Superior Subordinate

Question 1

What are the keys to the superior subordinate relationship?

Answer 1

Influence and Information

Question 2

The relationship between the superior/subordinate is what? (Direction)

Answer 2

Bidirectional, they don’t have lines, humanize both sides

Question 3

Four reasons the relationship is important to the subordinate?

Answer 3

1. The supervisors may serve as a role model for the subordinate
2. The supervisor has formal power to reward and punish the subordinate
3. the supervisor mediates the formal downward communication flow to the subordinate
4. The supervisor may develop a personal relationship with the subordinate

Question 4

What are the three reasons the relationship is important to the supervisor?`

Answer 4

1. The subordinate serves as an important channel of informal communication to the supervisor from other subordinates regarding both task related and personal issues
2. The subordinates satisfaction with the relationship may have a direct impact on the supervisors satisfaction with the relationship as well as on the subordinates overall job satisfaction.
3. The supervisors performance is eventually dependent on the performance of the subordinate, which may be directly or indirectly tied to the quality of the superior-subordinate relationship.

Question 5

What is semantic information distance? Also known as?

Answer 5

-Gap in information and understanding that exists between supervisor and subordinate on specified issues. -Also known as perceptual incongruence (how people view whats going on like the phone call in fun study)
-Sometimes you can bridge the gap, sometimes you can’t.
(misunderstanding)

Question 6

What is upward distortion?

Answer 6

A misunderstanding. Distorting of negative news in a more positive light when communicating upward.
(Scared of boss or kill the messenger)

Question 7

What is Strategic Ambiguity?

Answer 7

A misunderstanding. Contextual cues are purposefully omitted from communication to allow for multiple interpretations on the part of the reciever

• parts can be left out so whoever is having the information can interpret it as they way
• Test that shoves the bird out of the nest (could fail)
• Creativity (Fragments follow specific guidelines, vs Lakota leadership model)

Question 8

What is VDL Theory?

Answer 8

Vertical Dyadic Linkage Theory: Examines INDIVIDUAL relationships where the supervisor has relations with a HETEROGENOUS set of subordinates.

Question 9

How is VDL Theory different from prior theories?

Answer 9

Prior theories didn’t think it mattered who the subordinates were

Question 10

What is the VDL Relationship Continuum?

Answer 10

• All subordinates think, act, behave, and are motivated in different ways
• Supervisors have a limited amount of time and resources
• Therfore they will develop close working relationships with only a few subordinates
• RElationship types can be placed on a continuum

Question 11

What is VDL also known as?

Answer 11

Leader Member Exchange

Question 12

What does the relationship continuum look like?

Answer 12

Left: Leader Member Exchange-in group- Personal
Middle Group
Right: Supervisor Exchange (out group)

Question 13

What are the LMX characteristics?

Answer 13

• Reciprocal support (both parties support each other)
• Mutual Trust
• Respect and Liking
• Greater Interaction

Question 14

What are the Supervisor Exchange characteristics? Keep in mind this isn’t saying one is better than the other

Answer 14

• unidirectional Downward influence

- Role define relationship (Writing up is a threat)

Question 15

What is the Pelz Effect?

Answer 15

The amount of influence supervisor B has with subordinate C depends on the amount of upward influence B has with his/her supervisor A

ABC (C) Supervisor has no ability to influence above, so we wont let them have power over us