Course Project: Leadership and Organizational Behavior in Action

By:

MGMT-591: Leadership and Organizational Behavior

Table of Contents
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………3

Primary Problem Statement………………………………………………………....4

Literature Review…………………………………………………………………...6

Analysis……………………………………………………………………………..9

Solutions……………………………………………………………………………10

Reflection…………………………………………………………………………..13

References………………………………………………………………………….14

Introduction Aerovironment Incorporated is a company that specializes in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and electric vehicle systems. Aerovironment Inc. was founded by Dr. Paul Macready in 1971. Many air vehicles have been developed by the company over the past 40 years. Lightweight solar power air vehicles such as Helios were developed by the organization. Helios holds the record for highest altitude flown by a solar cell and fuel cell UAV. The altitude it had achieved was 96,863 feet in the year 2002. Since then Aerovironment has developed and has become the government’s top supplier of small drones. These drones consist of small lightweight planes equipped with cameras that can perform surveillance duties, reconnaissance missions and establish intelligence. They are piloted by trained military personnel and employees with a handheld controller.

Aerovironment also develops energy systems such as commercial and in home battery charging stations for electric vehicles. These charging stations can charge an electrical vehicle in fast time through larger industrial charging stations or at a slower pace using an in home charging station.

Aerovironment Inc. has many competitors within their market. The main competition for this company is organizations such as Lockheed Martin Corporation, The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman and Textron Inc. These companies all support the Department of Defense (DOD) by providing not only military aircraft products but UAVs as well. Aerovironment Inc. must continue to gain insight and strive to be a top producer to be awarded contracts by the DOD currently and in the future. Aerovironment Inc. is located in the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Monrovia, Ca along with 2 other facilities that specialize in the electric vehicle charger segment. 3 more buildings are located in Simi Valley, Ca. This area specializes in manufacturing, development, engineering and test of all UAVs built by the company. Lastly, there is one facility in Huntsville, AL. This facility specializes in flight test and training purposes for the military. All together there are over 625 employees that work within the organization. These employees include executives, managers, engineers, technicians and more.

Currently my role within Aerovironment Inc. is a Manufacturing Technician 3 with lead responsibilities. I am responsible for over 10 employees in the Fabrication/Assembly Department in the organization. The team and I fabricate composite structures, assemble aircraft and install instrumentation in to the aircraft. I am also responsible for repairs of aircraft that have flown for test or missions. I assign team members daily tasks and ensure the task schedule is completed on time.

Primary Problem Statement

The primary organization problem with Aerovironmet Inc. is communication between upper management to lower level management and employees. For an organization to have success or improve on their ongoing success, it is essential to have effective communication throughout the company or business. Globally business has become a major influence not only to companies but employees and customers as well. To gain trust within the organization and with their customers, communication is a key factor to its success in production, marketing, sales and more. Aerovironment Inc. is a larger organization in size. Communication within a large organization and its large structure can become difficult between executives,