Lieutenant Alex Hopper must lead his crew aboard the USS John Paul Jones to fight against an alien invasion after most of the senior officers are killed. At first, Alex is undisciplined and hot-headed, but he develops leadership skills as he accepts his crew's advice and works with the Japanese captain to track the alien ships. Using tactics like tracking the aliens with tsunami buoys and blinding their ships, Alex and his crew are able to destroy several alien vessels. However, the mother ship sends deadly drones that sink John Paul Jones. Alex unites the survivors to reactivate a decommissioned battleship and help destroy the mother ship, ending the alien threat.

1. MASTER IN BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT (BATTLESHIP)
NAME : ATEERA BT AHMAD DAHALAN (KBB16011)
PREPARED FOR : PROF. DATO DR YUSERRIE BIN ZAINUDDIN

2. CAST OF BATTLESHIP
Taylor Kitsch as Lieutenant (Lieutenant Commander-select)
Alex Hopper, an undisciplined, hothead, ex-enlisted U.S. Navy
officer assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul
Jones as Tactical Action Officer
Alexander Skarsgard as Commander Stone Hopper,
Alex’s older brother, Commanding Officer of USS
Sampson
Rihanna as Gunner's Mate Second Class (GM2)
Cora Raikes, a weapons specialist aboard John
Paul Jones

3. Brooklyn Decker as Samantha "Sam" Shane, a
physical therapist and Alex Hopper's girlfriend
Tadanobu Asano as Captain Nagata, JMSDF,
Commanding Officer of JDS Myōkō
Hamish Linklater as Cal Zapata, a scientist working
on Oahu

4. SYNOPSIS
Battleship is a film about a first encounter with alien in a naval conflict context. The
main character of this movie is Lieutenant Alex Hopper whom is a weapons officer aboard
the destroyer USS John Paul Jones. His older brother is the commanding officer of the
USS Sampson, Stone Hopper. While Alex, Stone and the rest of the U.S. Navy on aboard,
alien invaders have arrived on Earth with plans to steal Earth’s resources. Navy’s radar
capability had been knocks out due to the confrontation with the alien invaders. In those
difficult time, American and Japanese forces must work together to find a way to save the
planet.
The story started with the introduction of The Beacon Project. The Beacon Project
is a program to contact Planet G, which an extra solar planet in the Gliese system that
are believed to be nearly identical to Earth. NASA builds a transmission device in Hawaii
that is five times more powerful than any before it, as an attempt to make contact with the
planet.
Meanwhile, Alex had been forced by his brother, Stone to sign up for the U.S. Navy
after he gets arrested while attempting to impress Sam Shane, daughter of U.S. Pacific
Fleet commander Admiral Terrance Shane. Stone, which is also a naval officer had been,
gets infuriated at Alex’s lack of motivation after the incident.
After a few years, Alex is now a lieutenant that been disrespectful by his crew
because of his hothead attitude. He is also Tactical Action Officer aboard John Paul Jones

5. while Stone is a commander and the Commanding Officer of USS Sampson. Alex is in a
relationship with Sam and is in danger of being discharged from the Navy. Their ships
join the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) in Hawaii.
During the exercise, the alien from Planet G had arrive at Earth in response to
NASA signal. Their communication ship collides with a satellite and crashes in Hong Kong
while the other alien battleship land in the water near the coast of Hawaii. Sampson, John
Paul Jones and Myoko had been ordered to investigate. Alex together with the other two
crew had been sent to approach the massive floating structure.
When Alex touches the structure, it knocks him away, and generates a massive
force field that encloses the Hawaiian island, separating the Navy ships from the RIMPAC
fleet. During this rivalry with the alien invaders, both the Sampson and the Myoko are
destroyed and sunk, and the John Paul Jones is badly damaged. The Captain, the
Commanding and the Executive Officers of the John Paul Jones are all killed.
Alex returns to his ship when he sees his brother died. He had been forced to take
command since he is the highest ranking officer left. At first, Alex’s plan was to attack
because he had been very angry due to his brother’s death. However, his crew able to
persuade him to recover the survivors from Myoko, including Captain Nagata, whom Alex
did not have a good relationship with.
Together with Captain Nagata, Alex led his crews in order to get rid of the alien.
Captain Nagata suggests using NOAA's tsunami warning buoys around Hawaii to track
the alien attack ships. Using this strategy, the John Paul Jones destroys and sinks two of
the alien battleships using standard missile. At dawn, they manage to make the third
warship face east, where Alex and Nagata shoot out its bridge windows. The Mothership
of the alien invaders retaliates with shredder – drones which caused John Paul Jones
sunk. Along with other survivors, Alex return to Pearl Harbor and reactivated museum
ship. F/A-18 fighters from the RIMPAC fleet arrive and destroy the shredder-drones and
the mothership, eliminating the alien threat.
At the end of the story, it shows that a ceremony is held to honor the Navy
Personnel.

