Professional Development
As each person develops the skills necessary to choose a profession it is vital to take the time to assess each potential outcome. This reflective essay will focus on the Kuwait Oil Company as a potential career alongside my desired leadership style embodied by Steve Jobs. Assessing the positive and detrimental aspects of the possible industry will allow me a better decision making opportunity in the future. Alongside this fact is that the opportunity to evaluate Steve Jobs as a leader will shed light on many areas that provide a substantial guide for my own leadership potential.
Beginning with the Kuwait Oil Company assessment this study will move into my choice leadership style with the stated goal of determining if this company is a good fit for my skill set.
Kuwait Oil Company
The Kuwait Oil Company, or the KOC, possesses many elements that lead me to believe that I would be a good fit. Founded in 1937, the KOC was first created by a partnership of the British Petroleum Company and the Chevron Corporation (Mughni2001). Privately owned for the first segment of its existence, the company was moderately successful, expanding many of the initial exploration fields. During this phase, there was a dedicated acknowledgement that continuous innovation would be required in order to maintain a sufficient market share in the highly competitive oil industry (Mughni2001). Taken over by the Kuwaiti government in 1975, the company is still dedicated to exploring the newest technologies in the industry in a concerted effort to establish the firm as a global competitor.
KOC routinely includes safety goals that meet or exceed the industry standard, making this company very attractive for potential employees (Kockw.com 2013). This element is a tremendous boon to the possibility of envisioning a long term position with the company. KOC has continued to raise the overall perception of its operating procedure utilizing a sustainable development pattern that clearly links the locale to the methods employed to find the oil reserves (Kockw.com 2013). This component of corporate social responsibility is crucial in the drive to find a position that has the potential to grow within the context of each region.
Alongside their clear goal to find and explore oil reserves, their obvious dedication to the environment and underlying social mechanisms add to the potential attractiveness of this firm. The ability to demonstrate a credible cultural awareness typically translates into a positive employee environment.
The Kuwait Oil Company has led the industry with a concerted effort to communicate and develop an ethical and moral infrastructure that supports the overall operations (Oilvoice.com 2013). With a drive to lower cost through innovation and technology, the firm has taken every possible opportunity to develop new and more efficient equipment and supporting material. This style of responsible and ethical leadership in the world is demonstrative of a long term company with the potential to grow in accordance with the resources available.
As a result of their state owned status, the KOC finds itself subject to the concerns of the state (Kockw.com 2013). This facet of the company limits the overall investment pattern to one that is deemed agreeable to the ruling faction. Brought together with the rest of the Kuwait Oil industry in 1980 by the Amiri Decree, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, or KPC, was formed (Kockw.com 2013). This entity is responsible for the oversight and regulation of each oil company in Kuwait, including the KOC. This facet of the company is less than desirable, yet, with oil being the mainstay of the Kuwait economy, there is the underlying assurance that there will be a continuous job.
Overall, the oil industry accounts for up to 75 per cent of the overall revenue stream for the nation of Kuwait (Wheeler 1998). This fact reflects the very vital nature of the company and the entire industry in order to sustain their underlying position. Following the Iraqi invasion into Kuwait, the nation has increased the amount of oil release, thereby strengthening their associated economic outlook (Wheeler 2012). This action is a reflection extreme value that the oil production plays in the day to day life of the Kuwaiti citizen.
The culture of Kuwait is a primary source of concern as I evaluate the potential for this company to be a successful fit for my skill set. In nation with a population of over two million, there is a large segment of the culture that is accounted for as foreign nationals (Wheeler 1998). With the nature of the industry dictating a constant flow of international citizens, the overall capacity of Kuwait to conduct business rests with the free flow of commercial and business travel.
Nearly the entire national population that resides within the national borders of Kuwait profess a Muslim affinity (Wheeler 2013). This component of their inherent culture dictates that there is a perception of a strict religious moral and ethical code that must be adhered to in the day to day activities. With a very large Arab population, the influx of travellers in and around the nation is heavily monitored (Wheeler 2013). This fact is a constant reflection of the state of the nation’s security.
