MBA Dissertation Example on CEO Coaching

MBA Dissertation Sample on Globalization
Introduction
Coaching and mentoring are functions in the human resource that deals with
improving an individual, a team and the general organization. Executive coaching and
mentoring involves the strategic level of an organization’s management going through
a self-improving process to impact themselves, their teams and organizations. The
chief executive officer is expected to set a pace in the organization for his junior
employees and other managers. According to CIMA (2002), organizations can easily
incorporate coaching and mentoring programs in their organizations or hire
professional coaches to mentor their executives. This can also be the case at Skoda
Auto Company. Other than aspects directly affecting the organization, other elements
of the Executives’ lives are looked at. These include their life relationships, purpose and
vision, faith and fortitude and career development. Personal life also has influence on
how individuals carry on their tasks at work.
A mentor and coach need to create an environment that allows for open discussions
with the mentee. This develops trusts and gives way for committed participation. The
mentee’s individuality should be respected and follow up activities employed after
listening and interaction sessions. Feedback or response should be based on
constructive reasons and should be appropriate. As a trainer for CEOs, influencing
them to become mentors and coaches is part of the training procedures. There is need
for the CEO of Skoda Auto company to mentor and coach his junior staff. This paper
provides a report that justifies introduction of a coaching and training program at
Skoda as its Chief executive officer demands (Cook et al, 2004).
(I)Organization resources, procedures and parties involved
The mentoring and coaching procedures will require that some resources are used
from within the organization. The main resources that will be required from the
organization include time and human resource. Mentoring identifies potential and
cultivates it to achieve objectives set by a learner. The learner will therefore dedicate
time and personal commitment in order to be absorbed in the process. This makes the
learner aware of themselves and activities around them. Coaching will also require
time by the organization, however, shorter than mentoring. The leaner sets goals but

leaves to a coach setting of sub-goals and skills. In this case, the management should
be ready to receive feedback that the coach gives through observation. CEO will be
therefore required to apportion his time for other office duties and at the same time
observe how his leaners are faring on (Minter and Thomas, 2000).
The process will include setting of objectives and expected outcome from the process.
Objectives can be promoting the mentoring and coaching practices to be an essential
part of Skoda Auto Company in building the ability of staff and develop teaching and
learning within the organization. These objectives are not only set by the chief
executive officer, but will also involve other management level staff. Coaching and
mentoring is meant to help managers or executives build teams among other
objectives. This effort will therefore involve the executives and their staff at all levels in
order to form that team.
The program will be relevant to the general organization but can also be of special
assistance to specific people within the organization. One of them is those people
among Skoda Auto company staff who need to advance their skills and abilities.
Coaching improves individual performance and develops some skills which individuals
did not have before. This is achieved through a planned procedure involving personal
discussions and targets the learners’ objectives over a short period of time. Mentoring
or coaching is suitable for employees who come back to work after taking break from
work. It enables the employees catch up with any changes that occurred in the
organization in their absence. The program will not only help junior staff, but the coach
or mentor too who is the company’s CEO especially where both parties are working
through challenging matters. The aspect of performance improvement in coaching
and mentoring can be illustrated as shown below:
Application of the program
The program will also entail various procedures for it to work. The first procedure
includes creating a mentality of coaching and mentoring among the team. Before
implementing the program, the team needs to be mentally prepared for the coaching
and mentoring procedures. It will also work if a larger percentage of the team accepts
it. Some individuals are likely to misinterpret the system and look at it as a way to
compromise the management instead of a technique that improves people’s potential.
Communication to the team need to be emphasized by providing adequate
information on time when the programs will be used, what it will and will not solve and
a flexible scheduled that will be easily reviewed.
A mentoring procedure can then be set up considering aspects of the mentoring and
coaching procedures and how it is connected to organization strategies and purpose.
Skoda Auto Company CEO needs to be compatible with the leaners (staff) in order to
avoid issues such as misunderstanding on the basis of character conflicts. Since the
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staff will be involved, there has to be a schedule for participation so as all employees
are not mentored at the same time and normal work routine is left undone. Another
aspect that will need clarity is persons who will carry out the tasks of employees at the
time when they are being mentored and coached.
