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University of The Bahamas

School Of Nursing and Allied Health Professions

Nurs407: Management and Leadership in Nursing

Leadership Critique : Hotel Rwanda

Section One

Ms. Shamel Sands

Faniesha Archer

000-06-3257

Monday 4th September, 2017

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Overview of Hotel Rwanda

Tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi peoples lead to a civil war in Rwanda, where corruption

and bribes between politicians were frequent. Paul Rusesabagina a Hutu, the manager of the

Hotel des Mille Collines and the lead charter, saves the lives of many refugees and his tutsi wife

Tatianna and three children during the 1993 genocide by allowing refugees to take shelter in his

hotel. The UN peacekeeping forces, were sent to protect the gates of the hotel and keep the

peace. However, they were unable to take assertive action because they are forbidden to

intervene in the conflict. Because of this and the intensity of the war the foreign nationals are

evacuated, but the Rwandans are left behind. After many attempts of the UN forces to evacuate a

group of refugees, including Paul's family, the hotel refugees and Pauls family are finally able to

leave the hotel in a UN convoy. They travel through retreating masses of refugees and militia to

reach safety behind Tutsi rebel lines where Paul Rusesabagina found his two nieces whom

became orphans due to the genocide.

Leadership Attributes and Leadership Roles

Leadership attribute noted by the leading character Paul is Passion, Persistence Insightfulness,

Empowering.

Four leadership roles seen by Paul was advocate, mentor, diplomat, decision maker.
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Critique two leadership styles demonstrated and at least three of the management roles in

which the leader engaged

Throughout the movie Paul Rusesabagina portrayed two type of leadership styles; the

democratic and authoritarian styles. They are portrayed in a transitional manner in which he

started off as a democratic leader but progressing through the film he became more of an

authoritarian leader.

Mr. Rusesabagina shows democratic leadership by engaging in supportive communication

that facilitates interaction between leaders and their followers. Through the evolution of the

movie he began to use his personality to manipulate the Hutu military, he started to entrust task

and authority to the group appealing to individual intellect and abilities. His democratic

leadership style is seen when he facilitates discussions with government officials, hotel workers,

followers and refugees. Also, when he focusses on interactions with staff and guest and when he

provides suggestions and alternatives for the completion of task. An example of this would be

when the dead lobsters arrived at the hotel and he provided the suggestion on how to cook the

lobster using the back and stuffing it to save the meal rather than waste it. By using this

democratic leadership style he saved the meal and completed the task. Another time is when Mr.

Rusesabagina and one of his employees went to purchase supplies.

Mr. Rusesabagina shows authoritarian leadership by dictating to his followers, he decides

what goals are to be achieved, and directs and controls all activities. His authoritarian leadership

style is seen when he uses the war conflict for person gain with the higher authority. Also when

he controlled the conversations his followers had and also controlled what they listen to. Paul

never discusses plans and goals with anyone and establishes them based on information and

knowledge he gained. Another example is that he does not trust the capability of his staff and
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goes out of his way to complete task and he gives orders to his staff not allowing them to ask

why or give suggestions.

Management Roles

In order to maintain his steady leadership Mr Rusesabagina had to participate in good

management roles such as; a leader, spokesperson, disturbance handler, resource allocator,

negotiator and disseminator. He was a leader and spokesperson/ advocate for those uneducated

refugees. A spoke person is one represent and speak for their organization. In this role you're

responsible for transmitting information about your organization and its goals to the people

outside it. That is what Mr. Rusesabagina did for his followers, he stood up to the UN, to the

Hutu military, and also to the general. He was able to communicate and negotiate to get help and

also free them out of many situations such as, being killed on numerous occasions by the Hutu

military. Also, by bribing the general for the protection of this followers. Another, management

role was that he was a resource allocator. A resource allocator determines where organizational

resources are best applied. This involves allocating funding, as well as assigning staff and other

organizational resources. He ensuring that the hotel had adequate amounts of food and water for

all that inhabited the hotel. He also allocated staff where he saw fit. An example will be the hotel

worker who he put in charge to nurture the orphans who were brought to the hotel. Another

management role that stood out was that he was a disturbance hander. This is when an

organization or team hits an unexpected roadblock, it's the manager who must take charge. Mr.

