1.

Abstract
This coursework aims to explore the role of ethics in leadership and management, with a focus
on Jeff Bezos' leadership style. This essay examines Jeff Bezos' leadership style and assesses the
ethical ramifications of his choices, such as his contentious management methods and his
emphasis on increasing shareholder profit. The evaluation and critical analysis of various
viewpoints on organizational leadership and management are the main goals of this project. To
provide a well-rounded perspective on organizational leadership and management that considers
various theoretical viewpoints and practical considerations. The paper concludes with the
learning that effective leadership requires a balance between ethical considerations and achieving
organizational objectives, to build a sustainable and successful organization. The important
takeaways from the research and its implications for effective leadership in modern businesses
are highlighted in the paper's conclusion.

2. Introduction
Understanding and critically analyzing concepts and ethical principles in management and
leadership are the goals of this study. I'll use appropriate examples to teach pertinent ideas and
leadership styles to achieve this goal. I will carefully consider how leadership affects employee
engagement and motivation, which has an impact on outcomes. It assesses Jeff Bezos'
management tactics in terms of their ethical ramifications and analyzes his leadership approach.

3. Leadership & Management

Management was created to tell people what they have to do, not for leading them (Ostdick,
2010); Management is to get the work done by the effort of other people (Mullins, 2016)

Figure 1: Comparison between a manger and a leader (Mullins, 2016)

To inspire and influence others to accomplish particular goals, management and leadership are
both essential. Although they have some commonalities, their methods are different. Planning,

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organizing, directing, and managing are all aspects of management, whereas influence, passion,
and vision are all aspects of leadership. A strong leader needs management abilities to be
successful, therefore a good manager should want to be one as well. A leader creates plans to
carry out their goal by inspiring others and securing resources. For every firm to be successful,
management and leadership must work together. (Bruin, 2020) (Kotter, 1990)

Figure 2: Leading Vs Managing (Kotter, 1990)

4. Leadership theories
4.1 Great Man theory
The great man theory or trait theory of leadership suggests that leaders are born with innate traits
and skills that make them great, and these cannot be taught or learned. However, this theory has
been criticized for suggesting that leaders are predetermined and unable to come from the
shadows, and that the traits associated with it are inherently masculine. Examples of leaders who
are said to exemplify this theory include Abraham Lincoln, Alexander the Great, and Queen
Elizabeth I. Today, leaders may still view their traits and abilities as part of the “great man”
theory. (Northouse, 2016) (J, 2020)

4.2 Trait Theory

The trait theory suggests that effective leaders possess certain innate qualities and skills that
cannot be taught. However, others argue that leadership skills can be developed through practice
and training, and that anyone can become a leader. Some important traits for leaders include
intelligence, self-confidence, determination, integrity, and sociability. Steve Jobs is an example
of a leader who possessed intelligence and self-confidence, while Dr. Paul Farmer demonstrated
determination in his efforts to improve healthcare in Haiti. Integrity is essential for building trust
with followers, and sociability involves possessing strong interpersonal skills and seeking
positive social connections. Michael Hughes, a university president, is an example of a leader
with excellent sociability skills. (Roe, 2017)

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4.3 Behavioral theory
Behavioral theory suggests that rather of being successful from birth, leaders may be developed
based on teachable behaviors. This theory places a strong emphasis on a leader's conduct,
classifying patterns of behavior into several leadership philosophies. Task-oriented, people-
oriented, and other styles are among them. The benefits of this approach are that it says that
anybody may become a leader and that leaders can learn to adapt to their situations. There isn't
necessarily a correct leadership style for every occasion, and the theory doesn't precisely advise
how to act in certain situations. The notion aids leaders in concentrating on their deeds and
making use of their choices to become efficient leaders. Examining the distinction between a
task-oriented and people-oriented leader while dealing with a team problem is example of
behavioral theory. (Northouse, 2016)

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4.4 Contingency theory
According to the contingency leadership theory, a leader's performance is influenced by their
situational environment, with the circumstance serving as the primary determinant rather than the
leader's personality. Finding the correct sort of leader for a certain scenario may be the best
option since effective leaders may adapt their leadership style as necessary. Although this theory
has benefits, such as enabling leaders to be effective in any circumstance, critics contend that it
may not place enough emphasis on the psychology of workers or how leadership styles might
evolve over time. The idea considers both internal and external elements, such the firm, team
size, and market, that affect a leader's status. (Northouse, 2016)
Situational theory suggests that the most effective leadership style depends on the current
situation and the leader’s ability to adapt to the specific circumstances. Hersey and Blanchard’s
situational leadership theory proposes that effective leadership style is determined by the
readiness or maturity level of followers and situational demands. The leader must adapt their
style to meet these contingencies, focusing on task and relationship behaviors. However, SLM
has limitations in its use of goal indices for followers’ development level, which may not
sufficiently reflect their specific task competence.