Finally, there is need for a mentoring and coaching brief after all parties agree on
setting up a mentoring program and commencing it. The stakeholders of the
company, especially management need to agree on what areas do they find it relevant
for mentoring and coaching. Objectives then need to be drawn afterwards and
expected outcomes should be realistic. A feedback procedure should be provided to
communicate outcome of the coaching and mentoring program so as to measure
whether objectives and goals have been attained (Megginson, and Clutterbuck, 2005).
Aspects to be considered while coming up with the mentoring and coaching program
include the current working situations of specific learners, their view of themselves
while carrying out specific roles and their goals in that role. The current work of mentor
or coach is also supposed to be considered and the person responsible for running the
mentoring and coaching program. Another element of consideration is relationship
existing between the two parties, mentor and leaners and aspects of accountability.
Since mentoring and coaching involves a team, the interests of the team should be
noted in terms of its dynamics, any possible changes and relationships within the
team. The general organization should also be remembered since the whole purpose
of the program is to improve performance and skills in the organization. They should
establish compatibility of organizational structure, culture, stakeholders and coaching
and mentoring program goals.
This model involves discussion structure for those leaners who are experienced and is
less directive. The first stage involves establishment of goals by the coach/mentor and
leaner so as to know what they want to accomplish. The mentor and coach together
with trainer should set aside almost half of the meeting for reality stage. The coach
needs to apply appropriate listening skills and for questioning too so as to state and
illustrate matters that are to be addressed. After identifying matters to be addressed,
the next questions asked by the coach will aim at helping the leaner identify any
possible options. Wrap up stage involves establishing actions, also referred to as the
confirmation stage for ability and spirit to act. The parties in this case agree on
activities that the leaner will be involved in during the time which they have not met.
An example of a coaching program standard targets and evaluation can be illustrated
as below:
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(II)Costs and benefits of coaching and mentoring program
Benefits
The coaching and mentoring program will provide a basis for improving leadership
skills, performance and relationships at individual basis, among team members and in
the general organization. Mentoring and coaching links the organization to a good
form of management. It will equip Skoda Auto’s managers with good skills and
willingness to listen to both employees and other stakeholders. It will also improve the
way management thinks by making them lateral thinkers, which is appropriate for
problem solving. Enthusiasm and creation of time are among the management
qualities that coaching and mentoring instills in managers to increase their
involvement in experiences brought about by new work. The management and
administrative school of thought encourage managers to be mentors and coaches of
their staff so as to motivate them to participate in a common process of leaning.
However, managers should learn to balance between active coaching and their
personal agendas so as to avoid possible conflict (Ehrich and Hansford, 1999).
Mentoring provides safety in the organization. First, the CEO finds some one he can
confide in as his mentor. Employees will also be safe confiding with their CEO their
fears, personal frustrations and doubts through sharing. The program will enable
MBADissertation.orgJames Weiss
Objective/Goal
Standard targets
Evaluation
Further recommendation
Coaching program
To work as an incorporated team player
-Share work load
-Voluntarily offer help to colleagues without being
asked to
-Proposing ideas
-Adequate communication with team members
Standard targets met amount to 80%. Observed very
good progress in sharing workload and undertaking
responsibility. A number of good ideas were put forward.
Although there is communication of ideas within the
team, it is not as effective as possible.
It will be appropriate to take charge of the project of a
team which will demand ongoing sessions of briefing
with the team so as to attain success in the project.

employees view the senior as a friend without being worried about their working
relationships, job security and career. In case of a professional mentor to train the CEO,
the executive will not be worried about his own image or that of the organization as a
result of sharing his personal fears and those at work. The free interactions improve
self- awareness of individuals within the mentoring and coaching team and people are
also able to interact with others whose personalities are different from theirs.
The program will ensure that an environment is created where discussions are openly
carried out and support offered for mentees. Mentoring is not an issue of giving advice
and walking away, but developing a strong and lasting professional relationship with
an organization. Mentoring improves communication at all organization levels
including vertical and horizontal communication. This in turn boosts the commitment
of teams and individuals towards the organization and their participation in attaining
organizational goals and profitability. Participants will develop more interest to acquire
knowledge and skills that will result to increased productivity in the organization
through quality delivery of services. Since the program opens up opportunities for the
employees, they will be positive at work knowing that the organization and
management understand their interests. Positive working translates to organization
productivity (Thomas and Saslow, 2007).
