Introduction
The Prince is a composition by Machiavelli that is used as a practical guide to different scholars, managers, and administrators on the ways of practicing democratic powers. Machiavelli focuses on offering an advice, which is easy to understand and practical in nature in different organizations. Machiavelli points out at leaders like Alexander the Great and argues that the prince ought to have been in control of the military force even if he had no idea other than war. Therefore, like most of Machiavelli’s writings, The Prince can be applied in various cases including businesses and management.
Machiavelli’s principles can be summarized in terms of the hereditary principles that were inherited by the ruler. The mixed principalities include the territories that were annexed by the rulers of the territories who were still in existence (Machiavelli, Bondanella, and Viroli 105). The new principalities by Machiavelli include the ones acquired by the various methods according to one’s powers, the powers of the other people, criminal activities, or also the extreme cruelty (Demack 36). The new principalities also included the civic principalities or those that follow the will of the people. For instance, the ecclesiastical principle by Machiavelli was used for the Papal States, which was dominated by the Catholic Church.
Machiavelli examines the various principalities, which were supposed to be governed by the prince. He depicts that this was used to conquer the territory of the prince to eliminate the hereditary line, which was being used at that time. He argues that the princes who did not use their political and military forces were most vulnerable and weaker as compared to those who did. This was the reason he highlighted on rulers like Alexander the Great and Cyrus to demonstrate the ways in which the princes were entitled to be military leaders (Zuckert 494). The main concept in the ideology of Machiavelli is that princes should have nothing in mind other than war, but should have a constant state of the vigilance to strategize on maintaining their lands and conquer over the others.
“The end validates the means” was a popular phrase that was used together with the Machiavellian principalities in highlighting the goals and objectives for achieving similar objectives. However, Machiavelli was not of the ideology of violence and ruthlessness even though he does not present his work in accordance with the Christian morals. He spins the leadership skills and craftsmanship due to political reasons, but his principles fit to be in every field of life in the world inclusive of the corporate works (Bragues 156). The philosophical concepts by Machiavelli can be used by organizations to come up with the best management principles and acquire the best success for corporations and businesses (Stanwick and Stanwick 110).
The business world today is in need of applying the dynamic methods suggested by Machiavelli to stimulate the growth of their jurisdiction and is indicated by the increased sales. The management of the businesses and corporate bodies, therefore, need to make decisions guided by achieving success for their corporations and remaining relevant in the market. Effective strategies will also enhance the organizations to attain a competitive advantage and will guarantee the success for both their workers and stakeholders associated with the organization in one way or the other (Demack 28). The various issues and strategies are broadly classified from the management of the employees, sustainability of the employees as well as delivering the services to the clients in the right manner and on time (Geereddy 8). As such, it is important for any company to focus on the goals and objectives which the company has stipulated from the beginning.
Additionally, the key point that determines the success of the company and whether it moves in the right way is the decision-making process. In most organizations, the decision-making process is under the leadership, hence, it is true to argue that the success of any organization heavily relies on the management or the leadership, since the individuals in the leadership of the organization are the decision makers (Belch and Belch 434). The style of management that any organization adopts is expected to yield different results and hence it is necessary to make the correct decisions which will favor the management of the affairs of the company (David 64).
Use of Machiavellian Principles by Dunkin Brands Inc.
This paper will use Dunkin Brands Group Inc., which has adopted strategic measures and as a result succeeded in the hotel and restaurant industry, which is challenging in its own way. The company has made it as a result of good decision making and meeting the needs of its customers. This has helped the organization to expand its borders and has remained relevant in the food industry, competing with larger multinational organizations, which are well established in the market. The consistency of Dunkin’ has borrowed most of the ideologies from the Machiavelli principles (Demack 68). The principles have guided the leadership of the Dunkin’ in making the critical decisions for the company; therefore, the Machiavellian principles have influenced other organizations and lives of individuals in some way (Lucan et al 1366).
After evaluating the management of Dunkin and the leadership strategies that the company has adapted, it is evident that the decisions adopted in making the critical and strategic moves for the company follow the Machiavellian principles. The principles are based on trust, loyalty, and fairness, which have been the indicator points for the company. The employees of Dunkin have shown the loyalty and trust since it has long outstanding employees who have grown their careers while serving at the company (Doroghazi 218). The clients have also come back for the good services they enjoy from Dunkin. The management has also played their role in ensuring that all the stakeholders acquire their rightful justice, and have provided a good working environment for the employees to work effectively and efficiently. They have also looked into the affairs of the employees through good remuneration and offered contributions from the company for the sick employees and the bereaved. Moreover, the management deals with the matters affecting the employees with uttermost care such that it is impossible for third parties to realize when there are issues affecting them.
