This assignment started in November 2007 and ended in February 2008. Due to the topic of
this assignment and the huge possibilities embedded within, I found it quite challenging at the
beginning to find an appropriate example of a leader.
In the end I decided to write this case about someone, who is well known, controversially
discussed and not only a person but also a personality – Vladimir Putin.
A man who is not certain where to look about, rather shy, on the right hand side of this 187
cm giant Boris Jelzin. Vladimir Putin’s posture is hesitant and observant. This picture was
taken 9 years ago in 1999.
In this assignment we will learn who he was, who he became and who he is and what impact
he had on his country - Russia.
The key data for Russia are amazing. One can conclude from the size (17.075.400 square
kilometres with 142.400.000 inhabitants with eleven time zones) of the country, the
billionaires and the poor, the history and power of this state, that a lot can be achieved – for
the good or for the worse.
If we have a short look at the recent political history of Russia before Putin was elected
president, we are faced with Boris Jelzin. A great man in size, but weak in politics.
The cultural history which emerged throughout the last decades is assertiveness - almost
aggressiveness – an effective way to work oneself up the social ladder. Another trade is the
in-group collectivism and gender egalitarianism. (page 310, Leadership – Theory and
Practice, Peter G. Northouse, SAGE). Especially the trait of in-group collectivism will be a
necessary stepping-stone for Putin’s career.
Putin's well-calculated steps, from the beginning of his political career to the peak of his carrer is described and shows who is pulling the strings behind the political stage of Russia.
His leadership style is analysed against various leadership theories.
The recent events (May 2008) support the trend which is analysed in this case.
Structure
II. Table of Figures
From Secret Service to World Power – The rise of Russia’s Leader:
1. Preface:
2. Who is Vladimir “Vladimirovich” Putin? - Introduction:
2.1. Vladimir Putin – in brief
2.2. Russia and his family – Putin’s background
2.3. Milestones in Putin’s career
3. Is Vladimir Putin a manager or a leader?
4. What kind of leader is Putin?
4.1. Who are his stakeholders?
4.2. What is his leadership style?
4.2.1. The three phases of leadership
4.2.2. Transformational leadership
4.2.3. Bennis and Nanus
4.3. Team-building and power
4.4. Success stories and failures within seven years
4.4.1. Success stories:
5. Is he good in what he is?
6. Is class-book leadership knowledge applicable and practicable in Russia?
7. Conclusion in short
8. Pictures of Russia
II. References
II. A. Books/Magazines
II. B. Internet
II. Table of Figures
Figure 1 Vladimir Putin (left side) and Boris Jelzin, autumn 1999. Source: dpa
Figure 2 Vladimir Putin - supposedly 14 years old, upper row second from left. Source: Time.com
Figure 3 Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmilla. Source: Time.com
Figure 4 Swearing in of Putin on 7th May 2000 in Moscow. Source: Time.com
Figure 5 Election results from the 8th December 2003. Kremlin-close parties won the election. Putin was reaffirmed
Figure 6 Leadership and Power. page 10 Chapter 1 - SAGE publications
Figure 7 Types of Leadership defined Burns (1978) Chapter 9 - SAGE publications
Figure 8 Bennis & Nanus (1985) Four leader Strategies in Transforming Organisation. SAGE production
Figure 9 1st Jan 2006. The Gazprom is shutting down pipelines to Ukraine. Source:Tagesschau
Figure 10 Hostages of Chechen rebels in September 2004. A massacre happened.
Figure 11 Anna Politkowskaja. She is taking notes during an interview of Russian soldiers who are stationed at the front of the Chechen war. Source dpa
Figure 12 Anna Politkowskaja - murdered on 7th October 2006. Source dpa
Figure 13 Alexander Liwinenko was murdered in London. Source: dpa
Figure 14 Vladimir Putin for the Times. 2007. Source: Time.com
Figure 15 Putin practicing his favourite sport – Judo in 1971. Source: picture-alliance dpa
Figure 16 Putin is still practicing Judo. This picture was taken in 2000 at the Japanese Kodokan Judo Center. Source: picture – alliance dpa
Figure 17 Putin’s VV Fan Club. The shirts read “I want Putin” Source: Time.com
Figure 18 (left picture) Russia’s Poorest. A beggar in St. Petersburg. Source: Time.com
Figure 19 (right picture) Russia’s Riches. A lady tasting a sample cigar at the Millionaire's Fair in 2007 in Moscow. Source: Time.com
Figure 20 Gross Domestic Product Russia 2000 until forecast 2010. November 2007 : Annotations:
From Secret Service to World Power – The rise of Russia’s Leader:
1. Preface:
This assignment started in November 2007 and ended in February 2008. Due to the topic of this assignment and the huge possibilities embedded within, I found it quite challenging at the beginning to find an appropriate example of a leader.
