11 Strategic Leadership: Creating a Learning Organization and an Ethical Organization Professor John Coy

Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, you should have a good understanding of: The three key activities in which all successful leaders must be continually engaged. The importance of recognizing the interdependence of the three key leadership activities, and the salience of power in overcoming resistance to change. The crucial role of emotional intelligence (EI) in successful leadership as well as its potential drawbacks. The value of creating and maintaining a “learning organization” in today’s global marketplace.

Learning Objectives After reading this chapter, you should have a good understanding of: The five central elements of a “learning organization.” The leader’s role in establishing an ethical organization. The benefits of developing an ethical organization. The high financial and nonfinancial costs associated with ethical crises.

Leadership: Three Interdependent Activities Leadership is the process of transforming organizations from what they are to what the leader would have them become Leadership should be Proactive Goal-oriented Focused on the creation and implementation of a creative vision

Leadership: Three Interdependent Activities Successful leaders must recognize three interdependent activities: Adapted from Exhibit 11.1 Three Interdependent Activities of Leadership

Setting a Direction Scan environment to develop Knowledge of all stakeholders Knowledge of salient environmental trends and events Integrate that knowledge into a vision of what the organization could become Required capacities Solve increasingly complex problems Be proactive in approach Develop viable strategic options

Example DuPont’s vision statement is “to be the world's most dynamic science company, creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer and healthier life for people everywhere.” Source: www.dupont.com

Designing the Organization Difficulties in implementing the leaders’ vision and strategies Lack of understanding of responsibility and accountability among managers Reward systems that do not motivate individuals and groups toward desired organizational goals Inadequate or inappropriate budgeting and control systems Insufficient mechanisms to coordinate and integrate activities across the organization

Nurturing a Culture In nurturing a culture dedicated to excellence and ethical behavior, managers and top executives must Accept personal responsibility for developing and strengthening ethical behavior Consistently demonstrate that such behavior is central to the vision and mission Develop and reinforce Role models Corporate credos Codes of conduct Reward and evaluation systems Policies and procedures

Overcoming Barriers to Change and the Effective Use of Power Reasons why organizations and managers at all levels are prone to inertia and slow to learn, adapt, and change Vested interests in the status quo Systemic barriers Behavioral barriers Political barriers Personal time constraints

A Leader’s Bases of Power Exhibit 11.2 A Leader’s Bases of Power

Emotional Intelligence: A Key Leadership Trait Successful traits of leaders at the highest level Technical skills Cognitive abilities Emotional intelligence Ability to work with others, passion for work, etc. Accounting, business planning, etc. Analytical reasoning, quantitative analysis, etc.

Emotional Intelligence Five components of emotional intelligence Self-awareness Self-regulation Motivation Empathy Social skill

Five Components of Emotional Intelligence at Work Definition Hallmarks Self-management skills: Self-awareness The ability to recognize and understand your moods, emotions, and drives, as well as their effect on others. Self-confidence Realistic self-assessment Self-deprecating sense of humor Self-regulation The ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods. The propensity to suspend judgment—to think before acting. Trustworthiness and integrity Comfort with ambiguity Openness to change Source: Adapted from D. Goleman, “What Makes a Leader,” Harvard Business Review, October-November 1998, p. 95 (with permission) Adapted from Exhibit 11.3 The Five Components of Emotional Intelligence at Work

Five Components of Emotional Intelligence at Work Definition Hallmarks Self-management skills: Motivation A passion to work for reasons that go beyond money or status. A propensity to pursue goals with energy and persistence. Strong drive to achieve Optimism, even in the face of failure Organizational commitment Managing Relationships: Empathy The ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people. Skill in treating people according to their emotional reactions. Expertise in building and retaining talent Cross-cultural sensitivity Service to clients and customers Adapted from Exhibit 11.3 The Five Components of Emotional Intelligence at Work

Five Components of Emotional Intelligence at Work Definition Hallmarks Managing Relationships: Social Skill Proficiency in managing relationships and building networks. An ability to find common ground and build rapport. Effectiveness in leading change Persuasiveness Expertise in building and leading teams Source: Adapted from D. Goleman, “What Makes a Leader,” Harvard Business Review, October-November 1998, p. 95 (with permission) Adapted from Exhibit 11.3 The Five Components of Emotional Intelligence at Work

Developing a Learning Organization Successful learning organizations Create a proactive, creative approach to the unknown Actively solicit the involvement of employees at all levels Enable all employees to use their intelligence and apply their imagination Learning environment Organization-wide commitment to change An action orientation Applicable tools and methods Guiding philosophy Inspired and motivated people with a purpose

Key Elements of a Learning Organization

Key Elements of a Learning Organization Empowering employees at all levels Salient elements of empowerment Start at the bottom by understanding needs of employees Teach employees skills of self-management Build teams to encourage cooperative behavior Encourage intelligent risk taking Trust people to perform

Question Do you agree with this statement by Ken Melrose, “the great leader is a great servant”? The role of a manager should be to create an environment where your employees can flourish and reach their full potential. The old view of a manager was to simply control resources and power within an organization.

