Assingments % - Toyota's Leadership and Strategy

Select a multinational firm of non-US origin.
Toyota – USE THIS COMPANY
For your initial post, respond to your reservation post by addressing the following items:
Provide an overview of the organization and include the firm’s strategy.

Which leadership style has been associated with the organization’s CEO or top official? You may use a former CEO if you find more information on that person.

Is the leadership style appropriate for the cultural environment of the firm? Identify any skills that the CEO possesses and any that need to be developed.

Defend the leadership style you would use if you were appointed CEO of the organization.
The final paragraph (three or four sentences) of your initial post should summarize the one or two key points that you are making in your initial response.
Your posting should be the equivalent of 1 to 2 single-spaced pages (500–1000 words) in length.

Support your answers with examples and research and cite your research using the APA format.
Submission Details:
Due by 1/23/25 at 10:00pm CST

Requirements:
1. Make certain to include in text citations from your course text in addition to your outside leadership resources within your main post. This adds credibility to your argument. [Textbook]: Lane, H. W., & Maznevski, M. (2014). International Management Behavior: Global and Sustainable Leadership (7th ed.). Hoboken, NY: Wiley. 978-1118527375
2. No plagiarism will be tolerated. Must be in 7th Edition APA format with cited sources within the last 5 years.
3. No AI support, score must be 0% and less than < 10% score on

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Guide to Writing Your Post on Toyota’s Leadership and Strategy

To effectively respond to the assignment, you will need to structure your post clearly and logically. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the points to cover in your post:

1. Overview of Toyota and Its Strategy:

Company Overview: Begin by introducing Toyota as a multinational organization. Discuss its founding, core business areas, and current global footprint. You can mention Toyota’s position as one of the largest automobile manufacturers worldwide and its reputation for innovation and quality.
Company Strategy: Focus on Toyota’s business strategy, highlighting its focus on lean manufacturing, quality control, innovation, and its commitment to sustainable mobility (e.g., hybrid vehicles like the Prius and its electric vehicle plans). Discuss the Toyota Production System (TPS) and its emphasis on efficiency and cost-effectiveness. You can also touch on Toyota’s push towards mobility solutions and green technologies.

2. Leadership Style of Toyota’s CEO or Top Official:

Identify the current or former CEO of Toyota (e.g., Akio Toyoda, the current CEO) and discuss his leadership style. You can reference transformational leadership, which emphasizes innovation, adaptability, and motivating employees to engage in forward-thinking practices. Akio Toyoda, for instance, has been associated with a leadership style that focuses on visionary leadership, balancing both tradition and innovation.
Explain how Toyoda’s leadership style influences Toyota’s internal culture and its global operations, especially in terms of innovation, employee empowerment, and strategic decisions.

3. Suitability of the Leadership Style for the Cultural Environment:

Toyota is a Japanese company with a strong focus on hierarchical respect, loyalty, and collective decision-making, so examine how Akio Toyoda’s leadership aligns with Japan’s cultural values.
Discuss whether his leadership style works well in the Japanese business context and how it is adapted for global operations. Highlight how Toyota’s corporate culture—built on respect, quality, and teamwork—aligns with his leadership.
Identify skills that Toyoda possesses (e.g., adaptability, visionary thinking, focus on sustainability) and areas that could be developed (e.g., perhaps improving diversity in leadership or enhancing digital transformation).

4. Defend the Leadership Style You Would Use:

If you were appointed CEO of Toyota, explain the leadership style you would adopt. Perhaps you would blend aspects of transformational leadership and servant leadership, focusing on employee empowerment, innovation, and collaborative decision-making.
Support your argument with examples, citing why these leadership styles would work in Toyota’s context. Discuss the importance of keeping Toyota’s strong culture of quality and efficiency, but incorporating modern strategies for global competitiveness and employee engagement.
Reflect on how this leadership approach aligns with both Toyota’s traditional values and the current global business environment, where innovation and sustainability are central.

5. Conclusion:

Summarize the Key Points: In 3-4 sentences, recap the key points from your post. Emphasize why Akio Toyoda’s leadership style has been effective for Toyota and explain your personal leadership style choice as CEO, keeping in mind the balance between traditional values and modern leadership demands.

Additional Guidelines:

Research and Citing: Ensure that your post is supported by research, including outside leadership resources and the course textbook (Lane & Maznevski, 2014). Use APA format for citations.
Avoiding Plagiarism: Ensure that all citations are properly attributed and that your work is original. Use in-text citations to back up your arguments and provide credibility.
Word Count: Aim for 500–1000 words, equivalent to 1-2 single-spaced pages.

By following this guide, you will be able to create a well-structured, insightful response to the assignment prompt. Good luck with your post!