The Differences and Similarities between Managers and Leaders - Essay Example

Leadership Essay Plan and Journal Summaries Name: Leadership Essay Plan and Journal Summaries Course: Tutor: Institution: Date: I. Introduction The essay focuses on introducing the topic on leadership trough developing a concise leadership definition as enumerated by a series of leadership theories that define a leader as a person with the ability to influence people towards a given direction with the aim of achieving a specific set goal or objective. Further the essay introduction expounds on the definition of managers who are classified as individuals with organizational powers to direct employees an organizational staff to achieve overall organizational goals. The thesis statement: An evaluation of the differences and similarities between managers and leaders and their traits influencing factors on the Australian business concept, as well as their role in facilitating organizational success. II. Body 1. Culture Influence on Leadership and Management Traits The section reviews differences between leaders and managers based on cultural differences as established by Casimir and Waldman (2007) on a review of leadership traits for Australian low and high level leadership situations as compared to the Chinese leadership individual traits. On one hand managers count values while leaders create value The study and essay reviews on the implications of culture values to individual leadership and management traits as well as the role of individual leadership situational needs on overall leadership traits development 2. Similarities between leaders and managers based on Environmental factors The section reviews the similarities existing between leaders and managers in organisations. This can be evidenced by an empirical study developed by Wimalasiri (2001) on the perceived and evidenced similarities as influenced by environmental factors such as age, gender and religion among others. 3. Role in Organizational Success The essay applies the arguments developed by White (2003) who evaluated on the role of gender in leadership traits development, evidenced on the need for a balance between leadership and management traits in facilitating organisational success. The essay evaluates the merits of the integration of management and leadership traits on supervisors and senior organisational managers 4. Example The essay adopts the case study of the Virgin Atlantic Group CEO, Mr. Richard Branson as a case of a manager with leadership traits Despite his efficient management skills that has increased the groups’ profits and business portfolios; he is a motivator and seeks to influence his staff into performance rather than entering authority on them. III. Conclusion In summary the essay Summarizes the discussed key differences Offers a summary of managers and leaders similarities and their role in organizational success Rephrases the thesis statement, evaluating its achievement in the essay discussion. Article 1 Title and Article Reference Casimir, G. & Waldman, D.A. 2007, "A Cross Cultural Comparison of the Importance of Leadership Traits for Effective Low-level and High-level Leaders: Australia and China", International Journal of Cross Cultural Management : CCM, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 47-60. Aim/Purpose of the article The study evaluated on the variances on leadership and management between Australia and other cultures. As such, it focused on evaluating the differences and similarities between low and high level leadership traits between Australian and Chinese managers and leaders Sample, location, method of data collection and analysis The study selected samples from both China and Australian white collar job markets. On one hand, it sampled 84 full time white collar managers in the Australian market as well as 244 similar category managers form the Chine market. Findings/Interpretations reported in the article The study established that the perceived leadership and management needs relied partly in culture and partly on the specific situational leadership needs. This was on the established variances on leadership traits between the Chinese and Australian managers as well as similarities on traits for leaders and managers who faced similar situations despite the geographical and cultural differences. Significance/contribution of the article in relation to other articles and the topic The study plays a significant contributory role in expanding the aspects of leadership and the perception of developed and inherent leadership and management traits. As such, its inclusion in the essay contributes towards key leadership traits for low and high level leadership aspects. Strengths of article The article draws its strength from its cross cultural perspective. Unlike other studies that focus on the Australian society alone, the study integrated the society with the Chinese leadership culture analysis. Weaknesses of article The study has a weakness in its wide objective case. In this regard, the study focuses on both the cultural and situational implications on individual leadership traits. As such, this denied the study the opportunity to increase and obtain in-depth information on any of the topics Quotes from the article to plan to use in the assignment “As noted by Den Hartog et al. (1999), a possible limitation is that when making their ratings, middle managers are most likely to focus on leaders at the upper echelon” (p.47) Quotes from the article to plan to use in the assignment “The perceptual processes of followers are shaped to a large extent by their cultural background and influence their perceptions of leadership” (p.48) Quotes from the article to plan to use in the assignment There are additional reasons to expect differences between Australians and Chinese in terms of the importance placed on different leadership traits. First, compared to Chinese, Australians are less concerned with uncertainty avoidance (House et al., 2004), and thus may place less emphasis on formalization and standardization. (p.51) Article 2 Title and Article Reference Wimalasiri, J.S. 2001, "Moral reasoning capacity of management students and practitioners: An empirical study in Australia", Journal of Managerial Psychology, vol. 16, no. 7, pp. 614-634. Aim/Purpose of the article