Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publications, 2021
Case 5.1: Marathon Runners at Different
Levels
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Three different groups of runners, with varying skills, knowledge, and motivation, are
training for a marathon. Halfway through training, the coach, David, finds that each group is
struggling for a variety of reasons. The case study asks students to assess how David should
best lead each of these groups.
One team, new to marathon running, is yearning for structure. Another team has some
Learning Objectives:
• Students should be able to determine the developmental level of three different
groups of followers under the SLII model.
• Students should be able to determine the appropriate style for a leader using the
Answers to Questions in the Text:
1. Based on the principles of the SLII model (Figure 5.1), how would you describe the
runners in Group 1? What kind of leadership do they want from Abruzzo and what
kind of leadership does he seem prepared to give them?
The first group of runners is largely new to marathon training and concerned about
Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publications, 2021
2. How would you describe the fit between the runners in Group 2 and Abruzzo’s
coaching style? Discuss.
The second group of runners is a bit more experienced and has a training program in
place. They want to know if changes or tweaks to their plans will help them because
3. The experienced runners in Group 3 appear to be a challenge to Abruzzo. Using SLII,
explain why he appears ineffective with this group.
4. If you were helping Abruzzo with his coaching, how would you describe his strengths
and weaknesses? What suggestions would you make to him about how to improve?
Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publications, 2021
Potential Teaching Approaches:
Below is a way to structure a class based on the situational approach and Case Study 5.1:
• Hold a lecture on the situational approach.
• Ask students to read Case 5.1.
Exercises for This Case Study:
1. Create an action plan for David based on the situational approach. What exactly
should David do with each group this week, this month, and for the remainder of the
2. In small groups, students should discuss a story of inspiring leadership that they
experienced. Then they should determine what their developmental level was at the
time and the corresponding leadership style suggested by the situational approach.
Students should discuss whether the leader did indeed behave in accordance with the
situational approach. If the leader did not behave in that way, would he/she have been
3. The situational approach starts to outline the complexities of leadership. In a brief
paper (200–250 words) students should discuss how this model makes leading others
more complex when compared to the trait approach (Chapter 2). (e.g., It is no longer