Assignment:
Discussion Topic 1
There are two separate Discussion topics. Please respond separately to each Discussion topic below with an initial first posting and subsequent postings to at least two other classmates.
Topic 1: Leadership, Power, and Motivation:
You will explore leaders' use of power to attain team goals and what tactics they use to mobilize their teams to act.
Leaders can have formal power based on either their position in the organization or their ability to reward or pressure others into doing what they want.
However, personal power is the most effective, according to Robbins & Judge (2009, p. 453). These effective personal power forms are, according to Kotter and Schlesinger (1979), referent power [the leader is admired and emulated] and expert power [the person is an expert] (as cited in Robbins & Judge, 2009, p. 453).
The three most effective tactics used by those in power to get others to do what needs to be done are "rational persuasion, inspirational appeals, and consultation" (Robbins & Judge 2009, p. 457).
Discuss one example of an expert leader. Then describe what tactic you think they use to get their employees, public, or colleagues to act. Make sure to pick an example that no one else has yet used. (Note: The first to post regarding a particular leader has priority.)
Reference
Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2009). Organizational behavior (13th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Discussion Topic 2
Topic 2: Benchmarking Applied
The reading examined benchmarking in addressing a retail strategy. Read the following scenario and respond to the questions in an original posting.
Scenario: You are running a small business. Choose one of the following small businesses:
a bakery, a call center, a gift shop, a small market, a bookstore, a flower shop, or a small hardware store.
Explain how you will go about setting up benchmarks for your business.
Why is benchmarking important to your business?