Key Elements of a Learning Organization Accumulating and sharing internal knowledge “Open book” management Numbers on each employee’s work performance and production costs generated daily Information is aggregated once a week from top level to bottom level Extensive training in how to use and interpret the numbers – how to understand balance sheets, cash flows and income statements

Key Elements of a Learning Organization Gathering and integrating external information Awareness of environmental trends and events Internet accelerates the speed with which useful information can be located “Garden variety” traditional sources for acquisition of external information Benchmarking Focus directly on customers for information

Key Elements of a Learning Organization Challenging the status quo and enabling creativity Challenging the status quo Create a sense of urgency Establish a “culture of dissent” Foster a culture that encourages risk taking Cultivate culture of experimentation and curiosity

Creating An Ethical Organization Organizational ethics is a direct reflection of its leadership Unethical business practices Involves tacit, if not explicit, cooperation of others Reflect the values, attitudes, and behavior pattern that define the organization’s operating culture Driving forces of ethical organizations Ethical values Integrity

Example In order to avoid unethical business practices, you should never do the following: Suppress information that might damage your reputation. Deny charges that are relevant and factual. Spend money for public relations or advertising to counter honest complaints. Ignore problems with the products you sell. Refuse to accept blame. Source: Gerson, Vicki. “Avoiding Unethical Business Practices,” www.nfib.com. February 21, 2003.

Creating An Ethical Organization Ethical values Shape the search for opportunities Shape the design organizational systems Shape the decision-making process used by individuals and groups Provide a common frame of reference that serves as a unifying force

Integrity-Based versus Compliance-Based Approaches to Organizational Ethics Essential links between organizational integrity and individual integrity Cannot be high-integrity organizations without high-integrity individuals Individual integrity is rarely self-sustaining Organizational integrity, resting on a concept of Purpose Responsibility Ideals

Question Integrity-based ethics programs combines a concern for law with an ______. A) emphasis on the proper use of managerial power B) emphasis on legal consequences of unethical behavior C) emphasis on managerial responsibility for ethical behavior D) emphasis on social responsibility for ethical behavior Answer: C

Approaches to Ethics Management Characteristics Compliance-Based Integrity-Based Approach Approach Ethics Conformity with externally Self-governance according to imposed standards chosen standards Objective Prevent criminal Enable responsible conduct misconduct Leadership Lawyer-driven Management-driven with aid of lawyers, HR, and others Source: L. S. Paine, “Managing for Organizational Integrity,” Harvard Business Review 72, no. 2 (1994), p. 113 (with permission). Adapted from Exhibit 11.6 Approaches to Ethics Management

Approaches to Ethics Management Characteristics Compliance-Based Integrity-Based Approach Approach Methods Education, reduced Education, leadership, discretion, auditing and accountability, organizational controls, penalties systems and decision processes, auditing and controls, penalties Behavioral Autonomous beings Social beings guided by Assumptions guided by material material self-interest, values, self-interest ideals, peers Source: L. S. Paine, “Managing for Organizational Integrity,” Harvard Business Review 72, no. 2 (1994), p. 113 (with permission). Adapted from Exhibit 11.6 Approaches to Ethics Management

Key Elements of Highly Ethical Organizations These interrelated elements must be present and constantly reinforced Role models Corporate credos and codes of conduct Reward and evaluation systems Policies and procedures

Key Elements of Highly Ethical Organizations Role Models Leaders are role models for their organizations Leaders must be consistent in their words and deeds Values and character of leaders become transparent to an organization’s employees Effective leaders take responsibility for ethical lapses within the organization

Key Elements of Highly Ethical Organizations Corporate credos and codes of conduct Provide a statement and guidelines for norms, beliefs and decision making Provide employees with clear understanding of the organizations position regarding employee behavior Provide the basis for employees to refuse to commit unethical acts Contents of credos and codes of conduct must be known to employees

Key Elements of Highly Ethical Organizations Reward and evaluation systems Inappropriate reward systems may cause individuals at all levels of the organization to commit unethical acts that they might not otherwise do Penalties in terms of damage to reputations, human capital erosion, and financial loss are typically much higher than any gains that could be obtained through such unethical behavior

Key Elements of Highly Ethical Organizations Policies and procedures Policies and procedures can specify proper relationships with a firm’s customers and suppliers Policies and procedures can guide employees to behavior ethically Policies and procedures must be reinforced Effective communication Enforcement Monitoring Sound corporate governance practices

11 Strategic Leadership: Creating a Learning Organization and an Ethical Organization Professor John Coy