The role of leadership and management at Riordan Manufacturing
1. Introduction
In any organization, leadership and management play a vital role in achieving the set goals and objectives. The relationship between leadership and management has been a topic of debate for a long time with different authors having varying opinions. In some organizations, leadership is considered to be more important while in others management is deemed to be more crucial. However, both leadership and management are essential in any organization as they complement each other. In this essay, we will assess the leadership and management at Riordan Manufacturing and try to determine the balance between the two. We will also analyze the relationship between leadership and management at Riordan Manufacturing to see how the two complement each other.
2. History and overview of Riordan Manufacturing
Riordan Manufacturing is a global plastics manufacturer that produces plastic injection molding for a variety of industries including automotive, aircraft, appliance, food and beverage packaging, electronics, home care and personal care products. The company has 550 employees with plants in San Jose, California, Albany, Georgia, Pontiac, Michigan, and Hangzhou, China (University of Phoenix, 2010). The company was founded in 1991 by Dr. Riordan who was a professor of chemistry at the University of Michigan. He started the company with three plastic injection molding machines in his garage with the help of his wife and brother-in-law (University of Phoenix, 2010). The company has grown over the years and now has an annual revenue of $46 million (University of Phoenix, 2010). The company has adopted Six Sigma as its quality control strategy and has been able to reduce defects by 99 percent (University of Phoenix, 2010).
3. Leadership at Riordan Manufacturing
The leadership at Riordan Manufacturing can be described as transformational. The company has undergone many changes over the years in order to remain competitive in the market. The company has adopted new technologies, expanded into new markets and changed its organizational structure. The leaders at Riordan have been instrumental in making these changes possible. They have motivated employees to embrace change and adopt new technologies. They have also created a culture of innovation and creativity within the organization. The leaders at Riordan have also been effective in communicating the vision and strategy of the organization to employees. This has helped employees understand the direction in which the company is moving and their role in achieving its goals. Furthermore, the leaders at Riordan have been able to create a sense of ownership among employees by involving them in decision making process. This has helped employees feel empowered and motivated to achieve the goals of the organization.
4. Management at Riordan Manufacturing
The management at Riordan Manufacturing can be described as bureaucratic. The company has a very hierarchical organizational structure with clear lines of authority. The managers at Riordan are very focused on following rules and procedures. They are also very concerned with ensuring that employees comply with these rules and procedures. This focus on rules and procedures often results in managers being inflexible when it comes to making decisions. They are also reluctant to delegate authority to subordinates as they feel that this may result in chaos or disorder within the organization. However, this inflexibility often results in managers being unable to make timely decisions which can adversely affect the performance of the organization.
5. The relationship between leadership and management at Riordan Manufacturing
The relationship between leadership and management at Riordan Manufacturing can be described as harmonious. Both leaders and managers play a vital role in the organization and they complement each other. While leaders are responsible for setting the direction for the organization, managers are responsible for ensuring that this direction is executed effectively. This complementary relationship between leadership and management has helped Riordan Manufacturing to achieve its goals and objectives.
6. Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be seen that leadership and management play a vital role in any organization. Both leaders and managers have different but complementary roles to play in an organization. The relationship between leadership and management at Riordan Manufacturing can be described as harmonious. This harmonious relationship has helped Riordan Manufacturing to achieve its goals and objectives.