Case study 2: What happened?

The case is concerned with the worlds largest building project named, Burj Khalifa. This building is situated in United Arab Emirates Dubai. However, this project was completed in a very short span of time but various problems have encountered during this project. First problem was related with concrete used in construction of building Burj Khalifa. High temperature that was around 50 C of the Gulf region was also a main problem to concern with this project. The other problem was concerned with the labor controversy. Project manager took initiative to solve the problems. He started to solve labor problems. Thus, he showed his leadership styles in solving about problems those were concerned with Burj Khalifa project. How was the leadership manifested? This case is all about project of Burj Khalifa construction. This project was facing a lot of problems but project manager handled to all these problems tactfully. He has shown his leadership qualities. If close analysis of case is done, then it is clear that project manager has all three kinds of leaderships. These leaderships are organizational leadership, democratic or participative leadership and transformational leadership. Organizational leadership: There are various evidences those show that project manager has organizational leadership. He knew very well that how to lead as well as manage. Thus, he leads the situation in a good way and manages well to problematic situations. Several rapid rates of changes are occurring in this global economy. Therefore, he showed his organizational leadership qualities, because he was well concerned that if he would not lead or manage then Burj Khalifa project could face the threat of extinction. Thus, he analyzed situation and problems of Burj Khalifa. This leadership has arisen from good bonding relationships with labors of Burj Khalifa building. He tried well to maintain good relationship among upper management and labors. However, labors were facing various problems, but he tried to listen to all those problems. He was not only hearing about those problems but also was trying to solve all those problems. Labors were facing mainly three problems. Main problem was concerned with low wages provided to labors. Other problem was related with their food problem. He talked with upper management to solve labors problems. He gave argument that even he was also suffering with food provided to him. He told to upper management that when he was not comfortable with food, then how other labors could satisfy with food. Therefore, quality food should be provided to them. Thus, these all evidences show that organizational leadership is implemented here in this case. Democratic or participative leadership: Project engineer of this project has also showed democratic and participative leadership. In this kind of leadership, group members take more participative role in decision making process.

This leadership style is an effective leadership style. Productivity also becomes higher through this leadership style. Whole group morale is also increased by this leadership style. Ideas and opinions are shared among group members and they become encouraged by this leadership style. Project engineer of this project Burj Khalifa also has all these democratic leadership qualities. He engages himself in project work. His behavior is also friendly with all labors. He considers that creativity is encouraged and rewarded. When problem related with concrete occurred in project, and then he showed his democratic leadership behavior. He suggested that instead of day time, concrete should use in night time. He considered that at night time temperature remains low in comparison at day time. Thus, he supported to labors. Transformational leadership: Transformational kind of leaders inspires followers to transcend their own self-interests for the good of the organization and is capable of having a thoughtful and extra-ordinary effect on their followers. They change followers awareness of issue by helping them to look at old problems in new ways they are able to excite, arouse, and inspire followers to put out extra efforts to achieve group goals. Transformational leaders are known for the growth in their organizations, bringing about enormous acquisition, diversification, takeovers, mergers, and vibrant operations. Seven characteristics are found common in transformational leaders. These characteristics are: sincerity of the leaders, bonding- effort to develop the organizations as a family. Thus, transformational leader of this case means project engineer inspires followers to transcend their own self-interests and who are capable of having a profound and extraordinary effect on followers. They also motivate their followers in the direction of established goals by clarifying role and task requirement. Project engineer is able to motivate followers to perform above expectations and transcend their own self-interest for the sake of organization. Individualized consideration, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation, and idealized influence all result in extra effort from workers, higher productivity, higher morale and satisfaction, higher organization effectiveness, lower turnover, lower absenteeism, and greater organizational adaptability. Based on this model, leaders are generally most effective when they regularly use each of the four transformational behaviors. How does the theory help us to comment from viewpoint of todays knowledge? Thus, all these three leadership styles help us to comment from the viewpoint of todays knowledge. These leadership styles are presented in a very systematic and logical manner. Project engineer of this project has shown various characteristics of these three leadership styles. He has democratic characteristics and these are presented several times in the case study.