Machiavelli highlights in his book that there are higher chances that other people may not conceptualize what one person is good at, but will be keen to check on the mistakes they make. Machiavelli made this statement in reference to the prince during his time and had the idea of conforming to the need of having a tender heart and being kindhearted, brave, truthful, genuine, and faithful (Powers 281). In this, Machiavelli was highlighting that a good leader needed to have such qualities to attain the success and the objectives that the society expects from them. Indeed, it is notable from Dunkin that the employees from Dunkin are best suited for the jobs and the roles they take in the organization.
According to Machiavelli, the workers who should be hired are the individuals who have the belief of the large task they undertake as well as the superiority of a leader who leads the others rather than being attracted by power and money (Colvin and Charan 48). This means that the organization should choose the employees who are interested in the work they intend to undertake. Dunkin has fully followed this principle since its hiring process aims at getting the individuals who have the passion of taking up their roles beyond meeting the qualification requirements (Wheeler188). The hired individuals are required to abide by the norms of the organization and oversee that they work towards the vision and objective of Dunkin’.
In addition, there is a high mutual interest between the employees and the management of Dunkin, which has been highlighted in Machiavelli’s book. The management has been able to minimize the gap that exists between the employees and the junior staff to create easy accessibility for the senior individuals in the organization. It is notable from the vision and the mission statement of Dunkin that it has used Machiavellian principles in coming up even with the objectives of the company (Powers 280). The Machiavellian principle depicts the idea of holding courtesy when dealing with other people. The mission statement has conformed to this principle since it states that the company aims at making and supplying the best, tasty and fresh donuts and coffee in modernized and well-equipped shops.
Machiavelli also says in his book that every person sees what they would like to become although few of them meet what they really thought they were. Under these words, Machiavelli meant that persons and corporate bodies need to be kind, honest, and have a charitable character to the people they interact with (Kumar and Ambigai 182). Dunkin has taken these words with a lot of concern and highly regard their customers and understand their purpose in the business. The leadership of Dunkin has set the goals and objectives of the organization to achievable levels and thus, the employees work towards ensuring they meet more than the required levels of subjectivity.
How the Ideas by Machiavelli have Served Dunkin Inc.
For the period in which Dunkin has been in existence and running their activities, the management which has been running the affairs of the company has stuck to Machiavellian principles and have guided the company to greater achievements. This has been signified by the increasing numbers of the loyal customers and the increasing volumes of sale which have increased year by year (Fournier and Yao 460). The employees have been able to maintain the core values of the business and the marketing team has also been able to attend to the customers’ queries and complaints (Babin and Zikmund 288). This has improved the goodwill of the company and has seen some principles and quotes in relation to Dunkin’ coming up like America is all Dunkin (Wilson and Blumenthal 360). The quote is an indication of the customers’ satisfaction and the good services that the clients get from having a relationship with the company.
Counterargument
Machiavelli’s principles are based on military and religion, which are his major areas. He believes that a strong and substantial defense force is the most important in governing a state. A successful state requires to have a strong defense for both the elite group as well as the common citizens as well. The contrast illustration in the military strategies that were adopted by the Rome and Florence exhaust the defective ordering leadership which result to weakening of the relationships. Dictatorship as well as the chronical tepid leadership is not recommendable to any institutions and the management can always come to agreement with the stakeholders to come to satisfactory solutions. Dunkin Inc. should not be involved in any cases of defective ordering so as to pass some policies or decisions.
The current management team led by Nigel Travis has maintained a culture of quality in offering the services to their customers and also maintaining the welfare of the employees. The management has taken very brave decisions at times, which have improved the company from height to height. This is the sign which has marked the success of the company; as Machiavelli indicates in his book that brave decisions can be only undertaken by brave leaders. This has been the success in seeing Dunkin maintain its customers and compete with established companies in the food industry like Starbucks (Geereddy 2).
Conclusion
Machiavellian principles have been key in overseeing the leadership and success of most organizations due to the ideas and lessons he highlighted in his book. The principles are most effective especially in leadership positions and have helped to see the management of most organizations, among them Dunkin’ Brand Group Inc. Dunkin’s management has elaborated the modalities of leadership using the Machiavelli principles, which has helped the company to survive over the years. They have ensured that all the stakeholders are valuable at the organization and that the sales of Dunkin. Leaders in the world should try and adopt the Machiavellian principle in guiding them to making rational decisions which suit the situations which require their inputs. The success behind Dunkin has been proper decisions, which suit the company in and follow the Machiavellian ideologies.
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