Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Management of Business > 2.4 Leadership > Flashcards

2.4 Leadership Flashcards

1
Q

Define leadership. [2]

A
  • Leadership plays an important role in ensuring the success of an organisation.
    • Setting of a clear direction and vision for its members.
    • Motivating them to work towards the achievement of organisational goals.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the effect of a clear and effective leadership? [2]

A
  • Only with clear and effective leadership can workers be well-managed and inspired to help the leader > the business takes a fresh direction and achieve new goals.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Define leadership style.

A

Leadership style refers to the way in which managers make decisions and communicate with their staff.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Define autocratic leadership.

A

Autocratic leadership is a style of leadership that keeps all decision-making at the centre of the organisation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are some features of autocratic leadership? [5]

A
  • Autocratic leaders practice only one-way communication.
    • Set business objectives themselves.
    • Issue instructions to workers.
    • Initiate checks to ensure that they are carried out.
    • Make decisions themselves without discussion with their workers.
    • Share limited information about the business with the workers.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the effects of Autocratic Leadership? [3]

A
  • Autocratic leadership may lead to workers’ dependency on leaders for guidance and thus not showing any initiative.
  • Tends to demotivate those workers who are keen to contribute ideas and take responsibility.
  • Thus, the decision made would not benefit from workers’ feedback.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are some businesses functioning with autocratic leadership? [2]

A
  • Military and police force where orders are issued to deal with critical situations. (riots, aircraft hijacks)
  • In business context, it is often used in times of crisis when immediate action is required to minimise any damage caused by the business and it may be inappropriate to hold discussion with workers.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Define democratic leadership.

A

Democratic leadership is a leadership style that promotes the active participation of workers in decision-making.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are some features of democratic leadership? [4]

A
  • Two-way communication
    • Workers are encouraged to provide suggestions and feedback.
    • Democratic leaders promote discussion with workers before making decisions.
    • Better decisions are likely to be made with the contribution of ideas and sharing of valuable work experience by workers.
    • In order for workers to contribute meaningfully, full information about the business should be given to them.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the advantages of democratic leadership? [2]

A
  • Democratic leadership will most likely improve motivation among workers because they feel involved as they are given some responsibility for the objectives and strategy of the business.
  • Workers are more committed to ensure that decisions that they have influenced are put into effect successfully.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are some businesses functioning with democratic leadership? [3]

A
  • Appropriate when workers are motivated and expected to contribute to the decision-making process.
  • Workers who are experienced and flexible.
  • Inputs from workers are important in situations which requires innovative solutions.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Define paternalistic leadership.

A

Paternalistic [father-like] leadership is a leadership style based on the approach that the manager is in a better position than the workers to know what is best for the business.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the effects of paternalistic leadership? [5]

A
  • Paternalistic leaders listen, explain issues and consult with workers but will not allow them to make decisions.
  • Managers who adopt this leadership style will decide ‘what is best’ for the business and the workforce.
  • Not democratic and can rather be autocratic > delegation of decision-making is unlikely.
  • Paternalistic leaders generally want workers to be happy and satisfied in their jobs but are less concerned with their motivation levels.
  • More experienced workers who prefer to be given decision-making authority and opportunities for participation might be demotivated and disappointed with a paternalistic leadership style.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are some features of the businesses functioning with paternalistic leadership?

A
  • Paternalistic leadership is appropriate if workers are newly appointed, unskilled, inexperienced or untrained.
  • It is also generally used by managers who are generally concerned with the interests of workers but are unwilling to let go of decision-making powers.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is Laissez-faire Leadership?

A
  • Laissez-faire leadership is a leadership style that leaves much of the business decision-making to the workforce.
  • Opposite of autocratic style / ‘hands-off’ approach / ‘let them do it’.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How do managers with laissez-faire leadership lead? [2]

A
  • Manager permits workers to perform tasks and make decisions themselves within very broad limits or criteria.
  • Very little input provided by the management.
17
Q

What are the disadvantages of Laissez-faire leadership? [2]

A
  • Would not work for workers who prefer proper structure and direction in their work > lead to a sense of loss of job security.
  • As laissez-faire leaders would not monitor workers closely nor provide feedback frequently, this may lead to a lack of confidence, poor decisions and low motivation level among workers due to uncertainty of whether they are doing their work the right way.
18
Q

What are some businesses functioning with Laissez-faire leadership?

