1. How ethical and socially responsible are the opinions of Olivia & Raphael about the advantages of smartphones?
To a large extent, Technology Chief, Olivia and Company CEO, Raphael offer opinions that are devoid of the moral and ethical requirements of organizational leaders. Olivia is partially right through her assertion that smartphones ease access to information and simplify the way people communicate with each around the globe, however, she seems to deviate from the ethical compass by claiming that smartphones make people smarter, happier and save them the responsibility of memorizing information, learning correct spellings and understanding basic arithmetic. When put into perspective, her claim is partially true but limit the abilities of their customers hence have adverse effects on the way people socially interact. A leader’s ethical responsibility demands that they facilitate the wellbeing of their customers hence Olivia comments fall short of this requirement. Raphael, on the other hand, seems to take pride in the fact that smartphones have caused job losses while at the same time failing to take responsibility for road accidents that occur due to smartphone use. Ethically, Raphael depicts the characteristic of a self-righteous leader that seems oblivious to the social ills that the company products cause.
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2. Do you believe that it is important for organizations to be socially responsible? Explain.
Organizational social responsibility is pivotal in building the organization’s reputation with various stakeholders. Businesses operate within an environment where interaction with other members of society is inevitable. Consequently, businesses have to adhere to practices that reflect their concern for other members of the society. The social responsibility of organizations towards the society is contained within the compounded term of ‘corporate social responsibility’ which is the consciousness of businesses to the economic, social and environmental impact that their businesses have on the community (Ni & Van Wart, 2015). The overall social responsibility benefits extend from the business to the society where the business operates.
3. What tips can you take from the case study and the Reading to improve your understanding of being a socially responsible leader?
Derek, the company marketing manager provides useful insights into the importance of social responsibility for a leader. Staying conscious to the positive es and the negatives that the business creates within the society is crucial in understanding the leadership roles of organizational managers. Business is run with the aim of achieving profits. However, several factors within the business operations may contribute negatively to the societal balance as in the case of smartphones causing road accidents. Hence, a racially responsible leader identifies such setbacks and devices methods of overcoming them.
4. How does this case study add to or change your thoughts on leadership?
The case study acts as an eye-opener on the various types of leaders in today’s society. Socially irresponsible leadership displays the characteristics of selfishness toward societal norms and wellbeing by aligning organizational operations to ignore the impact on society. Socially irresponsible leadership is undesirable due to its adverse effects on the society and organizational reputation. Socially responsible leadership concerns itself with the ethics within the society and strives to create a balance between business profitability and maintenance and improvement in societal existence. Adopting responsible leadership techniques can be pivotal in building a strong reputation and shaping the way people in society interact with the organization. Importantly, the case study broadens the view of leadership beyond exercising of roles within the organization. It highlights the need for consideration of ethics and the improvement of the lives of others.
5. What ideas from the case study will you add to your leadership profile?
The case study is a useful resource in identifying leadership skills that can improve the approach to leadership. Service-oriented leadership is apparent in Derek’s assertion about the role of the organization in preventing accidents caused by smartphone use while driving. A leader must go beyond their expected response to create an environment that is beneficial for all stakeholders. Innovation thus becomes crucial in achieving the intended purpose of protecting customers from harm. Innovative ideas in leadership aid in protecting others from harm while at the same time improving the leadership dispensation.
Ashley Wants to Boost Teamwork
1. How can Ashley get her team to function more effectively as a team (and subsequently Ashley be a more effective team leader)?
Ashley’s team leadership skills are wanting owing to her inability to get the team members to work together to achieve the common goals of the team. Despite her belief and the reassurance that she gives to her boss that she is an effective team leader, the team performance paints a different picture. Hence, several measures are necessary to get her team to function more efficiently. Ashley needs to improve on her communication skills. She fails to clarify to the team leaders how the team will function but rather vaguely tells them that they should move along with the team idea. She should also take up the role of an influential leader and delegate duties. She should lead from the front and ensure each team member performs duties that contribute to the overall goals of the team.
2. What tips can you take from the case study and the Reading to improve your team leadership skills?
Team leadership is about converting ideas into practice. Ashley is aware of the team leadership ideas but fails to properly infuse them into the team activities. Developing a mentality of cooperation and motivating team members is vital in steering any team to success.
3. How does this case study add to or change your thoughts on leadership?
The case study provides insights on how to handle employees who may be reluctant to adapt to adapt to changes within the organization. Rigidity to change among few team members will have an overall effect on team performance.
4. What ideas from the case study will you add to your leadership profile ?
Ashley’s boss displays a significant level of patience and trust in addressing the issue of performance in the team. This implying that she has trust in Ashley's abilities to lead the team and improve performance. A leader should show confidence in those tasked with the role of undertaking different activities within the organization.
