Question

(Leadership)Your objective in both assignments is to use TWO course concepts or models to reflect on an actual situation, event, or person. It must be something or someone that you have personally experienced, or a current situation in which you are involved. It can be self-reflection or reflection on something or someone observed. Roughly 8-10 Pages double spaced generally does it. (More is not better). Structure the Paper in the following way: The first part of the paper (maybe 20%) give the background d and context: What was the Situation? Give enough background to provide context. What were the Tasks and Activities? What happened? Who did what or did not do what? What were the Results? 80% of the paper to apply the course materials and concepts to the situation: a. In a separate section and paragraphs: clearly explain your understanding of each model or concept. (usually, two or three paragraphs for each model are sufficient)b. How did the concept relate to the situation? Could you see the elements of the model illustrated in the situation? Was the concept supported or not? Use the elements of the model to describe observed behaviors, situations, effects of actions, etc....c. What did you learn about leadership and yourself? How do these models and concepts apply to your current, past, or future situations? How will you apply what you learned in writing this paper? What will you change or do differently, if anything going forward and why?

Answer 1

The Facebook privacy breach debacle has put the spotlight once more on how vulnerable we are to hijack and misuse of our personal information, which may at many times be sensitive, by unscrupulous organizations to further their own interests. What this incident highlighted for the world once more is Mark Zuckerberg’s leadership qualities once more proving him a leader par excellence and a master of the business game.

We are well aware Facebook is a networking platform and there are thousands of similar platforms. Let us understand the use of these platforms for the organisation operating them. Is it the advertisements only? Obviously not, it's the massive data they hold which is invaluable for targeting sales, conducting studies and research, formulating policies for so many organisations. Obviously selling or allowing use of database to companies for better marketing of products is a given thing, this however is not harmful. We need to be aware as educated citizens of the world that when we access social media we put ourselves at risk for the information entered to be used for various purposes. It does not serve Facebook's purpose to inform user's in bold about the privacy settings. We need to be more aware, if we force Facebook to close down another will take it's place we are already addicted to social networking. We need to be more vigilant and diligent. In spite of being caught on the wrong foot performing a wrong act, Zuckerberg's admirable handling of the situation is itself a mark of excellent leadership.

Mark Zuckerberg is an effective leader and to achieve this has developed some of the best qualities from various leadership models such as Autocratic, Laissez Faire and Situational and has created a unique and impressive blend which has served him well by obtaining all organizational success and growth goals as well as proving his mettle. He is an aggressive go-getter who seeks constant change and innovation, a natural leader, who understands and encourages his employees and also a shrewd businessman, who is aware of his direction.

He has from the beginning had a clear roadmap for the organization, thus he was able to successfully utilize autocratic leadership to provide clear and concise instructions to his entire organizations on what was their job and his expectations, while retaining all major decision making and controls with himself to enable swift actions for deviations and control them effectively and decisively. Within this Autocratic framework he utilized Laissez faire by ensuring once a job was identified and delegated sufficient independence was afforded to the group or department managing it to be able to operate optimally and deliver required results. His utilization of Situational leadership is very evident in the privacy breach issue where he modified his style and approach to adapt to the situation. He appeared as a socially responsible compassionate leader who cared about public opinion and had the courage to admit mistakes as well as the ability to correct them through perfect solutions.

Mark Zuckerberg has admirable leadership skills and is known to put them to perfect use. He may have been a bit late in responding to the issue, however, a well thought out action and statements were the requirement given the sensitivity of the issue at hand. However, his statements in the Senate and to media make it very clear his leadership skills are honed to perfection, and again clearly indicate the authoritarian as he is the face of the organization and only person in command of every situation. The seriousness with which he views his leadership is visible in his finding the absolute courage required for a leader to stand before the public and admit he made a mistake, he used the I, not Facebook or we. He is ready to take the blame as being an autocratic leader, he considers the ultimate responsibility for accountability lies with him. “We're going to find solutions”, the use of we here a signal to the employees and users that let us get together and find a solution, depicting his utilization of hybrid models and understanding the importance of inclusiveness, a clear situational leadership approach implementing change in style where the situation demands it. “Going to solve this one” very clearly stating with confidence I can do it just give me time. He is not resigning obviously, leaders like him don't hide nor runaway, they face the music. The first step required to be taken by Facebook has been taken by it's leader and we only need to look into the history of the organization to realize that solutions are not impossible or faraway for Mark Zuckerberg.

The leadership style of Mark Zuckerberg motivates me and emphasises the need to be flexible in our approach to leadership and imbibe the best of each style and create a unique and superlative style. Unless a leader is dynamic and flexible he will compromise on his ability to face hurdles and obstacles with confidence and wherever required, modify his approach to overcome them and convert them into victories. The present business environment is too dynamic and the competition too unpredictable, due to massive developments in technology, for a leader to be successful without absorbing and exemplifying these very qualities of dynamism and adaptability which every organisation requires to be able to succeed, as business has gone worldwide, unrestricted by any boundaries whatsoever. this is largely due to the electronic media becoming an effective tool for businesses making the world a playground. Mark Zuckerberg has proved his leadership style is effective by conquering the world through Facebook and emerging as the King of social media. Presently, his crown is safe, as he is it's very able guardian, perfectly capable of ensuring it's safety himself.