Participative Leadership Style Is Always More Effective Than Autocratic/Directive Leadership Styles. Discuss Essay Example

Participative Leadership Style Is Always More Effective Than Autocratic/Directive Leadership Styles. Discuss Paper QUESTION Participative leadership style is always more effective than autocratic/directive leadership styles. Discuss. Executive summary Academic and empirical research on workplace leadership covers wide ranging information on leadership theory and characteristics that make a leader effective. The focus of this report is to identify information on behavioural and contingency perspectives of leadership. The path-goal Leadership theory is one of the anticipated contingency theories as it includes different styles of leadership behaviours. The main aspects of this report are a behavioural comparison, between participative and autocratic/directive leadership and the use of its positive and negative outcomes. The styles differ on the basis of the level of skill and experience required in the work place, situation, task structure and power distance. The Australian workplace is skewed towards the participative leadership aspect as compared to autocratic/directive leadership in the Asian workplace. Table of Contents Introduction Page 4 Theories of LeadershipPage 5 Leadership Theory in PracticePage 6 Leadership across Cultures and GendersPage 7 Situational factors of participative and autocratic/directivePage 9 Leadership style Conclusion and ImplicationsPage 10 ReferencePage 11 Introduction The term leadership is defined as having the power to motivate and efficiently influence a sense of achievement for members of an organisation (Mc Shane et. Al, 2010). Bennis and Nanus (1985) suggest that managers tend to focus on the process by examining if employees conduct activities the right way; while leaders focus their attention on the outcome by ensuring their firms are doing the right things. We will write a custom essay sample on Participative Leadership Style Is Always More Effective Than Autocratic/Directive Leadership Styles. Discuss specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Participative Leadership Style Is Always More Effective Than Autocratic/Directive Leadership Styles. Discuss specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Participative Leadership Style Is Always More Effective Than Autocratic/Directive Leadership Styles. Discuss specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Whilst Zaleznik (1977) suggested that in an organisation the managers and leaders are two different types of people. Therefore the managers have the ability to make choice hence maintaining the stability of business. Accordingly the leader works in an opposite direction, to build up new approaches, create new areas to investigate that will withstand long term problems. The leader and the manager, show the conditions favourable to the growth of one may be opposing to the other (Zaleznik 1977). The leadership behaviour of a manager and the leader is dependent on an effective personality and significant levels of knowledge. The varied studies of leadership cover areas such as trait theories, behavioural and contingency theories, with the latter most theory commonly known as the path goal theory (House 1971). The four types of leadership behaviours coming under the contingency theory are autocratic/directive, supportive, achievement oriented and participative. In this report the comparison between the two leadership styles, only participative and autocratic/directive will be discussed in detail. Organisational behaviour theories relating to the leadership style such as communication, Hertzberg’s two factory theory of motivation, goal setting and the Hofstedes research on cultural context will be discussed in detail in this report. Leaders that implement the participative leadership style encourage and play the role of a facilitator and consultant with varied subordinates by taking ideas into account during decision making. On the other hand the autocratic / directive leader informs subordinates about a precise line of procedure by handing down specific work standards and details required of them (Bass 1990). Theories of Leadership Leadership trait theories differentiate leaders from subordinates with a clear focus on personal qualities and characteristics. Some traits are self confidence, high tolerance of frustration, extroversion and assertiveness (Dubrin and Dalglish 2001). Behavioural theories propose characteristic behaviours that differentiate leaders from subordinates by selecting behaviours for specific groups of people through effective training (Yukl 2002). The path-goal theory of leadership examines the way leaders promote and support followers in achieving the key fundamental organisational goals via communication. According to Mc Shane, communication is an immensely important tool for organisational learning and decision making thereby influencing organisational effectiveness (Mc Shane et. Al, 2010 p344). Effective communication minimises ‘silos of knowledge’ and improves organisational productivity. Communication also aids employee well being and builds a better work environment. Participative leaders prefer to increase the level of communication and interact with the team members and ask for opinions about alternatives, and collaborate with