Case Study Analysis of "Turn the Ship Around!"

Case Study Analysis
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Case Study Analysis
Flexibility and Adaptability
The most common leadership model applied by managers in key positions is the autocratic model. Autocratic leaders use the traditional ways of managing; where they give orders and expect a proper following (Dogru, 2019). The leaders have full control over their teams, and this model produces decent output by the workers. David’s first Commanding Officer(CO) implemented a traditional autocratic model which proved to be successful in many dimensions (Hagen, 2017). However, Marc Pelaez, David’s second CO, opted a different style of leadership during his time at the submarine. Pelaez was considerate and open to suggestions from the crew. In an instance, Pelaez insisted David on asking him questions related to the sonar directly. He showed a flexible attitude towards the power gap between him and the sub-ordinates. As a result, for the first time, David felt in charge. The crew was also delighted, and everyone appreciated this new initiative by the CO. The freedom that David experienced made him consider a similar leadership style whenever he takes charge (Hagen, 2017). On David’s second mission, unlike other high ranking officers, he empowered the crew members in making their own decision rather than blindly following orders. David was an adaptable leader who was flexible in dealings with other crew members. Instead of giving orders of the tasks, David referred to the commands as objectives for the crew members.
Path-Goal Theory
The Path-Goal model is a theory in which the leader adopts a certain style of management that best fits the environment or type of work that is required (Northouse, 2018). The ultimate goal of this theory is to motivate the employee to be a productive member of the workforce. David’s CO, Pelaez, used a Path-Goal model to govern his crew members. By eradicating the power gap, Pelaez ensured that his employees would not hesitate to take up problems and suggestions directly to himself. This method was best suited for the US navy because managing an armed submarine is a critical matter, and the crew members must not hesitate to report problems to high ranking officers. The commanding officer must address certain essential matters; otherwise, they may cause drastic consequences.
Effective Communication
When David noticed that the nuts of the seawater exchanger were not grabbing the threads of the bolts, he immediately called off the dive (Hagen, 2017). He could have tried to amend the situation by himself, but he knew that a simple mistake could lead to fatal consequences. Informing the commanding officer immediately and concluding that the ship is not in optimal condition for a deep-sea dive shows effective communication and excellent leadership from David’s side.
However, while serving in the USS Will R...