The underlying culture of Kuwait can be seen in the wide variety of art and creative influences that abound around the nation (Wheeler 2103). With a history rich in fishing and lifestyle, the culture of Kuwait is considered affluent and progressive with a real penchant for the creative forms of expression. With the pride of Kuwaiti epitomized in the Kuwait Towers, the very real potential for the nation to influence the world market through their oil capacity is growing (Wheeler 2013). Oil took the place of pearls as the primary revenue source once it was discovered as a lucrative asset. It was this event that took Kuwait from the sea centred economic practice to a culture that was centred on the international oil industry.
The geographic location of the Kuwait Oil Company dictates many of the underlying work conditions (Wheeler 2013). With national interests that take KOC to every corner of the nation, the smallest country in world boasts some of world’s most productive oil fields. Kuwait is physically located in the corner of the Arabian Peninsula, with the majority of the nation consumed by the Arabian Desert (Wheeler 2013). The presence of the harsh working and living conditions has long been argued to be a detriment of the overall growth potential of the nation. With weather that is reflective of the desert environment, the extreme heat and cold serve to instil a sense of caution and respect for the area (Wheeler 2013). With the potential for extremely high temperatures, the associated working conditions can in some cases be extraordinarily uncomfortable.
With hiring practices that focuses on talent and potential the KOC holds a prominent position in the industry (Staff 2013). Alongside my skill set and work ethic, the Kuwait Oil Company holds the potential to place me in a position that allows not only secure long term growth possibility, but a rich and lucrative underlying revenue stream. As a fundamental step on the road to a lifelong career the Kuwait Oil Company would be a superb fit for me. Utilizing my education and work experience in order gain better position, the underlying structure and future outlook provide me with a solid goal set that will carry me forward long into my career. By taking a job at a entry level, working hard with dedication I will create a opportunity to advance up the chain of management, ensuring that my next step up the professional ladder will be founded in a area of experience and long term quality.
Leadership Analysis – Steve Jobs
There have been very few business leaders in the world that have proven to have as much profound impact as Steve Jobs. He was recognized as a potential cultural influence when he joined with Steve Wozniak to found Apple computer (Rose 2009). On par with others like the emerging Microsoft, there was a pivotal opportunity in the innovative fields of computers and operating systems and Steve Jobs possessed the leadership skills to seize the moment. Although, the tumultuous years of the 1980’s saw the confidence in Job’s skills fall to a dismal level that eventually led to his ouster as leader (Rose 2009). This was a bittersweet moment, as Apple did no better under the new management with the final being that the board asked for Steve Job’s to resume the mantle of leadership.
The early portion of the 1980’s saw Steve Jobs become the very youngest individual in the history of Fortune Magazine to make the list of top American potential business (Pollack and Belviso 2012). Alongside the natural communication skills and innovative intellect Jobs possessed the business savvy to translate these opportunities into financial success. Often single minded while in pursuit of his goals, Jobs would put the wellbeing of Apple above his personal life, resulting in a diminished home life, but a prosperous business enterprise Even following the accident that hobbled his partner and friend Wozniak, the fact that Steve Jobs found a way to move the entire company forward the served to illustrate the potential to the entire computer industry (Pollack and Belviso 2012).
Steve Jobs was an inspiration to entire generation of computer users (Pollack and Belviso 2012). With the development of the mouse, the world of technology took a tremendous leap forward, this was a direct reflection of the dedication and innovation possibilities that Steve Jobs brought to every project. This capacity to lead not only a business and an industry but a culture adds to the overall ability of the man to achieve his end goals, I find this a very strong point that I would like emulate.
His leadership, drive and intuition served to create a company that would grow with a culture, through the slow times and the re-emergence of the dominant Apple brands during the early 2000’s (Elliot2012). The vision and persistence of Steve Jobs served to propel the company past the diminished returns experienced with the rise of Microsoft and his perennial rival Bill Gates. Steve Jobs enumerated his business approach in such a manner that there was no confusion as to his overall goal of making Apple a dominant force in the industry (Elliot 2012). His personal and business lesson of “Wait for nothing” illustrates the very core of his belief and value system. He credits his impatience and persistence as key factors to his ability to forge a company out of the nothing (Elliot 2012). Alongside his directive to avoid the problems of the present and focus on the potential future, there was a real image of innovation and success exemplified.