individuals by obtaining information from employees. The improved communication between teams thereby results in greater organisational productivity. On the other hand the autocratic/directive leader focuses on how managers communicate and ensures operations are progressing according to procedures by indicating how workers achieve specific goals and tasks. Such leaders have personal characteristics such as high self confidence; decisiveness through an assertive nature which influence the leader to take a particular direction in problem solving. Such leaders have spent most time providing knowledge and structuring tasks in an organisation (Rothwell 2009) According to the Herzberg’s two factor theory of motivation (1986), people tend to be motivated by diverse factors. Hertzberg believed that individuals are motivated by factors a lot higher than basic needs such as career growth potential, fixed wage, interpersonal relations, and daily routine of work, hours of work and an ergonomic office which eventually leads to high self esteem (Michael and Sainfort 1989). These were termed as the sources of satisfaction and are called motivation factors. The goal setting theory examines the process of encouraging employees and establishing performance objectives through effective role perceptions (Locke 1996). Research has shown that participation in goal setting creates higher levels of employee commitment. Participation increases goal quality, as employees have valuable information that is unknown to supervisors. There is a greater aspect in receiving feedback on the job performance by having an on going appraisal. Consequently in the directive style the leader himself has the authority in setting goals and specific tasks required of the employee (Rothwell 2009). Leadership Theory in Practice Communication is a very important tool in the participative leadership style, employees trust information disseminated and believe that leaders will conduct themselves in accordance with the group’s values by being loyal and committed to the group and by participating with other group members in problem solving and decision making. Listening, high levels of concentration and attentiveness play a large role. Recent studies show that the organisations tend to participate in computer mediated communication (CMC) especially by emails and other networks (Sammarra et. al, 2010). In contrast the directive leader allocates a particular direction outlining the rules and regulations in an employee role. An empirical study on leadership styles was conducted in several leadership schools (Gordon and Patterson 2006). Research methods used included interviews and observations; the result however indicated a lack of validity to clearly delineate the most effective leadership style. In schools, the principle is revered as the â€Å"Leader† of the school with teachers and students having varied expectations from their â€Å"Leader†. These expectations have led to senior teachers getting involved in decision making. The practical application of the goal setting theory leads to enhanced performance on the job. It incorporates the process of planning, goal outlines, performance assessment and reward allocation. Leaders with increased work experience or high levels of education generally adopt the participative leadership style for example the I. T. ndustry being project based allows employees to work on varied deliverables resulting in greater levels of flexibility and choice. Performance reviews and reward allocation are based on the completion of these deliverables thereby making it a motivation factor for employees in this line. Directive leadership comparatively is effective in departments requiring inexperienced and unskilled labour especially in manufacturing facilities (Bass 1990). Leadership across Cultures and Genders Another organisational behaviour scholar Hofstede has conducted high levels of research on cross cultural groups and organisations (Hofstede 1980). This section pays attribute to Thailand in particular and how it differs from westernised societies based on four cultural dimensions: â€Å"individualism collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity feminity and power distance’’ (Yukongdi 2010). Currently of the most recent empirical research (Yukongdi 2010) stated, that Thailand is ranked low on masculinity, competitiveness and assertiveness in society. The concept of power distance when applied to an organisational setting has led to centralisation and higher degrees of directive leadership. This stems from the fact that organisations functioning in power distance countries are written off as centralised with considerable inequality between superiors and subordinates (House et al, 2002). Studies conducted on global leadership and organisational behaviour effectiveness (GLOBE), state that Thai employees have a culture of high power distance (Gupta et al. 2002). Employees in such societies are not as outspoken and are generally subjected to repetitive tasks in high-production environments thereby leading to the adoption of the directive leadership style. Australian employees comparatively have relatively equal power sharing. The relationship between an employer and subordinate is one of interdependence as the boss is dependent on employees for information dissemination and consultation for decision making. This