QUESTION $1[25$ MARKS$]$

CASE: The Hour Glass

Dr Jannie Chain Siew Lee is the co$-$founder of the Asia$-$Pasific$-$based watch retailer The Hour

Glass. The business was created in $1979,$ and Jannie served as the company$$s managing director

from $1979$ t$02004,$ when she was appointed as Executive Vice Chairman. She has gained a

reputation as a no$-$nonsense, effective leader. She makes all her decisions based on facts and

figures. When there is a serious problem, she carefully identifies the cause and takes necessary

steps to resolve it$.$ She sets clear, realistic performance goals and checks on progress in attaining

them.

Jannie is forthright and blunt, but she always tries to be fair and considerate with her employees.

She insists on giving employees$$ self $$respect$,$ self$-$esteem, and a positive image of their own

abilities. Jannie believes that an effective leader operates in an environment of mutual trust and

shared goals. Many of her workers have been with her since the company was created, and they

are loyal and highly satisfied with her leadership.

Jannie clearly communicates the company goals and key values, such as high$-$quality products

and customer service. If an employee wants to do something to improve the company

performance and is prepared to put in the necessary effort, she will provide assistance and

support. She ensures that recognition is given to employees for excellent performance and

innovative ideas, and profit sharing allows employees to earn rewards for effective performance.

Jannie is against company or office politics that get in the way of progress in the development

Degree Assignment

July$-$December BLM $711$ Leadership and Change Models

$$ BOU $2024$

Page $3$ of $9$

and sale of company products. When she launched the business, she had two radically different

sales teams with very different sales techniques. One group of salespeople were all women and

the other group were all men. Each team constantly complained about the other, and Jannie could

not allow the conflicts to continue. She had both groups attend a $$clear the air$$ meeting to

discuss their differences, and it was successful in resolving the conflicts and building more

mutual trust and cooperation.

In $2011,$ The Hour Glass had revenue of $$517$ million, a sign that the business continues to

succeed under Jannie$$s effective leadership. In $2002,$ the company was named Singapore$$s

premier brand at the Singapore Brand Awards. Jannie is the founder and president of the

Singapore Women$$s Business Connection, and she was appointed a member of the United

Nations Business Advisory Council in $2004.$

Questions

$1.$ Identify and discuss effective task $$oriented behaviours used by Jannie. $(15$ marks$)$

$2.$ Describe effective relations$-$oriented behaviours used by Jannie.