Barack Obama race to the whitehouse: Explored through relevant management theory
-
Upload
milesweaver -
Category
Business
-
view
1.485 -
download
0
description
Transcript of Barack Obama race to the whitehouse: Explored through relevant management theory
To Chairman Dean and my great friend Dick Durbin, and to all my fellow citizens of this great nation, with profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for presidency of the United States Barack Obama’s Acceptance Speech (August 28, 2008)
‘The race to the Whitehouse: Some theoretical perspectives on the art of Obama’s victory’Miles Weaver,Lecturer in Strategic Management,Leicester Business School
Office hours:Monday 4PM – 5PMWednesday 12PM – 1PM
Session learning Outcomes
Discuss how management and strategy theory can be linked to practise using a real world example
Demonstrate how this can be discussed in class
Draw some lessons on the DMU student learning experience
Activity
What factors could explain Obama’s victory in the US elections?
“Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America”
Write some key words on the post-it for discussion
“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer”
– Barack Obama Victory Speech (2008)
Management and strategy theory- can help us understand and analyse the discussion question
Management is the activity of getting things done with the aid of people and other resources (Boddy, 2008) Organising
Organisational structure Managing people Managing information
technology Managing change and
innovation
Leading Influence and power (e.g.
leadership) Motivation Communication Team working
This world is but a canvas for our imaginations
- Henry David Thoreau
Management and strategy theory- can help us understand and analyse the discussion question
Management is the activity of getting things done with the aid of people and other resources (Boddy, 2008)
Planning Decision-making Strategic management▪ Organisational mission, goals
and strategies▪ External analysis of
opportunities and threats▪ Internal analysis of strengths
and weaknesses▪ Strategy formulation▪ Strategy implementation▪ Evaluation of results
Controlling Performance
measurement and control
Financial and budgetary control
Managing operations and quality
“It is not the strongest of the species
that survive, nor the most intelligent,
but the most responsive to change.”
- Darwin
Motivation? As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided
than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.
For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.
There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.
– Barack Obama Victory Speech (2008)Comparison of the Maslow and Alderfer categories of needs (cited in Boddy, 2008)
Motivation? Yes we can! The road ahead will be long.
Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.
It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America
– Barack Obama Victory Speech (2008)
Comparison of the Maslow and Alderfer categories of needs (cited in Boddy, 2008)
Leadership, power and Influence?Tactics to influence othersKipnis et al. (1980) and Yukl (1990, 1992) identify 9 tactics people use when influencing subordinates, bosses, colleagues:Rational persuasion: logical argumentsInspirational appeal: appeals to aspiration – creates enthusiasmConsultation: seeks his/her participationIngratiation: seeks to get him/her in a good moodExchange: offers an exchange of favoursPersonal appeal: appeals to feelings of loyalty & friendshipCoalition: seeks the aid of others to persuadeLegitimating: presents it as consistent with org. policiesPressure: uses demands, threats, reminders
Understanding the competition?We say:“Know yourself and know yourenemy.You will be safe in every battle.You may know yourself but not know the enemy.You will then lose one battle forevery one you win.You may not know yourself or
the enemy.You will then lose every battle.”
- Sun Tzu (403–221 BC)
“Strategy is the creation of a unique and valuable position, involving a different set of activities… The essence of strategic positioning is to choose activities that are different from rivals.”
- Porter (1996)
We understand theory so we can apply, analyse and evaluate practise in different environments and settings
Professional Socialisation:… and why not also learn by doing?
Summary
Discussed some theoretical perspectives to understand some of the factors that may help explain Obama’s victory Using some representative
management and strategy theory, but we could go on …
Attempted to show how learning can be an engaging, enabling and fulfilling process
Show an example of what you could expect on a degree at Leicester Business School E.g. lectures and tutorials,
independent learning, group work
Further reading“He who learns but does not think
is lost” -
Chinese Proverb
“Be the change you wish to see in the world”
- Mahatma Gandhi
Miles Weaver, Lecturer in Strategic [email protected]