Does GE use our definition of leadership ("the influencing process of leaders and followers to achieve organizational objectives through change")?
Jeff Immelt is clearly the leader at GE. However, as he stated, GE is run like a big partnership where every leader can make a contribution to the job and the entire company. He doesn't make decisions and set obectives alone. Immelt has an executive team, and much of what GE does comes from these followers who influence Immelt. As stated in the opening case and under question 1, GE is always changing to stay ahead of the trends. So yes, GE does use our definition of leadership. You are learning the definition of leadership as used by hundreds of successful companies and nonprofit organizations.