The study evaluated the role and external factors implications on leadership and management traits Sample, location, method of data collection and analysis The study collected data from a sample 266 subjects undertaking management course in Sydney Australia. In this regard, data was collected and analysed through the defining issue test through which their perception on management and leadership traits could be assessed and established. Findings/Interpretations reported in the article The study established that individual leadership and management traits were influenced by a series of external factors such as age, religion, gender and culture. Therefore, the study concluded that in the selection and determination of leaders, the external factors influence extent should be established. Significance/contribution of the article in relation to other articles and the topic The study serves a critical purpose in establishing and developing a rational empirically proved argument that leadership and managerial traits in the Australian society, besides being inherent are influenced and developed based on the discussed external factors. Strengths of article The article strength is in its sample composition, The study relied on the contributions of management students. Therefore, based on their knowledge on management issues, the study acquired and gained credible information source, making is reliable. Weaknesses of article Despite its strength, the study reliance of students alone exposed it to increased theoretical aspect rather than focusing on the practical application of the factors implications on the respective factors on leadership and management traits in the Australian business market context. Quotes from the article to plan to use in the assignment “If, however, we accept that the concept of ethics is too important to be relegated, eventually, to the status of unfashionable, dormant research agenda, then it is necessary to examine the process of institutionalizing ethics, including, as this paper will address, the way in which ethics is "taught"” (p.614) Quotes from the article to plan to use in the assignment As Small (1993, p. 8) points out, a number of recent events in the corporate world of Australia have revealed gross violation of every conceivable principle of ethics. News about bribery, corruption and malpractices are a daily occurrence in the media. As an attempt to bring morality and ethical behaviour to the boardroom and the public office, the Government of Western Australia, for example, established a Royal Commission in 1991 and set up an Official Corruption Commission in 1992. (pp.615-616) Quotes from the article to plan to use in the assignment “As reported in Table VI, 55 percent of the Australian respondents have scored less than 29 percent on the on the DIT scale, implying that their moral reasoning capacity is equivalent to junior high school subjects in the USA. At the other extreme, no more than 4.5 percent of the subjects scored above 50 percent on the DIT scale, suggesting the difficulty in reaching the higher stages of the moral development standards.” (p.624) Article 3 Title and Article Reference White, K. 2003, "Women and Leadership in Higher Education in Australia", Tertiary Education and Management, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 45. Aim/Purpose of the article The study evaluates on the interrelationship between gender and subsequent leadership and management traits in the Australian higher education sector Sample, location, method of data collection and analysis The study acquired its sample form among women participating in higher education management. In this regard, the study applied a case study approach through which it evaluated statistics on women leadership on higher education. Obtained data was analysed through statistical analysis tools. Findings/Interpretations reported in the article The study established that there were low women participation rates of women on higher education management. As such, the study established that although women were better managers, increased Australian society discrimination reduced their leadership participation in higher education. Significance/contribution of the article in relation to other articles and the topic The study serves as a critical literature for inclusion in the essay due to its diverse focus on leadership and management. As such, the study, offers an additional approach through which gender role on such traits integration is evaluated. Strengths of article A key study strength can be cited on its sample base diversity. In its approach, the study evaluated case studies on women participation on a range of Australian based higher education institutions, thus allowing for increased objectivity and reduced sample study unique traits bias Weaknesses of article .One major weakness on the study is its reliance on case studies as part of its critical study data. As such, the study relies on secondary data to develop its conclusions, Therefore, through this approach, any mistakes and faults encountered in the compilation of the secondary data, would negatively implicate on the study viability. Quotes from the article to plan to use in the assignment “An analysis of women participation rates in higher education reveals a higher proportion of women in lower ranks” (p.47) Quotes from the article to plan to use in the assignment “Male managers have a tendency to promote those with a similar profile” (p.51) Quotes from the article to plan to use in the assignment “In higher education in UK, Universities have been encouraged and cajoled into offering equal treatment for women, according to Bagilhol.” (p.52) References Casimir, G. & Waldman, D.A. 2007, "A Cross Cultural Comparison of the Importance of Leadership Traits for Effective Low-level and High-level Leaders: Australia and China", International Journal of Cross Cultural Management : CCM, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 47-60 White, K. 2003, "Women and Leadership in Higher Education in Australia", Tertiary Education and Management, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 45. Wimalasiri, J.S. 2001, "Moral reasoning capacity of management students and practitioners: An empirical study in Australia", Journal of Managerial Psychology, vol. 16, no. 7, pp. 614-634 Read More