Applied Research Technology

Applied Research Technology Inc.

This assignment addresses the leadership styles of different individuals and how they handle the challenge of telling their teams their decision on a proposal. These individuals work for a Research company and are trying to bring a product to market that has failed. A new business manager was hired work with the team on the product and is now faced with the difficult challenge of accepting or rejecting his team’s proposal. This manager is also being challenged by his new boss and is reluctant in making a decision.

Peter Vyas general manager of the Filtration Unit of Applied Research Technologies exhibited a situational leadership style as he considered his group’s proposal. Situational leadership refers to when the leader or manager of an organization must adjust his style to fit the development level of the followers he is trying to influence. Leigh Anthony (2013). Define Situational Leadership, Houston Chronicle, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/define-situational-leadership-2976.html

Although the proposal posed great challenges Peter realized his team had been working extensively hard at bringing this product to market. His team had faith in the product and strongly believed that despite all of the challenges and failures they have experienced, this time around they would succeed. Peter was faced with a really tough decision to make since the product had already failed twice in the past 3 years. His credibility and that of his teams would be hurt. Peter’s situational leadership skills have helped him to direct and coach his team throughout the implementation and production of the product. His situational leadership has also helped him turn his team around. When Peter started as the business manager for the Filtration Unit in 2001 the team assigned to him was already having problems. He assessed the problems they were having and immediately rebuilt the team and supported them. In conjunction with his situational leadership skills, Peter also used his organizational skills which helped him organize things and provided functional and clear direction to his team. He is also a charismatic leader who has a vision and sees opportunity in this product. His employees emulate this vision too.

Cynthia Jackson, Peter Vya’s boss exhibits a task behavior, direct behavior and a delegative behavior approach as she is considering the proposal. As the Vice President of the Water Management Division Cynthia acknowledges how great Peter is as a business manager and she recognizes all of his accomplishments with his team but she also sees that there have been no positive results with Peter’s unit. Cynthia is a very direct person and is focused on results. If there is a task at hand that needs to be delegated and worked on she will make sure it’s being done. Her first task as the newly appointed vice president of ART’s Water Management Division