Dr. Miles Weaver, Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Management. This lecture was first delivered to an audience attending one of Leicester Business School's Open Day events. Discusses Barack Obama 'Race to the Whitehouse' explored through motivational and leadership theory. A sample for a taster lecture of a typical lecture at Leicester Business School, DMU. http://www.dmubusiness.org/podcasts/audio/business/taster-lecture-miles-weaver-03-12-08.mp3

1. To Chairman Dean and my great friend Dick Durbin, and to all my fellow citizens of this great nation, with profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for presidency of the United StatesBarack Obama’s Acceptance Speech (August 28, 2008)

2. ‘The race to the Whitehouse: Some theoretical perspectives on the art of Obama’s victory’ Miles Weaver, Lecturer in Strategic Management, Leicester Business School Office hours: Monday 4PM – 5PM Wednesday 12PM – 1PM

3. Session learning Outcomes Discuss how management and strategy theory can be linked to practiseusing a real world example Demonstrate how this can be discussed in class Draw some lessons on the DMU student learning experience

4. Activity “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer” – Barack Obama Victory Speech (2008) What factors could explain Obama’s victory in the US elections? Write some key words on the post-it for discussion “Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America”

5. Management and strategy theory- can help us understand and analyse the discussion question Management is the activity of getting things done with the aid of people and other resources (Boddy, 2008) Organising Organisational structure Managing people Managing information technology Managing change and innovation Leading Influence and power (e.g. leadership) Motivation Communication Team working This world is but a canvas for our imaginations - Henry David Thoreau

6. Management and strategy theory- can help us understand and analyse the discussion question Management is the activity of getting things done with the aid of people and other resources (Boddy, 2008) Planning Decision-making Strategic management Organisational mission, goals and strategies External analysis of opportunities and threats Internal analysis of strengths and weaknesses Strategy formulation Strategy implementation Evaluation of results Controlling Performance measurement and control Financial and budgetary control Managing operations and quality “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change.” - Darwin

7. Motivation? As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair. – Barack Obama Victory Speech (2008) Comparison of the Maslow and Alderfer categories of needs (cited in Boddy, 2008)

8. Motivation? Yes we can! The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there. It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America – Barack Obama Victory Speech (2008) Comparison of the Maslow and Alderfer categories of needs (cited in Boddy, 2008)

9. Leadership, power and Influence? Tactics to influence others Kipnis et al. (1980) and Yukl (1990, 1992) identify 9 tactics people use when influencing subordinates, bosses, colleagues: Rational persuasion: logical arguments Inspirational appeal: appeals to aspiration – creates enthusiasm Consultation: seeks his/her participation Ingratiation: seeks to get him/her in a good mood Exchange: offers an exchange of favours Personal appeal: appeals to feelings of loyalty & friendship Coalition: seeks the aid of others to persuade Legitimating: presents it as consistent with org. policies Pressure: uses demands, threats, reminders

10. Understanding the competition? “Strategy is the creation of a unique and valuable position, involving a different set of activities… The essence of strategic positioning is to choose activities that are different from rivals.” - Porter (1996) We say: “Know yourself and know your enemy. You will be safe in every battle. You may know yourself but not know the enemy. You will then lose one battle for every one you win. You may not know yourself or the enemy. You will then lose every battle.” - Sun Tzu (403–221 BC)

11. We understand theory so we can apply, analyse and evaluate practise in different environments and settings

12. Professional Socialisation:… and why not also learn by doing?

13. Summary Discussed some theoretical perspectives to understand some of the factors that may help explain Obama’s victory Using some representative management and strategy theory, but we could go on … Attempted to show how learning can be an engaging, enabling and fulfilling process Show an example of what you could expect on a degree at Leicester Business School E.g. lectures and tutorials, independent learning, group work

14. Further reading “He who learns but does not think is lost” - Chinese Proverb

15. “Be the change you wish to see in the world” - Mahatma Gandhi Miles Weaver, Lecturer in Strategic Management. mweaver@dmu.ac.uk