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Table of Contents
Part 1: Leadership......................................................................................................3

Introduction.................................................................................................................3

Different types of leadership.....................................................................................3

Transformational leadership.....................................................................................4

Critical factors that influence strategic leadership................................................5

Part 2: Change management in EasyJet..................................................................6

Introduction.................................................................................................................6

External Drivers of change in Lidl............................................................................7

Internal drivers of change in EasyJet......................................................................9

Leadership and change.............................................................................................9

Change management process in EasyJet.............................................................11

Conclusion................................................................................................................13

References................................................................................................................14

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Part 1: Leadership

Introduction

In this vital analysis, an examination of transformational leadership characteristics

and strengths are analysed. EasyJet is the selected organization for the review.

Leading efficiency is one of the most important elements of success in the modern

business world. Leader is a person who can create vision and strategy for EasyJet,

communicates vision and strategy to people around EasyJet and guides them to

meet the company's vision and goals (Yukl, 2016). Leadership is described as the art

of encouraging individuals or groups to act to achieve a common goal as explained

by DuBrin, (2014). This means the power to control and direct people who are under

the leader’s leadership to the organization's common goal. Leadership capacity and

quality are an important part of EasyJet’s strategic success.

Different types of leadership

In general, different leadership styles may be embraced by the leader according to

business requirements and circumstance. The transactional and transformational

leadership styles are the two essential ones (Scouller, 2011). Such two leadership

strategies have benefits and consequences, but transformational leadership is

primarily appropriate and embraced as the most successful management approach

in contemporary business environments with the independence and organizational

change of employees. There are also many other leadership types and they are

delegative, autocratic and democratic. The value and efficacy of transformational

leadership in meeting EasyJet's rising needs for change is critically assessed and

analysed in this report (Grint, 2016).

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Transformational leadership

As per Bass (1985) the transformational leadership style suggests that the leaders

empower, motivate and encourages the subordinate in implementing and making

improvements that help EasyJet evolve and shape future success. The key

characteristics of innovative leaders are that they are often guiding and used to

remotely alter the current structure. It is essential for the transformational leaders to

be able to build vision for their team and organization. The transformational leaders

often seek to establish connection with their followers and thus direct their followers

on the right path to shared vision (Kendrick, 2011). Also according to Mason et al.,

(2014) the transformational leaders are brave, confident and willing to make

sacrifices for the success of the shared vision and goal. Eventually, as part of the

vision management or the transition in EasyJet, transformational leaders are utilized

to train or develop teams for the successful implementation of organisational

objectives and strategies as cited by Avolio and Yammarino, (2014).

Certain situational factors are linked to transformational leadership. Organizational

needs shape leaders in the EasyJet and the leader McCall had greatly get impacted

by EasyJet’s requirements. The transformational leaders must always recognize

individuals they lead before making any kind of strategic decisions. The individual's

willingness and capacity to accomplish objectives and strategic goals are essential to

the success of leadership. Transformational leaders must consider the situation and

build up positive energy within the team and company in order to ensure the

improvement of the organization (Hickman, 2009).

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Critical factors that influence strategic leadership

The rationale behind the approach involves modifying or creating an organizational

framework best suited to accomplish the goals of the group. Eventually, the major

points of administration integrate a part of the change. It is necessary to construct a

vision that helps to shift the connection from one direction to the next. Strategic

leadership tends to improve organizational efficiency and can help to solve internal

problems within an enterprise or inside a team (Daft, 2014). The transition should be

motivated by a constructive need to revalue rather than only seeking ways of

sustaining.

The need for change management practices in EasyJet is also calls for a need for

strategic leadership. Since change is a continuing process, leaders will function

according to the changing situation as explained by Kane et al., (2011). The strategic

leadership requires diverse and dynamic skills and characteristics to transform an

organisation. The important components of strategic leadership are to find the vision,

expand this vision for the organization change along with developing a strategy that

will help to understand the vision. Exploiting and sustaining core competences of

employees and team leaders are important along with developing and enhancing

human resources to achieve strategic vision.

Leadership is the most critical component for professional success according to

Bass (1985). Therefore, the transformational leader in EasyJet needs to be familiar

with the technologies, resources and leadership skills. As Bass and Riggio (2006),

mentioned democratic leadership will provide followers with greater independence

and will also support the team's engagement in decision-making. The democratic

management style has also helped to motivate team members and encourage them

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to make decisions on their behalf as and when the needs arise. The stronger

decision-making (Facione and Facione, 2017) would of course naturally benefit in

shaping the team members. The changing situation in workplace needs flexibility

(Pedlar, 2015). Emotional intelligence is also an important component of

transformational leadership skill (Mullins, 2017) that can be utilized in EasyJet.

