Answer

• Discussion

  Avenue Gyro’s Digital Media Strategies

  Businesses in the US have evolved, and many of them have shifted to use digital means to cope with the growing competition. Competition has grown high hence increased use of technology. One of the businesses that have adopted the use of technology is Avenue Gyro restaurant in New York. This Restaurant serves wine and diner and music to people. The business has put some digital media strategies which help them in marketing their business. The Avenue Gyro has opened some social media accounts which help advertise their services (Kraak et al., 2017). Many customers can even ask inquiries about their services without going to the restaurant physically. They have also come up with their mobile number to order food and get it at your doorstep. This has made it more dominant in the digital market and made the restaurant cope with its competition.

  The techniques used by Avenue Gyro have proved to be effective as they have developed ad made more sales. Many customers can now access their services at the comfort of their house; for example, people can now order food through the phone. Their advertisements on television have proved vital as many customers have been attracted to their services. They have been able to increase their sales massively (Kraak et al., 2017). Although the business is doing well in the digital market, there are recommendations for them to check on. The business should also use text messages for people who can access the internet. By sending those messages, they will secure a wider market for their goods and services. Business’s effective mobile strategy is very effective as they have made people order food online, and they have managed to deliver at their doorsteps as expected.

   

   

  Reference(s)

  Kraak, V., Englund, T., Misyak, S., & Serrano, E. (2017). Progress evaluation for the restaurant industry assessed by a voluntary marketing-mix and choice-architecture framework that offers strategies to nudge American customers toward healthy food environments, 2006–2017. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(7), 760.

  12.QUESTION

  Servant Leadership in Diverse Contexts    

  While servant leadership is often associated with Christianity and the Bible, one could argue that it is compatible with most religions and philosophies and that it transcends cultures. This assignment presents you with an opportunity to explore other cultures, philosophies, and religions and asks you to think critically about how servant leadership practices are apparent in other religions and cultures.
  Select one cultural context. Also select one religious viewpoint. You may not select Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, or Christianity, including any of its denominations or traditions such as Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism.
  Examine how the principles of servant leadership are evident in that chosen culture and in that chosen religion. In an essay (over 1000 words), identify similarities and differences between servant leadership’s philosophies and the values evident in the selected cultural context and religious viewpoint. Be sure to provide specific examples of practices and/or values in your discussion.
  You are required to locate a total of four articles that address servant leadership in your chosen cultural context and religious viewpoint. Two of the articles should examine servant leadership from a different cultural perspective and two articles should examine servant leadership from a different religious perspective. Be sure to select academic articles from reputable sources that are 10-20 pages in length. Include information from the articles in your discussion.
  Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA

  This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
  You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

  ANSWER

  \ Servant Leadership in Diverse Contexts: Indian Culture and the Islamic Religion

  The doctrine or philosophy of servant leadership is not a new one. However, the same has received concerted effort and serious attention of scholars globally just in the recent decades. The term was first employed by Robert K. Greenleaf in 1970 and since then, it has received wide acceptance and use, being among the most cherished leadership styles (Roberts, 2018). Largely, servant leadership has been employed and associated with many religious ideologies, particularly Christianity. Nonetheless, many other cultures and religions, when carefully examined, have a huge connection to the term. It is against this backdrop that this paper explores how servant leadership is evidenced in the Islam religion and Indian culture.

  Though defined somewhat differently in various cultures and religions, servant leadership refers to the kind of leadership where a leader shares powers, puts their followers/subjects’ needs first and assists their followers/subjects develop and perform in the best way possible (Roberts, 2018). Egel and Fry (2017) argue that a servant leader is first regarded as a servant before they show their leadership aspirations. According to this argument, one has to shelf their interests and give primacy to the priorities of their followers and subjects.

  Among the cultures that are fascinating is the Indian one. India is characterized by various languages, cultures, and religion. Several leaders, like Mahatma Gandhi, became role models to the Indians due to the great styles and features of leadership that they demonstrated. Mahatma Gandhi, according to Bekker (2010), employed servant leadership style during his lifetime. Studies have also shown that servant leadership is and has been practiced in India (Rohm & Osula, 2013; Sachdeva & Prakash, 2017). The Indian culture’s Gita tradition, according to Roberts (2018), requires leaders to be humanistic, that is, a person void of any kind of individual gain but with a high degree of individual interest or concern for their followers or subordinates. Thus, the Gita requires a leader to be friendly, egoistic, compassionate, forgiving as well as know how to balance pain and pleasure. One of the Indian literatures in management, Arthasastra, regards a king’s duties to include the welfare and happiness of their followers (Sachdeva & Prakash, 2017). Whatever impressed the followers was that which pleased the king. These duties parenthetically define servant leadership characteristics.

  The Indian culture has evident cases of servant relationship principles. Among the principles apparent in the Indian culture is altruism that is evident via voluntary subordination. Voluntary subordination refers to the act of forsaking one’s self for the wellbeing and service of other people (Egel & Fry, 2017). Gandhi’s life has infused the principle into and influenced the Indian culture. During his time, Gandhi embodied the individuals he was trying to serve rather than other leaders who would employ their authority/power to hoist themselves from the individuals they are leading. The leaders that are preferred in the Indian culture are those who show acts of service to the people (Bekker, 2010). Gandhi’s life serves as a role model of the leaders within the context of the Indian culture. According to Rohm and Osula (2013), the Indian community equally encourages people to serve one another for the society’s wellbeing. The sharing nature among the Indians link to the altruism servant leadership principle.