We Need More Engagement Around Here
1. What can management learn from the exhibit data about employee motivation and engagement ?
Exhibit data can prove crucial in assessing employee performance and level of productivity. Having a large pool of employees does not necessarily result in effective completion of tasks. Complacent and unmotivated employees are likely to drag tasks hence negatively affecting the performance of the organization. Hence, exhibit data can clearly pinpoint unproductive areas and inform decisions to put up measures to improve productivity.
2. If you were in charge of creating an action plan for addressing the data, what actions would you suggest for the managers to take to increase motivation and engagement?
An action plan for employee engagement needs to focus on both the employees and their managers. Having the right managers in place creates a work environment where employees feel appreciated and ready to work towards organizational success. The managers tap on the strengths of employees and motivate them to fulfill their potential. Setting goals then ensure individuals have a clear focus that they work towards. Achievement of set goals attracts rewards.
3. What tips can you take from the case study and the Reading to improve your knowledge of employee motivation ?
Employee engagement surveys are a form of investment that can have excellent returns if the data is utilized effectively. The surveys are not a form of extra costs but an investment which aims to improve motivation in the organization.
4. How does this case study add to or change your thoughts on leadership?
Innovative methods of leadership can prove more effective than traditional knee-jerk reactions like retrenchment. Ideally, changing the attitudes of employees especially in the service industry can help to bring costs down and increase profitability.
5. What ideas from the case study will you add to your leadership profile ?
Problem-solving techniques are vital in the approach to management. The organizational leadership identified the problem of productivity and collectively sought to find solutions to the problem. Hence, an effective leader should display excellent problem-solving abilities.
Leader in Action
1. What are your impressions of this message to the workforce? Is the message motivating or will it damage motivation ?
As much as Rometty’s message castigates IBM’s workforce, it acts as an eye-opener on the misdoings of employees of the organizations. The message is likely to motivate the employees to correct their mistakes which led to the underperformance of the company. On the negative side, the harsh tone of the message will discourage risk-taking in the process of undertaking activities of the organization.
2. Is there anything that you would have changed in the message? If so, what and why?
The message of the CEO was delivered in a harsh and authoritative tone that is mostly unwelcomed in such situations. Instead of underestimating the abilities of the employees, she should have encouraged them to work towards fulfilling their potential. Harsh-toned messages are likely to cause loss of talent as employees move to rivals.
3. What tips can you take from the case study and the Reading to improve your conflict management communication skills?
A calm approach to resolving conflicts is well appreciated in leadership. Rather than castigating the parties involved, an investigation into the causes of the conflict is necessary before devising methods of resolving the conflict. Rometty’s authoritative approach is likely to lead to further problems for the organization.
4. How does this case study add to or change your thoughts on leadership?
Currently, organizational leadership perspectives have shifted from the authoritative style to a more engaging approach. Leaders have to clearly assess the needs of employees within the organization before arriving at decisions. Communication is key to the engagement process in order to ensure the decision suit the needs of employees.
5. What ideas from the case study will you add to your leadership profile?
Creating organizational change requires an assessment of the causes of stagnation and failure before coming up with measures that correct the failure. The measures should involve the input of employees to motivate them to work towards making the change effective.
An Affinity Group for Workers 60 and Over?
1. If you were Penelope’s manager, would you have any concerns about her commitment to an understanding of cultural diversity? Why or why not?
Penelope’s concerns about the formation of a new affinity group for the senior employees have hinged on the act that the company supports protected affinity groups. However, her concerns fail to address the needs of the senior employees whose needs are unique compared to the other employees. Therefore, her understanding of diversity seems limited to cultures as opposed to the different needs of the employees.
2. What recommendation would you give Penelope about the request to form the company sponsored affinity group “The Splendid Seniors?”
Employment laws prohibit discrimination of employees based on their age. It also allows the right to proper placement within the organization according to their age and physical abilities. As such, such laws identify that the senior employees have specific needs hence denying them the chance to form an affinity group amounts to discrimination.
3. What tips can you take from the case study and the Reading to improve your cultural diversity leadership skills ?
Diversity should not just focus on the minority groups while ignoring other people in the organization with unique groups. The existence of affinity groups should cater to all the special needs of diverse groups and protect them from discrimination.
4. How does this case study add to or change your thoughts on leadership?
Leadership perspectives should include an understanding of the unique needs of employees. While the society mostly identifies minority groups like gays, black, and Latinos there are other groups with unique needs that need to be looked into and not discriminated.
5. What ideas from the case study will you add to your leadership profile?
The relevance of cultural diversity in the work environment is vital for keeping employees motivated through an understanding of their needs. Building a culture of tolerance also improves the reputation of the organization while allowing employees to interact in groups of shared values and needs.
Reference
Ni, A., & Van Wart, M. (2015). Corporate social responsibility: Doing well and doing good. In Building Business-Government Relations (pp. 175-196). Routledge