Part 2: Change management in EasyJet

Introduction

The change in an organization is a predetermined procedure which happens in all

organization irrespective of the matter that whether the firm is private or public. The

term change management is a roughly figured word and it express to the vast

dispositions of ventures and inventiveness that may come about in the work place.

According to the opinion of Dimitri et al., (2016) the change in an organization

incorporates moving from the familiar to the unfamiliar, from relative certainty to

relative uncertainty, from the known to the unknown. Meaney and Wilson, (2012) has

of the opinion that change management are group of techniques, some concepts,

and recommendations put into the various hanuman aspects of implementing some

significant changes in the entire organizational set up. Meanwhile in the opinion of

Kotter and Schlesinger, (2008) change management is a constant procedure of

synchronising an organization with its market place and organizing it in a more

amenable and efficacious manner compared to the rivals. Thus change management

is a conscious attempt to induce change in an organization

In general course there are three main methods of change in an organization to

happen, and they are incremental, transitional, and transformational respectively. It

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can be planned or unplanned. The change that occurs in the due course of diverse

activities or occurrences in which the management have no controls are comes

under the category of unplanned changes. Whereas the planned changes are pre

calculated and are intentional as well as focused to accomplish a particular target.

The internal drivers and external drivers are the main course drivers which will

contribute to the organisational change. In the case of EasyJet, when McCall taken

charge as CEO there is a possibility that the company may fall deep into financial

turmoil. Hence, there is a need for structural changes in the firm to ensure the firm is

not fallen but revamped to success. This is exactly what McCall did for the company.

Therefore, it can be stated that the change happened in EasyJet is not unplanned

but a planned incremental one as mentioned by Korzynski, (2013).

External Drivers of change in Lidl

The social changes of the society must have some specific influence over the

settings of an organisation. There are many kinds of social changes are happening

in the society due to many reasons.  For example, the changes that occur in the

democratic feature may incorporate aging of population, high level of migration,

increasing level of unemployment, reduced disposal income, fluctuations in

exchange rate and inflation etc. All these should have an immediate effect over the

settings of EasyJet, since the needs of the passengers will alter with the changes in

the system. The management of EasyJet are considerably influenced by the

changes in the structure of family, tourism sector changes, high level of migration,

increasing level of unemployment, reduced disposal income, fluctuations in

exchange rate and inflation and lifestyle of people in the country. These changes in

spending behaviour, life style, and spending power have paved the way for creating

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new services and products for the consumers by the airline sector firms and also to

compel the organization like EasyJet to ameliorate their proficiency and productivity. 

The economic changes are significantly making impact over the organisational

settings of a firm. For example, the economic turbulence created by the continuous

recession and economic turmoil due to Brexit and financial slow down during the

period of 2017-2018 has diminished the tax wealth of government in UK which made

the government to instigate austerity measures. At the same time, the spending

power of the people of the country has negatively influenced by this pathetic

economic condition. This has also an adverse impact over the EasyJet, since both of

these are heavily depend on economic robustness of society. The decreased sales

as well as the increased debts had compelled the management to initiate few

changes in their whole organisational settings and service or products providing in

their stores as well.

Technology changes: Being a contributor of change technological advancement has

significant influence over EasyJet due to the changes occurred in the technology

front of the airline sector across the globe. For example, the enhanced use of

internet facilities, computers and smart phones has pressurized the management of

EasyJet to initiate online marketing and selling of air tickets rather than focusing on

in store selling of tickets. The smart as well as improved technologies in the field of

airline also influenced their decisions to focus on social media promotions and

improved website presence that helps their passengers to know about the services

offered by EasyJet.

Legal changes: Apart from that, there have been occurring changes in the field of

laws and regulations by the government and which has turned into making significant

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consequences over the institutions. For instance, the laws regarding waste

management, pollution control and transparency have significant impact over the

changes happening in EasyJet.

Performance of competitors: The rivals of each industry have a crucial role to play in

the impulsion of changes in Airline sector in the country. The elevation in the number

of airlines especially budget airlines has created extreme competition in the field and

their strategies are compelled EasyJet to adapt changes according to the demands

of the market.

Internal drivers of change in EasyJet

Irrespective of the matter that whether the organization is private or public,

restructuring or change in every organization is inevitable. It is indeed a necessity

that after every life span there should be a change otherwise it would not survive for

long term. Change in an organization might incorporate the changes in leadership,

new missions and visions, new locations, departments and new products and

services. EasyJet has introduced the change programmes as part of their

operational restructuring after the appointment of McCall.

Leadership and change

The need for change management practices in EasyJet is also calls for a need for

strategic leadership. Since change is a continuing process, leaders will function

according to the changing situation as explained by Kane et al., (2011). The strategic

leadership requires diverse and dynamic skills and characteristics to transform an

organisation. The important components of strategic leadership are to find the vision,

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expand this vision for the organization change along with developing a strategy that

will help to understand the vision.

