Leading and managing an organisation: A case study on Walmart

Introduction

Leadership and management are one of the effective ways to run the organisations by leading the people and organising them for enhancing the organisational performnace as a whole so that it is posisbel for the leader and the managers to achieve the organisational success (Hook, Jenkins, and Foot, 2015). Through leadership and management, it is easy for the multinational corporate firms to motivate the employees as well as gain competitive advantage over other competitive firms. In this study, the main aim is to analyse the role of the leaders and the managers to run the organisational activities proficiently as well as motivate the employees for long run so that it is possible to enhance their performnace. The study is helpful to analyse the leadership and management process in Walmart, which is a multination retail firm delivering quality clothing, health and beauty, electronics and daily necessities to the customers, as well as the tactics of motivating the people in the firm so that they can lead the employees for long run (Walmart, 2019a).

Leadership and management

Leadership and management in the organisation play a crucial role in shaping the strategic objective, developing appropriate strategic planning as well as leading the people towards achieving success (Taylor, 2018). For developing a good leadership style in the organisation, it is necessary for the leaders to inspire the workforce and maintain transparency, accountability and integrity at the workplace so that the leaders can encourage all the staff members at the workplace. Stimulating work, clear communication with all the employees, managers and other staff members as well as encouragement and recognition at the workplace are also effective for being a good leader (Mullins, 2016). The leader of the Walmart is also focusing at transformational leadership style which includes proper communication, enhancing cooperation and guiding the employees for achieving organisational success as a whole. Clear goals and vision of the Walmart further motivate the workers to contribute with their full potential and utilise the organisational resources achieving shared gaols and vision. The leader directly communicate with the employees and managers and positive interaction and respect to each other further helps the leader to create suitable working environment and develop appropriate organisational culture for achieving success in long run.

Apart from that, the managers in Walmart also plays a significant role in encouraging and leading the people towards fulfilling the organisational gaols and objectives. The mangers in Walmart aims at improving communication, one to one interaction and respecting all of them as well as giving them freedom and encouraging their creativity for better practice at the workplace. Managing safety and security and ethical practice in the company is also another contributing factor for managing people and developing an effective leadership and management practice. Moreover, the leaders in Walmart as well as the managers inspire the employees as well as provide them a chance to take active part in the decision-making practice of the organisation which is also effective to retain the employees for long run and encourage them to contribute in achieving organisational success. Better management, proper communication, enhancing cooperation as well as managing transparency and accountability, respecting all the staff and managing cultural diversity at the workplace are effective strategic planning of the leaders and the managers to run the organisation efficiently and gain high market share by enhancing the organisational performance (Walmart, 2019b).

Motivational factors in the organisation

It is the role of the leaders and the managers to motivate the employees through effective motivational factors such as training and development, monetary rewards as well as non-momentary rewards where it is possible for the leaders to create values for the employees and lead them towards achieving success (Boselie, 2016; Baron, 2016). As per the content theory, the Maslow’s hierarchy needs indicates that the leaders should focus on fulfilling the needs of the employees where the needs are such as basic needs like food, air, shelter and water, psychological needs, needs of safety and security, social needs of love and affection, needs of self-esteem and self-actualisation where the firms aim at meeting all the needs of the employees so that it is easy for the managers to motivate the employees for long run (Cascio, 2015). In this present context, the leaders and managers of Walmart also focuses on meeting the needs of the employees which are the major motivational factors for encouraging the staff members to work in the organisation for long run. In this regard, the basic needs of the employees are fulfilled well where the leaders and the managers provide structured salary as well as provide accommodation to the expatriates and assignees of the firm in the international nations and provide performance related pay, yearly bonus and other compensation which meet the basic of the employees and their families also.

In addition to these, as per the theory of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, it is necessary for the managers to fulfil the safety needs and in this regard, Walmart is efficient in maximising values for all of their staff members. Consumer Directed Health Plans, health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA) Plans and Health Savings Account (HAS), Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D), business travel accident insurance and critical illness insurance are the major strategic planning through which the firm ensures safety and security of the employees as well as their families. the insurance planning, workplace safety, accidental benefits and continuous monitoring process at the workplace through CCTV, as well as implementing information Technology for regular update and implementing fire extinguisher at different places at the stores of Walmart are the safety measures of the company through which the organisation is able to manage the security of the employees where the staff can feel free and safe to work. The need for self-actualisation and self-esteem as well as building strong relation at the workplace are also motivational factors through which the company is successful in motivating the employees and retaining them for long run which in turn provides an opportunity to the firm to enhance their performance and run their business internationally (Walmart, 2019c).

