The two retail companies picked are Walmart and Costco whose 2017 Financial statement links are provided below: WALMART https://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ wmt/financials?query=income- statement COSTCO https://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ cost/financials?query=income- statement Both organizations are well known brands and position themselves well with their customer base. Walmart’s value proposition is “We save people money so they can live better”. On the other hand, Costco’s value proposition is “All-in-one convenience and everyday affordability”. Both retailers focus on cost saving for their customers. Looking at their financial statements and by analyzing them a few key areas are evident when comparing the two organization. Looking at the current ratio and quick ratio we can determine the short-term solvency of each organization. The current ratio can be determined by dividing the assets by the liabilities. Walmart’s current ratio sits at 0.86 while Costco’s sits at 0.99. The quick ratio is c
It is false to argue that leadership is the subject of an inborn trait. Once a leader is born, there are many changes that occur in the surrounding which shape him/her into becoming a good leader. And therefore, according to my own evaluation, my argument will be centered upon the behavioral theories. This theory focuses on the behavior of a person to play a major role in leadership rather than the genetic traits. It depicts what one does in the surrounding rather than the top qualities an individual possess (Lussier, R. N., & Achua, C. F. 2015). In the earliest school of thought, the main leadership style identified was autocratic, where most leaders have leadership styles which are very specific and must be practiced or learned over a given period of time. In the autocratic type of leadership style, one gives strict orders and in return, expect the orders to be obeyed. There are no questions to be asked by the followers but instead, follow the orders. A typical example can be seen among the army soldiers where they strictly follow the orders from their seniors.
Another style is the democratic style of leadership, where leaders have to buy and take into considerations the ideas of their representatives accordingly. The fundamental assumption of this theory that makes it different from the trait theories is that leadership is all about behavior but not exactly traits which can also mean leaders are not necessarily born but rather they can be nurtured, trained to become outstanding world leaders. The theory was later replaced by the contingencies theory which predominantly argues that leadership is a subject to situational or environmental factors such as working environment, peer circles that shapes one to become a leader (Germain, M. L. 2012).
It has always been a difficult debate to establish a more correct theory. As a matter of fact, we can’t deny that nature plays a heavy role in leadership. Traits have been depicted in many great leaders. The traits help to know what leadership is. However, still, nature may not wholesomely be a perfect answer to proper leadership since great leaders hail from different backgrounds, places, and the children of great leaders may not necessarily be leaders in the future.
References
Lussier, R. N., & Achua, C. F. (2015). Leadership: Theory, application, & skill development. Nelson Education.
Germain, M. L. (2012). Traits and skills theories as to the nexus between leadership and expertise: Reality or fallacy?. Performance Improvement, 51(5), 32-39.
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