LEADERSHIP AND MOTIVATION THEORIES

Critically Evaluate Leadership and Motivation Theories

Critically Evaluate Leadership and Motivation Theories

Case study

Google, Inc. located in Mountain View, California is an internet-based company providing keyword search results to present users with relevant webpage listings. In 2004, Google's in-house technology enabled 75% of all web searches originated in the United States and was perceived as a serious threat to its web-portal competitors. Google expected to raise approximately 2 billion in new equity upon completion of its IPO, thus allowing it significant means to exploit opportunities within the market. The company must determine its strategy for leveraging the new capital to expand and strengthen its competitive position (Cook, 2011, 23).

Leadership and Motivation Style in Google Inc.

In Google Inc. the leaders have qualities of transformational leaders. Leaders motivate, give intellectual simulation, individualized consideration. By following these styles of leadership, leaders increase the level of satisfaction, morale, higher productivity in employees. Leaders encourage their group members to be more innovative and creative by letting members communicate in a less stressful and casual environment. There are no official channels hence ideas flow more fluently and are implemented quickly within a group. Employees are given some level of empowerment by allowing them to make decisions in day to day activities. Hierarchy in the company is runs lateral instead of vertical. The structure is flat to maximize creativity. Leaders show authenticity by building trust among the group. By increasing communication and building trust among individuals the team work is done in collaboration. By giving intrinsic rewards like small groups and no real hierarchy and providing individuals with the sense of purpose helps Google to become a success. Management gives some personal time to employees to utilize in thinking creatively. By providing the employees with time for freedom to explore, Management keeps the employees excited and involved in their goal with a purpose. By providing intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration transformational leaders create on environment for Google employees, Google culture and the organization itself to thrive.

Google considers diversity a business imperative. We actively support diversity through our pre-university outreach initiatives, support of university students, partnerships with professional organizations, and continually working to perfect a work environment that is inclusive, collaborative, and innovative. Planning and organizing projects varies from culture to culture, so meeting the demand of each individual culture is made simpler by having a diverse spectrum of employees. The leaders within the organization are also following suit (Fiedler, 1989, 289).

Sources of Power and it's Affect on Groups in Google Inc.

Power is the means which leaders use to achieve the group or organizational goals. Google uses reward power by giving recognition, interesting work assignment. Management encourages the lateral power influence in the form of rational persuasion, consultation, ingratiation, exchange, legitimacy, personal appeals and coalitions. Having the reward power over the group members gives the members to work more efficiently and be more effective. Rational persuasion is used when rational and factual evidence to demonstrate a ...