Peter G. Northouse
Introduction to Leadership, 4e
SAGE Publishing, 2018
Case Notes
Chapter 13: Overcoming Obstacles
Case 13.1: Book Quiz Blues?
Case Summary
Trey Morgan, an education major, volunteered his time to coach a Book Quiz team of fourth
graders. Teams had the responsibility to read 10 books in 10 weeks to prepare for the
competition. Trey’s team members were assigned to him, and he decided to make a chart and
award students a star for each book they finished reading.
After three weeks passed, one student, Claire, had already finished half of the books. Another
student, Shelby, had stopped reading them, calling them “boring,” Marco, had started strong but
Case Analysis
This case study represents an example of path-goal leadership and how Trey Morgan could
have used this leadership model to overcome obstacles that hinder productivity. In this case,
Trey is working with four students, each with their own unique obstacles to complete the task
(book reading) that Trey was responsible for ensuring they complete. Trey had the responsibility
to assess the student’s ability at some point over the ten-week period and differentiate instruction
based on their individual “paths.”
Sample Answers to Case Questions
1. Obviously, things are not working out well for Trey and his team. If you were Trey, how
would you have proceeded from the beginning to help the team avoid or overcome its obstacles?
Trey could have approached this situation in a number of different manners. First, Trey could
have set clear benchmarks for each week, and followed through with each of the students on a
2. Based on the seven obstacles discussed in this chapter, identify which obstacles each of the
team members (Claire, Shelby, Marco, and Garrett) is facing.
Claire is facing the obstacle of complex tasks. While the tasks themselves might not be complex,
her time to read has been shortened because of her athletic involvement. Combining both tasks
has been a challenge for her, and she has been forced to slow down her work effort.
Shelby is struggling from unclear directions. She has started every book that she was supposed
to read, but her lack of focus has caused her not to complete any of the readings. Because of this,
she may be further along than others overall, but has no tangible products to show for the
completion of her work.
3. Some of Trey’s team members seem to lack motivation. Based on expectancy theory, how
could Trey help his team members feel competent, get what they expect, and value what they do?
Expectancy theory suggests that people will be more highly motivated when the effort they put
into a task leads to an expected outcome that they value.
Trey could help his team members feel competent by acknowledging and rewarding their
progress throughout the ten-week period, not just for completion. As the four students had
completed each of their books or progressed through the books (for Garrett, perhaps on a
4. Based on how his team is feeling and doing, identify three specific things Trey could do to
help his students.
The first thing Trey needs to do is motivate his team to let them know they can still do well. By
showing them that he is supportive and still believes in them, his team might be able to at least
finish some of the books by the targeted completion date.