Leadership and Business Ethics

1. Write a synopsis for the case study.

Ans: The paper looks into the specific leadership qualities and styles that would be useful for
organisations and steer them towards a growth trajectory. Past research has found that
competence based leadership, participative leadership, innovative leadership, empowering
leadership and high-tech leadership styles are emerging as new styles of leadership. The skills
needed for a leader are excellent communication skills, are good in building relationship and
developing team spirit and have the capability of gracefully bringing the employees and the
entire organization through a crisis.

The past research found that in order to be successful in the corporate world, a leader is required
to be equipped with a set of specific skills and qualities such as
• Passion for dynamism and entrepreneurship.
• Loyalty, integrity, honesty, accountability and trustworthiness.
• Capabilities of developing sustained growth strategies.
• Providing opportunities for expansion of domestic/ global operations.
• Providing scope for improving the organizational culture.
• Maintaining a healthy balance between organizational culture, values and ethics and growth
and profitability.

The objective of the study are

(a) To analyse existing corporate leadership qualities and styles in India.
(b) To identify leadership styles that is gaining prominence due to changing corporate
environments - mainly competition, globalization and the new generation of young employees.
(c) To identify what the present day employees and other stakeholders expect from their
organization and leaders.

The samples taken are of 48 senior executives and professionals from more than 20
organizations of different types (regions in India, nature of work and type of industry) was
taken. They represented organizations related to public and private sector enterprises,
hospitality, manufacturing, IT/ITeS, financial services, advertising, pharma, oil and gas,
energy.
The predefined questionnaire and pre-recorded interviews with leaders were used for secondary
and primary information collection. The questioners were of two types one for the leaders the
other for employees.
The preferred leadership qualities observed were
(a) Global Corporate Leadership
(b) Indian Corporate Leadership
(c) Leadership for Government
 (d) Leadership for Service Industry
(e) Leadership for High Growth & Competitive Industry
(f) Administrative Leadership
(g) Leadership for Armed / Police Forces
(h) Leadership for Scientific / R&D Institutions
(i) Leadership for Education Sector
(j) Woman Leadership
(k) Youth Leadership
(m) Leadership for Aged / Elder teams

The research found that due to the fast economic growth of countries companies are demanding
corporate leadership styles specific to each country. However the research found that there are
specific styles that are common for all leaders as mentioned above and the people with these
traits can become effective leaders.

2. What are the different kinds of effective leadership styles?

Ans: The different leadership styles are

(A)Directive Leadership:
In the case of manual work and regular a Directive Leadership provides good performance. In
Directive leadership experiences of the leader helps the employees in the work and in most
organisations blind flowing is preferred and such kind of leadership is followed. The drawback
is that creativity and fresh out of the box creative thinking is curtailed

(b) Family Control & Competence based leadership:

In such a leadership succession is passed on to the children or family member. At times
competence is overlooked. The leader is considered to be an expert in the domain chosen. The
changing business environment is leading these companies to seek talent from outside however
the change is low and glacial.

(c) Participative leadership:

In this type of leadership the leader is involved inclusive and inculcates team spirit and culture.
The participation of the employees in the decision making process is encouraged. However
the adverse effect of such as leadership style is that this may lead to delays in decision making
and conflicts of interest.

(d) Empowering leadership:

In This type of leadership the leader inspire and energize his subordinates and gives room to
realize their full potential. The delegate’s responsibilities to the subordinates and lets then to
fell a sense of responsibility and are motivated to work harder towards the common goal of the
organization.

(e) Innovative leadership:

The leader uses innovations and creativity in this type of leadership. The leader encourages
experimentation and product development.

(f) High-tech leadership:

The leader uses the modern tools such as automated machines, IT and the internet for
conducting business to improve efficiency. Such leader able to handle younger staff better and
utilise their more effectively.

3. Which characteristics do women in general possess more in

comparison to men?

Ans: The characteristics that women possess more than men when related to the work
environment are

 They have better interpersonal skills and are more flexible

 They are better team builders and persuasive.
 They build emotional intelligence in the organization.
 They are better listeners and good at nurturing talent in the organisation.
 They tend to have better values and are principle oriented.
 They are better organisers and collaborators.
 They are more willing to take risks.
 They are better at crisis management.
 They tend manage financial aspects more cautiously.

4. How are Indian leaders expected to be ?

The expectations of how an Indian leader needs to be are

 The Indian leader needs to handle the diverse communication and functioning styles of
the employees.
 The leader needs to have god communication skills.
 Even with the presence of a directive style of leadership the open work environment
must be promoted
 The needs to be friendly to the employees.
 The work environment must be friendly to foreign employees.
 The must be able to motivate and retain top talent.
 The leader needs to have a good grasp of technology.
 The leader must make sure the company provides quality products.
  The leader should encourage standardization of processes and follow global quality
standards.
 The leader must also be able to take more risk.
 The leader should be able to protect the intellectual property of the company and
encourage R&D

5. What are the findings of the Study ?

Ans: The study finds a number interesting findings

The preferred leadership qualities observed in leaders were

(a) Global Corporate Leadership

(b) Indian Corporate Leadership
(c) Leadership for Government
(d) Leadership for Service Industry
(e) Leadership for High Growth & Competitive Industry
(f) Administrative Leadership
(g) Leadership for Armed / Police Forces
(h) Leadership for Scientific / R&D Institutions
(i) Leadership for Education Sector
(j) Woman Leadership
(k) Youth Leadership
(m) Leadership for Aged / Elder teams

The different leadership styles are

(A) Directive Leadership:

(b) Family Control & Competence based leadership:
(c) Participative leadership:
(d) Empowering leadership:
(e) Innovative leadership:
(f) High-tech leadership:

The characteristics that women possess more than men when related to the work
environment are

 They have better interpersonal skills and are more flexible

 They are better team builders and persuasive.
 They build emotional intelligence in the organization.
 They are better listeners and good at nurturing talent in the organisation.
 They tend to have better values and are principle oriented.
 They are better organisers and collaborators.
 They are more willing to take risks.
  They are better at crisis management.
 They tend manage financial aspects more cautiously.

The different traits see in Indian Leaders are

 The leader needs to have god communication skills.

 Even with the presence of a directive style of leadership the open work environment
must be promoted
 The needs to be friendly to the employees.
 The work environment must be friendly to foreign employees.
 The must be able to motivate and retain top talent.
 The leader needs to have a good grasp of technology.
 The leader must make sure the company provides quality products.
 The leader should encourage standardization of processes and follow global quality
standards.
 The leader must also be able to take more risk.
 The leader should be able to protect the intellectual property of the company and
encourage R&D

The findings mentioned above are most relevant in the current scenario due to the fast growing
pace of the Indian economy and changing landscape of the business environment.