6. What is the main objective of the mission shown in the movie? Give example.
The main objective of the mission shown in the movie is to fight against the alien.
The Earth had been attacked by alien after few years NASA build a transmission device
in Hawaii and try to make contact with creatures from other planet through The Beacon
Project. Military stations on the island had been prevent to respond, therefore, the ships
had to work on their own to get rid of the alien.
On the John Paul Jones ship, naval personnel capture a semi-unconscious alien
from the communications ship. Alex had been attacked by the alien when it had been
startled by a bright light in its eye. Other aliens arrive in order to rescue their comrade. By
intending to sabotage the ship, one alien stays on board, however get killed by Alex.
Based on investigation of the captured alien’s helmet, the crew able to determine that the
aliens are sensitive to light.
Captain Nagata, the commanding officer of JMSDF Kongo-class destroyer Myoko
had come out with a plan to fight against the aliens. He suggests using NOAA's tsunami
warning buoys around Hawaii to track the alien attack ships. By using this strategy, John
Paul Jones had success in destroying and sinks two of the alien battleships using
standard missile. At dawn, John Paul Jones manage to make the third warship face East,
making Alex and Nagata success in shooting out its bridge windows. However, the

7. Mothership retaliates with shredder-drones. The crew abandons the John Paul Jones,
which is rapidly destroyed by the shredder-drones and is sunk.
Together with the survivors of the John Paul Jones and Myoko, Alex return to Pearl
Harbor and reactivate the museum ship together with the aid of retired veterans. In the
ensuing battle, the Missouri's 16-inch main guns severely damage the mothership,
disabling the force field in the process. The Mothership reactivates, and prepares to fire
shredder-drones. Alex uses the last shell to destroy the communications array, cutting
the aliens' contact with their home planet. Before the Missouri is destroyed, fighters from
the RIMPAC fleet arrive and destroy the shredder-drones and the mothership, eliminating
the alien threat.
Describe the main leadership characteristics reflected by the main actor of the
movie and give examples.
The main actor for this movie is Lieutenant Alex Hopper which portrayed by Taylor
Kitsch. He is described as lack of motivation in the early part of the story. He is hothead
and disrespectful lieutenant. Besides, he is also stubborn which can been seen clearly
from a few scene. One of the scenes is when he refused to listen to his brother’s advice,

8. asking him to give the penalty kick to other player. This scene obviously shows that Alex
is somebody that hardly receives other people’s opinion and he led his life in his own way.
According to Warren G. Bennis, “Leaders are people who do the right thing;
managers are people who do things right.” According to the idea of leadership, leader can
be define as a person who creates and inspiring vision of the future, motivates and
inspires people to engage with the vision, manages delivery of the vision, coaches and
builds a team so that it is more effective at achieving the vision. Leadership brings
together the skills needed to do these things.
The character of Alex started to develop the leadership characteristic when he
need to investigate the alien force – field ship. During the alien attack, Alex leads a team
out to investigate the alien force – field ship. During this period, the alien attacks John
Paul Jones ship, which killing it’s commanding and executive officers.
Upon Alex’s return to the ship, he was forced to command John Paul Jones since
he is the highest ranking officer left and starts an attack run. During the attack run, Captain
Nagata was forced to accompany Acting Captain Hopper into the attack.
At first, when he received the task to lead the team, following his anger due to his
brother’s death, Alex insist to continue attacking the alien. He had a disagreement with
his team due to his stubbornness. Alex’s crew convinced him to rescue survivors from
Myoko, a Japanese destroyer ship that had accompanied them and also been destroyed
by the alien’s attack. Captain Nagata is one of the survivor whom Alex had an alteration
with before and he blame Alex for the destruction of his ship.
It was a big changes in Alex’s leadership characteristic when he agreed to his crew
advice to stop attacking the alien and start rescuing other sailor. This shows that Alex’s
character had developed becoming more matured and willing to accept other people’s
advice, not only doing decision based on his opinion. He learned to accept his crew’s
opinion even though he is the commanding officer.

9. Describe transformational issues introduced by the main actor in the movie that
can unite the people under his/her leadership.
According to Bass (1990), transformational leadership is characterized by several
patterns of behavior. First, transformational leadership employs the charisma of leaders
in order to gain the respect and trust of stakeholders and to instill pride in the latter. The
second characteristic is inspiration through which leaders employ symbols to redirect
followers’ efforts; they express in a simplistic manner the fundamental purpose of the
transformation process, and clearly communicate the accompanying higher expectations.
The third characteristic is intellectual stimulation. Leaders intellectually stimulate
employees by emphasizing rationality and creativity in problem-solving situations. Finally,
transformational leadership offers individualized consideration: leaders treat employees
individually offering them personal attention and, whenever necessary, they provide
coaching and advise to those employees.
Alex had transformed into transformational leader and unite his crew. This is very
different from his characteristics showed at the early part of the movie which show he was
a much undisciplined people. His character developed on becoming a stoicism leader.
Alex was forced to command the team upon his returning to John Paul Jones since he is

