Leadership and Organisational Development Style Essay

Leadership and Organisational Development Style - Essay Example This culture has been described by Hofstede (1983) as akin to a "mental programming" is shared among persons from similar backgrounds. Hofstede has shown that cultures differ in the way they view and interpret the world. Therefore, the management of persons within these cultures can often differ as well. In fact, Hofstede further points out that one should not take for granted that management and leadership methods that work in one cultural arena will do as well in another (1983). In a multicultural society, it is necessary that managers and leaders become aware of the different dimensions of employees and/or followers that exist. It is also necessary that they study the different theories of management and leadership in order to gain insight into how to deal with the different personalities and cultures that are (or might be) represented in their leadership arena (2005). The study of each method of management therefore adds to the repertoire of options a manager and leader possesses to aid in dealing with different situations that may arise. He or she may not use all the knowledge at once, but the acquisition of this knowledge leaves the manager or leader more equipped to deal with situations as employees, followers, and their situations as they change with time. Overview of Oprah Winfrey's Style The leadership style of Oprah Winfrey has demonstrated that these theories and models of leadership often put forth such well-defined characteristics of leadership that few (if any) persons could fit into any one model. Winfrey owns and manages Harpo Productions Inc., a conglomerate that contains her own talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as Dr. Phil and other television movies. Among other ventures, she also manages the publishing of the successful magazine O and is part-owner of the Oxygen Media, which houses, among other things, a cable network (Sellers, 2002). As manager of so many different business entities, she acts a leader to her hundreds of employees. This queen of talk shows and businesswoman extraordinaire evinces a style of leadership that comes closest to the Transformational Leadership Model, as this model is expressed through combination of the traits of several other theories. Yet, certain transitional periods of her tenure as leader of Harpo Productions have caused her to demonstrate traces of many of the other theories of leadership. This study will provide an analysis of her leadership style within the framework of the different sectors of her conglomerate. Analysis of Oprah Winfrey's Leadership Style: Transformational Theory Trait Theories The Transformational Theory of leadership is known to mix some aspects of Trait Theory with the behavioural theories. Alimo-Metcalfe and Alban-Metcalfe (2005) reviewed the leadership styles of over 3,500 leaders at varying levels of the corporate hierarchy. These researchers found that a model emerged that at once supported and went beyond the Transformation model and led to the development of a "360-degree" Transformational Leadership instrument (questionnaire). The instrument was found

International Trade Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

International Trade Law - Assignment Example The hunting of seals in Canada in the adjoining waters of the Arctic Ocean is believed to have begun in the 16th century. Seal hunting for commercial purposes grew into an important trade in the 1980s decade in Canada. This mainly includes the Inuit group of people, the residents of Atlantic Canada and also North Canada. The United Nations in its Declaration on the â€Å"Rights of Indigenous Peoples† has recognized this seal hunting practice as a means of livelihood for the Canadian residents. According to an estimate in 2005, about 329,829 harp seals were killed by the indigenous people of Atlantic Canada and Quebec. They also produced $ 15.43 million worth of â€Å"exports of identifiable seal products†. The extent and importance of the seal hunting trade in Canada renders it very difficult for the Canadian authorities to pronounce an end to this practice. The European Union bans Seal Products Canada was supposed to attend a summit meeting with the European Union to discuss further prospects of trade between the two countries and open up new markets. On 16 September 2009, the European Parliament and the European Communities declared a Regulation (EC) No. 1007/2009 stating a prohibition in the import and sale of all seal products manufactured from the commercial hunting of seals.... eal hunts carried out in a traditional practice by the Inuits and other indigenous communities and byproducts from similar regulated hunts, would be allowed to trade in the European Union.2 The Canadian Government expressed its disappointment on the development and vowed to take the issue to the World Trade Organization (WTO).3 Canada was of the opinion that in the case the EU imposed a restriction on seal products made out of commercial hunting, the country should be exempted from it since Canada followed strict guidelines to ensure that the seal hunting methods in the country were humane and were sustainable in the long run. The Effects of Such a Regulation According to the European Commission, the trade exchanges between Canada and the European Union are worth around EUR 70 billion or $ 93 billion in a single year. If the Canada and the European Union agreed to expand their bilateral trade, this could generate an additional trade exchange worth EUR 20 billion. However, the EU Regu lation regarding the prohibition of the import and sale of seal related products from commercial hunting, in the EU markets could have serious implications for the bilateral trade between the two countries. Once the Regulation (EC) No. 1007/2009 comes into effect, the value of seal products imported by the EU from Canada will decrease drastically, as then only the seal products made out of legitimate hunting methods will only be permissible to enter the EU market. Therefore, Canada will be compelled to turn to other countries of the world for the export of its seal products, following the decline of the EU as one of its important importers in this trade 4 Canada’s Arguments On 2 November, 2009, Canada expressed its desire to engage in a consultation with the European Communities regarding