results in several western countries having low power distance. Research conducted has declared that Australian managers are wary of such a style as employees look upon their boss and is considered tedious (Avery and Ryan 2002). In Australia, many employees feel entitled to the right to be involved in major decision making. Leaders incorporate such opportunities into performance reviews and goal setting thereby giving employees an equitable chance to be involved in such decision making, clearly indicating the practice of participative leadership. Gender plays an important aspect in the leadership style, when the autocratic/leadership style used women tend to be less competitive and skilled leaders than men. Men tend to have more flexibility in the type of leadership they adopt (Rothwell 2009). Significant research shows that women favour a participative leadership style as compared to men. This stems from the fact that girls have been raised to be more egalitarian and less status oriented (Eagly and Carli 2003). Women tend to have better interpersonal skills than men especially regarding sensitive issues concerning employee development thereby leading to the existence of several female managers in the workplace (Mc Shane et. Al, 2010). Situational factors of participative and directive leadership The benefits of participative leadership are satisfaction of needs for competence, self control, independence and personal growth. Some of the organisational benefits are increased performance and productivity, quality of decisions and development of subordinates’ potential. The situation where participative leadership may not be as effective is when the employee work tasks are highly predictable and repetitive with no variation in completion methods. The leader must make an urgent decision immediately with miniscule time for information collection. On the other hand directive leadership benefits are role clarity, low stress, high task structure, work and supervisor satisfaction, clear goal definition and expectations. Organisational benefits include enhanced efficiency and or effectiveness, high quality relations among group members and reduced attrition rates. Directive leadership on the other hand can be ineffective if conducted using inappropriate procedures stemming from inopportune timing and lack of feedback resulting in employees misunderstanding a leader’s intentions. Directive leaders are ineffective in teams where members see themselves as capable and highly experienced individuals who desire to work independently without supervision. Followers working in a cohesive group with alternate goals which differ from handed-down goals through a directive leader tend to lack inspiration in achieving goals set by leaders. Conclusion / Implications The study of leadership theories is important to all leaders and managers in an organisation regardless of the subject of work involved. This report provided an insight to the various behavioural and contingency perspectives of leadership with special attributes dedicated to the path goal theory of leadership. Varied comparisons between autocratic / directive leadership styles indicate style preference strongly depend on team dynamics. Labour based teams in production / manufacturing facilities have resulted in the adoption of autocratic / directive leadership styles due to power distances existing between employer and subordinates as compared to the participative nature of the project based I. T. Industry. Different nations have varied power distances with Thailand scaling increased heights on the power distance scale as compared to Australia. Gender plays an important aspect in the role of leadership style; women tend to incline towards the participative leadership in comparison to men. Workplace culture plays a strong role in style adoption which differs between varied organisational departments such as accounting and marketing. An organisation’s accounting department is home to employees strictly following strict instructions handed down by the financial controller as compared to the dynamic marketing department which is generally given a fair amount of autonomy in making sales. However, this report shows that there is lack of evidence in order to determine which leadership style will be adopted based on the existence of varied parameters mentioned above. Reference Avery, G. , Ryan J. , 2002. ‘Applying situational leadership in Australia’, Journal of Management Development, vol. 21 no ? pp. 242-262. Bass, B. M. 1990, Bass Stodgill’s handbook of leadership: Theory, research, managerial applications, 3rd edn, New York, Free Press. Bennis, W. , Nanus, B. 1985, Leaders: the strategies for taking charge, Harper Collins, New York. Dubrin, A. J. Dalglish, C. 2001, Leadership: an Australian focus, John Wiley and Sons, Queensland. Eagly, H. A. , Carli, L. L. 2003, ‘The female Leadership advantage: An Evaluation of the Evidence’, Leadership Quaterly, vol. 14 no 6, pp. 807-834. Gordon, J. , Patterson A. J. 2006, ‘School leadership in context: Narratives of practice and possibility’, Leadership in Education, vol. 9 no 3, pp. 205-228. Gupta, V. , Surie,G. , Javidan, M. , Chhokaar,J. , 2002. ‘Southern Asia cluster: where the old meets the new? ’, Journal of world business, vol. 7, pp. 16-27. Hertzberg, F. , 1986, Work and the nature of man, Thomas Crowell, New York. Hofstede, G. , 1980. Culture’s consequences: international differences in work-related values. