Group Failure - Lack of a Central and Authoritative Leadership - Case Study Example

TITLE: Case Study on Executive Retreat: A case of Group Failure Student’s Name: Table of Contents Serial Number Title Page Number 1. Introduction 3-4 2. Background 4-5 Analysis 5-8 3. a) Lack of a central and authoritative leadership. 6 4. b) Breach in the trust and the integrity as observed by the group members 7 5. c) De-motivation and disorganization as prevailing in the group 7 6. d) Lack of interest and enthusiasm as shown by the group members 8 7. Conclusion 8-9 8. References 10 9. Table 1. 11-12 Introduction Johan Mathews, a young executive was selected by his manager to attend a two and half week executive development retreat at a remote camp in Northern Minnesota. The major objective of the retreat was to provide relax and enjoyable surroundings to the participants. The total size of the retreat was 60 executive males selected from various from other corporations for spending fifteen days working, living and competing with one another while living in the retreat. The participants were divided in to five groups, each group was provided by a group leader and the total size of each group was of twelve members. In each group, the members were engaged in a variety of athletic and academic activities. The groups activities were arranged in form of educational activities, physical training and athletic competitions, inter-group and intra-group activities. All the five groups had participated in the activities and at the end of the whole process the performance of the groups was evaluated. The group performance to which John Mathews was belonging remained unsatisfactory in terms of academic results on overall basis, in athletics and sports events. These unexpected results are due to a combination of factors including a strong leadership, sincerity in the group, lack of final objectives and targets, poor level of integrity as shown by some members. However, the final results of the group are encouraging as the group had succeeded in the maintenance of harmonious relationship among the participating members. Such type of events are singular importance in the development and growth of human personality as these events help in the development of inter-group and intra-group feelings, provide a chance to the individuals to understand their strengths and weaknesses and to compare their faculties with diverse groups and individuals. Such type of events is also help in the promotion of understanding and tolerance among the individuals of different backgrounds. The participating members can share their experiences and also learn from the other’s experiences. The corporations / organizations should emphasize on the need of existence of such groups as these groups help in the creation of team work spirit among the participating members. A team work spirit is an essential requirement for the success of a joint task to be completed by the team members for desirable results. Johan Mathew’s group in the executive retreat could not achieve the desired results due to the reason as dismal performance in academic was the result of the existence of a central leadership with participatory leadership skills in the field of academic, defeat in the field of sports was the result of prevailing disorganization and de-motivation in the group. The target of twenty five miles was simply not secured due to the prevailing of a breach in integrity in the group and similarly, the group was lacking a centralized mechanism for the promotion of cooperation and communication without a strong top level leadership. Background Section John Mathews as an executive had participated in a two and half week retreat held at Northern Minnesota. The total numbers of participants were sixty male executives registered from all other organizations for the retreat. These sixty executive were divided into five groups with twelve members in each group and a separate leader was provided to look after the activities of the group. The activities of the group were mainly consisting of academics, sports, discussion and twenty five miles running. All these groups performed their jobs during their stay in the retreat. The group of John Mathews did not give desire results as the group had not adhered to the direction as given by Mr. Mark as the guiding principles, which were mainly consisting of three fundamental tools as practiced by the leaderships in their organization “is ‘Think – Communicate – Cooperate’ for their adoption by the group for ensuring their success as the success of the group depends upon the acceptance of the rules as framed by the top leadership. The executive retreat as organized for the executive was representing a mini informal organization and the success of the group members was chiefly depending on the collective performance of the group members. Non committed attitude of the group members, lack of strong central leadership, casual response of the members of the group were the chief reasons as resulted in the failure of group’s performance. Analysis A two and half week executive development retreat scheduled at a remote camp in Northern Minnesota of sixty male executives was scheduled to expose the participants to share and learn divergent experiences from the participating members. All these sixty executives were divided into five groups, the composition of the group to whom John Mathews was belonging with all details is summarized in table 1. The composition will help in the analysis of the poor performance as showed by the group in its final results. The group was lead by Mr. Mark, who was a top level corporate executive in New York. The poor results as given by the group are due to the following major reasons: (a) Lack of a central and authoritative leadership. (b) Breach in the trust and the integrity as observed by the group members (c) De-motivation and disorganization as prevailing in the group, and (d) Lack of interest and enthusiasm as shown by the group members All these factors have combined together to show their synergetic impact and these factors finally resulted in the form of dismal performance by the group in the final results. A complete analysis of each factor is as under: (a) Lack of a central and authoritative leadership. Leadership plays a significant role in the composition, continuity and performance of the group. The group was lead by a group member that is Mr. Mark as provided by the management of the executive retreat. Although, the leader of the group has given a central dogma for its observance by the group members during their stay in the retreat consisting of three fundamental principles for achieving desired results by the groups in the form of a team work “is ‘Think – Communicate – Cooperate’ however, the group members