The search of an interesting and well-known person determined the last weeks and months. Great personalities such as Jack Welch, Attila - the king of the Huns, Napoleon, Patrick Kron or Ernesto Che Guevara came to my mind. All of them interesting and well known, but not catchy enough.
In the end I decided to write this case about someone, who is well known, controversially discussed and not only a person but also a personality – Vladimir Putin.
This case will answer the questions provided by the module leader. And as in other assignments, I will give an executive summary whenever applicable. For your convenience the highlights from the text will be shown in a grey textbox.
Executive summary will be given whenever applicable. For your convenience the highlights from the text will be shown in a grey textbox.
2. Who is Vladimir “Vladimirovich” Putin? - Introduction:
2.1. Vladimir Putin – in brief:
Who is this man in the picture below?
illustration not visible in this excerpt
A man who is not certain where to look about, rather shy, on the right hand side of this 187 cm giant Boris Jelzin. Vladimir Putin’s posture is hesitant and observant. This picture was taken 9 years ago in 1999.
Figure 1 Vladimir Putin (left side) and Boris Jelzin, autumn 1999. Source: dpa (german press agency)
In this assignment we will learn who he was, who he became and who he is and what impact he had on his country - Russia.
2.2. Russia and his family – Putin’s background
The key data for Russia are amazing. One can conclude from the size (17.075.400 square kilometres with 142.400.000 inhabitants with eleven time zones) of the country, the billionaires and the poor, the history and power of this state that a lot can be achieved – for the good or for the worse.
If we have a short look at the recent political history of Russia before Putin was elected president, we are faced with Boris Jelzin. A great man in size, but weak in politics.
The cultural history which emerged throughout the last decades is assertiveness - almost aggressiveness – an effective way to work oneself up the social ladder. Another trade is the in-group collectivism and gender egalitarianism. (page 310, Leadership – Theory and Practice, Peter G. Northouse, SAGE). Especially the trait of in-group collectivism will be a necessary stepping-stone for Putin’s career.
The economical history has been neatly described by a journalist and one of the main opponents of Putin – Anna Politkowskaja – in the book “Putin’s Russia” (publisher B&T, 27. December 2005 found on www.perlentaucher.de/artikel/2159.html (german)). The book gives also a snapshot of “Tanja”, an example from rags to financial and political riches by being able to play the game of the open markets and the break apart of business magnets - oligarchs. With riches entrepreneurs were able to buy themselves into local politics and concentrated more power around them.
But for most of the Russians their daily live was less pleasant. Two jobs were needed to make ends meet. The younger generation were and still are on drugs. An estimation of Dr. Tatjana Shukowa gives a figure of around 1.9 million drug addicted children between the age of eleven and twenty-four. Around 500.000 mothers are drug-addicted and most of their children, too. (page 91 in german from a Austrian internet site: “Öffentliche Sicherheit” 7-9/06 – Russia by Tatjana Shukowa http://www.bmi.gv.at/oeffentlSicherheit/2006/07_08/Russland.pdf).
Political history: The former president Boris Jelzin was a weak president
Cultural history: Assertiveness in business and group collectivism are traits of East-Europeans.
Economical history: State owned companies are privatized. Rich Oligarchs and a poor majority of Russians.
2.3. Milestones in Putin’s career
“My grandfather was quite discreet. My parents also didn’t talk a lot about the past.” (page 98, from german, Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries and Stanislav Shekshnia, Harvard Business Manager, August 2006). This very usual family was able to survive due to two characteristics: Retentiveness and discreetness. His grandfather was a cook for Stalin and was able to survive this era due to those characteristics.
Born as an only child of a factory worker and a marine in 1952 (7th October 1952) he grew up well protected. From the early years he practiced judo, and he still does.
illustration not visible in this excerpt
Figure 2 Vladimir Putin - supposedly 14 years old, upper row second from left. Source: Time.com
illustration not visible in this excerpt
Figure 3 Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmilla. Source: Time.com
After graduating from Leningrad State University in 1975 he was recruited by the KGB[1] (the committee of state security) where he passed the retaining courses and served for the foreign intelligence sector. He became acquainted to an important companion from this point on – Sergei Ivanow. In 1980s he married Lyudmilla Shrkebneva and accomplished his studies at the KGB High school. During this time he was transferred to Eastern Germany and experienced the collaps of the german democratic republic.
His next and first political position was the Assistant of the major of St. Petersburg (formally Leningrad). After the defeat of Anatoli Sobtschak he was called to Moscow and introduced to Boris Jelzin by recommendation of Anatoli Tschubais. In 1998 – after various jobs he became the First Deputy Chief of Presidential Staff for regions.
The last station before becoming president was the appointment to one the three prime ministers in 1999. During the Moscow times Putin proved to be a loyal member. This trait helped him in the upcoming years, especially when Jelzin resigned and Putin became his temporary successor. He won the elections and was sworn in as the new president on 7th may 2000.
[...]
[1] KGB is the committee of the state security, in the following text, the initials KGB will be used.
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