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage House, R. J. 1971, ‘A path-goal theory of leader effectiveness’, Administrative Science Quarterly, vol. 16, pp. 321–338. House, R. J. , Javidan, M. , Hanges, P. , and Do rfman, P. , 2002. ‘Understanding cultures and implicit leadership theories across the globe: an introduction to project GLOBE’, Journal of world of business, vol, 37, pp. 3-10. Locke, E. A. 1996, ‘The contradiction of epiphenomenalism’, British Journal of Psychology, vol. 57, pp. 203 4. McShane, S. , Olekalns, M. Travaglione, T. 2010, Organisational Behaviour on the Pacific Rim, 3rd edn, McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd, North Ryde. Rothwell, D. J. 2009, In mixed Company: Communicating in Small Groups and Teams, 7th edn, Cengage Learning. Sammarra, A. , Dandi R. , Muzzi C. , Biggiero L. 2010, ‘The effect of email use and adoption on organisational participation: The case of public administration’, Human Systems Management, vol. 9 pp. 27-39. Smith, J. M. , Sainfort, P. C. 1989, ‘A balance theory of job design for stress reduction’, International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, vol. 4, no1 pp. 67-79. Yukl, G. 2002, Leadership in Organisations, 5th edn, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Yukongdi,V. , 2010. ‘A study of Thai employees’ preferred leadership style’, Asia Pacific Business Re view, vol. 16 no1-2, pp. 161-181. Zaleznik, A. 1977, ‘Managers and leaders; are they different? ’, Harvard Business Review, May – June.

C.J. Hogan Essays - Economy, Business, Free Essays, Term Papers

C.J. Hogan Essays - Economy, Business, Free Essays, Term Papers C.J. Hogan Paper III 12/10/2015 History 101 What factors contributed to the rise of child labor in Britain during the Industrial Revolution? Provide some specific examples to illustrate these factors. What factors led to the decline of child labor? How much can we credit legislation with the decline; how much can we credit other factors? The industrial revolution was a crucial turning point in European History. The industrial revolution began in the mid 1700's with James Watt's invention of the steam engine. Others also focused on exploring new sources of power and technological innovations lead to streamlining of production. With these innovations production in factories increased causing a growing dependence on industry. But after reading Jane Humphries' article, "Childhood and Child Labor in the British Industrial Revolution," and Clark Nardinelli's article, "Child Labor and the Factory Acts," a darker side of this great revolution is revealed. Child labor shows the cruelty of the industrial revolution even though urbanization was already having negative effects on society such as crowded living and forcing small business's to close. Child labor reached its peak in the revolution for a multitude of reasons until child labor laws came into play restricting children from working in these factories. Child Labor was on the rise at beginning of the Industrial Revolution. In Clark Nardinelli's article, "Child Labor and the Factory Acts" he describes some of the dark stories that spawn in those textile mills. He also describes how the children ran most of the work in factories, "They claimed that child labor was responsible for most of the work in the factory districts, and that in many cases children even supported their parents. According to Sadler and his witnesses, childhood was being sacrificed to the expansion of Britain's textile industries." Child labor has reached a new extreme during this revolution for a multitude of reasons. Children were useful as laborers because of their small size that allowed them to fit in small factories and mines where adults couldn't, easier to manage and control, and children could be paid less. Most children were forced to work to help and support their families and couldn't get an education. Throughout history we have seen some forms of child labor whether it is servants, apprentices, or farmers. In colonial America, child labor was simply an integral part of the culture. However this labor reached its peak during the industrial revolution. With the ever-expanding industry, factory jobs for children were in high demand because children were the most suitable for those types of jobs. In Walter Trattner's, Crusade for the Children: A History of the National Child Labor Committee and Child Labor Reform in America (1970) he talks about the staggering statistics of children working in the early and late 1900's. "Although the official figure of 1.75 million significantly understates the true number, it indicates that at least 18 percent of these children were employed in 1900. In southern cotton mills, 25 percent of the employees were below the age of fifteen, with half of these children below age twelve." These statistics brought the issue of child labor to the attention of t he public along with the horrible conditions they faced while working. Many factors led to the decline of child labor. One of the many factors that contributed to the downfall was the importance of primary school education for both personal fulfillment and to better the nation. In response to the emphasis on the importance of school several states establish a minimum wage for labor and minimal requirements for attending school. These were few and far between, only in a few states, and the laws weren't strictly enforced. Along with these new reforms a new surge of immigrants from Ireland and Eastern Europe provided a new pool of children workers. To try and combat and regulate child labor, the National Child Labor Committee was established in 1904. This organization believed they could greatly reduce or bring child labor to a complete end. The child labor committee used pioneering tactics in order to gain advantages over the companies hiring children. For example they would take mass political action, investigations, widespread use of photography to show the poor worker conditions children faced day in and day out, mass mailings

