Mod 4: The Role of Leadership in Shaping Organizational Culture (Essay Sample)
Prepare a 7-8 page double-spaced paper in APA format. The paper should have “1” margins all around, 12 point font, Times New Roman, pages numbered in upper right corner, running head and proper citations within the body of paper in APA format. The paper should include a cover page and reference page in APA format which is not include in the page count. This is a DBA course in Business Administration course. The title of the course is Organizational Leadership Doctoral Theory Practice. Please write this paper as if it is your own assignment. The paper has to be scholarly written. This assignment will be submitted to turnitin. Please do not use information from another paper. Please use peer-reviewed references (scholarly references) no older than 5 years old. Please us at least 6 of the references below. The assignment is due by Dec. 6, 2014 by 3PM EST. Please do not copy and paste from another paper. Please paraphrase more. The professor stated that books are not scholarly/peer-reviewed references.
I will upload the rubric for the assignment.
Course Description:
Successful business leaders create a positive organizational culture based on personal ethical behavior, ethical expectations, training, and transparency. Business leaders use a range of leadership styles, including transformational, transactional, and servant leadership, based on the organizational situation. Regardless of leadership style, one thing that business leaders have in common is the ability to identify and develop leadership strategies that lend to the success and sustainability of their business. In this four-module course, students cover a wide range of different topics on business leadership. Students focus on the practical application of APA writing, critical thinking, and the integration of professional leadership practice at the doctoral level as they develop sustainable solutions from the perspective of a business leader. Students examine the relationship between leadership and management, evaluate the impact and utility of leadership styles assessments, and analyze different leadership styles. Additionally, students evaluate and investigate various leadership theories, sources of power, and motivation theories to gain a better understanding of the nature and practice of leadership. Students evaluate organizational stress, analyze ethical dilemmas, and craft an organizational strategy to shape a successful business culture. They assess current articles, engage in online discussions, and complete application assignments based on organizational culture, ethics, strategy, stress, and leadership theories.
The Role of Leadership in Shaping Organizational Culture
Recent research stated that “[c]ompanies with an established organizational culture that includes strong capabilities for change, commitment to innovation and a high level of trust have a significant advantage” when attempting to adopt a strategy of broad-based corporate sustainability (Eccles, Perkins, & Serafeim, 2013). Yet an Ethics Resource Center (2012) survey found that 42% of respondents felt their organizations exhibited signs of a weak ethics culture with a low degree of trust and transparency. Organizational leaders should have a strong incentive to identify and address any disparities that exist between their organization’s current culture and a productive healthy one. They must understand the impact they can have as leaders in facilitating an organizational culture, determining the necessary steps to build that culture, and taking the necessary action to create a healthy organizational culture.
To prepare:
Reflect on all you have learned about leadership and leadership theory throughout this course. Begin searching for scholarly references about the relationship between leadership and organizational culture. Reflect on the leadership characteristics and skills that are useful in promoting a healthy organizational culture. Also, consider the leadership styles that promote a healthy organizational culture. Think about the impact on organizational culture of how a leader responds to specific situations, such as crises. Reflect on how a leader might use power to promote a healthy organizational culture and how a leader can promote ethics in a healthy organization.
The “To prepare” is intended to aid in your reflection upon how the various leadership theories and other topics throughout the course relate to organizational culture. However, you are free to analyze other facets of the relationship between leadership and organizational culture.
Submit an 6-8 page comprehensive scholarly analysis of the role leadership plays in shaping an organizational culture.
Your paper must contain ten scholarly resources. These can be a combination of the Learning Resources used throughout this course and new scholarly resources. Your paper should adhere to the APA Course Paper Template found in the Walden University Online Writing Center. The link is located in this Module’s Learning Resources.
Course Text (s)
•Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
•American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.).Washington, DC: Author.
Other readings (journal articles, websites, book excerpts, etc.) are assigned throughout the course and may be found within each week and within the Course Schedule.
Reading
•Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Chapter 12, “Team Leadership” (pp. 287–318)
The author provided a brief introduction of the history of team leadership research and identified critical areas for continued research. The chapter introduced Hill’s model for team leadership. Hill addressed each leadership decision and leadership action that comprises the majority of the model. She explained the last component of the model, team effectiveness, by detailing the criteria identified as contributing to team effectiveness. She outlined the practical applications of the Hill leadership model. She also addressed the criticisms and strengths of the model.
•Ayman, R., & Korabik, K. (2010). Leadership: Why gender and culture matter. American Psychologist, 65(3), 157–170.
Retrieved from the Walden Library Databases.
The authors conducted a leadership research study examining the impact of gender and culture on leaders in a business environment. They also explored dynamics of stereotypes, values in the organization, differences in access to and exercise of power, and role expectations. The authors defined some key terms, including culture, gender, and leadership. They analyzed and presented leadership theories. The authors’ findings provide a broad view of the impact culture and gender have on organizational leadership. The article may be helpful in completing the Assignment in this Module.
