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Northouse, Leadership 8e
SAGE Publications, 2019
Case 8.2: An Exploration in Leadership
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Every year, Dr. Cook, a professor, leads a group of 25 college students on an archeological
dig in the Middle East. The students come from a wide range of cities and colleges.
Dr. Cook demands that everyone in the group be ready for 5 a.m. digs. However, he is a
leader who solicits input from the followers and tries to use their personal skills and talents to
enhance the goal. Dr. Cook seems to stress two points: (a) that the students shared the
Learning objectives:
• Students should demonstrate understanding of the transformational leadership theory
and be able to apply its main concepts (idealized influence, inspirational motivation,
intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration) to a leader.
• Through application, students should be able to determine key points that led to the
leader’s success.
Answers to questions in the text:
1. How is this an example of transformational leadership?
Dr. Cook has idealized influence because he acts as a strong role model for the group.
He seems to have a passion for the work and wakes up early on a daily basis to do it.
He works hard but also listens to followers and leads with respect.
Northouse, Leadership 8e
SAGE Publications, 2019
2. Where are Dr. Cook’s strengths on the Full Range of Leadership model (see Figure
8.2)?
Dr. Cook is at the Transformational Leadership (Four I’s) level on the Full Range of
3. What is the vision Dr. Cook has for the archaeology excavations?
Dr. Cook hopes to have a successful dig and teach students about archeology in the
Potential teaching approaches:
Below is a way to structure a class based on Transformational Leadership Theory and Case
Study 8.2:
• Ask students to read Case 8.2.
• Without relying on transformational leadership, students then discuss what Dr. Cook
did well by creating a list of his strengths.
• Hold a lecture on transformational leadership.
• Discuss Questions 1–3 in the case study as a class.
• Return to the lists that students created (Bullet 2 above). Discuss how those lists
compare/contrast to their answers in the case study once they directly applied
transformational leadership concepts.
• Finally, the professor may choose to conduct an in-class exercise listed below.
Exercises for this case study:
1) Some students likely have studied abroad, done mission work oversees, or completed
long-term volunteer projects. The professor could ask students if they have been led
Northouse, Leadership 8e
SAGE Publications, 2019
2) In small groups or individually, students can create mini–case studies of leaders along
the Full Range of Leadership Model, using the archeological dig as an example.
3) In a brief essay (200–250 words), have students outline a transformational leader
from their past that matches Dr. Cook’s strengths. What are the benefits of leading
