...Sir Branson Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd Case Study 5/23/2012 BUS, 520 Abstract Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (born 18 July 1950) is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies. In 1970, he founded Virgin as a mail order record retailer, and shortly afterwards he opened a record shop in London. With around 200 companies in over 30 countries, the Virgin Group has now expanded into leisure, travel, tourism, mobile, broadband, TV, radio, music festivals, finance and health and through Virgin Green Fund. (Finkle, 2011) For the purposes of this discussion I have been tasked with answering the following questions related to leadership in a question and answer format. With the first question I am to describe Branson’s leadership style in terms of the leadership models addressed in Chapters 10 and 11 of the text and evaluate the likely effectiveness of that style in the U.S. today. Afterwards I am to, recommend a different leadership style (or combination of styles) that would make Branson an even more effective leader. Along with, determining how Branson would develop and lead a global team working on a major project (e.g., space tourism). Followed by the last question where I am to discuss how you can incorporate...
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...Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd Case Study Sharon Dunbar Dr. Tressa Shavers BUS 520 March 1,2012 Overview – Virgin Group, Ltd. The Virgin Group, Ltd. is a British based venture capital organization founded by Richard Branson, incorporated in 1989. The focus of their business group is travel, entertainment, and lifestyle, and while actually incorporating as a venture capital group in the late 1980s, they had a number of activities in the 1970s. To date, Virgin has created more than 300 companies globally, employing over 50,000 people in 30 countries. In 2009, global revenues exceeded $18 billion US with a portfolio that continues to grow. The company believes in making a difference, and is quite particular about the manner in which they invest, or assist in marketing new ventures. Several things appear to ensure that anything that has a Virgin brand is successful: 1) the brand, 2) Richard Branson’s reputation; 3) empowering of talent; and 4) the management style engendered by Branson which flows down to almost every aspect of the organization. The company prides itself on sound, sustainable philosophies and posits the notion that there are six identifiers that characterize the company: • Lower the carbon footprint of all Virgin represented projects • The Gaia concept – one living world – use the planet’s resources responsibly • Equality...
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...Abstract: My submission discusses the ways in which Richard Branson is seen as a leader. It shows which leadership theories that are used by him, in order to lead those that follow him, either through work or general enthusiasm for his leadership style, and how effectively those theories are applied. This submission covers details of Richard Branson’s early life and the beginning of his leadership. It then goes on to explain how his leadership style emerged as he began to run the Virgin Group. I then explained how Richard Branson is seen by the public, and how he has followers in the public that don’t work for him. After this, I consider which technical leadership theories are used by Richard Branson. I review how successful Richard Branson has been as a leader, by looking at how his followers respect him and follow in his footsteps. To conclude, I review Richard Branson from my own perspective. Introduction Before a leader can be analysed, one must define what leadership is. This is hard to do. It’s an intrinsic trait which is hard to define. Jackson and Parry (2008: 5) say that ‘leadership is like beauty – it is difficult to describe, but we certainly know it when we see it.' However, the general consensus is that leadership is influencing people in order to attain goals (Daft, 2008: 590). The leader that will be analysed in this essay is Richard Branson, who runs and owns the Virgin Group. He has demonstrated his leadership skills from the early age of just seventeen...
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...or life style, one should look no further and admire Sir Richard Branson’s. He is a financially well of individual thanks to his entrepreneurship, an adventurous rock star that seems to just party and have fun every single time one sees him in the media. In order to live such a fabulous lifestyle, an individual should be able to have access to a lot of financial assets, such as credit cards, checks, and more importantly cash. In Sir Richard Branson’s case he has all that and more because of ways he created businesses and critical decisions he made since a young age and throughout his life. Born in July 18 1950, in the outskirts of London, Richard Charles Nicolas Branson was the oldest of Edward Branson and Eve Huntley Branson’s three kids. Because of a severe Dyslexia Richard had a very painful time in elementary, he barely knew how to read at eight years old and was completely lost when it came to numbers. “School was painful; I’d look at a blackboard and could not understand anything that was going on…Interestingly, if you look at the history of dyslexics, they often exceed quite exceptionally because they concentrate on the area where they are good at…” (Nr, 2013) Richard Branson’s created his first business when he was fifteen years old, this business was a magazine called Student. With a circulation of fifty thousand, the magazine was an instant hit. In 1970, because of need of money for the magazine, Richard Branson being the entrepreneur that he is created a record...
