Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publications, 2021
Case 7.1: His Team Gets the Best
Assignments
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Carly Peters directs the creative department of an advertising agency. Four leaders, Jack,
Terri, Julie, and Sarah, report to Carly.
Jack and his team excel at their work and are given extra resources and better assignments.
Jack’s group is often selected to produce the best product for the agency. Terri’s team
performs well, but Terri feels that Jack is in a favored group and given additional resources
and better assignments. Julie also feels that her team is not in the inner circle and wishes that
Learning Objectives:
• Students should be able to determine what group is in the “in–group.”
Answers to Questions in the Text:
1. Based on the principles of LMX theory, what observations would you make about
Carly’s leadership at Mills, Smith, & Peters?
2. Is there an in-group and out-group, and if so, which are they?
3. In what way are Carly’s relationships with the four groups productive or
counterproductive to the overall goals of the agency?
The favoritism may help Jack’s group continue to flourish. Overall, though, the
relationships are counterproductive to the goals of the agency.
4. Do you think Carly should change her approach toward the associate directors? If so,
what should she do differently?
Potential Teaching Approaches:
Below is a way to structure a class based on skill theory and Case Study 7.1:
• Consider Exercise 1 below.
• Read Case 7.1.
Exercises for This Case Study:
1. In small groups, students can discuss situations where they were part of an
organization with an in-group and out-group. Students should discuss how it felt to be
2. Carly is playing favorites but has reason to do that. Jack’s group produces the best
results for the team, time and time again. Why shouldn’t they get better resources and
assignments?
a. Students should debate this topic: Half of the students argue that Carly is
3. What should Carly do to truly be fair to each of these teams? In small groups,
4. In a short essay (200–250 words), outline what Carly can do to be an inclusive leader.
What does she need to do to break the cycle of unfairness? Is that even possible in
this case? List a few strategies she might implement to become are more fair leader,