Case analysis of leadership decision making in organizations
BUS 330 – Principles of Management
Assignment 2: Organizational Leadership and Decision-Making Case Analysis
Institution: American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait
College: College of Business Administration
Course Code: BUS 330
Assessment Type: Individual Written Case Study Analysis
Word Length: 1,050–1,400 words (approximately 4–5 pages)
Submission Method: Moodle Learning Management System
Weight: 20% of the final course grade
Semester: Spring 2026
Assignment Context
Management courses in business programs frequently ask students to evaluate real or realistic organizational situations in order to understand how leadership choices shape outcomes. Managers rarely operate with perfect information. Decisions may involve uncertainty, competing stakeholder interests, and time constraints.
In this assignment, you will analyze a short organizational case scenario related to leadership and managerial decision-making. The goal is to interpret how leadership style, communication patterns, and organizational culture influence managerial effectiveness. Many organizations operating in the Gulf region continue to balance hierarchical decision structures with collaborative management approaches, which makes this topic particularly relevant for students studying business in Kuwait and the broader Middle East.
The exercise asks you to connect management theory from the course readings with practical examples observed in real organizations.
Learning Outcomes Assessed
After completing this assignment, students should be able to:
- Explain how different leadership styles influence organizational performance.
- Apply management theory to analyze real workplace situations.
- Demonstrate critical thinking when evaluating managerial decisions.
- Communicate management analysis clearly using academic writing conventions.
Assignment Task
Select one real company operating in the Middle East or internationally and evaluate a leadership or management decision that influenced the organization’s performance, strategy, or employee engagement.
Your paper should address the following sections.
1. Organizational Background
- Introduce the organization and its industry.
- Provide relevant context about the company’s structure or leadership model.
- Explain the managerial situation or challenge being analyzed.
2. Leadership Style Analysis
- Identify the leadership approach demonstrated in the situation (for example transformational, transactional, participative, or authoritarian leadership).
- Explain how the leader communicated decisions to employees or stakeholders.
- Discuss possible advantages and limitations of this leadership approach.
3. Managerial Decision Evaluation
- Analyze how the decision affected employees, organizational culture, or strategic direction.
- Explain whether alternative decisions could have produced different outcomes.
- Support your discussion using concepts from the course textbook or scholarly sources.
4. Lessons for Future Managers
- Identify at least two lessons that emerging managers can learn from this case.
- Explain how leadership practices may influence organizational success in competitive business environments.
Formatting and Submission Requirements
- Submit your assignment through Moodle in Word or PDF format.
- Font: Times New Roman, size 12.
- Line spacing: 1.5.
- Use APA 7th edition citation style.
- Include at least three academic sources beyond the course textbook.
- The assignment must be typed and submitted individually.
- Late submissions may receive a deduction of 10% per day unless prior approval is granted.
- Plagiarism or use of unauthorized sources may result in a grade of zero.
Suggested Structure for the Paper
- Introduction (approx. 150–200 words)
- Organizational Background
- Leadership Style Analysis
- Managerial Decision Evaluation
- Lessons for Future Managers
- Conclusion
- References
Grading Rubric
| Criteria | Excellent (A) | Good (B) | Satisfactory (C) | Limited (D/F) | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Understanding of Management Concepts | Demonstrates strong and accurate understanding of leadership theories | Shows good understanding with minor gaps | Basic explanation with limited depth | Concepts unclear or inaccurate | 25% |
| Critical Analysis | Insightful evaluation supported with evidence and examples | Reasonable analysis with some evidence | Limited evaluation | Mostly descriptive with minimal analysis | 30% |
| Use of Sources | Integrates scholarly sources effectively | Sources used appropriately but not consistently | Minimal use of supporting sources | Few or no credible sources | 20% |
| Organization and Writing | Clear structure and logical flow | Mostly organized with minor issues | Basic structure but unclear transitions | Poor organization and writing clarity | 15% |
| Formatting and Referencing | Fully follows APA formatting guidelines | Minor formatting errors | Several citation errors | Formatting not followed | 10% |
Sample Response Excerpt (Example Direction for Students)
Leadership decisions often shape how employees interpret organizational priorities. Managers who communicate openly may build stronger trust among teams, especially during periods of strategic change. A leader who invites feedback from employees can encourage greater participation in decision making and may improve organizational learning. Research suggests that transformational leadership practices are associated with higher employee motivation and commitment because they connect daily work with broader organizational goals (Northouse, 2022). When organizations expand or restructure, leaders who clearly explain the purpose behind decisions often reduce uncertainty and help employees remain engaged.
Recommended References / Learning Materials
APA 7th Edition
Northouse, P. G. (2022). Leadership: Theory and practice (9th ed.). Sage Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781071856131
Yukl, G., & Gardner, W. L. (2020). Leadership in organizations. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 7, 23–45. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-012119-044740
Mintzberg, H. (2019). Simply managing: What managers do and can do better. Berrett-Koehler. https://www.bkconnection.com/books/title/simply-managing
Goleman, D. (2018). Leadership that gets results. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2000/03/leadership-that-gets-results
Antonakis, J., & Day, D. V. (2018). The nature of leadership (3rd ed.). Sage Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781506374599