Discuss case study “Women’s Skills, Capabilities, Value Critical for Company’s Success-Accenture” PDF file. The case relates to chapter 15 “Leadership and Management Behavior in Multinational Corporations”. Answer questions 1-2 listed on the assignment.
This case describes the advantages women offer as leaders of multinationals.
Answer the following questions:
1.Why are women seen as better leaders of multinationals than men?
2.What specific advantages do women have in their role as leaders?
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Women’s Skills, Capabilities, Value Critical for Company’s
Success – Accenture
Date: Mar. 10, 2013
From: allAfrica.com
Publisher: AllAfrica Global Media
Document Type: Article
Length: 747 words
Lexile Measure: 1760L
Full Text:
Byline: Oluwaseyi Bangudu
Mar 10, 2013 (Premium Times/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) — The skills and capabilities women offer various multi-nationals
and indigenous companies cannot be over emphasised and should be recognised and nurtured, Accenture, a multinational
management, consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, has said.
The organisation, which ranks as one of the world’s largest consulting firm measured by revenue, said it is interested in growing the
numbers of women leaders around the globe and demonstrating commitment to the potential and the possibility for advancement,
particularly in market-facing leadership positions.
“The skills, capabilities and value that women bring to the table are critical to a company’s success,”the firm said in a documentary
commemorating the 2013 International Women’s Day, adding that as an organisation, it is obligated to offer women leadership
opportunities so it can attract, retain and ultimately, advance them.
“Through skills development, we help women aspire to get to the next level, building their confidence to take that step and provide a
roadmap for successful careers and for positioning themselves in the right roles,” it said.
Organisations have continued to give women opportunities to prove their skills and capabilities. Women have continued to rise in their
career paths globally, filling positions which, years ago were not deemed fit for women such as Chief Executive Officers, Chief
Operating Officers, Vice Presidents of organisations, Managing Directors, Country Managers, Heads of Departments, Ministers and a
host of others.
According to the firm, a woman’s ability to define and achieve her goals and to evolve them over time creates the opportunity to
pursue and integrate career, personal interests and responsibilities.
“We strive to help our women access the global network to develop their plans, evolve them appropriately during different life stages,
have confidence to ask for the next role and take risks along the way,” the firm said.
The organisation said it has a range of initiatives, from succession planning to customize training, that help identify and advance its
women leaders and arm them with the right skills for the right work with the right clients in the right locations.
“Our leaders and executives are personally committed to participating and sharing their experiences at our annual global International
Women’s Day events (for the ninth consecutive year) which focus on building skills and offering practical information that women can
apply to their work and personal lives,” it said.
The Nigerian arm of ‘Accenture’s International Women’s Day’ celebration, the organisation’s annual recognition of the United Nations
designated event, took place in Lagos on Friday and saw women gather from all works of life to share their experiences with the
younger generation on the challenges they encountered on their career pathway and how they were able to overcome them.
Guest speakers at the event were Awuneba Ajumogobia, a Non-Executive Director of UAC of Nigeria Plc. since July 22, 2009, who
served as an Audit Manager of Deloitte and has 21 years’ experience in External Audit, Accounting & Finance and Marketing; Yvonne
Ike, an internationally-acclaimed investment banker credited with pioneering a number of ground breaking transactions in West Africa
region and presently the CEO West Africa, Renaissance Group (Investment Banking) and; Funmi Ogunlesi, an Executive Director
and Africa Public Sector Head for Citi Transaction Services at Citibank.
Mrs. Ogunlesi, who was the Managing Director of Citibank Gabon from 2002 to 2007, urged women to constantly learn and improve
in their career path in line with fast changing technology.
“This is important because this fast changing technology can render what you knew five years ago redundant. You have to learn new
skills. I know it is tough with the kids and there is the time constraint factor but we all have to work towards that. Push that boundary
of your knowledge,” she said.
She said that of more concern is the emergence of the younger generation coming into the work force with ‘rocket science’
knowledge and speed. Hence the older generation, she said, would have to demonstrate their competence and experience by being
constantly in touch with developments and innovations.
“Be feminine, but focus. Think strategically about your career. Women are more resilient. We can embrace and do more things than
we think we can. Always look out for opportunities,” Mrs. Ogunlesi advised.