Self-awareness through the mentoring and coaching program will give workers and
the CEO of Skoda Auto Company confidence to handle challenges. This also includes
people who are loud and exasperating. It will enable them to believe in themselves and
their capabilities which translate to appropriate behaviors and attitudes, within and out
of the organization. This in turn saves time for conflict resolution and ethical briefings
thus more time in the organization will be dedicated to production. When personal
performance is improved, it reflects in the general performance of the organization.
The problem of employee resigning will be reduced and more will be retained due to a
favorable work space that is a positive organizational culture (Brandham, 2005).
Costs
There are also costs that the company is likely to incur as a result of implementing the
coaching and mentoring program. One of them is damaging management and
leadership styles of the respective manager who is to mentor their employees. A good
management style is susceptible to damage if not separated from management.
According to Spencer-Arnell (2005), a distinction is preferably necessary so as to
separate the mentoring or coaching responsibilities from management
responsibilities. For instance, in case of a team, the manager might fail to divide his
time among all members in the team and end up coaching or mentoring one member
more than others. This is likely to compromise his qualities as a good manager.
Hiring an external coach will involve a number of costs in terms of fees that they are
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paid to train, coach and mentor. Either external or internal, coaching charges are
incurred by the organization. If the organization opted for internal mentor and coach, it
will also incur training costs and continuous fixed costs. Because of the costs on fee,
the organization expenses are therefore increased than normal expenses before
implementation of the coaching and mentoring scheme. Accounts and finances will
have to be adjusted to accommodate the changes. The aspect of time is also an issue
in this case since most time is lost that is chargeable due to coaching and mentoring
of individuals. A longer time is also used in application of coaching as a learning
technique which is a double way process.
Recommendation
The company should consider incorporating a coaching and mentoring program in its
organizational structure. This is to help the CEO and other company employees to
improve their skills and create self-awareness s other than building a spirit of the team
among them. Although there are also costs involved in the program, the benefits of
having a coaching and mentoring program outweigh its costs. Therefore benefits
accrued will be more than costs incurred and that will translate into a profitability of
the business.
(III) Organization culture and knowledge management system of couching and
mentoring
Coaching and mentoring program is likely to cause changes in the organization culture
of Skoda Auto Company. The company initially did not have mentoring and coaching
functions among the responsibilities of a Chief Executive Officer. This culture will be
changed in case the scheme is introduced in the organization. The CEO will have to
perform his managerial duties and also act as a mentor and a coach to his junior staff.
Communication culture will also be changed. Mentoring and coaching program aims
at encouraging communication among team members and with the coach or mentor.
Communication culture is therefore enhanced and people are able to interact with
each other. Communication between team members and the manager will also be
enhanced at professional and personal level as the members will feel safe sharing their
fears, doubts and frustrations with the CEO without fear of losing their jobs or affecting
the professionalism that existed before (McManus, 2006).
Another organizational culture that is likely to be incorporated in Skoda Auto Company
is interaction culture in teams at professional and personal levels. This is then
provided by the mentoring and coaching program by encouraging interactions within
teams and with their leaders. Interaction enables sharing of information.
The knowledge management system is well handled in case a mentoring and
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coaching program is incorporated within the organizational system. Introduction of a
system to transfer and reuse knowledge is important in cutting organizational costs.
Work redundancy and uncertainty will also be avoided by the company. Companies
require knowledge systems that will provide their staff with valid and approved
knowledge especially in cases where the matters being faced by employees is new
and less familiar to them. Implementation of such knowledge systems require
presence of mentors and people that staff and management can trust. A mentoring
and coaching program provides such expertise to solve knowledge management
problems especially were the mentor is an externally hired professional. An internal
mentor with mentoring skills and knowledge will be appropriate to help in managing
the knowledge problem (Howard et al, 2005).
(IV) Benchmarks for success of coaching and mentoring scheme
A feedback mechanism will be provided to ensure that results are measured to
determine if success has been attained through coaching and mentoring.