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...Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, LTD . Case Study BUS520 Dr. Sue Lowe December 4, 2012 Abstract Sir Richard Branson was born in Stowe in the United Kingdom in 1950; Branson first business venture was a student paper, which that started him at the age of 16. Sir Branson started this after he had decided to drop out of school. The decision to drop out of school might have been initiated by his seemingly troublesome period in his elementary school. He has a diagnosis of being dyslectic and he also performed poorly in school. Well in the 1970s Sir Branson started a mail order business and later on he started a record label then two years later the business was expanded with record stores named Virgin Records. The Virgin brand grew during the 1980s and 90s and Branson ventured into a airlines and called it the Virgin Atlantic Airways and also started a Virgin record label in America. In 2005 Branson started Virgin Galactic, a space tourism company, where the intention was to eventually reach orbital trips around the globe as well as going to the moon. Well as of Today the Virgin brand has over 200 different businesses, which is great. Sir Branson has differnet leadership models. He is differnet from others in so many ways. Sir Richard Branson is determined a very determined man with many leadership traits...
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...Sir Richard Branson, Chairman Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study International success for an organization requires the expansion of the company into the global market for exposure and the goal of increasing profit margins. Strong leadership skills are an essential key in the success for a global company. Judgment, positive attitude and entrepreneurial thinking, and motivational incentives are additional keys that contribute to the success of an organization. The strategic leadership ways and personality of Sir Richard Branson proved to be success in the company he led into the global market. His Virgin Galactic company had the vision to be the first company to offer passengers the opportunity to fly into space at the cost of an expensive price as the world’s first space line. In addition to offering the hopes of the first space line for customers, Branson wanted to expand the global presence even further by participating in joint-venture agreements in telecommunications with China. By incorporating their reputation into the foreign market, the exposure to an untapped market or competitive market, an organization is able to branch out with ideas that will produce additional profits. The leadership traits that Branson portrayed played a huge part in the motivation skills he used on his employees that increased production, Corporate leadership requires two important areas: content leadership (leader’s attributes and decision making skills) and context leadership (variables...
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...Assignment 4: Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study Due Week 8 and worth 100 points Read the Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. case study located in Chapter 11. Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you: 1. Describe Branson’s leadership style in terms of the leadership models addressed in Chapters 10 and 11 and evaluate the likely effectiveness of that style in the U.S. today. 2. Recommend a different leadership style (or combination of styles) that would make Branson an even more effective leader. 3. Determine how Branson would develop and lead a global team working on a major project (e.g., space tourism). 4. Discuss how you can incorporate some of Branson’s leadership qualities into you role at work or school. 5. Include three (3) external peer-reviewed sources to support your position. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: • Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required page length. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: • Explain the variety of leadership theories and roles. • Analyze...
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...Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study Assignment 4 Professor Leadership and Organizational Behavior February 26, 2012 Since the beginning of history humans have lived in groups guided by the group leader; in which leader is either chosen for his characteristics or born into through cast. No matter the culture this is similar through the human race. Humans need someone to guide them, teach them, someone to look up to. Without followers there is no leader. “That is, leader is a term applied by observers to someone whose behaviors and characteristics match the observers’ implicit leadership preferences” (Hellriegel, D., & Slocum, J. W., Jr. (2011). They are different type of leaders and leadership style depending on the situation and solution needed at that moment by the followers. In my opinion good leaders have shown to be flexible enough to switch between leadership styles depending on the demands of the situation. One of the worlds most intriguing, succesful and enduring entrepreneurial business leaders today is Richard Branson, someone who takes control of the situation by conveying a clear vision and goals for the team, a marked passion for the work and an ability to make the group feel recharged and energized. I consider Richard Branson to be a transformational leader, a leader with vision, confident, motivation, passion and determination. He is the founder of Virgin Group Ltd. “Born July 18, 1950, in Surrey, England, Sir...
