M7A1: Case Study: Case 7.1 Business Case: Steve Jobs’ Shared Vision Project Management Style

****Must be APA Cited****

Project management is one of the disciplines that helps to ensure the success of large, complex, and expensive projects. In this case study, you will focus on Steve Jobs’ approach to project management.

Write a 2-3 page paper not including the cover page or reference pages, that answers the questions from the textbook case study 7.1 – Steve Jobs’ Shared Vision Project Management Style. You must cite at least five independent scholarly sources to support your position, using appropriate APA format.
ase 13.2
Business Case: Steve Jobs’ Shared Vision Project Management Style
Steve Jobs (1955–2011) cofounded Apple Inc. and reinvented the PC, music players, phones, tablets, and digital publishing (Figure 13.15). He is regarded as technology industry’s most notable luminary. He continuously managed remarkably innovative projects—extremely successful ones as well as many failures. Although widely recognized as a marketing and technology guru, Jobs was largely successful because of his project-based approach for managing his business and producing new products. His approach to executing projects ultimately changed the business world. Jobs’s shared vision project management style offers lessons to help managers focus and motivate their team to get projects completed on schedule.

Photo of Steve Jobs.
FIGURE 13.15 Steve Jobs, CEO and founder of Apple Computers and Pixar boss, was one of the greatest project managers.

Shared Vision and Accountability
A significant part of what made Jobs successful was his persistent push to keep projects moving while communicating with his team to ensure that they were working toward the shared vision. He stressed accountability and did not let anyone slide on that principle. He got to know everyone on the team and actively inspired them.

Guy Kawasaki, Apple’s chief evangelist and liaison to the Mac developer community, said Jobs appreciated great work. He was well known for giving employees feedback—publicly telling them if they were great or lousy. His bluntness infuriated some people but also motivated them to either do their best or leave.

Communication
Structure, understanding, and inspiration depend on the one irreplaceable management skill: communication. Part of what made Jobs so successful was his constant push to keep projects moving while communicating with his team to ensure that they were working toward a shared vision. He held regular meetings to avoid wasting time with long e-mail chains and having to address the same concerns multiple times.

Do Not Just Listen—Understand
There is a big difference between listening and understanding. Jobs made sure that he understood everyone on his team and that they understood him. This is done by making people demonstrate that they understand and not simply asking them if they understand. When everyone confirms that they are on the same page, they will keep moving forward.

Questions
Steve Jobs shows the importance of people skills. Explain Jobs’ way of motivating people. For example, did he try to get everyone to like him? Did he try to get everyone to get along with each other?
Why did Jobs’ approach to project management work so well for him?
What lessons can project managers learn from Jobs?
Research Steve Jobs’ management style from reputable sources. What did you learn about how people reacted to Jobs’ style?
Create a checklist of effective project management practices.
Sources: Darton Group (2012), Isaacson (2012), and Kimbrell (2014).

M7A1 Case Study: Case 7.1 Business Case

Abstract

Steve Jobs is one of the most reputable and popular corporate leaders of all time. Through his leadership and vision, he was able to revolutionize how people and organizations across the world interact and communicate, pushing Apple Inc. from the ashes into one of the best performing technology companies in the world. His leadership style has been praised and criticized in equal measure. In this paper, Jobs’ leadership style is discussed, including the various lessons that managers can learn from his style and why the style was effective. The various ways through which Jobs motivated his followers, and how he interacted with them on a daily basis will also be discussed. The paper also includes a discussion of how people reacted to Jobs’ leadership and how project managers can follow in his leadership footsteps.

M7A1 Case Study: Case 7.1 Business Case

How Jobs Motivated People

Jobs understood the value and importance of people skills. He also valued having shared eyesight with his employees, ensuring that they are accountable and that communication within the organization was effective. He was able to motivate people to give their best or leave the organization, always providing either criticism or praise depending on an employee’s performance (Elliot, 2012). He did not try to get people to like him, and some of his employees did not like his strict style of leadership. He, however, sought to know all his employees and to inspire them positively.

Why Jobs’ Approach to Project Management was Effective

Jobs ensured effective communication within the organization. He used a shared vision by selling his vision to the employees and motivating them to achieve the best (Elliot, 2012). Even though not all the people within the organization liked his style or him, he was able to instill values within the workforce and develop an effective corporate culture (Finkle & Mallin, 2010). He always stressed responsibility and was strict, ensuring that his leadership style matched with his strict personality. Jobs always gave feedback to his followers depending on their performance. He was straightforward, which motivated employees.

Project Management Lessons

Managers ought to learn from the leadership and management styles of Jobs. First, they can learn that it is best to look at failure as part of the journey towards success (Finkle & Mallin, 2010). For each of Apple’s successful products, there were other products that did not meet expectations or perform well. Jobs successfully leveraged these failures and turned them into successful products. Project managers should follow the example of Jobs, not losing faith when faced with challenges. Second, project managers should be aware of their constraints and seek to delegate. Even though Jobs was known for being controlling and neat, he was aware of his shortcomings and surrounded himself with professionals with diverse qualifications (Isaacson, 2012). He even let Tim Cook take lead when he realized he could no longer lead. Project managers are known to take on too much responsibility, often becoming inefficient for having too much on their plate. They should learn to delegate to maintain efficiency.

Jobs’ Management Style and how People reacted to it

Jobs sought to know all the people working at the organization and inspiring them to give their best. He appreciated innovative employees and appreciated hard work (Yoffie & Cusumano, 2015). He ensured that communication was effective and believed that teamwork makes the dream work. He avoided long emails and letters, holding regular meetings to avoid the wastage of time. He was strict and demanded the best performance from his employees. Although not everyone liked his style of leadership, he inspired and motivated most of his employees, propelling the company to success and market leadership (Isaacson, 2012).

Effective Project Management Practices

1. Defining the project. This includes explaining the objectives of the project and what the advantages of the project will be. It also includes identifying the necessary resources (Rothaermel, 2013).
2. Developing a work plan. This document provides a stepwise procedure for carrying out a project. The work plan should be detailed and should include the assigning of resources and roles (Rothaermel, 2013). The time span for each task should also be estimated.
3. Project work. After the work plan is complete, the project work can begin. Each task should be completed, in the order of planning. It is important to look out for signs that the project may be facing challenges (Kerzner, 2017). Budget and time span variances should be noted early in the project to utilize correctional measures and ensure that the project remains in line.

References

Elliot, J. (2012). Leading Apple with Steve Jobs: management lessons from a controversial genius. John Wiley & Sons.

Finkle, T. A., & Mallin, M. L. (2010). Steve Jobs and Apple, Inc. Journal of the International Academy for Case Studies, 16(7), 31.

Isaacson, W. (2012). The real leadership lessons of Steve Jobs. Harvard business review, 90(4), 92-102.

Kerzner, H. (2017). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.

Rothaermel, F. T. (2013). Strategic management: concepts. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin.

Yoffie, D. B., & Cusumano, M. A. (2015). Strategy Rules: Five Timeless Lessons from Bill Gates, Andy Grove, and Steve Jobs. Harper Business.