Questionnaires will be formulated which will be presented to staff and clients of Skoda
Auto company so as to determine whether the mentoring and coaching program has
had any impact on the CEO and the staff themselves. Other than administering
questionnaires to get feedback from the stakeholders, open discussions and
interviews can also be conducted with the individuals to get their response of the
current condition in the company in terms of service delivery and management
participation. A positive response will reflect improvement in business performance
and will therefore be encouraged. However, negative responses might communicate
failures at some points which will be identiﬁed and corrective measures taken.
The success of coaching and mentoring program can also be measured through
returns on investment (ROI) technique. Jones (2007) states that measuring the
success of the program involves measurement of value by linking coaching and
mentoring to business goals that are meant to be attained. Value in this case involves
value attainment and senior management expectations. In other words, success of
the program is measurable with CEO expectations of the outcome. The expectations
are then compared to coaching and mentoring program outcome. If met, then it is
encouraged. If expectations are not met, then there is need to determine factors that
led to unattainability such as unrealistic expectations or failure of the system to
deliver.
Increased return on investment is a decisive element measuring success of the
mentoring and coaching program. Partnership coaching is another indicator of
success in the coaching and mentoring program. According to CIPD website (2008),
practicing coaching in partnerships indicate that the company has closed the gap
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between its business values and mentoring and coaching practices. It is also
indicators of success in inter business communication and communication with
leaders which is a component of the mentoring and coaching program.
The success of mentoring and coaching program can also be reflected in the ability of
the chief executive officer. If the program is successful, it will be indicated by a
value-added ability of the CEO to mentor, coach and develop other staff of Skoda Auto
Company. If more than sixty five percent of the team participants indicate that the CEO
has a notable impact on their potentials, those will be considered as success
occasioned by the mentoring and coaching program (Jones, 2007).
Coaching and mentoring procedures mean more than just getting into the
organization, offering advice and leaving or going on with other work routine. It
involves developing a relationship with the people being mentored or coached.
Organization resources such as the human resource and time are utilized so as
achieve the objectives of the program. However, company’s business routine need to
continue as usual and therefore reallocation of resources and adjustments need to be
done by the human resource and finance or accounts department. In the case of
Skoda Company, it has been established that implementation of the program will be
appropriate since benefits derived are far much more than costs incurred. This proves
the viability of the program. Mentoring and coaching is also responsible for
transforming an organizational culture and help improve knowledge management in
the organization. In addition, there is need for procedures necessary for measuring the
success of a mentoring and coaching program.
Bibliography
Articles
Spencer-Arnell, L. (2005). Coaching and mentoring: unleash your potential. CIMA
Insight. Retrieved from: www.cimaglobal.com/insight
Minter, R. L. and Thomas, E.G. (2000). Employee development through coaching,
mentoring and counseling: a multidimensional approach. Review of Business, Volume
21, Issue 1-2, pp 43-47
Thomas, N. and Saslow, S. Improving productivity through coaching and mentoring.
Chief Learning Officer, May 2007, Volume 6, Issue 5, pp 22-26
CIMA Technical Briefing. (2002). Mentoring and coaching: an overview. London: CIMA.
Retrieved from: http://digbig.com/4xaxm
Ehrich, L C and Hansford, B (1999), ‘Mentoring: pros and cons for HRM’, Asia Pacific
Journal of Human Resources,Vol 37, No 3.
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Jones, R. (2007). Measuring the Success of Coaching and Mentoring. Human capital
institute: Mentium.
E-Books
Adubato, S. (2006). Make the connection: improve your communication at work and at
home. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press
Cook, S., Macaulay, S. and Coldicott, H. (2004). Change management excellence: using
the four intelligences for successful organizational change. London: Sterling, VA:
Kogan Page
Megginson, D. and Clutterbuck, D. (2005). Techniques for coaching and mentoring.
Amsterdam; London: Elsevier Butterworth Heinemann
Other books
Howard, M., Hawkins, P. and Goldsmith, M. (eds). (2005). The art and practice of
leadership coaching: 50 top executive coaches reveal their secrets. Hoboken, NJ: John
Wiley
McManus, P. (2006). Coaching people: expert solutions to everyday challenges.
Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School ; London: McGraw-Hill [distributor]
Websites
CIPD: The HR and development website. (2008). Provides advice, guidance and tools
on coaching and mentoring: home page; learning and development section; coaching
and mentoring. Retrieved from: www.cipd.co.uk
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MBA Dissertation Example on CEO Coaching

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