Leadership Models

Question 1

Which models demonstrate management and leadership models?

Answer 1

• Tannenbaum and Schmidt’s continuum of leadership

- Blake Mouton grid

Question 2

What is Tannenbaum and Schmidt’s continuum of leadership?

Answer 2

-model which highlights a range of styles rather than categorising management and leadership in simple terms - showing a continuum
-moving from left to right of continuum sees:
•leadership become more passed onto subordinates rather than manager controlled
•managers increasingly incorporating subordinates in decision making
•use of more delegation

Question 3

What defines a business’ point on the continuum?

Answer 3

• the point on the continuum depends on a teams experience, skills and desire
• new or unskilled, unmotivated teams start on the left
• over time a manager should aim to take the team from one end to the other, up the scale
• this allows for the development of one or a number of successors for that manager
• can take a year or two or longer
• manager always retains accountability for problems
• workers must be dependable, tasks must be risk free

Question 4

What is the Blake Mouton grid?

Answer 4

-a matrix that breaks leadership and management into two aspects in order to judge their approach
-the aspects are:
•concern for people - do they consider needs of team when making decisions
•concern for the task - do they emphasise the efficiency and productivity of the business

Question 5

What is an impoverished leader?

Answer 5

• low concern for people, low concern for task
• ineffectual leadership
• no systems for getting the job done are put in place
• poor work environment
• lots of dissatisfaction and harmony leading to a large labour
• very inefficient

Question 6

What is a produce or perish leadership?

Answer 6

• low concern for people, high for task
• linked to autocratic, theory X approach
• strict work rules, policies and procedures
• punishment is seen as the way of motivating
• lots of dissatisfaction and high levels of labour turnover
• productivity may increase but only in short unsustainable bursts

Question 7

What is a middle of the road leadership?

Answer 7

• medium concern for people and task
• tired to find a balance
• it’s a compromise so might not be ideal as the needs of people and the task aren’t met
• although the team might have harmony they won’t be happy or unhappy
• leaders settle for an average performance

Question 8

What’s a country club leadership?

Answer 8

• high concern for people, low for task
• main concern in needs and feelings of team
• belief is that if the team is happy then they will work hard
• creates a relaxed and harmonious working atmosphere
• however there is a lack of productivity as there is a lack of direction and control

Question 9

What is a team leader leadership?

Answer 9

• high concern for task and people
• seems as best type on the grid
• team members understand objectives and work towards them
• team will have a stake in the success of the business
• creates a cohesive, motivated team with low labour turnover links to theory

Question 10

What is the use of the Blake Mouton grid?

Answer 10

• allows leaders to think about their approach and implications of this
• can see grey area between poles of theory X and Y, autocratic/democratic approach
• emphasises the importance of considering both the people and the task to get the best possible outcome

Question 11

What are limitations of the Blake Mouton grid?

Answer 11

-doesn’t take into account the internal constraints or external influences on a business