Leadership and Motivating the Employees

Introduction A project is a temporary endeavor that is undertaken to produce a product or provide a service. Project management is an analysis that seeks to define how a particular project executes its operations, monitors the already executed operations, and how the executed operations are controlled (Kerzner 2010:14).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Leadership and Motivating the Employees specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Any project has some requirements that are necessary for the successful completion of the project tasks; these requirements are commonly referred to as resources. Project resources are not standard since individual projects will call for different capital resources, human resource, scope, technological skills, and target market, among other factors. To accomplish the mission and vision a given project, the project must take into account the analysis of the scope, the financial requirem ent, as well as the short, middle, and long-term goals of the project. Most importantly, project management cannot thrive without adapting to leadership style that is congruent with the needs of the employees. The subsystems of the firm have to adjust to an effective organizational structure in order to facilitate success of the project. The effective integration of values can be achieved by leadership development, as this helps to highlight the changes that are taking place within a particular market segment. This study will be guided by one key question: is the issue of leadership an extremely complicated task while motivating the employees working in projects? Background Of The Study JovanovicÃŒ  PetrovicÃŒ  (2000) affirm that proper dissemination of project management plan should be provided to the employees in a manner that outlines vigilant steps, which point out the corresponding responsibilities, the person responsible for the task, the timeline for performing the task, a nd the expected output (Kerzner 2010: 23). However, the management of projects highly depends on the flow view theory, which seeks to eliminate the unforeseen risks (Hanisch et al. 2011). Additionally, the theory of value generation view is used in project management to facilitate an assessment of the clients prior to provision of goods and/or services. This theory substantiates that the needs of the clients should be viewed differently from the work process.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, the project management should define the plan, the cost, the activities, the project’s human and capital resources planning, and judgment of duration of time for the completion of the projects (Rad 2002: 36). An effective budgeting of the project’s cost facilitates this, while an effective execution should define time and quality specification, as they are cri tical in ascertaining a project’s sustainability. Controlling, on the other hand, should be designed in such a way that it is able to use performance reporting that executes corrections or overall change control that recommends changes at the planning procedure (Kerzner 2010:94). But while all the above are valid procedures and theories that aim at ensuring that projects achieve their main objectives, the strategy of using the resources and time constrains remains unconvincing, given that motivation plays a critical role in the performance of a project. Some of the key motivators include organizational hierarchies, relationship with the boss, working conditions, relationship with the peers, and recognition in the workplace (Miner 2007:158). However, these theories often seem challenging in the process of their implementation, making some organizational cultures disapprove their authenticity in the project management. This stems from the fact that different cultures have diffe rent opinions regarding the use of organizational theories in the projects. The United States, for case in point, believes that the use of hierarchy tends to break a project’s task into smaller achievable and manageable task and find vertical leadership more appropriate, while the Asian culture, which believes in authority ranking, finds the vertical form of leadership more appropriate(Miner 2007:169). Thus, the Western culture manages their projects by encouraging employees’ participation through brainstorming sessions as opposed to the some of the Asian cultures. These two perceptions need to be substantiated in order to come up with an effective management of projects.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Leadership and Motivating the Employees specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More But according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, organizations as well as people’s needs change overtime, and therefore, employee motivation is a continuous practice rather than a task (Miner 2007:177). Thus, a good motivation theory for projects should involve finding new ways of motivating their employees. It is imperative to note that a number of factors associated with the leadership/ managerial practice may lead to higher than necessary rates of departure prior to ending the project’s contracts. Key among them include restricted motivation, insufficient socialization, cases where employees feel discriminated, exempted from making decisions that regard them, insufficient levels of commitment, and lesser acceptance (Miner 2007:142). There are some empirical studies reporting on the experiences of leaders taking the role of motivation to explain the complexities of projects with regard to productivity (Miner 2007:69). Some of the studies also link the motivation role mostly to management outcomes. These studies contribute to a research gap on the importance of the managersâ₠¬â„¢ role in improving project management processes and outcomes based on data from a qualitative perspective. The results enhance leadership knowledge by providing another perspective of the manager’s role with implications on the acceptability and viability of employees’ participation. Methodology Purpose of Study The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigative whether the issue of motivating employees is an extremely complicated task in project management. Using a qualitative study allows a thorough investigation of the research problem because it collects data on the accounts and descriptions of employers as well as employees working in a construction project (Creswell 2003:183). The research design involves causal investigation of the research problem by using a wide range of resources (Yin, 2006). Thus, the causal relationship investigated involves linking leadership and motivation with the productivity of a construction project. The study answers one k ey question: is the issue of motivating employees an extremely complicated task in project management? This question draws insight into the challenges surrounding the leadership role as they seek to motivate employees working in projects.