In: Operations Management
How do describe someone who is a "leader?"
What role does a leader play in understanding and executing ethical decision making in organizations?
1.
The definition of a leader can vary depending on the situation that we face. In most situations, the contingency leadership theory defines what a leader is. A leader can be defined as someone who inspires problem solving and guides the team through the process. That is how I would describe a leader. A leader needs to take charge of the situation and provide solution depending on the situation. He/she may need to help the team technically, may need to provide guidance, may need to inspire change, etc. This means the role of a leader should be to identify the need of the team and provide that need.
2.
A leader sets the example for ethical decision making in an organization. Team members and people in the organization tends to follow and mimic the leader in his/her activities. As a result, if the leader can set strong examples of ethics and moral principle, then the team members begin to follow that. This in turn results in the overall organization culture becoming ethical.