Week 4: Research Proposal

Leadership and Management: Two Different Skills for Today’s Leaders

The word “Leadership” and “Management” are often used as synonyms. However, looking back at the historical background of these words, each has a distinct meaning. The concept “Leadership” can be dated back to ancient times such as argument about aristocracy made by Prato. Also, “The Prince” by Machiavelli written in 16C, is probably the most powerful book regarding this theme. On the other hand, the concept “Management” is quite new, as it was born as a result of industrial revolution in the modern times, when owners became separated from administrators (Bjerke 1999). This paper aims to clarify first, the difference between the concept “Leadership” and “Management” and second, the concrete cases where both skills are needed. It seems that today’s leaders, the people who lead organizations, need to be aware of both Leadership and Management skills, have them, and utilize them.  Especially, when the smaller the organization is, the more important it becomes for leaders. Francisco and Bass points out the political traits of organization such as power, conflict, and coalition and also, political aspect of the leaders (2008). Chait, Ryan, and Taylor claims that there are three modes of governance (fiduciary mode, strategic mode, and generative mode) and that that is the most effective way (2005).

From the very beginning of this course, I had this question in me: What's the difference between Leadership and Management? Actually, the book I decided to read when I started my job as a convener was "Management" by Peter Ferdinand Drucker. To clarify my assumption here, I'm thinking that management deals with human's rational part, and leadership deals with human's emotional part. I think, even though we know there are emotional part and rational part inside us, we are neither always aware of it nor taking care of these two when we're in groups. So, I think clarifying the difference can be useful in terms of it enables us to be more effective and efficient in working in groups.