Example: Microsoft relied on situational leadership model by Gates. Gates’ leadership style is a
combination of autocratic, participating and delegate. (Agarwal, 2020)

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5. Leadership Style
5.1 AUTOCRATIC LEADER
An autocratic (authoritarian) leader is one who uses coercive power to force people to comply
with their demands. Rather than earning respect and loyalty, they expect it due to their position
and use punishment as a means of control. The autocratic leader makes decisions alone without
seeking input from their employees.
Examples of autocratic leaders include Donald Trump and Bill Gates. While Trump is viewed as
a successful American businessman, he also exemplifies an autocratic leadership style by
centralizing decision-making and wielding absolute power, involving himself in even the
smallest details of his enterprise and limiting input from his team. (J, 2020) (Varma, 2020)

5.2 LAISSEZ-FAIRE
Laissez-faire or hands-off leadership, which is the antithesis of authoritarian leadership, is the
term used to describe this type of leadership. If the goals and objectives are met, the leader gives
individuals or teams the freedom to decide for themselves how to finish their task. The emphasis
is on developing a solid team and giving them the freedom to take responsibility for their job. It
functions effectively, especially at the creative stage, in fields like advertising, product design,
social media businesses, and venture capital investment firms.
The CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and well-known investor Warren Buffett is an example of a
leader who adopts this strategy. (J, 2020) (Varma, 2020)

5.3 Democratic leadership

Democratic leadership, also known as shared or participative leadership, involves collaboration
and mutual respect between the leader and employees. The leader presents a problem to
individual employees or a group and asks for their opinions and suggestions, but the final
decision still rests with the leader. This style can boost employee morale and lead to high-quality
and inclusive decisions, but it may take longer to make decisions. Jeff Bezos, the founder of
Amazon, is known for adapting his leadership style based on the people he is working with.
While he tends to present himself as a democratic leader, he can also be highly authoritative and
make decisions based on his instincts. (J, 2020) (Varma, 2020)

5.4 Transformational Leader

A transformational leader is purpose-driven and sets an example for others by leading through
actions, not just words. This type of leader inspires their followers to improve both themselves
and the organization, while also showing genuine concern for their needs. They are innovative
and encourage their followers to be creative, with the goal of developing them into future
leaders. Transformational leadership is all about creating positive change in individuals and
social systems. One example of a transformational leader is Jack Welch, who is often referred to
as the "Master of Transformational Leadership". (J, 2020)

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6. Ethics in Leadership
It is crucial to identify ethics in leadership and management to get things started. A system of
moral principles and ideals that direct conduct and decision-making are referred to as ethics.
Ethical leaders respect people and uphold their rights while upholding high standards of honesty,
integrity, and fairness approach. (Rost, 1995)
When it comes to international leadership and management, ethical considerations become even
more critical. Leaders need to be aware of and sensitive to cultural differences, adapt their
communication styles, and be open to different perspectives and ways of doing things. They need
to be aware of the impact of their decisions and actions on stakeholders and society at large.
(Varma, 2020)

Leadership has traditionally been seen as being only concerned with attaining corporate
objectives and boosting revenues. However, more contemporary models stress the significance of
morality and ethical behavior for leaders. Effective leadership requires not just talent but also the
capacity to influence others and encourage moral conduct. It is the duty of leaders to persuade
their followers to carry out tasks, behave in a certain way, and develop attitudes and values
consistent with their vision. Promoting ethical behavior is an example of a nurturing leadership
quality that may enhance employee values and corporate cultures. Leaders that encourage ethical

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behavior across the company are necessary for ethical leadership. (Thomas, 2022)

7. General Background of Jeff Bezos (Amazon.com)

Jeff Bezos is a successful entrepreneur and visionary leader who co-founded Amazon.com, an
online book retailer, in 1995. Bezos, who graduated from Princeton University with honours in
electrical engineering and computer science, quit his lucrative job on Wall Street to start his
company from his garage. Amazon.com quickly became a multibillion-dollar corporation and
expanded to offer a wide range of consumer goods. Bezos has received multiple honors for his
leadership style, which includes setting objectives and a course for the company. He was named
person of the year by Time magazine in 1999 and CEO of the year by the Puget Sound Business
Journal in 2010. (Britannica, 2023) (Drexler, 2007)

8. Reflective Analysis on Individual Leadership Qualities & Approach

The leadership style and methods employed have a significant impact on how successful a firm
like Amazon.com is. The founder and former CEO of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos, is a successful

