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Leadership In Action

Running head: LEADERSHIP IN ACTION

Leadership in Action
Jenita McClay
University of Phoenix
ORG 502
Organizational Behavior 503
Ms. Jeanne Wilson
February 5, 2005

Leadership in Action
The formal organizational structure of S and F Company consists of a formal hierarchy. It has a web development team, logistics team, project manager, logistics manager, marketing manager, COO, and a CEO. The web development team reports to the project manager. The logistics team reports to the logistics manager. The project manager also works closely with the logistics manager. The logistics manager and his team report to the marketing manager. The marketing manager reports to the COO and COO ultimately reports to the CEO.
Comparably, the Navy operates as a formal hierarchy. It has a very extensive chain of command that starts at the President and ends at the lowest raking individual. It also has a simpler chain of command that is broken down into geographical regions, echelons, units, and commands that allows it to operate daily at a lower level and without the need to report everything directly to the President.
S and F Company in contrast to Microsoft is structured differently. Microsoft has applied decentralisation principles to align its flatter and scattered self-managed team concept even in areas of feedback and inputs. This has given autonomy to the individuals on how to manage themselves which is different from Classical Management. They are now able to contribute and participate in policy making. The result is flexible and responsive workforces of specialists who drive themselves and rely on the core group for direction and leadership only.
Informal culture is embedded within any formal organizational structures. Although informal culture emerges spontaneously among participants themselves, it is shaped by the formal structure of the organization....