Leadership Theory Exam

Question 1

Define leadership

Answer 1

a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal

Question 2

Define “trait approach”

Answer 2

One of the first systematic attempts to study leadership that focused on how the innate traits or qualities of an individual influence their leadership

Question 3

What are the four strengths of the trait approach?

Answer 3

1. Intuitively appealing
2. Credibility due to a century support of research
3. Highlights leadership component in the leadership process
4. Provides benchmarks for what to look for in a leader

Question 4

What are the five criticisms of the trait approach?

Answer 4

1. Fails to delimit a definitive list of leadership traits
2. List of most important leadership traits is highly subjective
3. Not useful for training and development

Question 5

What are the three ways that we apply the trait approach?

Answer 5

1. Provides direction as to which are good to have if one aspires to a leadership position
2. Through various tests and questionnaires, individuals can determine whether they have the select leadership traits and can pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses

Question 6

What are the five most major traits that researchers agree positively influence leadership?

Answer 6

1. Intelligence
2. Self-confidence
3. Determination
4. Integrity
5. Sociability

Question 7

What are the Big-Five?

Answer 7

1. Neuroticism: the tendency to be depressed, anxious, insecure, vulnerable, and hostile
2. Extraversion: the tendency to be sociable and assertive and have positive energy
3. Openness: the tendency to be informed, creative, insightful, and curious
4. Agreeableness: the tendency to be accepting, conforming, trusting, and nurturing
5. Conscientiousness: the tendency to be thorough, organized, controlled, dependable, and decisive

Question 8

Define behavioral approach

Answer 8

emphasizes behavior of a leader, focusing exclusively on what leaders do and how they act

Question 8

What two behaviors is the behavioral approach composed of?

Answer 8

Tasks and relationship behaviors

Question 8

What are the five components of Leadership Grid?

Answer 8

1. Authority-Compliance
2. Country-Club Management
3. Impoverished Management
4. Middle-of-the-road management
5. Team management

Question 8

Authority-Compliance

Answer 8

Efficiency in operations results from arranging conditions of work in such a way that human elements interfere to a minimum degree

Question 9

Country-club management

Answer 9

Thoughtful attention to the needs of the people for satisfying relationships leads to a comfortable, friendly organization atmosphere and work tempo

Question 10

Impoverished management

Answer 10

Exertion of minimum effort to get required work done as appropriate to sustain organization membership

Question 11

Middle-of-the-road management

Answer 11

Adequate organization performance is possible through balancing the necessity to get work out while maintaining morale of people at a satisfactory level

Question 12

Team management

Answer 12

Work accomplishment is from committed people. Interdependence through a common stake in organization purpose leads to relationships of trust and respect

Question 13

What are three strengths of the behavioral approach?

Answer 13

1. It is heuristic (meaning it provides us with a broad conceptual map that is worthwhile to use in our attempts to understand the complexities of leadership
2. Validated by research
3. Balances tasks and relationship

Question 14

What are three criticisms of the behavioral approach?

Answer 14

1. It mostly reflects the norms and values of US culture rather than all cultures
2. It implies that the most effective leadership style is the high-task, high-relationship style
3. Has failed to find a universal style of leadership that could be effective in almost every situation

Question 15

How do you apply the behavioral approach?

Answer 15

1. Self-reflect on how you’re doing as a leader
2. Managers can adapt to the needs of others
3. Many training programs are based on behavioral approach

Question 16

Define “situational approach”

Answer 16

an approach in which leaders first diagnose the abilities and developmental levels of their subordinates and then adapt their leadership strategies to complement them

Question 17

What two dimensions are the situational approach based on?

Answer 17

Directive (goal achievement) and supportive (social and emotional support)

Question 18

List the leadership styles of the situational leadership model from lowest level to highest level

Answer 18

1. Directing (Do)
2. Coaching (Cats)
3. Supporting (Speak)
4. Delegating (Dog)

Question 19

What are three strengths of the situational approach?

Answer 19

1. Pratical
2. Prescribes specific strategies
3. Differential treatment

Question 20

What are three criticisms of the situational approach?

Answer 20

1. Biased
2. Doesn’t account for differences in demographics
3. Replication studies fail to support it