Report on Fauquier Gas Company

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Fauquier Gas Company is one of the nation's 440 gas companies located in the Carolinas. It is about to take a new step in gassing a three and a half miles of large-diameter pipes for a new residential and commercial area development. The supply department as well as the vice president for operations is responsible in getting the project done.

Like any other company, Fauquier Gas Company has its problems. In this case, the leadership style of the vice president caused major setbacks in managing the project. Leadership can be described as the process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task. In its essence, leadership in an organizational role involves (1) establishing a clear vision, (2) sharing that vision with others so that they will follow willingly, (3) providing the information, knowledge, and methods to realize that vision, and (4) coordinating and balancing the conflicting interests of all members or stakeholders. A leader comes to the forefront in case of crisis, and is able to think and act in creative ways in difficult situations.

Every organization needs a leader (and preferably several leaders) to "show the way" to others as the organization strives to define and achieve its goals. Identifying, developing and sustaining leadership in your organization must be one of your strategic objectives. Without leaders at every level of your organization, your organization may well under-perform. It may miss strategic opportunities, stifle innovation, underutilize your employees, and fall short of its goals in customer service, quality, productivity, and profitability.

The vice president has shown a laissez faire type of leadership whilst doing this project. It is basically an unstructured leadership where a manager gives subordinates direct decision-making responsibilities. The vice president have left the subordinates to work on their own without giving them or delegating direct responsibilities and a timeframe that they should finish their tasks. His work load has lighten and therefore the pressure to get the project done has fallen onto the