Lee Iacocca and Team Dynamics

Paper Summary:

The paper explores why the transformation of Chrysler Corporation under Lee Iacocca is cited as an example of how effective leaders can turn around the performance of a large organization through team dynamics. The paper discusses the two main catalysts that justified a major shift in team dynamics and shows how these team dynamics transformed the organizational culture at Chrysler. The paper concludes with the recommendation for Chrysler to create knowledge networks through the use of supply chain management and planning in order to transform accumulated transactions into knowledge.

Outline:
Introduction
Defining a New Team Leadership Philosophy
Justifying a Major Shift in Team Dynamics at Chrysler
Team Dynamics at Chrysler Transformed the Organizational Culture
Chrysler's New Product Development Innovation Influence on Engineering
Conclusion and Recommendations

From the Paper:

"The transformation of Chrysler Corporation under Lee Iacocca is consistently cited as an example of how effective leaders can turn around the performance of a larger organization through team dynamics (Jacobsen, House, 2001) (Hunter, Macduffie, Doucet, 2002), (Bell, 1996). At the center of the transformation of Chrysler is the redefining of teams that are essential to the new product development process (Lutz, 1994) combined with a passionate vision on the part of Mr. Iacocca to make the entire organization more lean and market-driven (Iacocca, 2007). Mr. Iacocca's vision of team dynamics included alleviating any wasted process, procedure, work group or product (Kouzes, Posner, 2004) while at the same time infusing a high level of accountability and ownership deep into the organization (Iacocca, Whitney, 2007), (Lutz, 1994) and (Harari, 1991)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Adair, John (1985, April). Leadership: The Special Talents That Set a Leader Apart. International Management: Europe Europe, 40(4), 78. Retrieved June 2, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1385965).
• Bell, John (1996, September). Building the new Chrysler. Industry Week, 245(17), 10. Retrieved June 14, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 10242592).
• Brad Bird (2008, June). Real Innovation. Leadership Excellence, 25(6), 7-8. Retrieved June 24, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1496715371).
• C Shawn Burke, Dana E Sims, Elizabeth H Lazzara, Eduardo Salas. (2007). Trust in leadership: A multi-level review and integration.Leadership Quarterly, 18(6), 606. Retrieved June 13, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1397260071).
• Clark, Kim B., Chew, W. Bruce, Fujimoto, Takahiro, Meyer, John, Scherer, F. M.. (1987). Product Development in the World Auto Industry; Comments and Discussion. Brookings Papers on Economic Activity: Microeconomics,729. Retrieved June 19, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 889505).

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