How to Start the Semester Right - Grad Student Study Advice

How to Start the Semester Right - Grad Student Study Advice The most effective way to ensure success in classes learning and getting good grades is to prepare early and often. Most students recognize the value of preparation in ensuring excellent class performance. Prepare for each class, each test, each assignment. Preparation, however, begins before the first reading assignment and first class. Prepare for the semester and youll be off to a great start. So, how do you start the semester right? Start on the first day of class. Get into the proper mindset by following these three tips. Plan to work. Colleges - and faculty - expect you to put in a significant amount of time over the course of the semester. At the undergraduate level, a 3 credit course generally meets for 45 hours during the semester. In most cases, you are expected to put in 1 to 3 hours for every hour of class time. So, for a class that meets 2.5 hours a week, that means you should plan to spend 2.5 to 7.5 hours outside of class preparing for class and studying the material each week. You likely wont spend the maximum time on every class every week - its a big time commitment! But recognize that some classes will require relatively little prep and others may require additional hours of work. In addition, the amount of time you spend in each class will vary during the semester. Get a head start. This one is simple: Begin early. Then follow the class syllabus and read ahead. Try to stay one reading assignment ahead of the class. Why read ahead? First, this permits you to see the big picture. Readings tend to build on each other and sometimes you may not realize that you dont understand a particular concept until you encounter a more advanced concept. Second, reading ahead gives you wiggle room. Life sometimes gets in the way and we fall behind in reading. Reading ahead permits you to miss a day and still be prepared for class. Likewise, start papers early. Papers nearly always take longer to write than we anticipate, whether its because we cant find sources, have a hard time understanding them, or suffer from writers block. Start early so that you wont feel pressed for time. Mentally Prepare. Get your head in the right place. The first day and week of classes can be overwhelming with new lists of reading assignments, papers, exams, and presentations. Take the time to map out your semester. Write down all classes, due dates, exam dates in your calendar.   Think about how you will organize your time to prepare and get it all done. Plan time off and time for fun. Think about how you will maintain motivation over the semester - how will you reward your successes? By mentally preparing for the semester ahead you put yourself in the position to excel.

Relationship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Relationship - Essay Example on to jobs as service crew at two ice cream parlors and later on transferred to a travel agency as an accounting assistant and travel agent at the same time. I did all this to help my mother who is the only close family member with me here in America. My father passed away some years ago and all my determined efforts are both to help out my mother and prove to myself and perhaps to my late father that I can make it out on my own. My job at the travel company entailed a lot of accounting work and was happy this is so because it closely correlated with my college degree. My fluency with both Chinese and English together with a third language was really a big help in my job with this casino-related travel company where I got to meet lots of people, greatly improved my marketing and selling abilities, enhanced my people skills and most importantly, gave the needed practice to boost my self-confidence. This job also gave me the much-needed work experience which was all more valuable as it related to what I am pursuing in college. Hardships I had encountered made me a stronger person and I hope this will help make me realize my full potentials. I am ambitious and totally focused on my life goals; probably also because I am a woman. If a person will ask me why I strive so hard, I will perhaps answer it is because I am a woman and I need to prove to myself and everybody that I can do the same job even better; that I can also accomplish great things when given the chance. I consider this opportunity to study in the United States as a rare once-in-a-lifetime chance which I will obviously not just squander away doing inconsequential things. I dream big and aspire for bigger things to come. At the moment, I had temporarily given up my job to concentrate on my studies and I intend to fully achieve my dreams by totally focusing on it for the time being. I also know that sometimes it is harder for a woman to get ahead in this society despite some progress towards gender

E-commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

E-commerce - Essay Example Users of internet-enabled mobile phones have higher chances of picking up more sales conveniently and ensure continuous contact with customers. First, participants have to check their current e-commerce sites on mobile devices. Checking site means going through all possible paths by conducting product purchase, testing a coupon code, verifying the zoom and pop out of a product (Oestges, 2011). Finally repeat checking to all mobile browsers such as goggle chrome and opera. A sensitive design is a web layout that is flexible for different devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets. A web developer tweaks a web code and start up the process of designing. It is advisable to constantly monitor buttons, forms and all possible interactive elements to maximize interactions with mobile phone users. Usually, a constant checkout process gives more sales. Post the company’s profile and the product on the website. A welcoming phrase is highly appropriate. For example, one would say; ‘welcome to a new luxury fashion shop with amazing products that meet all customers’ taste and preferences’. You can make posts like; do you ever buy online with your phone? Why or why not? Wake up any store using your own mobile phone, ‘your fashion-your pride’. Some interesting adverts would carry the day across the world major communication platforms. Some adverts such as â€Å"The world faces a parading shift in business; today the world is marveling to enjoy the first ever easiest trading in the luxurious fashion† design over Mobile phone devices would enhance the establishment of the business in e-commerce. Some would read like, â€Å"enjoy luxurious fashion wear at your comfort; you only need to click on your mobile phone buttons to enjoy marvelous services.† You can make a subdomain and redirect anyone on a mobile device to your websites. For example, a site like hi-luxuryfashion.com can build a mobile website that resides in

Life Without the Sun

Life Without the Sun According to scientist the sun is the nearest star to earth the only planet believed to be inhabited by the living creatures. This natural alignment is mysterious and it is hard to explain why the star is placed in such a position. The earth is a planet and it revolves around the sun leading to a series of seasonal changes. Science tells us that the gravity of the sun is the one responsible in holding the earth in its current position. The seasonal changes caused by the revolution of the earth have had tremendous effects in the lives of creatures living on earth as well as the physical terrain of the planet. Plants on earth which are the primary producers in the food chain rely on the light from the sun to manufacture their own food through the process of photosynthesis. In these case the light from the together with chlorophyll a pigment in green plants undergo a series of some chemical reactions that lead to manufacturing of food by the plants.(Kenneth 2006) Consumers which are made of various animals and micro organisms rely entirely on plants for food. The sense we get here shows that without plants, it is difficult for consumers to live. Since the sun is the primary source of light that is needed by plants to survive, then it is very important because plants apparently form the basis for life here on earth. Plants which make up forests will attract rainfall that will ensure that human beings survive. Water is a very important requirement to all animals and plants in this world. People need water for both domestic and industrial uses. Without water it will be impossible to cook food, wash bath and drink. Plants need water to grow well and to produce the best yields. Food crops like fruits beans potatoes and corn need water in order to grow well. Water is also needed for industrial use like generation of hydro electric power, supplying industries that engage in very important activities like manufacturing and processing of various products that we may need in our every day life situation. Water from the rain can also be harvested to be used in irrigating dry lands to produce subsistence food. Animals also need water whether domestic or wild. Pastoral communities rely on livestock as a lively hood and if these animals do not get enough water the live of the pastoral communities in danger.(Kenneth 2006) Apart from these effects on plants, the sun also has some direct benefits on animals. For instance it provides warmth, source of vitamin D, source of light, source of solar energy, act as a stellar cue to migrating birds and animals. The sun also has let to economic benefits especially in the tropics where tourist allover the world troop to these places to enjoy the warmth provided by the sun. Tourists earns foreign income to a country that will create employment opportunities to the locals of tropical countries. In conclusion, the sun is has a lot of benefits that if there was no sun then it means that life could not be there. In simple terms the sun is life.

