The Process and Importance of the Leadership Function within Organisations - Essay Example

Introduction Leadership is an aspect which is slowly gaining importance as the skills which the employees demonstrate determines the long term success of the organization. The ability of leaders increases in engineering projects as employees need to carry out the different engineering projects on the predetermined time. This has increased the need and importance of being able to communicate properly and determine the path which needs to be followed so that the goals are better achieved. This paper thereby looks at evaluating the different traits and skills which a leader needs to demonstrate and the manner in which different skills help to improve the overall relevance of engineering projects. Along with it the paper will look at analyzing the different models of leadership and the manner they can contribute to the organization based on the needs and requirements of the organization so that the goals can be achieved and the resources are used in the best way. This will also look towards including the manner in which a leader divides the different activities and uses different tools like PERT & Gantt Chart to ensure that the work is accomplished at the correct time. Role of Leader The aspect of leadership looks at determining the techniques through which engineering projects are consolidated so that the different skills and expertise which the employees have are used in such a manner that goals can be achieved as per the requirements (Distributive, 2012). Leadership looks at analyzing the different skills of employees involved in engineering projects and looks to divide the work among the employees in such a manner that the work is completed and accomplished in the predetermined manner and in the stated time and resources. Work breakdown Structure for leader A study highlights that when a leader is able to create awareness among all the employees and the members both within and outside the organization are able to visualize the changes and ensure that all the efforts can be used in a manner through which the goals can be better achieved (Angelo, 2007). The importance of this maximizes in case of engineering projects as the work break down structure which is created early on determines the different activities which needs to be carried out. This requires that the employees who are responsible for the different activities understand the different needs and requirements and develops strategies so that the task is accomplished according to the work breakdown structure. Use of PERT by leader Leadership is further an important aspect in engineering projects as the leader looks towards finding out the different traits and using them so that the employees can be directed to achieve the goals. This will require that the leader is able to demonstrate skills like hard working, analytical, brilliant, lonely, and imaginative and risk takers (Yukl, 2009). Since, engineering projects are one where the work required is of different nature so PERT is used so that the work can be accomplished in the best possible manner. Further, the use of PERT will also require that leaders are able to find out the shortest path through which the work can be carried out. The leader thereby needs to use different skills like hard working, analytical, brilliant, lonely, and imaginative and risk takers so that they are able to bring about the required change in the behaviour of employees. This will help to give a predetermined path to the work which needs to be carried out and will help in the long term success of the business. This will also help to build loyalty and ensure that all the people are able to work together and ensure a common purpose (James, 2006). The process will also ensure better efficiency in the use of resources as identifying the shortest path through PERT will help to improve the use of resources and will provide long term benefits for the engineering projects which is being carried out and is as below Leaders further look at ensuring that employees at all levels who are involved in engineering projects work together and remove the differences which exist and will thereby ensure that the goals are achieved. The fact that leader looks towards motivating both the employees and self will help to develop a style through which the efforts will be better directed and the business will be able to get positive results (Yukl, 2009). This helps to ensure that the process which has been already defined in the work breakdown structure is followed and the projects are being carried out as per the required terms. This helps to improve the overall effectiveness and multiplies the manner in which different activities are carried out. Leaders through the process are able to influence and bring a change in the process of carrying activities as the different qualities and mechanism through which the effectiveness is garnered can be ensured. The role of leaders maximizes due to the fact that different employees with different skills are involved in engineering projects. This will require that the leader is able to remove the differences and bring all employee together to carry out the activities in the most positive manner. Use of Gantt chart by leader The concept of leadership has thereby changed and looks towards including people and other resources so that the leader is able to use his traits which will thereby ensure that the goals can be easily achieved (Rondeau, 2010). The role of leadership has changed in case of engineering projects as it requires employees at different levels to carry out the different activities. Since, engineering projects involves technical work as well so employees need to be monitored and their behaviour needs to be changed towards the accomplishment