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...Corporate Leader (Sir Richard Branson) CEO (Virgin group) Name : Vipul Srivastava Roll no. : A43 Registration no. : 11101666 Section : SE101 Submitted to : Mr Maninder Singh Annexure-V- Cover Page for Academic Tasks Course Code: Course Title: | Course Instructor: | Academic Task No.: Academic Task Title: | Date of Allotment: Date of submission: | Student’s Roll no: Student’s Reg. no: | Evaluation Parameters: (Parameters on which student is to be evaluated- To be mentioned by students as specified at the time of assigning the task by the instructor) | Learning Outcomes: (Student to write briefly about learnings obtained from the academic tasks) Declaration: I declare that this Assignment is my individual work. I have not copied it from any other student‟s work or from any other source except where due acknowledgement is made explicitly in the text, nor has any part been written for me by any other person. Evaluator’s comments (For Instructor’s use only) General Observations Suggestions for Improvement Best part of assignment Evaluator‟s Signature and Date: Marks Obtained: Max. Marks: ………………………… ABSTRACT: Sir Richard Branson is the Founder and...
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...Case Study – The Virgin Group: Structure, leadership and motivation This essay analyses organizational structuring of the Virgin Group, with a view to understanding the dynamics that have helped create a global conglomerate. A critical assessment is undertaken on three areas: the hierarchical form of the company, the style of leadership exhibited by Sir Richard Branson, and the approach adopted by management to motivate employees. Firstly, a comparative argument is made on whether the Virgin Group can be classified as a centralised or decentralised organization. These terms refer to division of power, capital, technical procedures and control in various units of a business. A centralised organization allows for minimal delegation to managers, with the chief executive retaining power over majority of the decisions. On the other end, a decentralised organization makes it possible for managers to exercise control without ownership oversight at each stage, provided goals and targets are met (Buchanan & Huczynski, 2007). Secondly, the essay aims to determine the leadership style practiced by Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group’s chief executive officer (CEO). Two styles of leadership are used as reference point: transactional and transformational. According to Bass & Bass (2009), transactional leaders work within the organizational culture as it exists, with an awareness of the link between effort and reward. They motivate their employees by setting goals, and enforce control through...
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...Branson has been tagged as a 'transformational leader' by management lexicon, with his maverick strategies and his stress on the Virgin Group as an organization driven on informality and information, one that's bottom heavy rather than strangled by top-level management. Although Branson says his success was not planned, and it just happened, he has said that he has 10 secrets to success: 1. You've got to challenge the big ones. 2. Keep it casual. 3. Haggle: everything is negotiable. 4. Have fun working. 5. Do the right things for the brand. 6. Smile for the cameras! 7. Don't lead "sheep", herd "cats". 8. Move like a bullet. 9. Size does matter. 10. Be a common, regular person. He was 9th in the Sunday Times Rich List 2006, worth just over £3billion. He is the No 1 Admired Businessman in Britain, and 2nd choice amongst youth for Prime Minister (after Tony Blair)[3]. He has a cameo appearance in the new Superman film, credited as "Shuttle Engineer", alongside his son Sam, with Virgin Galactic-esque commercial suborbital shuttle at the center of his storyline. He will have a cameo in the upcoming James Bond film Casino Royale as well. Although Branson says his success was not planned, and it 1. Introduction on team work 2. Richerd philosophy of team work 3. Example of team work 4. Some picture demonstrate team work Words of Wisdom Branson on building a business Don't bother doing something unless you're radically...
