Case Study - In the context of organizational culture, the role of leadership

Type: Case Study

 

In the context of organizational culture, the role of leadership is very important. This is particularly true during culture change. In this assignment, you are expected to present a case study of a well-known organization, which effectively managed organizational culture change in the context of integrative leadership, i.e. the leadership style motivated by the integration of conceptually-different set of values.

 

You are expected to present the case, critically discuss the different aspects of it, provide your own opinion as to what went well and what did not and refer to the complexities and challenges encountered by the organization in question.

 

Subsequently, you are expected to prepare a critical assessment forming the final section of the case study, in which you should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the integrative dynamic framework discussed in your first assignment. Please ensure that your critical assessment towards the integrative framework occurs in the context of integrative leadership, i.e. the main driver must be the role of leadership in the integrative framework. Finally, you must derive some policy-related lessons learned from the application of the integrative framework in understanding and managing culture change in your chosen case study. The policy lessons must refer to the capability of the chosen organization to effectively manage organizational culture change. For this reason, you must discuss indicators/outcomes, such as “performance”, “productivity”, “effectiveness”, “organizational value”, “organizational identity”, “long-term viability”, etc.

 

 

In your narrative, you should include reference to the following topics:

 

1. The psychological approach to organizational culture

2. The competing values framework (CVF)

3. The way in which integrative leadership behaviour (style) is revealed through the integrative dynamic framework described in your academic essay.

4. The applicability of the integrative dynamic framework in real organizational life and the role of leadership, in this regard.

5. The exact type of transformational integrative leadership behaviour followed in the chosen case study.

6. Your own personal/professional leadership experience and its potential impact on your own personal system of values and beliefs.

7. The role of stress in the management of culture change occurred in the chosen case study.

8. The role of emotional intelligence and socialisation in identifying the most effective integrative leadership behaviour for managing culture change in your chosen case study.

You are expected to follow faithfully the guidelines normally required for a case study writing format, while utilising the APA referencing system for your reference list. A minimum of 15 academic references must be used. Furthermore, you are expected to support any arguments made with evidence from well-known scientific journals or textbooks. You are expected to utilise published secondary data associated with your chosen organization in such a way so to support key arguments and points raised in your case study (secondary data analysis). Such data may be found in relevant research studies, websites or organizational reports. The nature of the data may be qualitative, quantitative or a combination of the two (mixed data). Normally, qualitative data analysis and quantitative data analysis are presented and discussed in a different way. You should be mindful of properly treating available data.

 

It is important to note that, while you are developing arguments or clarifying points in your case study, elements from other case studies or practical examples of other organizations may be used to support such arguments. However, you should ensure that all data/evidence/information used is publicly-disseminated and is properly and fully referenced.

 

Title of case study:

Given that you are expected to investigate a particular case of an organization that has undergone culture change, you must choose your own informative and ‘catchy’ title.

 

Word Limit: 3000 words (absolute max word count: 3500)

 

B. Learning outcomes

 

Description of learning outcomes assessed:

 

i. Demonstrate an understanding of the definition of the concept of organisational culture

and its constituent elements, as well as the concept of organizational culture management.

ii. Apply critical thinking in evaluating the role of culture in organizational life and,

especially, in the way in which organizational culture influences vital organizational

variables.

iii. Critically describe and compare the different processes involved in cultural dynamics

and organizational culture change.

 

iv. Apply analytical and critical thinking in assessing the practical value of the

recommended integrative dynamic framework for managing organizational culture

change and organizational effectiveness.

 

iv. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of leadership in organizational culture

management in the context of the recommended integrative dynamic framework

for organizational culture change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C. Additional academic information

 

 

 

1. A complete and consistent reference list and proper in-text citation using the APA

referencing system is obligatory. Accurate referencing of scientific sources used is crucial

for a good case study. Please make sure you are fully familiar with the APA referencing

system. Marks will be deducted for inaccurate referencing.

