Case Study: Dow Chemical Develops Leaders By Sending Them Work PDF

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Case Analysis...

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"Dow Chemical Develops Leaders by Sending Them to Work in Unfamiliar Surroundings"

Case Analysis 2 Questions

1. What competitive challenges motivated Dow Chemical to develop the Leadership in Action?

Dow developed the Leadership in Action program because the company realized that the training was missing a hands-on experience that taught participants how to understand culture context (Everson, 2015). Dow would send best employees to leadership development classes, both domestically and internationally. Unfortunately, that program didn’t suffice.

2. Do you think the Leadership in Action contributes to Dow Chemicals business strategy and goals? Explain.

Yes, leadership in action is significantly contributing to the business strategy and goals identified by the Dow Chemicals. The company is a well-known name and has created 2025 sustainability goals. To achieve the goals, the company planned to connect with more than 1 billion people by 2025 and it is only possible when Dow creates and develops the new line of leaders to lead the company in different areas (Everson, 2015). In this regard, Dow Chemical has implemented leadership in action program and made efforts to develop the individual leaders who can give momentum to the company’s initiatives towards the goals. As a result, the company has not only increased its sales revenue, but also the company has diversified its product portfolio.

3. How would you determine if the Leadership in Action program was effective? What metrics or outcomes would you collect? Why?

Companies today live under the relentless glare of metrics. some methods currently being used to evaluate performance. One way to evaluate performance is by using the Performance Measurement System.

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS

Performance measurement is an important basis for any organization and can help ensure that:

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Best practices in the organization are identified and expanded,

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Processes are benchmarked against the performance of outside organizations,

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Resources are used efficiently and effectively, and

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Strategic activities are aligned to the strategic plan.

4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Leadership in Action program, compared to more traditional ways of training leaders such as formal courses (e.g., an MBA program) or giving them more increased job responsibility? The advantages of the leadership in Action Program compared to more traditional ways of training: 

Energizing talent in the ranks: Effective leadership programs can create greater employee engagement of a leader with executives and employees. Senior leaders learn to value employees and let them lead the projects which are big motivation for employees and hence improve employee engagement at work.

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Testing your mettle: These programs challenge your leadership skills which are more advantageous than that of theoretical based instructions and programs. Effective leadership program integrate work and training that is done every day on job.

The disadvantages of the leadership in Action Program compared to more traditional ways of training: 

Failing to connect: These programs prove to be disadvantageous, if implemented in an ineffective way. When company follows one-size-fits-all approach, it will lead to ineffective programs which will not going to benefit for all people with different skills and understanding.

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Long road: Leadership programs take time to actually pay-off and show its benefits. In a survey, it was found that only 13 percent of these programs were effective which were for two years whereas there were 38 percent of these programs were effective which took five years.

References

Everson, K. (2015). "Dow chemical's new formula for global leaders," chief learning officer. Retrieved from www.dow.com.

Noe, R. (2017). Employee training and development. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education....