The ability to take even the grimmest scenario and weave a method in which to accomplish successful business is a talent and skill that Steve Jobs utilized on a daily basis. From his childhood creation of a frequency monitor to the cutting edge developments pioneered by Apple in the modern era, there was never a doubt as to the direction of Steve Jobs aspirations; he sought to be the very best, bar none (Elliot 2012). This is a segment of his personality and leadership that I find compelling in that he refused to lead from behind, instead working unceasingly to find the best path forward for the company himself. His confidence and self-reliance ranks as among the top tier reasons that I would aspire to adapt my leadership style.
Learning more about the life and practice of Steve Jobs could hold to the key to many vital lessons that I may face in the business world. Very much like Jobs I find myself compelled to seek out an innovative and ingenious method in which to express my professional aspirations. He led the way for an entire generation in a manner that served to shape the modern world in which we live. I would delve into this aspect of his development with the goal of illustrating his day to day activities that elevated the man to such a position.
I firmly believe that if I were to explore more of his base method and visionary techniques that I would be able to develop a hybrid manner of application based on the combination of my experience and his lessons. His ascendance and then decline followed by his rise again to the helm Apple denotes a tough and savvy business person. This aspect of his personality and practice is particularly compelling in that a successful person needs to understand how to last in an often volatile world.
The ability of Steve Jobs to not only identify the next generation of technology but bring other like minds to his point of view is a vital lesson to be studied by any aspiring business person. This analysis would serve to elevate my current understanding and provide clear method to implement my desires.
The results of this profile have the potential to be of tremendous use, providing a clear illustration of the strengths and weaknesses of a leader that I admire enables a level of learning and appreciation that I did not have before. Utilizing this experience and applying these lessons in my own professional career will enable a clear and decisive style to emerge, It is the recognition of the faults as well as his successes of Steve Jobs that illuminate many critical lessons. Perhaps the most telling lesson of all is his re-emergence as a leader for Apple, and the result of that leadership was positive on many levels for the company.
I will employ the acquisition lessons as well as the never hesitate approach that has served to propel Steve Jobs to the position that he was in before his death. Alongside the ability to recognize innovation and act on the opportunity must be the ability to draw in the associated talent to develop the idea. I will utilize this lesson continuously as I seek to find innovation and progress in every position that I hold. With a careful implementation pattern, there is a real lesson that illustrates the benefits of a long term, adaptable business plan. Steve Jobs ably demonstrated that there is nothing that is truly lost, that with hard work, luck and talent, what was lost can be regained and improved. This is a lesson that I will carry with me into every business and personal scenario everywhere.
In conclusion
The ability to determine if an industry company and leadership style is a good fit is an important practice. This study examined the Kuwait Oil Company as a potential company of interest alongside the leadership style of Steve Jobs. With presented evidence that clearly denotes the innovative nature of both the KOC and Steve Jobs, there is a perception of potential. The long term and stable nature of KOC would lend itself well to a leadership style that stresses loyalty and hard work. Alongside the capacity for long term gain, there is a real possibility for a positive employment experience with the Kuwait Oil Company.
In the end, I firmly believe that the evidence demonstrates a beneficial opportunity to work with a company that shares the same values, innovative nature and style.
References
Elliot, J. (2012). Leading Apple With Steve Jobs. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Gulfoilandgas.com (1934). Kuwait Oil Company - Profile. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.gulfoilandgas.com/webpro1/prod1/SupplierCat.asp?sid=6238 [Accessed: 9 Jul 2013].
Kockw.com (2013). Kuwait Oil Company. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.kockw.com/sites/EN/Pages/Default.aspx [Accessed: 9 Jul 2013].
Mughni, H. (2001). Women in Kuwait. London: Saqi.
Oilvoice.com (2013). OilVoice | Kuwait Oil Company Latest News - Page 0. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.oilvoice.com/Latest_News/Kuwait_Oil_Company/e9898288.aspx [Accessed: 9 Jul 2013].
Pollack, P. and Belviso, M. (2012). Who was Steve Jobs?. New York: Grosset& Dunlap. P. 1-300.
Rose, F. (2009). West of Eden. New York: Stuyvesant Street Press. pp. 1-300.
Staff (2013). KOC To Join Shale Gas Exploration. Arab Times, 1 (1), pp. 1-3.
Wheeler, D. (1998). Global Culture or Culture Clash. Communication and Research, 58 (7), pp. 359-387.
Wheeler, D. (2013). The Internet and Public Culture in Kuwait. Internsatinal Communication Gazette, 63 (2-3), pp. 187-201.