•Balthazard, P. A., Waldman, D. A., & Warren, J. E. (2009). Predictors of the emergence of transformational leadership in virtual decision teams. Leadership Quarterly, 20(5), 651–663.
Retrieved from the Walden Library Databases.
The authors outlined a correlational research study examining transformational leadership in virtual team environments. A comparison was conducted between 127 members of virtual teams and 135 members of traditional face-to-face teams. The authors examined the etiology of current transformational leadership and the implications for selecting and developing business leaders. Their findings provide additional information on the importance of written communications in leading virtual teams in organizations. The article should be helpful in completing Discussion 1 in this Module.
•Eagly, A. H., & Lau Chin, J. (2010). Diversity and leadership in a changing world. American Psychologist, 65(3), 216–224.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
•The authors presented an argument joining leadership and diversity theory and research. It may provide practical insight for improving leadership in organizations. They mentioned the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign as the hook to the article. The authors stressed the lack of leadership research in the United States that addresses aspects of leader diversity in respect to culture, gender, race, and ethnicity. The authors noted that, although most business leaders are still white men, more women and minorities are earning leadership roles in organizations. They presented and analyzed their examination of discrimination in the workplace. Eagly et al.’s findings resonate with global transactions and provide a contrasting view to points raised in other leadership literature. The article may be helpful in completing the Assignment in this Module.
•Ilies, R., Judge, T., & Wagner, D. (2006). Making sense of motivational leadership: The trail from transformational leaders to motivated followers. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 13(1), 1–22. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
This article outlined a theoretical model integrating mechanisms influencing follower motivation. The authors proposed using an affective mechanism to induce positive emotional experiences in their followers, coupled with a cognitive mechanism to help improve employee motivation. The affective and cognitive mechanisms influence motivation in three ways: the direction of action, the intensity of effort, and effort persistence. The article should be helpful in completing Discussion 3 and the Application Assignment in this Module.
•Karaszewski, R. (2010). Leadership in global business environment through a vision creation process. TQM Journal, 22(4), 399–409. Retrieved from the Walden Library Databases.
The author outlined a research study that examined the personal comments and responses of over 2,000 surveys and interviews of personnel in the world’s largest companies. An analysis of the perception of the Japanese leadership style was conducted with the main objective of reviewing the nature of the vision creation process. The article should be helpful in completing Discussion 3 in this Module.
•Van Velsor, E., & Leslie, J. B. (1995). Why executives derail: Perspectives across time and cultures. Academy of Management Executive, 9(4), 62–72. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Global business has increased and will continue to increase. This article examined the concept of organizational derailment (lack of future advancement in an organization) across cultures. The authors reviewed various derailment issues and factors. Some of these factors included interpersonal relationship problems, failure to build and lead teams, failure to meet the business goals and objectives, and the inability to change. The authors examined derailment in order to aid in understanding what can help future leaders thrive in organizations. The article may be helpful in completing Discussion 1 and the Application Assignment in this Module.
The Role of Leadership in Shaping Organizational Culture
Student’s Name;
Course Instructor;
The Role of Leadership in Shaping Organizational Culture
Leadership in business refers to the ability to motivate a certain group of people, such as workers, towards achieving the same goal (Abrhiem, 2012). The main objectives of any business are to maximize profits, minimize cost of production and also win the largest market share. Essentiality of good leadership was determined upon examination of two firms. One firm employed a good leadership method, while the other firm failed to use a good leadership scheme. Research showed that the firm with good leadership showed high results in terms of performance and output level. From there, it was concluded that good leadership is essential in every business activities. It is, therefore, vital for students taking business as their career subject to understand in depth the qualities of a good business person in order to work efficiently in the business organizations (Ayman & Korabik, 2010). The qualities of a good leader are described below.
First and foremost, a good leader should be a good decision maker. As noted by American Psychological Association (2010), leaders should take part in every decision made in the firm and should always be ready to face the consequences that would follow. In cases where it is necessary to define whether to employ more workers or to reduce the number of employees, the leader should not need to consult any other minor worker. Instead, he has to decide it himself after consideration of the consequences of employing more workers and realizing if more workers employed would increase the level of output produced. The leaders should also consider whether reducing the number of worker would reduce expenses and retain the same level of output.
Secondly, a good leader should always be ready to take risks (Balthazard, Waldman & Warren, 2009). For every business to run successfully, it is required to take risks in investments. For example, a good leader should always give space for use of new methods in production. The new methods of production might lower the its level but when the new method of production favors the company, the firm would increase its yields and would be able to meet its targets. A good leader should also allow employees to perform different researches. Such researches will help generate different ideas, chose the best of them and impact the firm positively. Research leads to the new tactics of operation, thus reducing the costs of production. When the costs of production are lowered, profit margins expand instead (Eagly & Lau, 2010).
