The Manner in Which the Role of Leadership Has Changed over Time - Case Study Example

Introduction Organizations in any form and size require proper leadership to bring the change through which business objectives can be achieved. The success of an organization is largely dependent on the dependable and apposite leadership trait which is demonstrated within the organization. Leaders aspires people to change so that the objectives or the goals which have been determined can be achieved (Barney, 2001). It is stated that leadership was a process which not only influenced employees but also brought about a change in the attitude and behavior of the leader to facilitate the change within the organization. It has been defined as many scholars as a process where the leader plans, directs and guides people to accomplish the desired objectives (Bass, 2005). With the passage of time and development of technology and advancement in all areas the role of leader has vastly changed and looks to include different areas. This has thereby broadened the horizon of leadership and covers different areas which have forced to bring about a required change in behavior so that the different aspects through which the goals can be achieved can be understood. This paper looks to examine the manner in which the role of leadership has changed over time. The change has been primarily due to the changes that the globalized environment has witnessed which has forced leaders to bring a complete transformation and change in carrying out the different activities. To understand the changing role the paper also analyzes the leadership traits and characteristics of Ratan Tata who was the chairman of Tata Motors. This will help to understand the manner in which different leadership traits got changed in the global environment and will provide an important view and understanding of the manner the globalized environment influenced the working culture. The prime reason for choosing Ratan Tata is that despite having a trouble period where problems and objections were faced from all direction Ratan Tata was successful of changing the working style of the organization and through his leadership skills brought the required transformation in carrying out the different activities. This will thereby help to understand the learning in the real world and will help to understand the manner in which the roles of leaders have changed in the evolving global environment. What is leadership Different scholars and academicians have defined leadership and leader differently but the ultimate aim is the same. It has been defined as many scholars as a process where the leader plans, directs and guides people to accomplish the desired objectives. In a similar manner describes a leader as a person who is accountable and suitable for carrying out the different activities and objectives which have been assigned to him (Boal & Hooijberg, 2000). It is also defined as an influence relationship which exists between employees and the leader which facilitates the process of decision making and ensures effective use of resources so that the goals of the business can be achieved. In a similar manner different definitions have been provided for global environment. It has been termed by many as the environment which has equal forces and pressure on all organizations and has to be dealt with while looking to carry out the different functions effectively. It is the environment which all organizations face and perform under it. The global environment is influenced by different factors like political, economical, social, technological, environmental and legal. This factor impacts the working style for organizations and needs to develop and facilitate a manner through which the business will be able to deal with the external and global environmental factors so that better resistance towards it can be developed (Eisehnardt, 2009). This will help the business to develop a process through which maximum effectiveness in its operations can be achieved. Leadership in global environment With the increase in globalized business environment and increasing interdependence among nations the role of leaders have increased and need to have an understanding of the cultural needs and influences so that strategies and process based on it can be developed. The situations which leaders are facing at the present moment and might face in the future are complex, constantly evolving and very difficult to be interpreted. This has multiplied the complexities for leaders and requires that the leader is able to carry out some additional functions and demonstrate some special traits and characteristics which will help to distinguish them from one another (Bligh, Kohles & Meindl, 2004). The managers as a result face more than expected fierce competition and requires enactment of rules through which better control of the resources can be accomplished. The fact that effective organizational leadership skills is the key to success, the multiplying organizational complexities due to the globalized working environment has multiplied the level of difficulty and requires special skills to be demonstrated so that the different leadership challenges are dealt in a proper way (Luthans, Youssef & Avolio, 2007). For example, the cultural diversity which is present among employees working in a globalized world for multinational companies present a strong challenge as designing a multinational organization and its leadership with such diversity is a challenge (Kaiser, Hogan & Craig, 2008). There are very few theories and research which helps to develop the required model which will fit in the corporate cultural diverse world multiplying the complexities and raising concerns regarding the strategies than can be implemented for effective leadership. Looking at the same from the perspective of societal and theoretical area the role of societal and organizational culture has an influence on the manner in which leadership traits are being demonstrated. Science usually aims at developing theories, laws and principles which are applied and universally true in most conditions requires formulation of such stance and strategies which will help to develop a need for leadership and other aspects while looking to work on the global environment (Judge, Piccolo & Ilies, 2004). The fact that one perspective of leadership which might be correct and truthful in one environment might not be correct