Leadership Theories

Question 1

What is McGregor’s theory called

Answer 1

Theory X and theory Y

Question 2

What is McGregors theory concerned with

Answer 2

How a manager perceived staff

Question 3

How does a theory X manager perceive staff

Answer 3

• Inherently lazy, disliking work and responsibility
• Lacking the will and ability to work unsupervised
• Lacking initiative
• Motivated by money

Question 4

How does a theory Y manager view employees

Answer 4

• Enjoying work if the right conditions are created
• Willing to accept responsibility and challenges
• Creative and willing to contribute
• Self-disciplined
• Not motivated solely by money

Question 5

What is the typical leadership style of a theory X manager

Answer 5

Autocratic

Question 6

How can theory X be a self fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 6

Managers opinion causes demotivation
Worker performs badly
Cement managers opinion

Question 7

Why is a theory y manager likely to have a more productive workforce

Answer 7

Beliefs of manager will always be reflected by employees performance, which in this case is positive/motivating

Question 8

Draw Blake and mouton’s leadership grid

Answer 8

People needs on left
Task needs on bottom
Low, high for each
Country club
Team leader
Impoverished
Authoritarian
Middle of the road

Question 9

What is meant by a country club leader

Answer 9

• Managers main concern is well-being if team

Question 10

One advantage of country club leader

Answer 10

• High morale due to feeling of belonging

Question 11

Disadvantage of country club leader

Answer 11

Workers may take advantage of their ‘nice approach’

Question 12

What is meant by an authoritarian leader (Blake and monton)

Answer 12

Managers main concern is with the task rather than employee well-being

Question 13

Advantage of an authoritarian leader

Answer 13

Useful for low skilled employees

Question 14

Disadvantage of authoritarian leadership

Answer 14

Can lead to resentment and lack of commitment, therefore reduced productivity

Question 15

What is meant by an impoverished leader

Answer 15

A manager that has a lack of concern for either task or people needs

Question 16

Disadvantage of impoverished leader

Answer 16

The attitudes of the manager will be reflected throughout whole team/organisation, so productivity and morale is low

Question 17

What is meant by a team leader (Blake and monton)

Answer 17

A manager that has a strong and equal regard for both employee and task needs

Question 18

Advantage of a team leader

Answer 18

High levels of morale/motivation are accompanied by high productivity

Question 19

What is meant by a middle of the road leader

Answer 19

A manager who compromises between the 2 sets of needs, neither set of needs is met and less than optimal outcomes are achieved

Question 20

Disadvantage of middle of the road

Answer 20

Leader is indicisive so growth/improvement in production doesn’t occur

Question 21

What does Carlyle and Golton’s trait theory concern

Answer 21

The 5 characteristics exhibited by successful leaders, that can’t be taught

Question 22

What are Carlyle and Golton’s 5 characteristics

Answer 22

• Motivational
• Integrity (having strong moral principles)
• Self-confidence (being assured)
• Creativity (new ideas)
• Intelligence (able time reason and solve problems)

Question 23

Benefits of Carlyle and Golton’s trait theory

Answer 23

• Is straightforward to identify the characteristics which a leader does or does not possess

Question 24

Drawback of Carlyle and Golton’s trait theory

Answer 24

• Suggests that other traits are not useful for strong leadership eg respect for workers or team work
• Assumes traits can’t be taught

Question 25

What are the 4 leadership styles in tannenbaum and Schmidt’s contingency approach

Answer 25

• Tell
• Sell
• Consult
• Participate

Question 26

What is meant by ‘tell’ in Tannenbaum and Schmidt’s

Answer 26

The manager making a decision and employees complying with this (can be seen as autocratic)
No opportunity for employees to be involved in decision making

Question 27

What is meant by ‘sell’ in Tannenbaum and Schmidt’s

Answer 27

The manager making a decision and persuading employees to adopt it, there is an opportunity for feedback

Question 28

What is meant by ‘consult’ in Tannenbaum and Schmidt’s

Answer 28

Manager presents ideas to employees and invites discussion, therefore offering a more collaborative approach.
Two-way communication is the norm so leader listens to feedback

Question 29

What is meant by participate in Tannenbaum and Schmidt’s

Answer 29

Manager will allow employees to make decisions, although usually within defined limits or boundaries.
Emphasis on employees so a democratic style

Question 30

What are the three parts to Adair’s three circles theory

Answer 30

Task
Team
Individual

Question 31

What does ‘team’ concern in Adair’s three circles theory

Answer 31

Establishing a style or culture within a group, developing cooperation and being able to anticipate and resolve conflict

Question 32

What does task concern in Adair’s three circles theory

Answer 32

Creating a plan with aims and visions, including responsibilities to complete the task

Question 33

What does ‘individual’ concern in Adair’s three circles theory

Answer 33

Understand team members as individuals, so that you can give them applicable assistance, support, responsibilities, objectives, recognition and praise

Question 34

Why do the circles in Adair’s model overlap

Answer 34

Representation that too much time and resources spent on one aspect could lead to the detriment of another

Question 35

2 Benefits of Adair’s theory

Answer 35

• Suggests leadership traits can be taught, unlike Carlyle and Golton
• Ensures all areas of strong leadership are considered

Question 36

One limitation of Adair’s theory

Answer 36

• Not realistic or achievable to include all aspects at once as they naturally conflict each other