turned a def ear to these principles. A team work is joint activity as to be performed by all members of the group for achieving the desired results. But the group as consisting of twelve members including John Mathews did not observe the central principles and had resulted in the form of poor performance. (b) Breach in the trust and the integrity as observed by the group members The observance of trust by all the members on the leadership and on their own abilities is an essential requirement for the success of the group. However, the group had not fulfilled the sole requirement of trust during their deliveries. Similarly some group members especially Mr. Bob has breached the golden principle of integrity during his sports activities like twenty five miles running. Due to these two reasons which are essential requirement for the success of the individuals as well as of the groups, the group had showed a poor performance. (c) De-motivation and disorganization as prevailing in the group Organizational structure is consisting of top leadership and the members of organization. Each member of the group has to perform certain specific assignment for the success of the organizations as per their job description. Motivation and discipline are two central requirements for the successful delivery of the desired results. In the instant case, the group was moving as de motivated and in disorganized form and therefore, poor performance of the group was the final output. Wally, Jim, Bob, Larry, Wayne, Gary are the good examples of de motivated and disorganized group members in the group. Due to the present of these members in the group, the overall performance in all the fields including academics as well as in sports remained below the desired standards. (d) Lack of interest and enthusiasm as shown by the group members The presence of interest and the enthusiasm are two fundamental requirements and binding forces for the collective performance in the team work and group activities. Unfortunately, the group was lacking both these essential elements and therefore, had resulted in the form of poor results in all major areas and tasks as assigned to the five groups. As the group was designed for extending an enjoyable and relaxing environment to the participating executives, therefore, overall mood of the group was trapped by the lack of interest and enthusiasm as demonstrated by the group members. In view thereof, the group has not performed well at the end. Conclusion A two and half week retreat group was arranged at a remote camp in northern Minnesota. The group was consisting of total sixty members. John Mathews was a young executive participated in the said activity along with other fifty nine executive selected from other organizations. The major purpose of the group was to expose the executives to a varied environment with other executives belonging to different organizations and to learn each other experiences for their utilization in the organization of their origin (Duncan,1972)(1). The major activities of the retreat were revolving around three assignments as academics, sports and twenty five miles jogging. Five groups were with an outside group leader were formulated by the management. John Mathew’s group did not give encouraging results due to lack of central leadership, breach of interest and integrity by the group members, low level of enthusiasm and prevailing disorganization and de motivation were the chief reasons of the group’s failures. The performance of the group remained below the desired levels as the leadership did not exert an authoritative role for the maintenance of discipline and command in the group (Kazanijan, 1986) (2). It is recommended that such group may adopt the following strategy to achieve the objective of the retreat. (i). The objectives of the group should be designed by defining desirable targets and objectives. (ii). All the members may participate with an open mindedness and to have a keen desire for learning good practices as being observed by other members of the group in their respective organizations. (iii). A central leadership with full command and authority may be provided to the groups for their unified and directional output. (iv). The seating arrangement for academics works may be redistributed on daily basis. The step will promote harmonization and adherence among the group members. (v). A counseling program may be incorporated as an essential segment of the group activities. The step will help in the generation of a healthy and conducive environment for the group members to act upon it for the achievement of desired results. References: 1) Robert B. Duncan, “Characteristics of Organizational Environment and Perceived Environmental Uncertainty.” Administrative Science Quarterly 17 (1972), 313-327. 2) Jay R. Galbraith and Robert K. Kazanijan, Strategy implementation, Structure, Systems and Process, 2d ed (St: Paul, Minn: West, 1986) TABLE-1 Name of the Group leader: Mr. Mark Serial number Name of the Group Member Qualifications / training Position in his parent organization Position in the group Remarks 1. Mr. Wally No formal technical training Middle level manager Reluctant to assume a leadership role in the group Appeared to be afraid of hurting other peoples feelings 2. Mr. Dave -do- Corporate president Average student and speaker and above average in writing ability Appeared to be obsessed with sex 3. Mr. Jim Bachelor Financial analyst Play boy of the group Lacking interest and motivation 4. Mr. Bob -do- Production and operations manager Boisterous A lady killer, suspected of cheating in the 25-Mile Jogging Club 5. Mr. Larry Liberal Arts background Director of public relations Never assumed a leadership role Was not able to run a mile and a half in 12 minutes 6. Mr. Rich Attend Harvard Business School Internal financial consultant Better executive, good speaker and writer Assumed leadership role into major exercises 7. Mr. Mr. Wayne Not mentioned Personnel Director Naïve Member Never assumed a leadership role 8. Mr. Ollie -do- Marketing manager Country boy Performed many odd jobs, successful in leading two victories in athletics 9. Mr. Gary -do- Executive vice president Poor academically athletic chairman, Failed in 25 – Mile Club 10. Mr. Burrell -do- Personnel and public relation manager Fair speaker and an average writer Academic Chairman and basketball coach, never assumed a clear cut stand 11. Mr. Paul -do- Engineering manager Spent first three days in the infirmary with a virus. Advocating group functions, always complaining about the development rotation 12. Mr. John No formal education relating to industrial relations Executive Average student & writer and an harmonizer in the group Having no clear stand of his own on any specific issue. Read More