of the goals. The development of Gantt chart by the leaders involved in engineering projects helps in this direction as it helps to develop the required fundamentals through which better control is exercised on engineering projects. Leaders thereby need to create the urgency if being self aware and develop strategies which motivated the employees so that the best possible results can be achieved (Schermerhorn, 2011). The overall phenomenon of leadership has further increased and intensified as it looks to cover different areas and aspect through which changes can be witnessed in the manner activities are carried out. This is as below Type of leadership required in engineering projects Engineering projects require different types of leaders like transformational leader, charismatic leaders, transformational leader, and other forms so that the different needs of the engineering projects is better understood and best on it the business is able to manage the different resources. This has brought widespread changes in the manner employees are entrusted the different task (Murray, 2010). Leaders thereby carry out different roles and activities and look at motivating the employees so that they are able to understand the different needs and requirements of the business. This helps the employees to be able to carry out the different activities as motivated employees are able to understand the different needs in a better way and based on it is able to transform the process of carrying out activities which engineering projects require. This has thereby made managers and leaders look towards working in a fashion where their traits are used in finding out the manner in which the business will be able to exercise best efforts and ensure that the overall objectives is achieved. One form of leadership which is transformational leadership looks to match the output and results so that the bigger objectives of the business can be easily achieved (Bernie, 2010). This is required in case of engineering projects as the different needs and requirements of the engineering projects makes it imperative to take a path through which better results are achieved. Transformational form of leadership further looks towards ensuring that the different traits of the employees are identified and plans formulated so that the business is able to maximize the return and the organization is able to differentiate between the different goals and based on it direct their efforts towards accomplishing it (Heather, 2009). This will ensure that in engineering projects the leader is able to manage the different business fundamentals like financial, human and legal so that the decisions which the leader takes based on it will provide maximum effectiveness. The engineering projects further through the process are able to highlight the different facets through which operational effectiveness is gained and the business is able to carry out the activities in the best possible manner. Task oriented leaders on the other hand looks at accomplishing the task by using the different leadership traits so that better effectiveness is ensured and the work can be carried out in the most effective manner. Leaders through the process will be able to develop the required relationship so that better use of resources can be achieved. The process will also ensure that leaders will be in a position through which they will be able to focus on the work breakdown structure and carry out the different activities at the appropriate time. PERT and Gantt chart will help the leader as the task will be properly broken down into different activities and based on the different skills and traits the employees will be able to carry out the activities in the most beneficial manner. Leadership Culture The different traits and skills which a leader demonstrates needs to be moulded and changed based on the needs of the organization so that business is able to achieve its objectives in the most efficient manner. This gives rise and importance to developing a process of communication which looks at using hierarchical and lateral and upward communication which looks towards ensuring that the leader through the different traits are able to garner maximum support for the business (Wright & Pangey, 2010). Since, engineering projects are complicated so it requires that the process of communication is developed in such a manner that it achieves maximum efficiency and brings about a change in the process of carrying out different activities. The process of communication also ensures that all messages is clearly passed and the employee is in a position through which they understand the different needs of the business and based on it able to use their skills. This helps to bring about a change in the manner engineering projects are carried out and helps to provide positive working culture. Leaders working in engineering projects further need to act as visionary so that they are able to analyze and understand the different needs of the business. This will have to make arrangements for the different resources and requirements through which the business will be able to carry out the function in the most effective manner, This will help to bring a change in the working mechanism and will help to complete the project within the allocated time and efforts. The overall impact of such a decision would be a positive one and will help to bring about a complete transformation in the manner work is carried out. The success of engineering projects is thereby largely dependent on the manner collective efforts are managed as it provides greater efficiency and helps to improve effectiveness in carrying out the different work. The overall phenomenon will multiply the overall effectiveness and process of carrying out activities and will help to maximize