Case 4.1: A Drill Sergeant at First
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Mark Young is head of a painting department in a large hospital, where he oversees a crew of
20. In previous years, Mark was very task oriented. He created more efficient and cost-
effective methods and procedures for painting and was initially quite strict about hiring the
right painters for the job. As time passed, Mark relaxed his style, began to delegate to other
crew members, and regularly socialized and joked with the painters.
Learning Objectives:
• Students should be able to apply the principles of the behavior approach to a
leader of a small team.
Answers to Questions in the Text:
1. From the behavioral perspective, how would you describe Mark’s leadership?
2. How did his behavior change over time?
3. In general, do you think he is more task oriented or more relationship oriented?
4. What score do you think he would get on Blake and Mouton’s grid?
At this stage, it seems as though Mark would be trending toward team management
Potential Teaching Approaches:
This case study is conducive to group discussions and exercises.
Below is a way to structure a class based on the behavior approach and Case Study 4.1:
• Hold a lecture on the behavioral approach.
• Consider doing Exercise 1 below.
Exercises for This Case Study:
1. Debate: Is task or relationship behavior more important for leadership.
a. Break the class into small groups or into two large groups. In these groups,
2. Some people believe that certain organizations require a leader with a stronger focus
on task versus relationship behaviors. Other organizations may need a relationship-
focused leader. As well, times of crisis may demand a leader who is high on results
and low on relationships. On the other hand, depending on the crisis, an organization
may actually need someone closer to 9/9 on the grid.
a. Discuss this concept in class. Students can even create a list of industries or
3. The behavioral approach outlines a key new ingredient in the leadership equation:
followers and how the leader engages them. In a brief essay (200–250 words), explain
how the behavioral approach highlights the process of seeking feedback from those
being led? How does the inclusion of seeking feedback from others impact the act of
leading? Does it make leadership more or less complex when compared to the traits
one is born with or the skills that one can develop?