In addition to these, the leaders and managers of Walmart are also proficient in managing the motivational factors where as per the Process theory there are hygiene factors and motivational factors and the organisation as a multinational corporate firm is successful in encouraging their staff members (Paauwe, and Boon, 2018). In this context, the company Walmart focuses on job security, company policies and practice, maintain workplace culture and working conditional as well as the leaders are taking care of proper salary ad pay so that they can encourage the employees for long run. Apart from that, the performnace related pay, overtime payment as well as yearly bonus at Walmart and the chance for investment in company’s stock for the employees are also contributing factors for encouraging the staff and retaining them for long run. financial benefits, Stock Purchase Plan, discount on the purchase from Walmart as well as proper assistance of the safety and security through taking care of hygienic factors are effective for managing the workers at the company.

On the other hand, the company also focuses on non-monetary factors such as recognition, sense of achievements at the workplace, promotion, respecting each and every individuals working at the workplace, managing transparency and accountability, providing professional and personal development opportunity to the staff and self-esteem further help the leaders and mangers to manage their employees and motivate them to work efficiently in order to achieve long run success. The company is also focusing at encouraging employee’s creativity and innovation, providing flexibility to work and freedom to choose the working time are also contributing factors which are also effective factors for retaining the staff and improving their proficiency to work at the workplace of Walmart across the international markets. Apart from that, the training and development program, as well as induction process for new employees and cultural training are also effective to develop effective team to work cooperatively. These are the major monetary and non-monetary factor which contributes in employee’s motivation in Walmart (Walmart, 2019c).

Developing effective team

It is necessary for all the multinational corporate firms to develop an effective team as cooperative working practice will provide an opportunity to create values for the organisation and enhance the overall performance of the firm in long run (Schuler, and Jackson, 2008). However, there are some challenges and risk factors for developing an effective team where the major challenges in team building activities are such as internal conflicts among the workers, resistance to change and cultural differences for which the workers do not try to cooperate with each other. Hereby, lack of cooperation and poor communication are other major challenges in developing an effective team where the companies fail to develop a team which can perform better and secure future sustainable development. In this regard, it is the responsibility of the managers to resolve the existing problems and develop an effective team for working cooperatively and achieving the organisational success by fulfilling the aims and pre-specified objectives of the firm (Noe et al., 2017). Walmart is also concerned about developing effective team through which it is possible for performing better and gain high market share across the international nations. As per the Belbin team role, it is necessary for the leaders and managers to share all the information with all the employees so that they feel valued in the workplace.

In this regard, implementing the Information Technology and Information and Telecommunication Technology are effective for enhancing communication where all the staff members can interact with each other and improve engagement with positive communication. In addition to these, providing cultural training and respecting all the individuals fairly is another strategic planning through which the managers at Walmart tries to resolve cultural diversity at workplace and improve harmony and freedom to work as a team. These are effective strategic planning of Walmart to develop an effective team for working together. Apart from that, the leader and managers try to empower the employees in the decision-making practice and share information and knowledge with all of them which is also considered as effective tactics for developing an effective team. In addition to these, the leaders encourage cooperation through which all the employees cooperate with each other and share their vision and gaols which in turn provides a scope to develop an effective team. Presenting new ideas and approaches at the workplace and participation of all the staff members in this process are effective where the staff can feel valued at the workplace and take active part in decision making practice as a team. Shared goal and resolving cultural diversity at the workplace are effective for developing an effective team as well as resolving the issue of non-cooperation and poor communication. Arranging group discussion and inviting the employees at the general meeting as well as ensure the workers that the changes are for the benefits of all the stakeholders are effective strategic planning for developing an effective team and encouraging cooperation and communication to work as an effective group to achieve the shared goal (Walmart, 2019b).

Conclusion

It can be concluded that, leadership and management of the corporate firm plays an important role to shape the strategic aim and develop strategic planning for fulfilling the prespecified goals and objectives of the firm. The motivational factors of Walmart through providing monetary and non-monetary benefits are effective to encourage the staff and lead them towards achieving success. Moreover, the leaders and managers are efficient to maximise values for all the staff members through improving engagement with them, giving them freedom to work, developing effective organisational culture and suitable environment to work as a team, implementing team building activities as well as managing transparency and accountability which helps the leaders and managers to develop an effective team and work cooperatively with respect and harmony for achieving future organisational success. Hereby, leadership and management as well as motivating the employees as well as developing an effective team are effective strategic planning of Walmart to secure future sustainable development.

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