10. the highest ranking officer left. Even the situation is worrisome, he willing to take the
charge and guide his crew.
Alex showed a charismatic leadership characteristic when he lower his ego and
accept his crew’s advice to stop attacking the alien and start the rescuing of the sailor.
Before the attacking of the alien, Alex did not well respect by his team due to his
undisciplined action. However, when he decided to accept his crew’s advice to stop
attacking the alien and start rescuing sailor, he gained respect and trust from his crews.
Besides, Alex also giving order in such a firm and respectful manner and voice.
The clear communication between him and the crew is one of the factors that lead to the
success of the mission. With this kind of attitude, the followers, or in this case, the crews,
had been inspired by their leader, Alex, to work in a calm but efficient action. Alex’s
confident in leading the team ensure the crews to have a trust in him.
Alex’s willingness to follow Captain’s Nagata advice is one of the most honorable
action in this movie. Although he did not have a good relationship with Captain Nagata,
he able to set aside the problem and put his professionalism at the priority level by working
together with Captain Nagata in order to achieve the objective of the mission. He accept
Captain’s Nagata idea to use NOAA’s tsunami warning buoys even though he did not
familiar with the strategy before. He accept the suggestion even it is risky because the
higher the risk, the higher the return will be.
Alex had treated his crew with individualization consideration. He willing to hear
and accept his crew’s opinion. He gave a good attention to whatever his crew suggest
and this make him becoming a respected leader.

11. If you are to be the leader of the mission, what will you do and avoid in order to
achieve the mission successfully (minimises or zero casualties, errors, destroy of
environment etc).
Alex Hopper had led his crews to achieve the mission successfully. He did a great
job while conducting the mission and I had learned a few things of transformational
leadership through his character.
If I am the leader of the mission, I will ensure that I create a good and supportive
team. I will guide and build a strong relationship between the crews. As once said, “Alone
we can do so little, together we can do so much.” It is very important to have a supportive
team in order to ensure the objective of the mission can be achieved successfully. When
we have a supportive team, they will have trust in the leader and willing to accept the
order with confident.
As a navy officer and lieutenant, I would not take this opportunity to make the team
feeling discarded by just giving them order on what to dos and don’ts. I will respect my
team and give them a guide in their work. I will have a tolerance with them and will be
cooperative in whatever action that related to the job. I will learn to listen to their opinion
so that they will feel that they do have an important role in achieving the objective of the
mission.
In those kind of situation, it will be very impossible to have a zero casualties. I will
try my best to minimize the casualties and to make sure all subordinates are save. The
focus on protecting subordinates will be in highest priority besides destroying the alien. I
will prepare a plan to achieve the objective of the mission successfully on how to fight
without hurting other parties.
This movie was portrayed to be in Hawaii, which is one of the most beautiful places
in the world. Here, in Hawaii, they have a few high technology satellites which they
believed can make a contact with creatures from other planet. The attack of the alien
happen in the island of Hawaii. Therefore, I will ensure that my team carried out a plan to
fight the enemies and the same time we are going to try our best to minimize the impact
on the environment. It will be a difficult task since the mission involves a use of high

12. technology weapon that can bring harm towards the environment. But, on top of that, in
my opinion, the life of subordinates will remain as the top priority.
As a leader, I must show accountability and be a good role model so that I will be
able to create a good team in order to achieve the objective of the mission successfully.
I must have a high confident so that my crews will have trust and faith towards my action.
I should come out and develop a simple and flexible plan so that it can suit with
the current situation. A plan that likely contingencies, developing standing operation
procedures, and fostering among subordinates will enable the team to work in harmony
and make a good team.
Conclusion
Alex’s decisiveness in giving out orders and making decision had restored the
crews’ trust towards him. He makes decision promptly and announces them in a clear
and forceful manner to his crews. This confident that shown by Alex also make the crews
to feel confident towards his transformational leadership.
Due to his experience and his brother’s experience, Alex has knowledge to
understand the art of the war. He able to make a wise decision in a worrisome and
endanger situation. He able to lower his ego and work in a team with Captain Nagata,
whom he did not have a good relationship with, and lead the team to achieve the objective
of the mission. He shows a great leadership characteristic when needed to lead the team
since he is the highest ranking officer left. Despite of the harrow feeling because of the
loss of his beloved brother, Alex able to overcome the situation and lead his team.
As a leader, Alex shows a great charismatic leadership when he able to set
direction, build an inspiring vision, create something new, mapping out where there need
to go and do to win as a team and the team becoming inspiring and dynamic. Alex shows
a respectful leadership and inspire the crew to work in calm. “If your actions inspire others
to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” This quote will
be the best to describe Alex’s successfulness in leading the crews and the team.

13. Reference
Bass, Bernard M. (1990). From Transactional to Transformational Leadership: Learning
to Share the Vision Organizational Dynamics, 18 (3), 19-31.
Retrieved from https://www.imd.org/uupload/IMD.WebSite/BoardCenter.
Retrieved from www. http://thehill.com/policy/defense/policy-strategy/245932-us-aims-
for-zero-civilian-casualties-in-war-vs-isis.
Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com.