and relevant in the other multiplies the difficulties to deal with the requirements of the evolving environment while looking to deal with the different necessities of the leadership. The study of leadership effectiveness remains a challenge due to the incapability of the leaders and followers which has resulted in inadequate distributed leadership. This has impacted the overall style of working and has resulted in the enhancement of individual and collective capacity of people to be able to deliver superior results. The changes in the global environment requires that a framework is developed through which a change in leadership prospect will be done and will thereby help to bring a change and transform the style of working (Kirkpatrick & Locke, 1996). The changing business environment requires sharing of leadership traits and working in a manner through which better achievement of the results and activities can be achieved. The manner in which the global environment has changed has impacted the overall style of working and has created the required gap which needs to be looked at so that effective leadership methods can be developed. It was highlighted by that people are charisma hungry when they look at the different components of leadership. Looking at invoking charisma and other areas of transformational leadership has rejuvenated leadership and has brought widespread changes so that people become hungrier and look at responding to the different changes of global environment (Miner, 2005). The changes which have been witnessed in the global environment has emphasized on the change which is required in leadership style, relation with followers and employees and developing a problem solving process which takes into account the global environment and based on it develops the required fundamentals through which superior performance can be delivered. This thereby helps to stimulate the growth potential of leaders and helps to bring about the change by developing the required parameters through which better and superior performances are expected. The evolving environment has further brought about the change and has increased the complexities as dealing with those requires special efforts. The manner in which the external environment is changing has created the urgency and need to develop the required parameter through which they will be able to bring a complete transformation in the process of carrying and achieving different objectives. The role of leader as a result has widened and covers a lot of areas through which the business aims to develop the required parameters so that successful completion of the goals becomes possible (Johns, 2006). Looking at the same from the perspective of the evolving global environment shows the manner in which flexibility and different traits has to be developed so that the business process which looks at maximizing the different aspect of business and ensures effective leadership has brought about a complete change in the working culture The changes has further been seen in the manner the employees and leader relation have changed and has increased the focus on leader as they look to work on the different fundamentals through which maximum effectiveness will ensured (Das, 2003). The overall impact has made leaders take more responsible and important position within the society so that the business is able to transform and develop a process through which better control and effectiveness can be exercised by the leader. Information about the leader This can be seen in case of Ratan Tata who based on his leadership qualities and traits brought the required change through which the fortunes of Tata Group changed. Ratan Tata was the chairman of Tata Group and devoted his life to bring the required change through which better governance and achievements of objective became possible. His credentials and desire to be innovative helped Tata group to develop a business model which ensured success and provided the required impetus through which corporate performance was delivered. Ratan Tata understood the manner in which the global environment was changing and evolving and based on it looked to be innovative and at the same time followed the strategy of being innovative which helped to transform and bring the required change in the business fundamentals. His communication style and bringing hall people together determines the manner in which ne became successful Leadership in the era of constantly changing business environment has become very complex and to be an effective leader it is imperative that the leadership pattern is adopted based on the leadership style which will fetch the best result for the organization. Different leadership traits and characteristics are being constantly witnessed in the evolving world (Hazy, 2007). One aspect of leadership seems to take decisions and announcing the same to his subordinated whereas another form of leadership aims at taking decisions after consultation with the peers and determining the best through which decisions will be arrived. This thereby requires that the leader remains flexible and based on the situational demand of the business makes the required changes and amendments so that the decisions which are taken helps to multiply the effectiveness and ensures best possible decision making (Mumford, Zaccaro, Harding, Jacobs & Fleishman, 2000). The changes in the global environment required improved subordinates to exercise autonomy, cohesiveness in the group and the degree to which the members work together as a unit. This will help to set the required parameters and platform based on which the executives will be in a position to carry out the different activities. This has multiplied the complexities for leaders and requires that the leader is able to carry out some additional functions and demonstrate some special traits and characteristics which will help to distinguish them from one another (Ashmos, Duchon, McDaniel & Huonker, 2002). The managers as a result face more than expected fierce competition and requires enactment of rules through which better control of the resources can be accomplished. The fact that effective organizational leadership skills is the key to success, the multiplying organizational complexities due to the globalized working environment has multiplied the level of difficulty and requires special skills to be demonstrated so that the different leadership