The change proposed was building EasyJet into a discount airline. EasyJet was

turned by McCall into a successful creative organisation from an organisation the

edge of turmoil. She was able to increase the productivity and guarantees high net

revenues (Clark, 2015). She basically pulled in passengers into their airline who

spend high sum in their business and made them EasyJet’s royal traveller. This

strategy received by her was considered as the significant purpose behind the age of

high benefit in Easy Jet, which demonstrated great development in the carrier

business in any event, during the time of chaos in Europe (Roderick, 2016).

Vroom and Jago (1988 p.262) has of the opinion that leadership is the power that

particular individuals (leaders) exercise upon the goal accomplishment of others in

an organizational perspective. The three major practices of leaderships subsisting in

the world of business are autocratic, delegative and participative. As like, the two

significant leadership approaches of leadership are transformational or transactional

respectively. Before jumping into the strategies, the various styles of leaderships and

its approach are narrated here in this session. It is indeed a fact that “there is no

such thing as one best approach to change.

She adopted the transformational leadership for making the change possible.

Through this approach she was able to empower, motivate and encourages the

subordinate in implementing the change of building EasyJet into a discount airline.

The transformational leadership of McCall had led their work with examples in terms

of employees’ performance and consistently wanted to learn what the company

needed to do for betterment (Udoh and Agu, 2012). Every time these she strive to

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improve the capabilities by encouraging workers to involve themselves in the team

(Riaz and Haider, 2010)

The participative or democratic leadership style of McCall entails that she will make

most of the decisions by communicating to the employees of the firm. The leaders

are giving preference to the employees and their views or opinions in this form of

leadership. At the same way, the employees are not fully avoided by the leaders

while the making of major organisational decisions. At this context, their opinions are

gathered through peer or group/team leader consultations (Paul et al., 2008). This

least preferences are enough for the employees and they get motivated and stand

beside the management while the execution of the decisions.

On the other hand, in autocratic leadership style most of the time the key decisions

are made by the leaders and the employees get informed of that later. In such

situations, there may have some resistance from the side of the employees (Clark,

2015). Definitely, in this style of leadership also the power is in the hands of the

leader alone even though there might have some consultations with the employees

at times. Consequently, this kind of leadership is not reasonable for making a

change in the organization.

Change management process in EasyJet

In order to successfully implement the change of building discount airline McCall

adopted the Kotter’s change management model. This model is known for big

change management in large organisations and it has 8 steps to make change

happen in a firm (Kotter, 1996).

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A clear as well as detailed vision of the future is the key strategy for the

successfulness of a change. The change vision must be arranged with the strategy

of the organization. The participation of the shareholders is determining in the

change vision. In addition, this vision to be communicated to the employees and she

was successful in this front as well. The readiness or willingness for the change is

also very much important and it should also determine once the change has been

defined. Then only a change plan can organize. Similarly, she was able to conduct a

comprehensive risk assessment with regard to developing EasyJet into a discount

airline. No change program should be commenced without evaluating the reasonable

risks attached to it and it is indeed a necessary to have a second plan or a risk

migration plan (Moreira, 2013).

Change will be subverted if the actions are contrary with the vision of change. So it is

indeed a necessary to incorporate the shareholders as well as Communications

Managements for winning commitment and to implement the change. Following the

continuing potency via staff surveys will make sure that people can give opinion to

the change programme (Kotter and Schlesinger, 2008). It is important to have a look

at shareholders. Recognition of the effective communication channel as well as its

advantages also should consider. It is crucial to maintain the stability of the message

in order to win commitment and integrity. It will be useful to make use of any

communication matrix to recognize the targeted audience so as to communicate the

message. A huge part of winning commitment is also needed to manage the change

resistance.

Finally, it is essential to deliver the change in total or accomplish the objective or

vision of building EasyJet into a discount airline. The inner crux of the change

management is its implementation or delivering of change. The skills in project

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management are recommended to have the capability to co-ordinate the activities,

process and also in creation of an execution plan. The procedure of project control

as well as corrective actions is crucial since it is an on-going risk management

process in this change plan. The change is realized only after the normal course of

working and it requires proof of performance and surety of future continuity.

However, McCall was successful in delivering change in an effective manner thereby

turnaround Easy Jet into a profit generating firm. Finally, she was successful in

making change an institutionalised element in EasyJet.

Conclusion

This report can be summarised by stating that leadership is described as the art of

encouraging individuals or groups and use the power to control and direct people to

act to achieve a common goal. Key factor of transformational leader’s to achieve this

specific objective is their ability to create vision for the team and empower people

around the leader to accomplish targets. The strategic leadership requires diverse

and dynamic skills and characteristics to transform an organisation. The internal

drivers and external drivers are the main course drivers who will contribute to the

organisational change. The change proposed was building EasyJet into a discount

airline. EasyJet was turned by McCall into a successful creative organisation from an

organisation the edge of turmoil.

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