Business case study paper

John Kotter in his article, "What Leaders Really Do" makes the following statement: "Managers promote stability while leaders press for change, and only organizations that embrace both sides of the contradiction can thrive in turbulent times” (Kotter, 1999). To be a better leader, communication skills with employees are required. Communication allows one to communicate the day to day takes that are to be carried out within the organization to employees. Communication

will thus involve interacting with workers as well as being able to deal with critical issues such as employee conflicts. Being able to communicate well with George and his employees and getting them to follow Dunn will be a big challenge but that is what a leader does. Leaders also need to communicate the vision, objectives as well as goals to his/her employees especially to new employees that have recently started working for the organization (Justin at. el. 2011).

To become a leader, one has to have a vision for his company. In our case, the vision for the company is to provide customer satisfaction, increasing company sales as well as profits, competing better as well as expanding into the food business. Vision allows companies to move forward.

Organizational Structure/Culture

A leader can also be better by providing the right leadership style to his/her employees. By providing the right leadership style employees will be motivated to achieving the companies’ objectives, vision as well as goals. Both the laissez-faire as well as the democratic leadership style allows employee participation in decision making. With having a Collaborate (Clan) Culture as well will go right along with the organizational structure that Dunn needs to have within his company to make it successful. This type of culture where group cohesion and teamwork are encouraged will help bring the two businesses together. The vision of the organization will be achieved much faster if employees are allowed to participate in decision making as well as allowed to conduct their activities without the help of the management (Justine at. el. 2013).

A good leader must possess business skills and competences. Business skills and competences enables a leader to ensure that his business remain profitable. Remunerating employees on time improves employee confidence and morale. A leader must also provide the best

system for his/her employees. Such systems will include, business policies, when the employees are expected to be at work as well as leave at work, the type of tasks that are to be done by each individual employee as well as provide a good employee remuneration and benefits system.

A good leader should also be focused on the company’s employees, customers as well as products. Employees should thus be motivated and remunerated well. Customers should always be kept satisfied and the best product and services should be provided to them at a reasonable price. Products on the other hand should be in constant supply, the products should also be convenient to customers and affordable (David & Nick 2010).

As Lee-Kelly (2002) suggests, the leader will be called upon, “to cope with multiple roles, unplanned events, losing key members of the team, modifications to the project schedule, and the need to innovate and adapt to the changing circumstances in order to maintain control. Dunn needs to be aware of the principles of leadership and how to implement them (U.S. Army, 1983).

Dunn must:

Know himself and seek self- improvement

Be technically proficient

Seek responsibility and take responsibility for his actions

Make sounds decisions

Set the example

Know your people and look out for there well being

Keep your workers informed

Develop a sense of responsibility in your workers

Make sure tasks are understood

Train as a team

Use the full capabilities of your organization

The environment for change/ Steps for changes for the short term

Identify the costs and benefits of acquiring the Deli. Costs will include costs of purchase, operation costs as well as costs of remunerating employees that will work in the Deli shop. While benefits will include increased sales, profits as well as satisfied customers. The second change after acquiring the Deli is to decide whether to change the Brand name of the shop to Dunn’s Ski Emporium or to leave it as the Deli. Policies as well as culture of the Dunn’s Ski Emporium will be incorporated within the Delis’ workforce.

Steps for changes for the long term

Expanding both the Deli as well as Dunn’s Ski Emporium into other ski resort areas, developing an employee career plan that will see competent employees both in the Deli as well as

Dunn’s Ski Emporium promoted and diversifying into other businesses such as sportswear or hotel for tourist.

A vision statement for the organization

“To be the leading food and ski business in the state of Colorado”

A mission statement for the organization

“To provide quality food and ski services conveniently “

An organizational culture that supports Dunn’s vision

The companies’ vision is to be the leading food and ski business in the state of Colorado. This vision can be achieved by, providing the right leadership to employees. Leadership styles such as laissez-fail and democratic leadership style promotes corporation and contribution amongst employees. Plus incorporating a Collaborate (Clan) Culture will give it the structure it needs to be successful. For the future of the company they need an "infrastructure that supports knowledge-sharing, communication, and work on joint projects" (Voss, 1996). The employees of the company should be free to come up with ideas that are beneficial to the company both in the short term as well as in the long term. Such ideas include, introducing a new product of service into the company, how to lower the companies’ costs as well as how to attract customers such as using internet adverts and social media. "Good organizational design helps communications, productivity, and

innovation"(Mind tools, n.d.). This leadership style also allow employees to be participative in decision making within the company.

There is also the culture of continuing providing customer satisfaction. This can be achieved by providing services that are convenient, of high quality, affordable and providing the

services in a timely manner. For example, the staff of the company must ensure that the customers are serviced quickly, whether it is selling a product or solving a complaint.

Ethics must also be incorporated in to the companies’ culture, the employees of the company must ensure that products sold are not faulty. Information given by the companies’ staff to customers must not be false. The company must not attack its competitors in its adverts with the aims of increasing its market share and sales. Ethics also focuses on treating both customers and employees equally regardless of their race or backgrounds. Professionalism is also another aspect of culture that should be incorporated into the company so as to help it attain its vision. If a company acts in a professional way, it increases its brand image as well as increases customer loyalty. Employees must then act in a professional way both in the presence and in the absence of a customer (Timothy, 2011).

The role of managers in strengthening the vision for Dunn

"Strategic leadership needs to be transformational if it is to serve the organization. Transformational leaders must operate from a foundation of high morality and ethical practices and have a fundamental understanding of the highly complex factors that support and make

possible collective effort in an organization. They must personally act in accord with productive values and beliefs, and they must teach others to do the same" (National Defense University, n.d.).

To attain the vision, Dunn must

· Involve employees in decision making.

· Identify and take advantage of opportunities within the market place.

· Make use of the 4Ps’ (price, product, promotion and place).

· Focus on employees, the products and services that are being offered as well as customers.

· Act in an ethical manner.

The critical elements that must be in place for Dunn to be successful in this new venture

For the venture to be successful, the following is needed,

Provide products and services that are cheaper than those that are already available in the market place. This will help attract customers as well as retain them. It will also enable the company to compete better than its competitors in the marketplace. Sell products and services above their costs of production so as to remain profitable. Provide good remuneration to employees so as to retain them, to provide employee training so as to impact employee skills positively and to improve the quality of output.

References