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...WEEKLY COURSE SCHEDULE – BUS 520 LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR The standard requirement for a 4.5 credit hour course is for students to spend 13.5 hours in weekly work. This includes preparation, activities, and papers. Week ONE July 2 – 8 Preparation, Activities, and Evaluation Preparation o Reading(s) o Chapter 1: Learning about Organizational Behavior o e-Activity o Use the Internet to research an especially effective leader and / or manager. Be prepared to discuss. Preparation o Reading(s) o Chapter 2: Individual and Organizational Ethics o Chapter 3: Understanding Individual Differences Preparation o Reading(s) o Chapter 4: Perceptions and Attributions o Chapter 5: Learning Concepts to Improve Performance o e-Activity: o Use the Internet to research a social learning theory applicable to the workplace that has not been addressed in Chapter 4. Be prepared to discuss. PAPER DUE: o Assignment 1: Consensual Relationship Agreements Case Study. Please see Course Guide for Specific Questions which must be addressed in the paper. o Log into BUS520 Classroom on Blackboard (Bb); go to WEEK 3; scroll to the bottom of the week and submit your assignment using the Link found there. o Your paper is due Sunday, July 22 by 11:59 p.m. ET Preparation o Reading(s) o Chapter 6: Motivating Employees o Chapter 7: Motivation: Goal Setting and Reward Programs o e-Activity o Use the Internet to research a rewards program that has been especially effective at improving employee performance...
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...person in the group will need to complete. If this is not completed the project may have no direction and will fail. The most effective leaders must understand their audience and determine their leadership styles. Some employees need more development then others, while some employees are able to work with no assistance or guidance. In order for one to be an effective leader one must have the appropriate leadership style. Sir Richard Branson (Branson) accurately discusses his leadership styles in his case study “Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd”. Throughout this paper, we will discuss the leadership stylings of Branson and the effectiveness of that style in United States today. How using different leadership stylings could make Branson a more effective leader. Also, how Branson will lead a global team while working on a major project, and how one can incorporate some of Branson’s leadership qualities into a role at a workplace. Delegating Leadership In this case study it is clearly evident that the leadership style that is being used for Branson is delegating style. Delegating style is when the leader turns over tasks for creation and implementing resolutions to followers (Hellriegl and Slocum, 2011, p. 306). Delegating style is most suitable when the followers are comfortable taking responsibility, and have the...
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...workplace in American organizations. These agreements entail and outline the dos and don’ts of co-existing with fellow colleagues while maintaining a romantic relationship with them. The public display of affection, favoritism, and lack of productivity are all addressed and managed within these documents. Some organizations argue that these documents should not be used, while others believe they should be enforced In this paper, I will discuss the argument for the use of consensual relationship agreements, create a counter argument against the use of CRAs, discuss the ethical principles involved in the principles involved in the use of CRAs and create one (1) other option besides CRAs that would address workplace romances. Abstract Sir Richard Branson learned, from an early age, not to let adversity stand in the way of accomplishing a goal. As a pioneering thinker, he has transformed many entrenched industry practices by turning the traditional business model on its end. A unique approach to business is his hallmark and he is a person that is not afraid to challenge...
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...Branson’s leadership style and its effectiveness in the U.S. today Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group Ltd., is a London based businessperson who turned the conventional business wisdom to a diverse business with a unique style. Today, the Virgin Group is one of world’s most recognizable brands in different lines of businesses such as retail stores, air travel, financial services, books and music, and telecommunications. The Virgin Group is a multibillion-dollar company with approximately 50,000 employees and more than $20 billion in annual sales (Hellriegel & Slocum, 2011). According to Hellriegel and Slocum (2011), Transformational leadership involves influencing the followers through the leader’s behaviors and abilities. Transformational leaders create vision for the organization and embrace the change to achieve the goal by following set of rules with the strong beliefs, anticipating the future barriers, and empowering the followers to be leaders by inspiring through motivation, and intellectual stimulation. Transformational leaders are risk-takers. They are quite challenging and compassionate at the same time with high integrity. Sir Richard Branson’s dominant leadership style is transformational in many aspects. Branson communicates in open, candidly and clearly about the setbacks in his business career. Three of the setbacks he openly discussed with many are the launch of MP3 player, which was a total disaster, holding Virgin MegaStore retail...
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