Rusesabagina excel at conflict resolution with the followers and with the Hutu military.
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Roles of the leader in an ethical principle violated in the film

The principle for justice was violated throughout the film. This principle is to treat all people

equally, fairly, and impartially. During the genocide Tutsis were treated unfair and killed by the

Hutu. There are several ethical issues surrounding the decision by the Hutu politicians to start the

genocide, one being that their leader was killed by a Tutsis. It is unjust and unethical for the

Hutus to blame the entire Tutsi tribe for their leaders death.

Paul Rusesabagina a Hutu, has been viciously awakened by the level of unjust that has possessed

his tribe. During the entire genocide, he is the only Hutu who has sympathy toward the Tutsis.

Within the film he had the aspiration to do what is morally right in the society. He risks his life

and protected the Tutsis by hiding them in his hotel. His role was an advocate for the Tutsis who

followed him, he uses his skills of manipulation, bribery, flattery, apology, oral fluency and

deception to save the lives of those Tutsis who followed him. Although, bribery is unethical he

bribes the local Hutu militia leaders to protect the Tutsis which included his wife and children.

How has this leader impacted/ influence my view of leadership and management?

After watching the movie and observing Mr. Rusesabagina, I realized the he does have some

good leadership and management qualities that I would like to adapt. One of his leadership

qualities I would like to adapt is his democrat leadership style. He influences my leadership and

management style by the way he motivates his staff throughout the entire genocide, this

encourage me to motivate staff on the ward. Furthermore, he influenced me to come out of my

comfort zone and prepare myself to be more adaptable to new environments and situations. Also,

I learnt that not one man is and island and that I need to put more faith in the capability of others
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because I cannot do everything by myself. Ive also learnt that it is important to establish good

working relationships with colleagues.

Instances in nursing where the leadership styles and management roles you discussed in #4

may be effectively utilized

In nursing democratic leadership style is effectively used in the allocation of staff with

their breaks shifts and tasks during each shift. This style encourages open communication which

include team members in the decision-making process. An example of this on the ward would be

during allocation who gets first admission, first discharge, first lunch breaks etc. In nursing the

democratic leadership style can be effectively used in changing or improving the work

environment.

Authoritarian Leadership relies solely on their own knowledge; authoritarian leaders

make all decisions without considering input from staff. Often, they use negative reinforcement

and punishment to enforce rules. One example of authoritarian leadership on the ward is during

an emergency situation. In an emergency situation every minute counts and a democratic style of

leadership will not work effectively. The ward manager should allocate the staff appropriately in

each area in which he/ she can perform comfortably and effectively and each staff member

should be able to carry out their duties without questioning. These leaders manage staff and

situations using power and control. This type of leadership is not so much seen on the ward.

However, when it is seen it is done by the Senior Nurses/ charge nurse. Each ward is graded

based on performance, documentation and patient outcome, if a ward fails to be on par with the

standards they get a bad grade and if they did a good job they would be given incentives.
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In nursing a good manager should be a spokesperson not only for the staff but most

importantly the patients. One role of nursing is to be an advocate, to promote change or problem

solving. One example of this on the ward is a client who is in a coma and the nurse is aware the

he/ she is a Jehovah witness and the Dr. is about to give blood transfusion, it is the nurse job to

be a spokesperson for the client who cannot speak to advocate that this is not this wish of the

patient. The manager should also be a spoke person for the staff and the environment as said

earlier for change or to problem solve.

Another role a good nursing manager should have is allocating resources. The manager of

the ward should be able to locate in a timely fashion supplies on the ward. Also, he/she should be

aware of out of stock item and if the manager should be aware on how to attain each item.

Additionally, a nursing manger is a disturbance handler. The nursing manger should be

able to resolve conflict/ choose strategic alternatives weather its between staff members, staff

and family or client in a professional manner. An example of this if all the patient on the ward

receive food except one due to the fact that the kitchen did not send enough plates and the client

gets irate and begins making a big fuss. The manager should also explain the patient that they are

trying their best to get a plate of food for him/ her and to encourage the client to remain calm and

that the food would be with him/ her shortly

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References

Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2012). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing:

theory and application (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Mintzberg's Management Roles. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2017, from

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/management-roles.htm