Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
Case Notes
Chapter 7: Creating a Vision
Case 7.1: A Clean Slate
Case Summary
As a newspaper editor responsible for delivering printed content to a Midwestern town, Nick Gibbons
was now forced to reconfigure his paper to mostly digital content and downsize his staff. This would
require 75% of his workforce losing their positions with the newspaper. Nick was put in a position
where he had to reconfigure his staff and start from the ground up to bring a new vision to the
newspaper.
Case Analysis
This case study focuses on a major industry change, which required editor, Nick Gibbons, to alter his
newspaper’s vision, with appropriate strategic planning for the long-term. Gibbons was forced to
deliver difficult news to his staff, however, his values remained in place, and he chose to retain as many
of his staff as he could, as long as they were committed to the newspaper industry not remaining in the
status quo.
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
Sample Answers to Case Questions
1. What is Nick Gibbons’s vision in this case study? How is it similar to or different from the vision of the
owners of the paper? Discuss the unique challenges a leader faces when required to implement a vision
of his or her superiors.
Nick’s vision was to report the news and inform the community, no matter what format of media he was
2. Why do you think Nick wanted to open the workings of the paper up to the public? How is this related
to his vision?
Nick realized that in the short-term, consumers would not adjust well to the format of news distribution
3. Visions usually require changing people’s values. What desired changes in values are highlighted by
this case study?
Nick realized that the newspaper industry had changed with the increase of the Internet as a viable
4. How well did Nick Gibbons articulate his vision for the paper? If you were in Nick’s shoes, how would
you articulate your vision in this case?
Nick’s first step was convincing his staff that they would have to “forge the future for local journalism
5. Do you think the newspaper will thrive under Nick’s leadership? Why?
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
Yes, the newspaper should thrive under Nick’s leadership. Nick appropriately planned for a changing
Case 7.2—Kakenya Ntaiya
Case Summary
Kakenya had wanted to become a teacher, however, she knew once “the ceremony” was completed,
she would be forced to remain in the village and would not be able to pursue her dreams. She convinced
her father that she would only go through with “the ceremony” if her marriage was permitted to be
postponed so that she could return to school. She healed from the ceremony and returned to school in
three weeks, and received a scholarship to attend college in the United States.
In order to attend school in her village, there were two conditions that were placed on admittance. First,
the parents had to agree that no girls would go through female genital mutilation. Additionally, the girls
would not marry until they at least finished high school. She had hoped to enroll 10 girls, but had 100
girls interested in attending. She initially enrolled 30 to start her school. There were still challenges in
gaining acceptance for a school in her village, but Kakenya continued to meet with the elders and help
to alleviate their concerns.
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
Case Analysis
This case clearly articulates the subject of this chapter, forming a vision, changing the status quo, and
integrating values into the vision. Kakenya Ntayia had a vision to obtain education for herself, and
pursue her dreams of being a teacher, but once she had attended college, her vision remained similar,
but she transformed into a leader that was able to change the status quo for her village and implement
a long-term systemic change. Kakenya’s vision was realized through her collegiate experiences, and
learning the ways that she could better serve her community and benefit the people in her village.
Additionally, it must be considered that Kakenya’s vision did transcend the status quo to benefit others.
She was a leader who was able to articulate a vision and share it with others to benefit a greater number
of people than just herself and her family.
Sample Answers to Case Questions
1. This chapter states “charismatic leaders create change by linking their vision and its values to the
self-concept of followers.” How did Kakenya accomplish this?
Perhaps the most important part of Kakenya’s vision was understanding that she needed to have the
2. How would you describe Kakenya’s vision?
a. According to the text, a vision has five characteristics: a picture, a change, values, a map, and a
challenge. How are each of these elements expressed in Kakenya’s vision?
Kakenya demonstrated all five characteristics of a vision. First, she had a picture for her future that
Instructor Resource
Northouse, Introduction to Leadership, 5e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
b. Discuss the evolution of Kakenya’s vision over the course of her life – from the vision she had for
herself as a young girl to its more global expression today. Discuss the specific elements of this vision
and how they have evolved and scaled over the years.
The main change in Kakenya Ntayia’s vision was that she was initially focused on her own personal self–
3. Given the cultural challenges, articulating her vision was a critical component to Kakenya’s success.
Using the four elements of articulation described in this chapter, what are the challenges Kakenya
faced and how did she address those through articulation?
Kakenya was extremely successful in her ability to articulate her vision. The key was in her first step,
4. What roles did building credibility, setting high performance standards that motivated others to
accomplish the vision, and empowering others play into Kekenya’s vision?
Kakenya was able to incorporate all three into her vision. First, it was imperative that she built credibility