A good leader should always be ready to motivate his employees. A leader should ensure that improvement of any project that was caused by an employee is funded as long as the project is favorable for the firm. When the leader funds such projects, it will motivate other worker to generate ideas which can be beneficial to the firm. A leader should always be ready to let his workers cooperate with workers from profitable firms. Such cooperation will be made possible through sending the workers to seminars. It will allow exchange of ideas and thus, the firm might adopt a new and cheaper way of manufacturing its products. A good leader should promote workers showing great results of their work to higher positions in the firm. Promotion of workers will enable them work harder, as well. When everyone works hard, there is an efficient production and thus, the firm receives higher income. Employees should also be compensated when they work extra hours by an increase in their salary. When their salaries are increased they will continue working extra hours. It will, in turn, increase the output levels, since the working hours would be extended without anyone feeling unsatisfied. A good leader should also motivate his employees by making sure they use company cars when attending any business tour. It will reduce transportation expenditures and encourage workers to make such tours more often for the benefit of the company (Ilies, Judge & Wagner, 2006).
A good business leader should possess such qualities as open mind and trustworthiness. An open-minded leader will not cover any information from his employees. In case there is a problem of fund shortages, the leader should always be ready to communicate to the employees. He will be able to explain them that the company is experiencing shortages of funds and, therefore, every worker will experience a reduction of salary or some workers will be unemployed in order for other to enjoy their salaries (Karaszewski, 2010). Openness would reduce problems, such as workers’ strike. Strikes are always known to stop business operations, as well as cause more serious consequences. Workers may damage properties that would have a negative influence on a firm. When a leader is open-minded, he will win his people’s trust and workers would, in turn, be trustworthy too. Lack of trust between employees and a leader may result in situations when workers make up fake reasons to ask for leaves. Unnecessary leaves would lead to poor operation, since workers would not be working regularly. It will also result in conflicts between the leader and the workers at the point when the leader will deny the employees having unnecessary leaves. On the contrary, when workers are trusted, it will encourage the manager to send them to represent the company in different business conferences.
A good leader should always ensure that his subordinates are working in a good environment. It implies that workers should be provided with proper housing and good transport for those who live far from the company. The safety of a worker should also be taken into consideration. Employees who work in factories should always be provided with overalls and also helmets to prevent them from any external damages. When workers are accorded safe working conditions, there would not be any incidence of workers looking for job with better working environment. In case the company does not consider the working environment of the employees, they may leave the job and the company might suffer from loosing a qualified worker. Consequently, it will be difficult and expensive for the company to replace him and train another specialist for the production process.
A good leader should also be a good manager of funds and time. A leader should always ensure that funds are allocated efficiently without any biasness. In other instances, a manager might be tempted to be bias and locate more funds to different projects due to ethical or gender biasness. When some projects lack appropriate attention and funding, it would lead to failure in their accomplishment, though they may be of great importance to the company. A good leader should not be selfish in questions of satisfy his personal needs at the first place. When a leader is too selfish, he will always award himself huge salaries that would, in turn, make the firm suffer from deficit cash. Lack of enough funds will force the leader not to pay or delay the salaries for the employees. When the salaries are delayed, workers loose motivation and work unwillingly. In such situation, a bad relationship between the leader and the workers is developed and it may lead to decreased yields and company collapse due to the improper management. The leader should also be disciplined and possess good time management skills. When a leader manages time, he would be able to make workers report to work on time and thus, ensure that the work is done efficiently. A leader should also show an example of time management by his own behavior (Northouse, 2013).
The way leaders solve problems plays a vital role is determining the level of the firm operation. A good leader should not be harsh to the employees and always be ready to listen to their problems. In cases where the workers demand for salary increment, a leader should gather the workers and make them understand why it is difficult to increase their salaries at a particular moment. If there is need for the salaries to be increased, they should be informed by how much it will be done. Polite solving of conflict will enable the leader have good relationship with his employees, which will result in the efficient work performance.
In every firm, the leader should always be ready to face any crisis that may be caused by the operation process. An example of a crisis is inflation. In cases of inflation, money supply is reduced thus, demand of good declines due to the insufficient cash circulating in the economy. When the money supply for people is minimal, the demand for products will decline correspondingly. The question that every leader would ask himself in a similar situation is how to ensure that the products are purchased and how should the firm retain its customers and make profits during inflation? It might be challenging to every leader that lacks skills to face such crisis thus, leading to the closure of the business. A good leader should increase channels of advertisement in order to make the products become differentiated. Advertisement will enable more people receive informed about the product. By using such method, the company would attract new customers that would replace the former loyal customers who withdrew from the business due to the inflation crisis. When the new customers replace the loyal customers, equilibrium is attained and the firm continues earning its initial profits. In other instances, it may be difficult to reach the number of new customers compared to the previous number of loyal customers that withdrew from the market. There is no way the firm will continue making profits unless it increases its prices. Increase in prices will reduce demand, since according to the law of demand, when prices increase, demand decreases and when prices are low, de...
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