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businessman and leader. By improving the trustworthiness of online buying for customers, he has
changed online retail and the concept of commerce. Bezos is a dynamic and forward-thinking
leader who has motivated his team to work toward the goal of a truly global, high-performing
corporation. He has a goal-oriented attitude and possesses qualities like tenacity, originality, self-
assurance, and honesty. (Riggio, 2004)
Despite some drawbacks in his leadership approach, such as having trouble managing the
transition and not wanting to give up personal control, Bezos has been an inspirational leader
who has transformed online retail and made online shopping more reliable for consumers. His
leadership approach has been complex, highly focused, and egalitarian, and he employs two-way
communication, which is a major characteristic of Hersey-Blanchard situational leadership.
(Riggio, 2004)

9. Effectiveness as a Leader
A leader's personality characteristics, actions, competences, and leadership style all affect how
effective they are. According to numerous ideas, performance, degree of analysis, and level of
satisfaction may all be used to gauge a leader's effectiveness. The creator of Amazon.com, Jeff
Bezos, is a strong leader because of his innovative, inspiring, and directive management style,
which has enabled the business to flourish even throughout the recession. His leadership style is
friendly, encouraging, and egalitarian, and he uses situational leadership to solicit input from his
team members. He has been able to assemble and motivate successful teams of followers thanks
to strong interpersonal and organizational communication abilities.
Overall, Bezos has strong leadership qualities including honesty, decency, openness, and
vulnerability, which enable him to adapt to various circumstances and make decisions. (Gosling,
2006)

10.Conclusion
This article examines the value of ethics in management and leadership through a critical examination of
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' leadership style. The article explores the connection between management
and leadership as well as the importance of ethical decisions in corporate leadership. It covers several
leadership theories, including the great man theory, contingency theory, trait theory, behavioral theory,
and situational leadership model. In order to create a long-lasting and prosperous company, the essay's
conclusion states that effective leadership necessitates striking a compromise between ethical concerns
and fulfilling organizational goals. The study has effects on successful leadership in contemporary firms.

11.Learning Outcome
This coursework explores the role of ethics in leadership and management, specifically Jeff
Bezos' leadership style.

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  It analyzes his management tactics and their ethical ramifications and evaluates various
theoretical viewpoints on organizational leadership and management.
 The study finds that effective leadership requires a balance between ethical
considerations and achieving organizational objectives to build a sustainable and
successful organization.
 The paper also discusses various leadership theories, such as trait theory, behavioral
theory, contingency theory, and situational leadership model.
 The limitations and benefits of each theory are discussed, with examples to illustrate
their application.
 Lastly, the essay describes different leadership styles, such as autocratic, democratic,
transformational, and laissez-faire, and their impact on employee engagement and
motivation.

12.References
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Business Studies.

Benmira S, A. M. (2021). Evolution of leadership theory. BMJ Leader, 5.

Britannica. (2023). "Jeff Bezos". Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jeff-Bezos

Bruin, L. D. (2020, March 28). Hersey and Blanchard Situational Leadership Model: Adapting the
Leadership Style to the Follower. Retrieved from Business to You: https://www.business-to-
you.com/hersey-blanchard-situational-leadership-model/

Drexler, J. (2007). Schools as Communities: Educational Leadership, Relationships and the Eternal Value
of Christian Schooling. Journal of Research on Christian Education.

Gosling, J. &. (2006). Leadership Competencies: Time to Change the Tune? Leadership.

J, D. A. (2020). Changing Dynamics of Leadership . Journal of Business and Management.

Kotter, J. P. (1990). Adapted from A Force for Change: How Leadership Differs From Management. New
York: Free Press.

Mullins, L. J. (2016). Management and Organizational Behavior. Pearson.

Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership Theories and Practice. United States of America: SAGE Publications,
Inc.

Oesch, T. (2017). Identifying and Training Ethical Leaders. Retrieved from Training Industry:
https://trainingindustry.com/articles/leadership/identifying-and-training-ethical-leaders/

Ostdick. (2010). the father of management theory. Retrieved from Success:

https://www.success.com/peter-drucker-the-father-of-management-theory/

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Prax, P. (2011). Leadership Style in World of Warcraft Raid Guilds. Retrieved from ReserachGate:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228773214_Leadership_Style_in_World_of_Warcraft
_Raid_Guilds

Riggio, R. (2004). Encyclopedia of Leadership. . Berkshire.

Roe, K. (2017). Leadership Practice and Perspectives. Oxford.

Rost, J. (1995). Leadership: A Discussion About Ethics. Business Ethics Quarterly.

Thomas. (2022). What is ethical leadership. Retrieved from Thomas:

https://www.thomas.co/resources/type/hr-blog/what-ethical-leadership-attributes-traits-
examples

Varma, D. A. (2020). Changing Dynamics of Leadership. IOSR Journal of Business and Management (IOSR-
JBM), 61-72.

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