the overall manner in which results will be achieved. Recommendations The fact the leadership looks at creating self awareness it will ensure that the performance gets enhanced and the organization is better directed towards the goal (Visser, 2000). The leader through the process of using PERT and Gantt chart is able to create an environment where different responsibilities are properly passed to the people. This thereby also creates an environment where the employees are able to create the required need so that business effectiveness can be ensured. Using the different resources and directing the manner in which activities are achieved will help to create better use of resources and provides an opportunity through which goals will be effectively achieved. The different stimulations and exercises which has been carried out highlight that the business looks towards finding out the leader and the different traits which the leader should demonstrate based on the qualities which the organization requires (Dignum, Dignum & Sonenberg, 2006). This is evident in case of engineering projects as it has different process and phases which needs to carried out in the most effective manner, The leader needs to further work on every department and areas so that the overall mechanism which will help to carry out the activities can be ensured (Schermerhorn, 2011). Leaders thereby look at demonstrating different type of traits and skills. Leadership thereby looks towards finding out the different factors based on which the contribution of the individual member will increase (Worral & Cooper, 2001). Engineering projects require contribution from employees at all levels and being able to create the required fundamentals through which employees are able to contribute will create positive results. The process of leadership in engineering projects further focuses on the skills and traits of each individual employees and look at transforming their behavior so that results which are accomplished are positive. This will help leaders to focus on the larger picture of engineering projects and develop the required structure through which results will be accomplished in the best possible manner. This will bind the entire organization and ensure that all the different employees are able to work together and build responsibility and trust through which the organization will be able to function in the most productive manner and ensure that the business is able to work in a controlled manner (Schermerhorn, 2011). Leaders through the process of bringing people together are able to create the required harmony and develop both side relationships so that projects are carried out in the most effective manner. This will foster a culture through which engineering projects will be compiled and completed in the best possible manner as it will help to keep track of the different resources and transform the manner in which activities are carried out. Leaders look to understand the different knowledge and skills which the employees have and based on it looks to provide different work to different people (Abell, Springer & Kamata, 2009). Leaders further need to identify the process and models through which they will look at working so that the engineering projects are able to bring about a change in the manner activities are carried out. Employees through the process of passing more responsibility to the employees will be able to create the required path which will help to work in the manner through which resources will be positively used. This will help to use the different knowledge and skills of employees in the positive manner and will shape the path through which results will be achieved. Visionary leaders are thereby able to induce fresh energy in carrying out different projects and ensure that the long term benefits which the organization gets is maximized. Leaders will be able to build the required loyalty and need to ensure that all employees follow the different advice and objectives which has been provided by the leader. The overall process also requires that leaders are able to work on the different fundamentals and transform the mechanism of working so that projects can be accomplished in the best possible manner. Conclusion Leadership is thereby an aspect which is very important in the field of engineering project as it helps to determine the mechanism through which the resources are used in the best manner. The role of leader increases in case of engineering projects due to the nature of complexities associated with the project. The leader needs to use different techniques like work breakdown structure, PERT and Gantt chart so that the work is allocated to the correct person and the work can be accomplished in the best possible time. This will require that leaders take up major responsibilities and fulfill the different roles in such a manner that effectiveness is gained and the projects is completed in the stated time and within the stated budget. This will bring effectiveness and ensure that the overall process helps to multiply the effectiveness of engineering projects. References Abell, N., Springer, D. W., & Kamata, A. 2009. Developing and Assessing Rapid Assessment Instruments. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press Angelo, C. 2007. Distributed Leadership versus management in hospitality industry. International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, 8 (1), pp. 61-70, Bateman, T. & Snell, S. 2004. Management: The New Competitive Landscape. 6th Edition, McGraw Hill, New York Bernie, J. 2010. Organisational Analysis & Culture. Retrieved on July 29, 2014 from http://www.liebowitzassoc.com/articles/organizationanalysis.shtml Distributed Leadership. 2012. Distributed Leadership. 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