A study to know personality of business leader

STEVE JOBS
SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

SUBMITTED BY
NAVPREET SINGH RANDHAWA
2MBA-J
1627722

SUBMITTED TO

Dr. Arti Arun Kumar

INTRODUCTION
Born in February 24, 1955 at San Francisco, California, U.S. Later, Steven was adopted by
Paul Jobs and Clara Jobs. Jobs attended Cupertino Junior High and Homestead High School
in Cupertino, California. Following high school graduation in 1972, Jobs enrolled at Reed
College in Portland, Oregon. He dropped out of college after only one semester. Jobs worked
for video game maker Atari and attended meetings of the Homebrew Computer Club with
Steve Wozniak, a high school friend who was a few years older. Jobs then traveled to India to
visit the Neem Karoli Baba at his Kainchi Ashram with a Reed College friend,Daniel Kottke,
in search of spiritual enlightenment. In 1976, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne,
founded Apple. Apple goes public, raising $110 million in one of the biggest initial public
offerings to date. In 1983, Steve Jobs lured John Sculley away from Pepsi-Cola to serve as
Apple's CEO. On January 24, 1984, an emotional Jobs introduced the Macintosh. May 1985
following an internal power struggle and an announcement of significant layoffs because
of disappointing sales at the timeSculley relieved Jobs of his duties as head of the
Macintosh division. After leaving Apple, Jobs founded NeXT Computer in 1985 with $7
million. In 1986, Jobs bought The Graphics Group (later renamed Pixar). In 1993, after
having sold only 50,000 machines, NeXT transitioned fully to software development with the
release of NeXTSTEP/Intel. In 1996, Apple announced that it would buy NeXT for $429
million. Jobs became de facto chief after then-CEO Gil Amelio was ousted in July. He was
formally named interim chief executive in September 1997. At the 2000 Macworld Expo,
Jobs officially dropped the "interim" modifier and becomes permanent CEO. On November
10, 2001, iPod was released. Apple also releases iTunes software. In April 28, 2003, Apple
launches the iTunes Music Store. In 2004, Jobs undergoes surgery for a rare but curable form
of pancreatic cancer. In 2007, Apple introduces iPhone. In 2009, Jobs goes on medical leave.
Later it was learnt that he underwent liver transplant. In 2010, Apple introduces iPad. In
January,2011 Jobs goes on a second medical leave. In August, 2011 Jobs resigns as Apple
CEO. In October 5, 2011 Jobs bids Good Bye to the world.
STEVE JOBS LEADERSHIP
While Apple had six CEOs through the period of 1977-1985, it has become evident that it
lacked both marketing and technological zeal and the CEO which the company needed
had to combine the knowledge and vision of the future technology and marketing. Thus,
one of the peculiarities of Jobs leadership style is that he sees the core company's activity

through the marketing prism. Jobs was able to reconstruct the company and return it to
the normal performance through the development of new products and making them
popular among consumers.
Components of Jobs leadership
Focus
Passion
Risk Taker
Innovation
Involvement
Effective Communication
Jobs as a Transformational Leader
Like a Transformational Leader, he focuses on Transforming others to help each other to be
encouraging and harmonious, and to look out for the organizations a whole. His leadership
creates valuable and positive change in the followers In his leadership he enhances the
motivation performance of his followers group, some people also categorize him as a
Charismatic Leader.
Innovation distinguishes between the leader and the follower-This quotation is the key to
the leadership style of Steve Jobs; he has made innovations accessible to the customers so
that they keep opening their wallets.
Steve Jobs was an Unconventional Leader. His management style wasnt the stuff of
university Textbooks, he wasnt known for his consultative or consensus building approach.
He was a High-maintenance Co-worker who demanded excellence from his stuff and was
known for his blunt delivery of criticism. But it was his sheer genius combined with his
ability to articulate his vision and bring stuff, investor and customers along on the journey;
plus the lessons learned in a major career setback, that made it work.

Steve Jobs has brought Apple back from the verge of oblivion, racking up profits and
restoring Apples image with the innovative iMac and iBook. Apple stock has increased more
than 8 times since Jobs returned. And he left behind a company in the best financial shape of
its 35-year history.
Visionary leadership
Visionary is how he is most often described in relation to apple, the company he founded
with high school buddy Steve Wozniak in 1976, was effectively fired from in 1985, and then
returned to in 1997 with a renewed sense of purpose. According to LA Times, the market
value of Apples shares has grown from about $US5 Billion in 2000 to $US351 Billion today
making it one of the biggest publically listed companies in the US.
Leadership Lessons
Persistence is the Key
Steve Jobs was a very persistent person and it was most exemplified through his exit from
Apple. He would not give up, but went on to start NeXT Computers which would eventually

be acquired by Apple Computers Inc. If Jobs was like most people, he would have given up
and spent the rest of his life being bitter about his loss.
Innovation brings Leadership
Jobs saw the power of innovation in building his company. Till today, we can see the
innovating power of Apple Computers Inc. as it continues to take market leadership in the
industry. If you want to maintain your leadership, you have to be the one whos constantly up
with ideas, new initiatives, all in the spirit of moving your organizational mission forward. In
whatever industry you are in, your constant innovation in alignment with your mission will
keep you ahead of the pack.