He is also competent and has showed his power. He has also represented that emotional intelligence also plays a great role in any work that can be done fast. If a person shows his emotional intelligence, then workers and labors are also consider sense of belongings with the project. What have we learnt? This case study is concerned with construction building. This construction building Burj Khalifa is worlds tallest building. Various things are impressive in this case study. First impressive thing in this case study is its time period. Means, it has completed in a very short span of time. It is really a learning thing that worlds tallest building construction has completed only within 5 years of time period. Its construction has began on 21 September 2004, and completed on 1st October 2009. Other learning things in this case study are its leadership styles. Three main leadership styles have used impressively in this case study. What should be done differently? Main problem was concerned with wages and food. Project engineer could tell to labors that they should analyze surrounding environment. They should also compare their wages with other labors of other building, and then they would find that they were getting comparatively higher wages. Thus, they should b satisfied with this. If they wanted more wages then they should augment their work level, so that buildings construction period could increase by them. Thus, due to this less construction time period management could think over their wages and it could be increased. Thus, proper communication with labors could lead a better solution of this project. Case study 3: What happened? This case is concerned with extension of highway in Chicago. A senior design Engineer has selected for completion of this project. He had to make this Chicago highway in a six lane highway. Various problems have arisen in this project completion. However, this project aimed to ease the transportation and sustain high economic development. Project specialty was that it was considered one of the busiest highways. Earlier, main problem was concerned with transportation because it was not easy to go from one place to another place. It took hours to clear the jams. This problem was not only concerned with general vehicles but also with heavy vehicles move on this highway. Thus, the motive behind to extend this highway was to make the transportation easy and to put a break on the dangerous accidents taking place on the highways at that time. How was the leadership manifested? In this case study, all these three leadership styles have manifested. These leadership styles are organizational leadership, democratic or participative leadership and transformational

leadership. These all three leadership styles are represented in a very impressive in this case study. Organizational leadership style: Processes and proximal outcomes are involved in organizational leadership. Best example in this case study that evident that organizational leadership is necessary for any good project. Thus, workers commitment is best example of in this organizational leadership style. It contributes to the development of extension highway project. This organizational leadership style is also good because it achieves organizational purpose early. Apart from agitation problem time constraint was also a main problem that was concerned with this project. If this project is closely analyzes then it can be understood that the time given to complete the project was less. Under-construction of highway was main reason behind this time constraint problem. Thus, it was necessary to remove this problem as early as possible. At this time, senior project engineer again showed his organizational leadership style. Senior project engineer tried to build good relationship between management and labors. Various conflicts between employee and employer were solved by this organizational leadership behavior of senior project engineer. The project team also contributed to resolve these problems. The project team maintained continuous communication with the newly appointed workers. They also persuade them to work on this project permanently. Transformational leadership style: Senior design Engineer has also shown his transformational leadership traits. In this kind of leadership, true leaders motivate their teams continuously. These leaders have shared vision of the future. Thus, this vision and mission decide growth of concerned project. Team is also motivated by enthusiasm of transformational leaders. Thus, all these traits are also possessed by senior project engineer of this extension of highway project. Senior project engineer need support of his team employees. He makes it possible by developing personalized relationships, showing concern about the growth of individuals, remaining accessible, and encouraging social relationships. He has other characteristics of consultation and participation. Collectivization and team work are also important characteristics in these transformational leaders. He has also the characteristics of empowerment and support. They serve as role models to others and bring changes continually. He always brings innovative ideas. These all characteristics are possessed by senior project engineer of this case. Transformational leaders have vision and sense of mission. They gain respect and trust. Inspirational motivation is main characteristic of transformational leaders. They communicate high expectations, uses symbols to focus efforts, express important purposes in simple ways. They promote intelligence, rationality, and careful problem solving. They give personal attention, treats each employee individually, coaches, and advice to their followers. Thus, all these characteristics can easily be seen in senior design engineer.

Democratic or participative leadership: Senior project engineer has democratic kind of leadership. This kind of leadership is also known as participative leadership. Various evidences in this case study show that democratic leadership is essential in early completion of project. Main problem in this project was concerned with agitation problem. This agitation was created by rural people who have their farms attached to the highways. Farmers revolted because they got their farms and did not want to loose these farms again due to this extension of highway project. This was a main problem with this project. Thus, it was responsibility of senior project engineer to solve this problem. Here, he showed his democratic or participative leadership characteristic. He went to farmers and heard their problems first. He assured to farmers that they would not get any loss by this extension highway project. Senior project engineer handled situation well. It is also mentioned in case study that two officers were also included in the task force t look over the agitation matter. These two officers also played an important role to end this agitation but main role was of senior project engineer. In democratic or participative leadership style, leaders adopt autocratic decisions. Thus, senior project engineer also proposes decision, listens to feedback, and then he decides that what kind of solution is most appropriate to solve all problems. How does the theory help us to comment from the viewpoint of todays k knowledge? These all three leadership styles have implemented in a good way in this case study. These are systematic and logical. Completion of extension of highway project has become possible by democratic nature of senior project engineer and other important team member. Competent: These all three theories are proficient in nature. Power: A good leader has authority. Therefore, senior project engineer has used his power in a good manner. Emotional intelligence: It is also important because it shows sense of belongingness of labors with project. What have we learnt? Leadership styles those are used in this case study are organizational leadership style, democratic or participative leadership style and transformational leadership style. Various problems have been resolved by using these leadership styles. Thus, it is a learning thing that leadership styles should implemented at right time for the right purpose. Productivity has also augmented by implementation of these leadership style. What should be done differently? Various good things have done in this case study to resolve problems but there are some other various ways those can be applied in this case study. Project engineer has played an important role in this case study. He was acting as mediators among labors and upper

management. He was given authority by upper management. Thus, he could directly talk with labors for problem solving.