Women were also urged to be engaged in careers and job descriptions that bring them fulfillment and to hold on to integrity, in
whatever capacity they may be called to fill.
Copyright Premium Times. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2013 AllAfrica Global Media
http://allafrica.com/
Source Citation (MLA 9th Edition)
“Women’s Skills, Capabilities, Value Critical for Company’s Success – Accenture.” allAfrica.com, 10 Mar. 2013. Gale Business:
Insights, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A321712998/GBIB?u=tihsho_b&sid=bookmark-GBIB&xid=da32eb54. Accessed 25 Jan. 2023.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A321712998
The Advantages Women Offer as Leaders of Multinationals According to a documentary
honoring the 2013 International Women’s Day, it must give women leadership opportunities to
draw them in, keep them around, and ultimately promote them. By fostering their confidence to
take the next step, providing a road map for successful careers, and putting them in the correct
situations, we assist women in aspirationally moving to the next level. According to
(allAfrican.com, 2013), organizations have kept giving women opportunities to demonstrate their
strengths and skills. Around the world, women have continued to advance in their careers, taking
on roles that were previously considered unsuitable for them, including chief executive officers,
chief operating officers, vice presidents of organizations, managing directors, country managers,
heads of departments, ministers, and a host of others. In the book “Diversity in Organizations” by
Myrtle P. Bell and Joy Leopold, the authors discuss the growing trend of women in leadership
positions in multinational organizations. The value that women offer to an organization in terms
of talents, competencies, and value is essential to its success. Practical communication skills are
crucial for women in leadership roles to successfully navigate complex negotiations and resolve
conflicts in a manner that satisfies all involved parties. According to Cullen & Parboteeah(2017),
women are seen as better leaders in this context due to several factors, including their ability to
adapt to different cultures, their collaborative approach, and their communication skills. There
are various advantages of women in their role as leaders. One advantage women have as leaders
of multinational organizations is their ability to adapt to different cultures (Bell & Leopold,
2017). In today’s globalized economy, companies operate in multiple countries—diverse
cultures, languages, and customs. Women are more adept at navigating these cultural differences,
which can give them an edge as leaders of multinational organizations. They can understand and
appreciate cultural nuances, which can help them build relationships with employees, clients, and
stakeholders in different parts of the world. Another advantage women have as leaders of
multinational organizations is their collaborative approach (Cullen & Parboteeah, 2017). Women
tend to be more inclusive in their leadership style, which can help them build cohesive and highperforming teams. In a global context, where employees come from different backgrounds and
perspectives, this collaborative approach can be particularly effective in building a sense of unity
and shared purpose. Women leaders can create an environment where everyone feels valued and
heard, leading to increased motivation, loyalty, and productivity. Women also tend to have
excellent communication skills, which is another advantage they have as leaders of multinational
organizations. Effective communication is essential globally, where employees and stakeholders
may speak different languages or have different communication styles (Cullen & Parboteeah,
2017). Women are often skilled at communicating in a clear, concise, and empathetic way, which
can help them build trust and rapport with employees, clients, and stakeholders worldwide.
Women leaders who can communicate effectively can navigate complex negotiations and resolve
conflicts in a way that satisfies all parties involved. In addition to these advantages, other factors
contribute to women’s success as leaders of multinational organizations. For example, women
often have a strong sense of empathy, which can help them understand the needs and concerns of
employees and stakeholders in different parts of the world. They may also have a more holistic
approach to problem-solving, considering a range of factors beyond just financial metrics, and it
can lead to more sustainable and socially responsible business practices, enhancing a company’s
reputation and building stakeholder trust. In conclusion, women are seen as better leaders of
multinational organizations due to their ability to adapt to different cultures, collaborative
approach, and communication skills. These advantages can help women build high-performing
teams, navigate complex negotiations, and build relationships with stakeholders worldwide.
References allAffrica.com. (2013, March 15). Women’s skills, capabilities, and value are critical
for the company’s success –accenture. Businessday NG. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from
https://businessday.ng/markets/article/womens-skills-capabilities-value-critical-for- companyssuccess-accenture / Bell, M. P., & Joy Leopold. (2017). Cultural diversity in organizations:
Theory, research & practice. Cengage learning. Cullen, J. B., & Parboteeah, P. (2017).
Multinational management: A strategic approach. Cengage Learning.