BFCC Leadership Roles and Duties Case Study

User Generated

ebuvgcngry3089

Writing

Ben Franklin Career Center

Description


An Impossible Dream?

Synopsis

Allen Block was responsible for the technical implementation of the new customer relationship management (CRM) software in Los Angeles and Chicago. The software was badly needed to improve follow-up sales for his company, Exert Systems. Exert sold exercise equipment to high schools and colleges, as well as to small and midsized businesses for recreation centers, through a national force of 310 salespeople. The company’s low prices won a lot of sales; however, follow-up service was uneven and the new CRM system promised to resolve those problems with historical data, inquiries, reminders, and updates going to sales reps daily. The CEO of Exert ordered the CRM system installed with all possible haste. Block currently had four members in the team working on this project: two in Los Angeles and two in Chicago. On his way to Chicago from Los Angeles, Block kept on thinking about what was wrong with his team. The guys in LA seemed to be focusing tirelessly on work, alternating work with joking around. His team members in Chicago appeared to be alternating between bickering and avoiding one another. Block kept receiving persistent complaints about his team members’ productivity from his boss Zequine Mansell. All through his flight, Block kept on thinking about the reasons for this low productivity and lack of passion among his team members. Block also started fearing that this would ruin his dreams of replacing his boss Mansell, after her retirement.

Questions

How would you characterize Block’s leadership approach (task versus people)? What approach do you think is correct for this situation? Why?

What would you do now if you were Block? How might you awaken more enthusiasm in your team for completing this project on time? Specify the steps you would take.

How would you suggest that Block modify his leadership style if he wants to succeed Mansell in two years? Be specific.

Environmental Designs International

Synopsis

  1. Carver was a highly skilled architect responsible for managing a team of designers in Environmental Designs International’s (EDI) Chicago office. Although his abrupt personality had helped him climb the corporate ladder, his intimidating communication style was beginning to create problems and hamper his ability to get results. Carver learned in his performance review that his work relationships were suffering and the complaints about him were increasing. Even his longtime peers were avoiding him as much as possible and finding ways to work around him. Sensitive to the growing animosity toward him, Carver began to reconsider how he interacted with his staff and peers. He felt motivated to begin using some of the tools he learned in the executive education course he recently completed.
  2. Questions:
  3. “At the senior management level, you get hired for competence. You get fired for personality.” In your opinion, is this statement true or false? How does it relate to Barry Carver and his current leadership style?

Identify the behaviors described in this case that were damaging to Barry Carver’s work relationships. Why would a manager behave this way? What negative consequences did these behaviors have on his peers and subordinates?

How realistic is it that Carver (or anyone) can change his own leadership skills? What kind of help might he need?

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Explanation & Answer

Attached.

Leadership Roles and Duties
Outline
Block's leadership approach
✓ Block leadership skills can be termed as those of a task-oriented leader. This is a leader
whose main obligation is the productivity of the company at all times
✓ Rather than becoming a task-oriented leader's Block needs to be more of a people-oriented
leader.
✓ This leader understands the problems of other employees and seeks to solve them amicably.
✓ When employees are exposed to an environment where they can co-exist peacefully and
harmoniously, the chances are that their overall productivity will also increase.
Improvement steps to leadership
✓ To improve the coordination and the cohesion of the employees, Block needs to apply the
path-goal theory when dealing with employees.
✓ This method allows the leader to understand and create a motivating culture that will drive
employees into projection completion.
✓ Most employees are prompt to leaving their current better paying job to seek lower-paying
but a harmonious working environment
Suggested leadership modes
✓ Block's major problem lies in his Authoritative mode of leadership.
✓ If he wants to succeed, Mansell he needs to change his leadership methods to that of a
democratic leader.
✓ This would ease the heated atmosphere in the work environment

✓ He should also look into the needs of the employees in terms of employee welfares and
formulate an individualized leadership mode where he can cater to the needs of all
employees individually.
Senior Leadership
✓ It is true that leadership senior management positions are hired for their competence...


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