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Design of the Study The study employs the qualitative method. This method applies to studies that require in-depth investigation of accounts and descriptions of the research problem studied (Creswell 2003:194). This included company’s structure, the work processes involved, and the relationships between the employees, as well as the relationship between the employees and the managers. This is the appropriate method because it is able to investigate how important motivation is in improving project management process and outcomes based on qualitative data. While the study also involves variables, the intention is to determine the importance of the role of leadership to the employees in the construction project, and not to measure the relationship of variables. The research design involves an in-depth inquiry into a single finding by using multiple data sources to provide understanding of the multiple factors attributed to the research problem (Yin 2006). This supports a thoroug h investigation of the research problem, as it uses a wide range of data collection methods, including document analysis, interviews, archival research, and observation. The selection of the sources was carried out in a manner that interconnects all the theories of leadership and management, and therefore facilitated an effective analysis that created room for understanding how they motivate the employees differently. The primary data, on the other hand, was obtained from the employees working in a construction project Data Collection The data collection method for the secondary sources was carried out by determining the scope of the research and then defining the extent to which management and leadership theories influence employees working in projects. This was followed by determining the evidence that demonstrates the challenges facing the leadership theories and frameworks while motivating the employees towards achieving the goals of the projects. Finally, the researcher organiz ed the ideas collected from the secondary sources, including textbooks as well as from the journals articles. These ideas worked as the background for the questionnaire provided in the case study. Results of the Study The primary data revealed that the construction project has already adopted modern communication technology in an effort to facilitate effective communication between the employees, as well as between the employees and the clients, due to tight working schedule and a high turnover of customers. This strategy, however, is faced with challenges due to poor company structure and work processes such as lack of prioritizing project’s information due to huge number of emails, presence of scattered data due to saving data in diverse formats, low levels of email security , ambiguity due to unclear terms used for products’ descriptions, and work overlap between the workers. The findings obtained from the qualitative design are consistent with the Fiedler’s contingency model as they portray that employees working in projects would only be motivated if the leaders put much emphasis on organizational culture that seeks to achieve organizational goals through close human relations (Daft Marcic 2010: 196). This stems from the fact that the model provides a link in the organizational structure as the go-between of management and employees. More so, the model helps the employees increase a sense of accountability for their tasks since they have already developed a sense of confidence with their leader. This model is imperative since it introduces the employees to a thorough analysis that facilitates definition of how a particular project executes its operations, monitors the already executed operations, and defines how these operations are controlled through teamwork amongst the employees (Daft Marcic 2010: 197). More so, using this model helps the leaders express confidence on the subordinates’ abilities to learn how to share great information with their leaders. And in this regard, the leader advices the subordinates to learn how to focus on results by providing them with tips on how best they can acquire expected results based on teamwork. This claim is supported by Herzberg’s theory of motivation, which states that a good relationship between workers, as well as between the workers and the managers, serves as a key motivator towards the employees (Miner 2007: 183). However, according to Kerzner (2010: 95), adopting a theory that is relationship oriented does not motivate task-oriented workers, simply because relationship oriented models are vulnerable to teamwork discrepancies. This translates that one or two members of a team will not work, and hence, others will be working for such an individual(s). Additionally, adopting relationship-oriented leadership does not help because at the end of the day, evaluation of the project’s employees goes back to an individual level as opposed to a teamwo rk level. Therefore, each individual has to undergo self-reflection to establish his/her contribution towards the success of the project. Kerzner (2010: 98) affirms that employees working in projects are always looking for individual recognition and that employees who do not attest to this fact are ordinary performers who are fond of preferring teamwork because they do not want the public to know that they do not have many talents at an individual level. This idea, therefore, complicates the role of leadership in motivating the employees working in a project. Additionally, the study used the Hezberg’s theory to highlight how leaders can motivate employees working in projects by exploring the extent to which employees can be motivated by job enrichment as well as job rotation. And while the primary sources revealed that a project could only acquire a good leader/ employee relationship when the leader is charismatic as opposed to autocratic, Miner (2007: 210) affirms that motiv ating employees depends entirely on the character