challenges are dealt in a proper way. This will help to shape the performance and bring the required changes through which the required momentum in carrying out the different activities will be achieved. Leadership traits in a leader Ratan Tata demonstrated charismatic leadership skills while working with the organization. This was on the backdrop that he was enthusiastic, self confident and able to clearly communicate with the employees (Awamleh & Gardner, 1999). This helped him to develop the corner stone and identify the different needs and requirements of the employees and the business. This can be seen from his strategy pertaining to globalization where Ratan Tata looked at integrating the different culture by removing the cultural differences so that they could perform on a common platform and based on it were able to suffice the different needs of the organizations. This was on the backdrop that the cultural integration policies were developed in such a manner that it benefitted all and helped to develop a work culture which aimed towards better use of resources and effective transformation towards higher standards. The self confidence and ability to communicate clearly which is an ingredient for an employee was clearly highlighted and helped him to use his traits so that the entire working style could be converted and transformed to gain effectiveness. Ratan Tata can further be looked as a transformational leader as he was able to bring the required transformation by making his subordinates and his employees understand the importance of change, designing a training and compensation package which helped to multiply the level of satisfaction of employees and helped them to develop on their personal front too (Bass & Avolio, 1993). The ability of the leader to inculcate and look into so many different factors helped to bring the required change and transformation which helped Ratan Tata to ensure the required change in the business fundamentals. The leader Ratan Tata along with it ensured that he participated with the employees and looked to work with them which helped them to be motivated. Looking at different dimensions and being able to carry out the work through the different employees at different level is one of the characteristics which differentiates him from others. This has helped him to act as a good communicator and was able to bring the required change through which better process and delivery standards were developed. He further demonstrated different traits which are expected of a leader as being able to think differently. He is adjudged by many as a strategist because he started the phenomenon of group thinking where people from all level in the organization participated in the meeting and provided their valuable inputs (Jackson & Dutton, 2008). This was matched by equal participation and the chance to raise their voice and opinion so that the thinking widened. This helped the organization develop many small leaders who were able to take part in crucial matters and were able to identify the different framework and areas through which he overall performance improved. This was matched by his risk taking ability and dealing in environment which was risky. The ability to take quick and better decisions which helped to transform the working culture helped them undertake many projects and developed a room through which continuous development became possible. Leadership Style Ratan Tata thereby followed the Fielder model. This is on the backdrop of using all powers i.e. “legitimate power, informative power, personal power, referent power and expert power”. This helped him to be successful and being able to work on different aspects and traits of leadership and being able to influence the work force to accept his decisions increased his image (Kirkpatrick & Locke, 1996). The leader was thereby able to perform in a global arena where regular changes and constantly evolving environment complicates the matter and requires special impetus and inputs so that different developments based on different areas take place. This has helped Ratan Tata to become a successful and bring a change in the brand image of the organization. To determine the most effectiveness in the leadership process it is important that the value system of the manager and the value of the manager place determine the participation between the manager and the subordinates. This will help to develop the required framework through which better decisions and effectiveness can be achieved as the decisions which will be taken based on the different fundamentals will help to improve the overall validity and multiply the effectiveness through which better decisions will be taken. The changing global environment requires that the manager remains versatile and aims towards dealing with the different necessities of the business (Bandura, 2001). This will help to develop the required framework through which overall process effectiveness will be achieved and the business will be able to accomplish all the goals. This has impacted the overall style of working and has resulted in the enhancement of individual and collective capacity of people to be able to deliver superior results. The changes in the global environment requires that a framework is developed through which a change in leadership prospect will be done and will thereby help to bring a change and transform the style of working (Elbanna & Child, 2007). This will thereby ensure that the resources are used in the best possible manner and will be able to develop the required framework through which maximum gains in decisions can be achieved. Conclusion The paper thereby analyzes and presents the manner in which leadership as a concept is changing in the complex world scenario. With the passage of time and development of technology and advancement in all areas the role of leader has vastly changed and looks to include different areas. This has thereby broadened the horizon of leadership and covers different areas which have forced to bring about a required change in behavior so that the different aspects through which the goals can be achieved can be understood. The paper also analyzes a real life example by examining the leadership traits of Ratan Tata and looking at the manner the leader has been effective in brining the required transformation which has helped the conglomerate to grow. 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