  Another facet of servant leadership characteristic of the Indian culture is humility. Humility, in the context of servant leadership, refers to the ability of a leader to learn from other people without the notion/sense that their views are greater than those of the individuals they lead (Sachdeva & Prakash, 2017). The Indian culture is founded upon humility among people. A study that was conducted to compare the American and Indian cultures yielded a 95% confidence interval upon humility among the Indians, indicating that the Indian culture holds on humility among the leaders and the community (Carroll & Patterson, 2014). Gandhi demonstrated a good instance of humility among the Indians. He did not seek after influential positions. As the Indian National Congress leader, Gandhi gave way for young leaders, such as Jawaharlal Nehru, to assume leadership (Barnabas & Clifford, 2012). Equally, after the independence of India, he did not hold any government position, remaining a humble servant who sacrificed his life for India (Sachdeva & Prakash, 2017). He, therefore, sets a good model for the Indian culture and community and a role model from whom the Indian leaders ought to learn something for effective servant leadership.

  Further, the Indian culture proves indication of empowerment. Empowerment, within the context of servant leadership, is the ability to serve other people to realize their full abilities and potentials (Roberts, 2018). Within the Indian community, there are programs aimed at empowering the Indians. For instance, there are women empowerment programs that are aimed at having women freely participate in the Indian national development agenda and plan (Barnabas & Clifford, 2012). Through this, the Indian government is demonstrating servant leadership by assisting Indian women realize their full potential. This act is fast making Indian women get out of the usual gender restrictions and form a crucial component of the Indian national development.

  The Islamic religion also shows servant leadership in various ways. One way is via disinterested and selfless concern for other people. During a teaching session, Prophet Muhammad was asked by a man to highlight the beneficial aspects of Islam. He responded by stating that the beneficial aspects of Islam was to provide food and greetings of peace both to people known and unknown to the Muslims (El Kaleh & Samier, 2015). The Quran teaches people to give others preference over themselves even if they themselves are in need (Jabarkhail, 2020). Quran indicates that Prophet Muhammad said that one charity closes 70 gates of evil and charities given to others in secret avert God’s wrath (Carroll & Patterson, 2014). From these teachings, it is evident that the Islamic religion calls for gallantry or selflessness among strangers and the people we know.

  Emotional healing is another crucial principle of servant leadership among the Muslims. The servant leadership model shows that leaders ought to be concerned with their servants’ well-being. Prophet Muhammad’s lifestyle and the Quran are guiding principles for the Muslims regarding their emotional healing. Quran states that Allah shall heal the believers’ breasts (Jabarkhail, 2020). Additionally, regarding Muhammad’s lifestyle, the Quran says that guidance has come to mankind from the Lord and healing for hearts, and for believers, mercy and guidance, in the person of Muhammad (El Kaleh & Samier, 2015). These guide the Islam to heart healing and emotional healing among the people. Additionally, God’s name in Islam is Al-Shafi, meaning healer (El Kaleh & Samier, 2015). This indicates a significant association between Islamic teachings and servant leadership.

  Another important servant leadership principle in the Islamic religion is stewardship. Stewardship refers to the act of a leader spreading out a decisive hand to the community and society (Barnabas & Clifford, 2012). Within the Islamic community, the community plays a crucial role in religion, which roles can be evaluated through comparison of donation and ritual systems called Zakat. Carroll and Patterson (2014) state that the Islam religion calls its faithful to the distribution of wealth from the rich to the poor. Islamic leaders, according to Bekker (2016), are encouraged by the Quran to warn their people against creating states of imbalance in the community as a result of amassing a lot of wealth when others live in severe poverty. The Islamic word employed to guide the Islamic leaders from causing disorders within the community is Tafsidu (El Kaleh & Samier, 2015). Additionally, Prophet Muhammad motivated harmony in society, declaring that any Muslim who perseveres harms caused to them by the individuals they meet is better compared to the individual who do not meet with them and do not preserver the pain that such harms cause in them (Jabarkhail, 2020). He equally encourages the Muslims to give gifts to one another since gifting removes acrimony or bitterness from the chest (Barnabas & Clifford, 2012). With these, the principle of servant leadership of commitment to the community/society is highly present within the Islamic religion.

  From the foregoing, it is evident that there are differences and similarities between the Indian culture and the Islamic religion with reference to servant leadership principles. On the one hand, the emotional healing as a principle of servant leadership has similarity with the practices of the Islamic religion. The healing viewpoint is required of leaders to provide for the psychological and spiritual wellbeing of their employees, juniors, or followers (Carroll & Patterson, 2014). This is aimed at assisting in ensuring that there is proper cooperation among and production by members of an organization. Moreover, the Islamic religion norms stress on mercy and spiritual healing, among other things. Prophet Muhammad’s teachings encourage people to seek spiritual healing from God and encourage people to believe in Allah because he emphasizes that God heals those who believe in Him (Jabarkhail, 2020). 

  Similarly, the principles of altruism and humanity in servant leadership models call leaders to humble themselves when dealing with their juniors, followers, or employees. Altruism, according to Bekker (2016), calls for leaders to sacrifice for their followers or subjects. Within the Indian culture, humility is stressed notwithstanding one’s socio-economic status in the society. The Indian values equally stress striving for the success of other people and sacrificing oneself for the wellbeing of other people within the society (Sachdeva & Prakash, 2017).

  On the other hand, the Indian culture’s servant leadership principles are different from those of the Islamic religion. Whereas the Indian values are meant to better organizational productivity, the Islamic religious values are aimed at the harmony and spiritual growth of people (Egel & Fry, 2017).  With the Indian culture, the values are aimed at promoting peace and harmony within the community, thus bettering people’s living standard.

  To conclude, the principles of servant leadership have a crucial connection with cultural and religious values. From this paper, the teaching of Islamic religion call for values that are linked to the servant leadership principles.  This study has also showed comprehensively that the Indian cultural values are seriously linked to the principles of servant leadership. In these cultural and religious contexts, the principles are meant to promote harmony and peace as explained above.