of the employees. In this regard, the employees from group X necessitate carrot and stick motivation, while employees from group Y necessitate recognition and job enrichments as the prime motivators. All these show that using leadership theories to motivate employees is an extremely complicated task in project management. Limitations of the Study Even though the research attempted to employ casual investigation of the problem by using a user-friendly approach that would encouraged the participants to be honest with each other, the research study was still imperfect because some respondents proved to be unresponsive. This was more evident when it came to discussing the Adam’s equity model, perhaps due to the sensitivity of this area because some responses could be termed at discrimination following unfair judgments of other people’s inabilities. Conclusion/ Recommendations For Future Leadership Strategies For A Project F rom the finding presented in this paper, it is clear that the use of leadership theories to motivate employees is an extremely complicated task in project management. However, despite the challenges faced with leadership in an effort to motivate the employees working in projects, effective leadership calls for a close cooperation between the employees and the leaders/ managers of the organization. It is from this cooperation that the leaders demonstrate full responsibility of assessing the key motivators of the employees. Thus, evaluating the future strategy of leadership potential in the project should bring rise to a number of questions: what are the theories of leadership/management that the workers consider as motivators? What do employees anticipate as some of the disadvantages that would result from such theories? And most importantly, what do employees anticipate as some of the advantages that would result from such theories and frameworks. The answers to these questions shou ld be achieved through a brainstorming session comprising of employees who have dissimilar theoretical backgrounds relative to motivation. This emanates from the fact that a project management is greatly enhanced by leaders who adopt a leadership style of sharing their personal knowledge and opinions with all their employees (Mears 2009:57). Through sharing of views, the management should realize that one of the main challenges experienced by a project while coming up with a new line of business is inadequate training that would ensure the employees take the upcoming jobs. However, this challenge can be countered by adopting a talent development approach, which takes into account that projects should always assess the talents of its employees in order to outline the level of competence along the new line of operation. Therefore, the management should encourage the employees to develop their skills before the actual shift occurs, as this helps to eradicate fear and resistance to the proposed vision of the project. This can be achieved through a performance management program, which should be characterized by the following feature: standardization, validity and conciseness, and due process. In standardization, the ideal performance management system requires that the aspects of performance measured are uniform and there is a constant level of strictness in its operations. (Kerzner 2010: 114). This is meant to ensure that employees do not loose faith in their managers and the system that might result from variations, such as unreasonable teamwork. According to Kerzner (2010:123), validity and conciseness translates that evaluation criterion of every employee is done only on issues that regard their line of work, as this would serve to motivate the workers who view work itself as the key motivator. Due process, on the other hand, should endeavour to motivate employees who are lowly rated by giving them set guidelines that dictate the appraisal of good performers w ith high salary increases and bonuses should they improve their performance. List Of References Creswell, J. W. 2003. Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA, Sage. Daft, R., Marcic, D. 2010. Understanding Management. Independence, KY, Cengage Learning. Hanisch, B., Wald, A., Project Management Institute. 2011. A project management research framework integrating multiple theoretical perspectives and influencing factors. Project Management Journal 42(3). JovanovicÃŒ , P., PetrovicÃŒ , D. 2000. Project management and multiproject management in a company. Senet Project Management Review (1)1, 34-43. Kerzner, H. 2010. Project management best practices: Achieving global excellence. Hoboken, N.J., John Wiley Sons. Mears, M. 2009. Leadership elements: A guide to building trust. New York, iUniverse. Miner, J. 2007. Organizational Behavior: From theory to practice, Volume 4. Armonk, NY, M.E Sharpe Publishers. Rad, P. 2002. P roject estimating and cost management. Management Concepts, Vienna, Va. Yin, R. K. 2006. Case study research: Design and methods. Thousand Oaks, Calif, Sage. This research paper on Leadership and Motivating the Employees was written and submitted by user Jesse Delaney to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Margaret Thatcher society today Essay Example

Margaret Thatcher society today Essay Example Margaret Thatcher society today Essay Margaret Thatcher society today Essay During the play you get the notion that money rules all. As well as the classes, which are judged on amounts of money, there is a strong sense of money = life. This is shown when the inspector questions Mrs Burling about Eva Smith. When Eva Smith falls pregnant Eric, the father also son to Mrs Burling, realises money is needed and steals some from his father. Mrs Burling states, not knowing Eric has done this, that the decent thing the father should do is marry her, therefore giving her money. Mr Burling also thinks highly of money as he tries to pay the minimum wages to his factory workers therefore earning himself more. At the beginning of act one he talks about how it would be a good idea if his company and Geralds fathers should combined. This idea of his is truly based on how much money he can earn himself. Mrs Burling also seems to crave money, but tries to give you the impression that she is innocent. She tries to shush Mr Burling when he brings this up at the dining table and later suggests that they should talk in private. Now Arthur, I dont think you should talk business just quite now. In An Inspector Calls it is noticeable that everything that