 

2. Theoretical evidence based on well-known scientific research should drive any arguments you want to develop.

 

3. The requested maximum word count is an important guideline and must be respected.

This, essentially, means that you should train yourselves to write concisely and

succinctly.

 

4. Your assignment should be word processed; Times New Romans, Font size 12, 1.5 line

spacing and numbered pages (the ‘title’ page of your case study should be numbered

 

but the numbering should be hidden).

 

5. You are expected to follow the formal academic format of preparing a case study.

 

Please find all information you need about the widely-known academic format of case

study writing before starting to prepare your case study. Please note that there is a

degree of flexibility in terms of which sections to include in the main body of your case

study, but the approach is usually very similar. Please find a stylised example of a

recommended case study presentation below:

 

Example of a case study presentation:

Sections:

 

- Introduction: Identify why you chose this case/organization and present the key

problem and issues, which enabled you to prepare this case study. Furthermore,

provide the primary aim and objectives of your work and your own thesis

statement summarising the outcome of your analysis in a few sentences.

 

- Background: Provide the primary information about the case study and adequately

describe the problem.

 

- Methods: Provide information about your chosen method of investigation.

- Theoretical framework: Present the theoretical framework you chose to use in order

to prepare this case study.

- Case study data: Present the secondary data available for your investigation in this

case study.

- Investigation: Provide in-depth analysis of available data and evidence

associated with the problem you are investigating.

 

 

 

- Proposed solution to the problem: In this section, you are expected to provide all

information needed in order to describe the solution applied by the organization

chosen for your case study and the reasons why.

 

- Alternative solutions to the problem: In this section, you are expected to present

possible alternative solutions, which were rejected by the organizations, as well as the

reasons why.

- Policy recommendations: Present policy lessons learned from this case study.

- Conclusions: You are expected to ‘connect-the-dots” between the different aspects

raised in the case study, explain how your work addressed the primary aim and

objectives of your case study in combination with the eight requested topics, i.e.

points (1) to (8) above and, finally, summarise the findings of your work.

 

- Reference list: Provide all references included in your case study.

 

Please note, following the recommended case study presentation is optional; you

could apply a different case study presentation. However, the section “policy

recommendations” is compulsory. Furthermore, all sources or data or other

evidence must be fully referenced regardless of the presentational style you want

to follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You are not expected to comment on how your work satisfies the set of ‘learning

outcomes’, as described above, but if you feel this could improve the quality of your

‘conclusions’, you are free to do so. The overall number of sections depends solely on

your approach and the material you aim to present. However, you are expected to

briefly review relevant literature and address each and every point requested above.

You are encouraged to use ‘sub-sections’, if you feel they will improve the structure

of your case study. You have a degree of freedom in the way you want to title the

sections of your case study, but you must ensure that there is a logical sequence in the

presentation in order to strengthen readability. Your reference list should form the

final section of your case study.

 

6. Please note that ‘tables’, ‘graphs’ and ‘diagrams’ are very helpful in a case study because they help improve comprehension. Any statistical observations must be fully described and explained. Those must be inserted within the main body of your case study, but they are not calculated in the final word count. The same stands for any ‘appendices’ you may want to use and the reference list. Please note, it is not appropriate to include important material in an appendix. Only additional analysis, more advanced evidence or further discussion may be used to form an appendix.

 

7. You are expected to submit your case study using the Submission Link located in the

suitable ‘Assignment Point’ in the description of the weekly material. Your submission

will take place via turnitin.

 

8. Finally, as part of your commitment to maintaining confidentiality, anonymity and

privacy, it is important that you only use published data and information. You may use

the actual name of the organization, if the case study has become known by the

communication media or formal/informal publications. Please avoid using names of

individuals, unless those names appear in the public sphere (for example, the name of

an organisation’s CEO). If you aim to include primary data in your work, you must

ensure that an informed consent is going to be obtained by all study participants and all

ethics-related issues will be addressed and be properly reported.