling and leadership skills either in the transactional style or in the transformational style. A transactional leader gives rewards to his followers in the form of tangible materials and assets. But a transformational leader is more concentrated on the transformation of the society by reforming a specific issue that posed a threat to the equality of the community. These leaders do not focus on any tangible aspects and they solely want to respond to their followers' demands of a change for the betterment.
It would be relevant to track the leadership skills of President Kennedy represented in this movie. The character of President Kennedy is portrayed as a brave, proactive and focused leader from the very beginning of the movie. He was informed about the critical situation of the missile crisis but he didn't panic even a bit. Russell (2001) finds out that President Kennedy stayed calm and evaluated the situation effectively in order to initiate necessary tasks with the help of the assembled advisors at an emergency situation. He tried to gather expert opinion approaching the experienced and skilled advisors. A leader should not only have the skills to control a group or a community but he should also assess a situation properly and seek effective help from every possible source. Bennis (1959, p.288) argues that a leader might be a controlling authority but he should never feel ashamed of seeking help from other persons who are potentially inferior to him. Moreover, a perfect leader should always find an efficient way out of any troublesome situation. This is quite evident from Kennedy's action and decision when he provided every person with a clear vision to handle the situation and also made it clear that he wanted to avoid any destructive and damaging activity like war. A leader must ensure the best thing for his people in the best possible way. Therefore, Kennedy decided to take advice from various government officials and make a decision for the betterment of the country.
The leadership skills of President Kennedy is further enhanced when the movie shows that he is willing to sacrifice any vague dignity to avoid the war. After the long meeting with the advisors, the president decided to take out all the missile from Cuba so that the war could be avoided. This is an extraordinary example of leadership skills. Barbuto (2005, p. 33) states that a leader is surrounded with expectations originated from the people not only of his community or country but a majority of the world. The decision from the president ensured that not only the USA but also Russian people would not face any threatening situation and leave in peace with the goal of prosperity. The movie shows that president Kennedy has asked for help from the experts of various sections. It shows that he wanted to fuel the prosperity and promotion of intellect and skills. One of the principal qualities of a leader is to allow everyone to participate in a discussion to reflect their valuable ideas. The president ensured that every people, related to that issue, could provide their valuable thoughts. But he analyzed them, evaluated them, and took the ultimate decision depending on the demand of the time and the situation. He did not neglect any of his followers or believers or supporting persons, but the leadership is shown in every act of him and more potentially when he takes the most valuable decision by the judgment of intellect, situation and requirement. Kennedy has perfectly played the role of a leader professionally, ethically, and morally. Leithwood and Jantzi (2000, p.117) have introduced a theory that mentions desired and expected conditions to be a six-dimensional transformational leader. The analysis, so far, suggests that the President meets all those prescribed and described conditions.
The president is also shown to have some concern over the issue when we see that he takes some medicines while two of his close aides were present there. But it can be successfully argued that the president has shown leadership skills in this case too. According to Dave (2011), the President did not display his concern or weakness in the meeting with the ex-comm so that the mental strength and confidence of his followers do not get hampered anyway. Moreover, when his aides start to panic over the situation, the president kept his composure and advised the aides to handle the situation with more focus. The duty and responsibility of a leader are to properly guide his group and followers under tough situations. It is his control over the group, that makes a person a great leader. This skill is successfully displayed from this happening. We can see the display of the leadership skills from another aspect. The war generals consider the president as a coward. But the president did not seem to be moved about that. He did not have any concern over this factor. An important aspect of leadership skill is to digest severe and sharp criticism. May (2001) has strongly asserted that the tough situation tested the confidence of the leader and Kennedy has successfully cleared this test with distinction.
The second incident of discussion is the third day of the crisis. The president flew to Connecticut in order to attend the campaigning of his party's congressional candidate. Throughout this campaigning, the president was not seen to display concern over this issue even once. Instead, he seemed to be in good when he joked. But we all know that the president really had some concern over the issue. But he did not want his people to think that the nation was really in a danger. This is an excellent presentation of leadership skills. Barnet et al. (2001, p. 419) have stated that at the time of danger, a leader must ensure that his people should not get overwhelmed by the concern over the issue they are dealing with. Maintaining the focus and the concentration are the potential factors that determine the success. Kennedy was shown to have and use these skills on various occasions. We can view this incident from a different perspective of another dimension of the leadership skills. A leader is associated with many expectations both at the professional and personal level. But he should make sure that he successfully meets all the professional expectations under any circumstances. Getting overwhelmed by the situation cannot help a person to achieve his goals. According to Bass et al. (2003, p.214), a leader should keep his composure and stability of focus...