J. B. Priestley either features or makes fun of happens today. Today there is prostitution, a big blame society and class structures. Money also plays a big part in the world today. You often see lots of people selling big issues. When a man of middle class walks past someone like this the initial reaction is Why are they there, what have they done to make themselves so low. Often people dont want to give money to them or even buy the magazine because people think theyre just going to use it to buy drugs etc. At the end of the play J. B. Priestley makes you think about how you have the urge you to improve society. Margaret Thatcher said in 1980 There is no society today. The youth at the end of the play provide some hope for society in their actions. This play is very clever and this is why it has remained so popular. I think that the drama of the play also plays a big part in why An Inspector Calls has remained so popular. J. B. Priestley said to make a good drama you have to cut out all the drink mixing etc and get on with the storyline. In the world today there is an element of how we like to feel somewhat clever and superior to others. This features in the play when Mrs Burling is talking about how the father of the baby is to blame and how he should be sent down for this. She says I blame the father for everything end of act two. Of course during her speech the audience have actually acknowledged who the father is and sits there just waiting for Mrs Burling to discover this as well. We like to see and enjoy a dislikeable character reduce down to size. When Sheila manages to get a word in she confronts her mother about Eric being the father and the guilt sets in. When Eric appears on the scene Mrs Burling tries to make up excuses for what shes said and looks for a scapegoat. But I didnt know it was you- I never dreamt. Besides, youre not the type- you dont get drunk. This cleverness and reducing the character down to size appeals to us and therefore make us want to watch more. During An Inspector Calls the characters talk about other people in the town and shops, bar etc. This gives the audience knowledge that there are more people other than the main characters involved with the play. It shows that the characters on stage arent the only people in the world. Each character has a main key to them, Mr Burling is a man mostly obsessed with money, Mrs Burling a woman who blames others, Eric a bit of a womaniser and Sheila a hopeful yet jealous person. By mentioning other people J. B. Priestley is trying to get the audience to realise that there is, for example, more than one money grubber in the world and perhaps we are all guilty sometimes of these things. This is a clever way of getting the audience involved and almost being part of the play. In an interview J . B. Priestly talked about this and said how it was important to include the world around them in the play because otherwise it makes the play seem totally based on the characters as if they are the only people on this world. J. B. Priestleys An Inspector Calls is a play mainly based around a family. It shows how they cope with whichever situation is thrown at them. During the play the characters snap and try to blame each other and Mr Burling, for example, becomes agitated. The audience become addicted and like the idea of watching characters dealing with difficult situations. Its quite pleasurable, I think, for the audience to watch each one of the characters suffer in a different way. The play then rapidly becomes realistic as people today probably react the same way as some of the characters. Individuals today become addicted to this type of play and modern versions a bit like An Inspector Calls are seen today. Programs like Big Brother and My Family are exact copies but with modern twists. In the play J. B. Priestly uses quite a lot of dramatic irony. He has cleverly crafted his story line so that it carries you part of the way and then suddenly drops you at the end. Up until nearly the end you know whats going to happen and realize that the inspector is a fake. Once the audience has understood the storyline there is an element of satisfaction as you think you know the storyline. Its not until the end when there is a telephone call saying there had been a suicide that you begin to wonder. The authors use of dramatic irony at the beginning is skilful, as it draws you into the play. When Mr Burling talks about how great the Titanic is and how there is never going to be war, you feel superior as you know that Mr Burlings knowledge is not very reliable. Mr Burling says: Therell be peace and prosperity and the Titanic- unsinkable. It also intrigues you about whats going to happen because of the characters lack of knowledge. Dramatic Irony also features when Mrs Burling accuses the father, of Eva Smiths baby, as irresponsible and a drunken young idler. In the play J. B. Priestley uses just a touch of humour. This enables the audience to relax more and become part of the play. By using humour it lightens the play and makes it more enjoyable for the audience. The type of humour J. B. Priestley uses is little amounts and sparingly. It breaks up the serious ideas in the play and allows the audience to digest the drama easily. The humour mostly features in the part played by the Inspector. I think this is because the audience envisage the inspector as quite a stern man. Like the storyline, Priestly has done this to allow the audience to digest him easily. The inspector says lines like We didnt think you meant Buckingham Palace and I dont play golf, its a shame. Finally J. B. Priestleys An Inspector calls, I think, tries to convey one important message to its audience; Helping others is the key to success. The play shows a very Christian message of how we need to make todays society better and to prove Margaret Thatchers saying wrong, and perhaps the views of Mr Burling, that there is no such thing as society. An Inspector Calls is a play which reaches out through the inspector to its audience. The inspector, a very careful but weighty man, shows us that there isnt a need in this world for jealously, shameful secrets or class structures. Through interrogating the rest of the characters he unveils each of their problems and shows us how it is wrong. An Inspector Calls has the ability to engross its audience and to educate them at the same time. It shows us that the lessons we learn from watching and reading this play may make us want to try and rebuild society today.