Management Chapter 2 Homework How Might Understanding Individualized Leadership Theory Useful

task-oriented behavior?

Students’ answers will vary. Some of them may say that the subordinates who rate the

leader highly would have developed close relationships with the leader and often become

7. Does it make sense to you that a leader should develop an individualized relationship with

each follower? Explain advantages and disadvantages to this approach.

Students’ answers may vary. Some of them may say that a leader should develop an

8. Why would subordinates under a democratic leader perform better in the leader’s absence

than would subordinates under an autocratic leader?

The democratic leader shares in decision making and values the opinions of subordinates.

Therefore, in his absence, the subordinates have already engaged in decision-making and

9. Why is an entrepreneurial leader important to an organization? How is this role different

from other leader roles?

Entrepreneurial leaders are important to an organization because they take risks to create

novel solutions to competitive challenges confronting a business, especially the

10. Pick three traits from the list in Exhibit 2.1 that you think would be most valuable for a

leader in an operational role. Pick three that you think would be most valuable for a

leader in a collaborative role. Explain your choices.

Students’ answers will vary. Some of them may choose the following roles:

Operational Role:

According to Exhibit 2.1, work-related characteristics include drive, desire to excel;

dependability; fair-mindedness; and perseverance and tenacity. These traits are valuable for

operational leaders who fill vertical management positions in a business. Operational

leaders fill traditional line and general management positions in a business, for example.

Collaborative Role:

According to Exhibit 2.1, social characteristics include sociability, interpersonal skills;

cooperativeness; ability to enlist cooperation; and tact and diplomacy. Leaders in

Teaching Tools and Exercises

1. Leader’s Bookshelf: Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself

and Everyone around You by Betsy Myers.

In her first book, Take the Lead, Betsy Myers, senior advisor to Presidents Barack Obama

It’s Not Magic

The two presidents Myers has worked with are known for their charisma, but Myers insists

Practical Advice for New Leaders

Take the Lead doesn’t claim to have a “secret sauce” for leadership, but it does describe

2. On the Web: Go to Leadership501 at www.leadership501.com/ and read Five Most

3. Discuss the Following Leader: Napoleon Bonaparte

His brain is among the most perfect that has ever been. His ever ready attention seizes

indefatigably upon facts and ideas, which his memory registers and classifies. His

imagination plays with them freely, and a state of incessant secret tension enables it

Source: Pieter Geyl, Napoleon For and Against (New Haven: Yale University Press,

1968), 422-423.

• Using Exhibit 2.1, Personal Characteristics of Leaders, identify the leadership

characteristics of Napoleon.

• Napoleon had the ability to rally the French army. Researchers have shown that

effective leaders were often identified with exceptional follower performance. What

traits made Napoleon’s followers support him?

4. Read and discuss: Ronald Heifetz, Alexander Grashow, and Marty Linsky, “Leadership in

a (Permanent) Crisis,” Harvard Business Review (July- August 2009).

5. Leadership Styles in Action

Divide the class into two groups. One group works for a leader who has a “consideration”

leadership style while the other works for a leader who has an “initiating-structure” style.

Each group has ten minutes to defend its leader by giving reasons and examples.

• Group I: Consideration describes the extent to which a leader is sensitive to

subordinates, respects their ideas and feelings, and establishes mutual trust (e.g.,

6. Leadership at Work: Your Ideal Leader Traits

Spend some time thinking about someone you believe is an ideal leader. For the first part

of the exercise, select an ideal leader you have heard about whom you don’t personally

know. It could be someone like Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, or

any national or international figure that you admire. Write the person’s name. Next, write

down three things you admire about the person, such as what he or she did or the qualities

that person possesses.

Leadership Development: Cases for Analysis

I. Consolidated Products

Synopsis

Consolidated Products is a medium-sized manufacturer of consumer products. Ben Samuels was

a plant manager who was well liked by employees. They were grateful for the fitness center,

picnics, and holiday parties. Ben believed it was important to treat employees properly so they

Case questions and answers

1. Compare the leadership traits and behaviors of Ben Samuels and Phil Jones.

Ben Samuels is an employee-centered or people-oriented boss. Ben shows more interest in

people. Employee-centered leaders display a focus on the human needs of their

2. Which leader do you think is more effective? Why? Which leader would you prefer to work

for?

Students’ answers will vary. Some may say that Ben’s leadership style would be more

effective in the long run and they would prefer working with a leader like Ben. Ben is more

3. If you were Phil Jones’ boss, what would you do now?

Students’ answers will vary. Some may say that Phil’s boss should encourage him to

change his leadership behavior and become a “high-high” leader. A 9,9 team management

II. Transition to Leadership

Synopsis

Michael Collins who joined as Southwest Regional Manager of Creighton Auto Parts, saw the

transition period before and immediately following his appointment as an exciting new

opportunity. During the initial stages of this period he received inputs on the company’s

He also found himself hostage to those who wanted to rant on and on about workplace issues,

their training, their bosses, even their customers. Michael also spent time with the marketing

Case questions and answers

1. What do you see as Michael Collins’s leadership traits? Which of these traits do you

consider a strength? A weakness? Explain.

Students’ answers will vary. Some may say that Michael Collins has self-confidence, the

2. What do you think of Michael Collins’s approach to leading the region? How would you

characterize his people-oriented versus task-oriented style? Why?

