Organizational Leadership

Relevance of the principles of complexity in organisational leadership

Introduction

Organisations are increasingly required to demonstrate sensitivity cohesiveness , identity and tolerance to the varying implications and challenges posed by internal and external environmental factors . The external and internal environments portend either positive or negative impact on the strategic plans of any organization . The organisational abilities to build relationships and create community with sense of purpose and vision are wholly pegged on the leadership strengths and goodwill . Emphasis and continuous pursuit of knowledge , perception of the organisation as community of people

and perpetual endurance are the characteristics that define learning organisations . As such organisations are complex organic evolving entities with unlimited capacities to learn , create and pursue their own processes and objectives (Mitleton-Kelly , 2003 . Studies in to the multiplicity of factors that characterise the success or failure of organisational management styles and strategies have given rise to varying arguments as to the implications of management and consequences of leadership in organisations . As Mintzberg (1973 ) rightly noted , managers job as described and taught in business schools are flawed . This view is further emphasized by Zaleznik (1977 ) with his observation that whereas managers are inclined towards rigid processes , planning and forms leaders are substantive , visionary and inspirational . This essay seeks to justify the truth of Mintzberg 's assertion as demonstrated by the principles of complexity

Theory and background

Leadership and management strategies vary according to personality orientation and organisational structures , as demonstrated by the different supportive and contradicting arguments on theoretical concepts regarding...