Case 8.3: Her Vision of a Model Research Center
Case synopsis and analysis
Rachel Adams is president and CEO of the Independent Center for Clinical Research (ICCR).
Under her leadership, the ICCR has grown to a company of over 100 employees (mostly female),
with $6 million in revenue and $1 million in annual profit. Her vision is to make the center a
model research center that blends credible science with cost-effective clinical trials, maintaining
strong links to academia, industry, and the community.
Rachel is a collaborative, freethinking, and progressive leader who supports women’s concerns
in her research and within the organization. She is optimistic, hardworking, creative, and not
afraid to take risks.
Learning objectives:
1. Students should demonstrate understanding of the transformational leadership theory and
2. Through application, students should be able to determine key areas for leadership
Answers to questions in the text:
1. What is it about Rachel’s leadership that clearly suggests that she is engaged in
transformational leadership?
Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition: Instructor Resource
2. In what ways has the growth of ICCR had an impact on Rachel’s leadership?
Rachel is traveling a lot and finds it difficult to develop relationships with all employees due to
3. Given the problems Rachel is confronting as a result of the growth of the company, what
should she do to reestablish herself as a transformational leader at ICCR?
Rachel needs to work on inspiring a shared vision with the followers. She should meet with
Potential teaching approaches:
Below is a way to structure a class based on skill theory and case study 8.3:
• Ask students to read 8.3.
Exercises for this case study:
1) Individually or in small groups, students should create a development plan for Rachel.
What exactly should Rachel do this week, this month, and this year to enhance her
Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition: Instructor Resource
leadership? Students should write a goal (or two) for each of the four I’s, so that Rachel
2) Role-play: In small groups, students role-play a discussion between Rachel and the
department heads. Department heads need to argue for a change in vision. Rachel needs
3) Students work individually or in small groups to apply Kouzes and Posner’s model to
Rachel’s leadership. Does she model their way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the
process, enable others to act and encourage the heart? How? Which area is her weakness
and how can she do better?