Zappos.com is an American online shoe and clothing retailer based in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

Zappos.com is an American online shoe and clothing retailer based in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The company was founded in 1999 by Nick Swinmurn and launched under the domain name Shoesite.com. In July 2009, Amazon acquired Zappos in an all-stock deal worth around $1.2 billion at the time.

If you are not familiar with this retail store, visit their website https://www.zappos.com/Links to an external site.

After reading case 14 on page 405, answer the following questions:

1. What leadership traits and style does Tony Hsieh demonstrate at Zappos? What aspects of his leadership can you criticize, if any? Is his successful leadership approach transferable to other leaders and other organizations, or is it person and situation specific?

2. Can you find examples of where House’s path-goal theory of leadership can be confirmed or disconfirmed in the Zappos setting? Explain your answer.

3. Problem Solving . Tony Hsieh is a big thinker, and Zappos is clearly his baby. But he’s also into philanthropy and community development activities that are taking up more of his time. Perhaps he’ll come up with other new business ideas as well. As a leadership coach, what steps would you recommend that he take now to ensure that his leadership style and vision lives on at Zappos long after his departure? What can a strong and secure leader like Hsieh do to ensure a positive leadership legacy?

4. Further Research. Check the latest on Zappos and Tony Hsieh. How and what are each doing at the present time. Do some research to compare and contrast the leadership style and characteristics of Tony Hsieh with those of his boss at Amazon, Jeff Bezos. How are the leadership styles of the two CEOs alike? In what ways do they differ? For whom would you rather work? Is one better than the other in its situational context?