Peter G. Northouse
Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Case Notes
Chapter 5: Attending to Tasks and Relationships
Case 5.1: From Two to One
Case Summary
In this brief case, Mark Schmidt is tasked with a common, yet complicated business decision,
determining which of his talented managers to let go from his business, Co-Ed Cleaners. Each of
the managers, Asher Roland and Dan Cali, have different strengths and different leadership
styles which make them valuable to Mark’s business.
Dan Cali is a process-oriented manager focusing on supervising his employees through
checklists and direct supervision should a problem arise. He takes the initiative to change ideas
Case Analysis
This case is a comparison and contrast case between concern for people and concern for
production. One manager, Dan Cali, operates on task-oriented leadership focused around
production orientation, and the other manager, Asher Roland operates on relationship–
oriented leadership. Because Mark Schmidt is forced to let a manager go, he is faced with the
task of determining whether or not he can sacrifice a manager concerned with production, or a
Peter G. Northouse
Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Sample Answers to Case Questions
1. Using ideas from the chapter, describe Dan’s and Asher’s styles of leadership.
Dan initiates structure through task leadership. He organizes work, defines role responsibilities,
and schedules work activities. He is production focused, and stressed the production and
2. How will Asher’s employees, who are used to being able to manage themselves in their own
way, respond to Dan’s task-oriented style?
Asher’s employees will probably not respond to switching over to a task-oriented style well at
3. How will Dan’s employees, who are used to being given clear direction and procedures,
respond to Asher’s more relationship-oriented style?
4. If you were an employee at Co-Ed Cleaners, would you want Mark to let Dan or Asher go?
Explain your choice.
There are two different perspectives for this question. By letting Dan go, Asher acquires
employees that are already driven, focused, and results-oriented. It may be much easier to