Hot Wheels

HOT WHEELS ® Kicks Off 40th Anniversary With Diamond-Encrusted Car At N. Y. Toy Fair Year-Long Celebration of Activities by  HWC Press 02-15-08 Hot Wheels ® today announced its year-long plans to celebrate the brand's 40-year heritage at the 105th American International Toy Fair ®. Anniversary activities were kicked off with the unveiling of a custom jeweled 1:64-scale Hot Wheels ® car, designed by celebrity jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills.This one-of-a-kind car, the most expensive in Hot Wheels ® history, was made to commemorate the production of the four-billionth Hot Wheels ® vehicle. The diamonds on the custom-made jeweled car, valued at $140,000, total more than 2,700 and weigh nearly 23 carats. The car is cast in 18-karat white gold, while the majority of the vehicle is detailed with micro pave-set brilliant blue diamonds, mimicking Hot Wheels ® Spectraflame ® blue paint. Under the functional hood, the engine showcases additional micro pave-set white and black diamonds.The Hot Wheels ® flame logo found on the underbelly of the car is lined with white and black diamonds. Red rubies are set as the tail lights, while black diamonds and red enamel create the â€Å"Red Line ®Ã¢â‚¬  wheels. The custom-made case that houses the jewel-encrusted vehicle also holds 40 individual white diamonds, signifying each year in the legacy of the Hot Wheels ® brand. | â€Å"Collaborating with Mattel on the jeweled Hot Wheels car was a dream project for me,† said Jason Arasheben, president ; CEO of Jason of Beverly Hills. The car is truly spectacular and will be a brilliant addition to anyone’s collection. † The vehicle was unveiled by multi-platinum recording artist and car enthusiast Nick Lachey, who grew up playing with the die-cast car line. In late 2008, this unique Hot Wheels ® vehicle will be auctioned off to benefit Lachey's charity of choice. â€Å"Since its introduction, Hot Wheels has revolutionized boys' toys and insp ired automotive trends,† said Tim Kilpin, general manager and senior vice president, Boys and Entertainment, Mattel Brands. â€Å"The historic ctivities we have planned are a fitting tribute to the brand's heritage and will allow us, and our fans, to celebrate this milestone year in true Hot Wheels style. † In 2008, Hot Wheels ® will honor the partners that have helped make the brand successful and will take to the road to celebrate the brand's heritage with its faithful fans. These activities include: Hot Wheels ® Designer's Challengeâ„ ¢ For the first time in its history, Mattel went outside of its in-house design team to seek new car designs and to honor the automotive partners that attributed to the success of Hot Wheels ® cars over the years.Car designers from Dodge, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Lotus and Mitsubishi designed their version of a Hot Wheels ® concept car based on the brand's attributes of speed, power, performance and attitude. Each submitt ed design was created in a 1:5-scale model and unveiled this past October at the 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. In late March the 1:64-scale versions will be available at retailers nationwide as part of the Designer's Challengeâ„ ¢ product line. I’ve been involved in multi-million dollar concept car designs but not everyone can relate to these kinds of projects,† said Amaury Diaz Serrano, creative designer, General Motors. â€Å"But, everyone can relate to a Hot Wheels. Regardless of age, race or background, everyone has fond memories of playing with them. To be able to design for Hot Wheels is the closest I will ever get to winning an Oscar. † Hot Wheels ® Cross-Country Road Trip This summer, fans across the country will be invited to celebrate the 40th anniversary as Hot Wheels ® travels Highway 40 to bring together automotive enthusiasts of all ages.Kicking off at Mattel's headquarters in El Segundo in mid-August, the road trip will make stops at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah; Speed, KS; Indianapolis; and Detroit, before culminating in a grand finale celebration on September 5 in Watkins Glen, NY — home to American road racing. There, Hot Wheels ® will partner with the Grand Prix Festival of Watkins Glen to participate in the annual celebratory kick-off event honoring the history of the town and race track. At each road trip stop, Hot Wheels ® will host a free event that will be open to the public.Each event will feature life-size Hot Wheels ® cars, kiosks where people can create their own custom Hot Wheels ® â€Å"drivers license,† family-friendly activities, and the opportunity to receive a commemorative 1:64-scale Hot Wheels ® car created especially for each stop, available in limited quantities. â€Å"40 years. Four billion cars. It is a year of exciting milestones for Hot Wheels,† said Geoff Walker, vice president, Wheels Marketing, Mattel Brands. †Å"We just can't wait to get on the road to celebrate with the millions that share the Hot Wheels passion. â€Å"