Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition: Instructor Resource
Case 7.1: His Team Gets the Best Assignments
Case synopsis and analysis
Carly Peters directs the creative department of an advertising agency. Four leaders, Jack, Terri,
Julie, and Sarah report to Carly.
Jack and his team excel at their work, are given extra resources and better assignments. Jack’s
group is often selected to produce the best product for the agency. Terri’s team performs well,
but Terri feels that Jack is in a favored group and given additional resources and better
assignments. Julie also feels that her team is not in the inner circle and wishes that Carly valued
Learning objectives:
1. Students should be able to determine what group is in the “in–group.”
Answers to questions in the text:
1. Based on the principles of LMX theory, what observations would you make about Carly’s
leadership at Mills, Smith, & Peters?
2. Is there an in-group and out-group, and, if so, which are they?
3. In what way is Carly’s relationship with the four groups productive or counterproductive to
the overall goals of the agency?
Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition: Instructor Resource
The agency wants to see the best pitch and ads possible. They presumably have four teams
because each one has something to offer. Here, creativity could flourish in each of these groups
4. Do you think Carly should change her approach toward the associate directors? If so, what
should she do differently?
Yes. Carly needs to allocate resources more fairly and distribute interesting assignments to all
Potential teaching approaches:
Below is a way to structure a class based on skill theory and case study 7.1:
• Consider exercise 1 below.
• Read case 7.1.
Exercises for this case study:
1) In small groups, students can discuss situations where they were part of an organization
2) Carly is playing favorites but has reason to do that. Jack’s group produces the best
results for the team, time and time again. Why shouldn’t they get better resources and
assignments?
3) What should Carly do to truly be fair to each of these teams? In small groups, students