Michael is seen to be spending a lot of time with the employees, understanding their goals,

ideas, opinions, and complaints. He finds himself hostage to those who wanted to rant on

3. How might an understanding of individualized leadership theory be useful to Collins with

respect to his relationship with marketing versus store personnel?

Students’ answers may vary. Some may say that Michael knows that he needs to build

good relationships with the team to initiate the transition process. In individualized

leadership, a leader develops a unique relationship with each subordinate or group

Digital Homework Grid

Case Assessment Questions

Topic

Category

Peter heads the

communications department

of Xenon Inc. He shows

concern for the personal

needs of his followers and

Leadership Challenge #5

Perform

helps them with work

wherever required. He

inspires his employees to

work with enthusiasm and

assigns projects with

reasonable timelines. He also

defines job responsibilities,

sets targets, and inspects

quality of work on a regular

basis. This behavior of Peter

implies that he is most likely

to be a(n) _____ leader.

a. autocratic

George is the president of

Colaco Inc. He has a high

level of determination and

energy. While working on

projects, he does not take

breaks until he completes

them. He also coordinates

tasks by assigning projects

and evaluating performance

of his followers. He

examines work progress and

ensures that employees

achieve goals on time. This

behavior of George indicates

that he is most likely to be a

_____ leader.

a. democratic

Leadership Challenge #5

Perform

Dorothy works as the sales

manager of Cole Pvt. Ltd.

She maintains good relations

with her employees. She

excuses employees when

Leadership Challenge #5

Perform

they do not meet targets if

they have valid reasons. She

also extends help when an

employee is unable to

complete work on time due

to personal issues. This

behavior of Dorothy explains

that she is most likely to be a

_____ leader.

a. task-oriented

Homework Questions

Topic

Catego

ry

According to the trait approach to leadership, which of the following

characteristics of leaders is categorized under social background?

a. Humility

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Challenge

Engage

Which of the following statements is true of effective leaders?

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Which of the following statements is true of successful leaders?

a. Successful leaders have been found to be extremely pessimistic.

b. Successful leaders are advocators of uniform thinking in

organizations.

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Challenge

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Leaders with drive:

a. lack energy and tenacity.

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Which of the following statements is true of leaders with drive?

a. They encourage uniform thinking among employees.

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d. They are always perceived as dishonest individuals.

Many leaders fail to recognize their strengths and apply them

because they are hampered by the idea that:

a. they require executive coaching.

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Challenge

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Which of the following statements is true of strengths?

a. They enable individuals to be dependent on others.

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You are aware that different leaders have distinguishing personal

characteristics. Listed below are a few traits typically considered

highly important for leadership. Match each scenario with its

corresponding trait.

SCENARIOS

TRAITS

Diana, a team lead,

sees every situation

positively. She avoids

Integrity

Kelly heads the

operations team of a

media company. She

Drive

Harry is the

production manager

of Magnify Inc. He

works with high levels

Honesty

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Challenge

#2

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Natalie follows her

principles religiously.

Optimism

Which of the following statements is true of operational leaders?

a. They often work behind the scenes, using their personal power to

influence others.

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t

Who among the following is an advisory leader?

a. Edward, a senior legal associate, who provides guidance and aid to

his clients and subordinates

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Perfor

m

In terms of leader behavior, which of the following statements is true

of consideration and initiating structure?

a. These styles of leadership behavior are independent of each other.

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Challenge

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t

Listed below are a couple of scenarios relating to some leadership

behaviors and a set of behavior approaches. Drag and drop the options

below into the illustrated box categorizing them accurately.

Answer Options: Katie heads the divisional branch of Pisces

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Challenge

#3

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Networks Inc. She has good critical thinking and analytical skills. She

tends to push her employees beyond their comfort zones to help them

SCENARIOS

CONCEPTS

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According to the Leadership Grid, _____ refers to the absence of a

leadership philosophy wherein leaders exert little effort toward

interpersonal relationships or work accomplishment.

a. team management

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Challenge

#4

Engage

According to the Leadership Grid, which of the following forms of

management occurs when efficiency in operations is the dominant

orientation?

a. Team management

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Challenge

#4

Engage

In terms of leader behavior, which of the following is an example of

consideration behavior?

a. Directing tasks

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Challenge

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Which of the following is an example of initiating structure style of

leader behavior?

a. Showing appreciation

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Challenge

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The findings about two underlying dimensions of people-oriented

and task-oriented leadership behaviors raise three questions to think

about. One of the questions is whether:

a. people orientation and task orientation can result in “high–high”

leadership.

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Challenge

#5

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Which of the following is an example of employee-centered

leadership behavior?

a. Directing activities toward scheduling

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Which of the following is a difference between leader behavior

toward in-group subordinates versus out-group subordinates?

a. Leaders treat mistakes made by in-group subordinates as

opportunities for developing, whereas leaders criticize out-group

subordinates when they make mistakes.

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Answer Options: Ricky leads his team members by paying attention to

their needs and respecting their opinions and suggestions. He admires

and appreciates his subordinates when they perform well and make

improvements. He also listens to the challenges faced by his followers

and provides solutions/Louisa, a project manager, creates schedules,

sets work targets, and completes tasks efficiently. She delegates tasks

Considerati

on

leadership

behavior

Job-

centered

leadershi

p style

“High–

high”

leadershi

p style

Individualiz

ed

leadership

Entrepreneuri

al leadership

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Challenge

#6

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Media Quiz Questions

Topic