Week 4 Discussion Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Week 4 Discussion Questions - Essay Example Leadership is an important element in strategy implementation because it provides the vision, the direction, and the emotional impetus to achieve tactical goals. Without it, strategy is naught. An example of a CEO’s key role in strategy implementation may be represented in the case of Cofidis headed by Michel Guillois. When Cofidis was facing stiff competition from web based companies, Michel Guillois guided it through the transition from a primarily direct marketing business to a broad range web marketed enterprise. Furthermore, Michel Guillois leadership style helped negotiate the issues presented in the tactical implementation of the strategy by competitors, cross-culturalism, and unpaid accounts. Thus, leadership is an important element of strategy implementation. Next, under what conditions would it be more appropriate to fill a key management position with someone from outside the firm when a qualified insider is available? There are at least two situations in which this may be appropriate. The first is when all the qualified people in house are needed elsewhere. For example, say Cofidis has the skills to implement a new website full of all of the features necessary to address the current tactical challenges, but those managers skilled in web development are engaged in a data migration project. It might be more feasible for Cofidis to hire from outside than to divert resources in house. Another example is when hiring from outside ads additional benefits. Say where Cofidis is engaging increasingly in web marketing, it may be more cost effective to hire an advertising manager than to have an information systems professional do double duty. Furthermore, it may bring added insights and innovations of the new blood. These are just two of many po ssible reasons a company may want to hire management from the outside even if the skills are present in house. Last, what has gone well and not so well so far in this class? What areas do we

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Reflection - Essay Example It is a cause of worry since organizations must have continuity in good leadership to be able to maintain its productivity. An organization is safer when it adopts risk prevention measures, and equips current and future leaders with skills necessary to cope with any organizational changes. There are both formal and informal leaders. They all influence an organization towards achieving its goals effectively. Organizational success goes beyond an individual leaders will to achieve and the organizations chain of command. Most importantly, it is how all leaders relate together towards achievement of set goals. This is termed as collective leadership as William (2011) observes. In addition, James and Barry (2001) suggest that several things should be considered. They include: the number of leaders needed currently and expected in the future by an organization. This enables an organization base its leadership strategies on the expected turnover of employees in the organization. Leadership culture entails how leadership is practiced for example employee relations, discharge of duties and working together for a common purpose. The culture ensures that all factors affecting growth and performance of the enterprise are pooled together towards the same set targets. Demand and supply forecasting is crucial in ensuring the number of leaders employed is specific to the present and future expected needs Another factor to consider is the quality of leaders desired. Every organization must aim at employing high quality leaders for a competitive organization. Phillip (2010) sees a leader as a person who owns and takes responsibility for every action an organization takes and feels any loss incurred as his own. For organizational success, there must be leaders who are goal oriented and put all their effort and hard work to ensuring achievement of goals and