1. Mark has been chosen to lead a new division of his company. While he is a solid and effective manager, he is concerned that his leadership style has not always been effective in the past. He wants to better understand the "Contingency models" of leadership and learn how to apply them. Discuss what Mark should know about these and how a leader should select from different styles to apply with followers.
2. Nancy is the CEO of Universal Insurance. She is concerned that her company seems to be losing its competitive advantage to other institutions. She has been told that by implementing a program expanding the use of groups and teams her organization can become more competitive. Discuss how this could gain or increase a competitive advantage and provide two specific examples from current events that support your conclusions.
3. Fly Cheap Airlines had to declare bankruptcy. A new CEO has been hired who has a reputation for her strategic leadership ability, and she quickly develops a strategic plan to reorganize the airline. She is considering restructuring toward a functional structure for the airline. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a functional structure of organization and provide an example of a functional structure that supports your conclusions.
4. In large organizations, planning usually takes place at three levels of management. Discuss the three levels and steps in the planning and strategy-making process. Be sure to consider how they are linked with each other. Provide an example that supports your conclusions from current events.
5. Frank has been promoted from his old job in the domestic division, to Manager of his company's international division. His new boss has instructed him to consider the effects of globalization in his management approaches and decisions. Discuss what Frank should know about management in the global environment and the forces of globalization and provide two examples from current events that support your conclusions.