QUESTION 1
Critically examine and discuss leadership and management theories. (700 words)
The majority of people understand the phrases leadership and management to be
interchangeable. It is crucial to recognize that effective and efficient management depends on
strong leadership.
Good leadership behavior stresses creating an environment where each person may flourish in
their work as a key element of management. Leadership is the capacity to direct and motivate a
team's efforts toward achieving various organizational objectives. This influence may come from
official sources, such as those made available by obtaining a managerial position inside a
company.
Any manager must possess the qualities of a good leader, i.e., leadership traits. Leaders create
and launch competitive advantage-building strategies. For maximum organizational
effectiveness, businesses need strong management and strong leadership. The following are
some examples of management and leadership theories:
1. Contingency theory: There is no ideal method to lead or structure an organization,
according to the contingency hypothesis. According to this idea, the impact of leadership
on a group's performance depends on three factors: the member-leader relationship (good
or bad); the structure or lack thereof of the duties; and the leader's power (weak or strong)
and its moderating impact on leadership styles.
2. Expectancy theory: According to this theory of motivation, a worker will put in more
effort if he or she thinks doing so will result in better performance reviews, which will
lead to a form of reward like an increase in pay that will also meet personal goals.
3. The Great Man Theory: Since leadership is viewed as a heroic endeavor, it follows that
a person's exceptional combination of talents, personality traits, and personal abilities
distinguishes him or her from all other leaders.
4. Situational Leadership Theory: According to this theory, leaders typically adapt their
actions to the circumstances. Based on each follower's unique demands, this flexible and
adaptable leadership style decides whether a leader is directive or supportive. One of the
best and most efficient ways to lead a company, yet it frequently isn't included in the list
of prevalent leadership styles. This method of leadership enables leaders to successfully
mentor employees at different stages of development. For instance, a leader appointed to
handle a crisis may need to exercise autocratic control, whereas a leader appointed to
inspire team members to explore and propose ideas would exercise democratic control to
make decisions that would benefit the organization.
5. Extrinsic motivation theory: According to this theory, workers are driven to finish a
task because they may be rewarded in some way by external influences. This aids in a
person completing tasks that have been allocated to them. Their reward for completing
the work could be psychological, emotional, materialistic, or intangible. Over time, this
might potentially interfere with learning and goal achievement.
6. Transactional Leadership: Transactional leadership and transformational leadership are
frequently contrasted. Self-motivated individuals who can function well in a structured
and guided setting are the ones who will define this sort of leadership. This leadership is
results-driven, monitors the organization's current structure, and measures success using
the organization's system of incentives and sanctions.
7. Transformational leadership: In this style of leadership, team members are encouraged
and motivated to bring about constructive change inside their organizations. Both leaders
and followers can enhance one another's morale and drive while also enhancing their
abilities and attributes. A leader must comprehend the various processes involved in the
process as well as how transformational leadership may help the entire team to benefit
from it.
8. Reinforcement theory: According to this idea, using rewards, penalties, and extinction
can alter a person's behavior. Rewards can be used to reinforce desired behaviors,
punishment can be used to stop undesirable behaviors, and extinction can be used to
cease a behavior that has already been ingrained in a person. Operant conditioning is the
word used in practice to describe this procedure.
QUESTION 2
Demonstrate an understanding and application of the above theories in any multi-national
organization of your choice (300 words)
McDonald’s
Richard and Maurice McDonald established the first McDonald's, a global fast food chain, as a
restaurant in the year 1940. With more than 1.7 million employees and more than 37,000
locations worldwide, it serves close to 70 million clients in 100 different countries. In nations
like Peru, France, Mexico, Denmark, Argentina, Brazil, Ireland, Columbia, Belgium,
Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands, and Uruguay, it is regarded as one of the best locations to
work. The McDonald brothers, also known as Richard and Maurice McDonald, were twins who
were born in Manchester, New Hampshire. Richard was born in February 1909, whereas
Maurice was born in late 1902. Management Theories put into practice by McDonald's
McDonald's offers numerous examples of classical management, including Henri Fayol's
management concepts and Frederick Taylor's scientific management. McDonald's also shows
how its management approaches stack up against those of its rivals and how they've helped the
company become successful. Taylor's management style is seen through McDonald's education,
training, and systems, but Fayol's management style is visible through McDonald's delegation of
responsibility and authority. McDonald's exceptional corporate reputations over the world serve
as evidence of their successful application of management theory. For instance, the regular
inquiries asked by McDonald's cashiers are "Small, Medium, or Large" and "Would you like
fries with that?" In addition to employing computers to send the order into the holding bins for
the cooks, McDonald's also employs a register to confirm, assemble, and check the order.
McDonald's uses a certain method to prepare its food to boost efficiency. To make each activity
as efficient as possible, all of these tasks are carried out by various people. Finally, Taylor is a
proponent of using incentives to promote high productivity. Given that the employee will receive
the same payout regardless of how productive they are, setting a fixed wage will only encourage
poor production. Taylor recommended using a reward system to create incentives to address this
issue. McDonald's inspires its workforce through initiatives like Employee of the Month, the
Company Car Program, and the Recognition Program, where workers are recognized for their
dedication. In addition, McDonald's offers programs that reward-motivated employees with
access to gift cards, free meals, and products. The company would also reward outstanding
workers with "bonuses based on the performance of their business activities.
QUESTION 3
Identify and analyze the skills required to lead and manage in the selected multi-national
organization (300 words)
Skills Required To Lead and Manage McDonald’s
The qualities, skills, and knowledge listed below are necessary for a manager to thrive at
McDonald's and are also frequently demanded by employers when employing new employees:

High school diploma or an equivalent educational credential.

Excellent problem-solving skills

strong understanding of the fast-food industry.

The capacity to act fast and precisely under pressure.

Easily exchange information with others.

Multitasking abilities are crucial.

having a keen managerial mind and the capacity to lead people

working knowledge of relevant applications, such as Word processing and Microsoft
Excel.

During the hiring process, McDonald's management may provide some tests to
candidates to evaluate their qualifications for the role in terms of skills, aptitude, and
leadership.
 The obligation to oversee many departments: Franchisees of McDonald's will
occasionally recruit assistant managers in place of restaurant managers. Department
managers oversee various systems, such as the inventory or training systems at
McDonald's. While kitchen managers make sure food is made promptly, safely, and
accurately, customer service managers and promotions managers are in charge of
providing excellent customer service.
 Giving Customer-Friendly Services: McDonald's managers often have the following
responsibilities: training or supervising the assistant managers; arranging the weekly
schedules of their staff; and handling customer concerns. Additionally, they continue to
provide their floor supervisors with consistent and welcoming customer service. When
you work in the food sector, knowing what to say and when to smile isn't always enough.
Managers should recognize staff members who earn praise from clients to inspire them to
deliver superior food and service.
 Stocking, cleaning, and staffing: People from all professions work at McDonald's. They
may be in charge of filling out restaurant orders, interacting with clients, or cleaning up
messes. They make sure the restaurant is adequately stocked and staffed at peak times,
such as the lunch and evening rushes. A manager's duties include maintaining and
cleaning properties during peak periods. When McDonald's launches new promotions,
management updates window signs, menu boards, and related materials.
 Taking care of the logistics, community outreach, and rules: The management staff at
McDonald's works hard to meet profitability and sales goals while adhering to safety
rules, security policies, and food safety laws. They carry out activities like taking
inventory, receiving food supplies, counting money, and making deposits. Managers also
deal with payroll, paperwork, and records. Some restaurant managers go above and
beyond the call of duty to foster relationships with the locals. They might organize a
charity drive or a benefit for the schools, for instance.