A
  • Works best in fields that requires the use of creativity, design and innovations.
  • Typically, experts who need the freedom to work on original projects and thus should not be closely supervised. / more experienced / highly skilled.
  • At times, managers may become laissez-faire leaders when they are too lazy or busy to control workers.
19
Q

What is Situational Leadership? [2]

A
  • Situational leadership is a leadership style that is not based on any single approach, because business and employees vary in many different ways.
  • Employ the right manager to use the appropriate leadership style for a given situation.
20
Q

What are the effects of situational leadership? [2]

A
  • Adjusting of leadership styles depending on the abilities of the workers.
  • Under this leadership style, it is important for the leader to find the right balance between giving directions and providing support, and then to respond with a leadership style that is appropriate to the situation.
21
Q

What are some businesses functioning with situational leadership?

A

Example Autocratic leadership during crisis and laissez-faire approach when managers become more experienced or highly skilled.

22
Q

What are the factors that can affect leadership style? [7]

A
  1. Nature of task
  2. Company culture
  3. Types of labour force
  4. Size of team
  5. Personality of leader
  6. Personality of team
  7. Situation
23
Q

What is a suitable leadership style if the nature of the task is routine or monotonous?

A
  • If the task is routine or monotonous
    • leader can adopt an autocratic style to monitor the worker’ work to ensure output level is met within pre-determined time.
24
Q

What is a suitable leadership style if the nature of the task requires creativity and flexibility?

A
  • If task requires creativity and flexibility
    • democratic leadership style will be more appropriate to encourage staff participation.
25
Q

What is a suitable leadership style if there is a strong culture of motivated and well-trained workers?

A
  • Strong culture of motivated and well-trained workers
    • the leader might adopt a democratic style or laissez faire style (for firms that require lots of creativity from workers) as he trusts his workers to be able to handle work with minimal or no guidance.
      • the leader plays an inspirational role instead of closely monitoring the work of the employees.
26
Q

What is a suitable leadership style if the labour is unskilled or inexperienced?

A
  • Unskilled or inexperienced labour.
    • An autocratic or paternalistic leader
      • Issue specific instructions and make decisions to ensure workers perform as needed.
27
Q

What is a suitable leadership style if the labour is well-educated and have received the necessary training?

A
  • Well-educated and have receive the necessary training.
    • Leader can adopt a democratic style to encourage staff involvement and contribution to improve the business.
28
Q

What is a suitable leadership style if the employees are designers or scientists?

A
  • Laissez-faire style
    • Empowered to work within very broad work limits so that they can research, explore, create freely for desired work outcomes.
29
Q

What is a suitable leadership style if there is a large team?

A
  • Autocratic style
    • Adopted by Leaders with large team and wide span of control to manage such a large group effectively.
      • A leader who wishes to be more participative and conducts discussions will need to pay more attention to team members and consult them before making decisions.
      • Difficult and time consuming with big group size.
30
Q

What are some factors that influence personality?

A

Personality is influenced by factors such as upbringing, gender, education, self-worth and life circumstances.

31
Q

What is the leadership style of a leader who has been brought up in an environment that encourages sharing, fairness and empowerment?

A

He is likely to adopt a democratic style in managing his workers.

32
Q

How does the personality of the members affect the leadership style?

A
  • Personality of the members may affect the leadership style adopted.
    • Lazy and lack zeal to contribute to ideas.
      • Issue specific work instructions, exercise tight supervision and make decisions.
  • Democratic style
    • A team with motivated members who take the initiative and willing to contribute ideas.
33
Q

What is the leadership style that could be adopted during a financial crisis? [2]

A
  • Financial crisis
    • autocratic leadership style where the leader has to be decisive and determine the immediate action to be taken.
34
Q

What is the leadership style adopted for a situation requiring discussion and sharing of ideas and perspectives? [2]

A
  • Requires discussion and sharing of ideas and perspectives.
    • democratic style that encourages staff participation and involvement will be more appropriate.
35
Q

What are the disadvantages of democratic leadership? [2]

A

However, democratic leadership can lead to slow decision-making as consultation with workers can be time-consuming. [prompt decision against competitors]
- May be inappropriate at times [retrenchment exercises — sensitive, launching new product — secret]

Management of Business (29 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions