Unit 2 - chapter 4

Question 1

leadership definition

Answer 1

ruling, guiding and inspiring other people within an organisation pursuit of agreed objectives

Question 2

management definition

Answer 2

planning, organising, directing and controlling all or part of a business enterprise

Question 3

what are the 4 functions of management

Answer 3

• planning
• directing
• organising
• controlling

Question 4

what does the Blake Mouton grid examine

Answer 4

examines different management styles in terms of their concern for production and their concern for people ( can be grid or graph)

Question 5

what are the 5 different management styles on the blake mounton grid

Answer 5

• country club leadership
• produce or perish leadership
• improvished leadership
• middle-of-the-road leadership
• team leadership

Question 6

country club leadership definition
(Blake Mouton Grid)

Answer 6

a lot of focus on people and little on the task
- work may suffer due to lack of control

Question 7

produce or perish leadership definition
(Blake Mouton Grid)

Answer 7

high focus on task and low concern for people
- employees feel like numbers and not worth

Question 8

improvished leadership definition
(Blake Mouton Grid)

Answer 8

low concern for task and people
- both work and people are neglected

Question 9

middle-of-the-road leadership definition
(Blake Mouton Grid)

Answer 9

some focus on both task and people
- results in average performance

Question 10

team leadership definition
(Blake Mouton Grid)

Answer 10

high focus on task and people
- task is met and employees feel are/feel involved in the process

Question 11

what does the blake mouton grid look like as a graph and grid

Answer 11

figures 4.2 and 4.3
page 53

Question 12

Autocratic leadership definition
(authoritarian)

Answer 12

information and decision making are at the top of the organisation
- one-way communication (downward)
- minimal delegation
- close supervision of employees

Question 13

authority definition

Answer 13

the power or ability to carry through an action

Question 14

delegation definition

Answer 14

the passing of authority down the organisational structure

Question 15

empowerment definition

Answer 15

a series of actions deigned to give employees greater control over their working lives

Question 16

decentralisation definition

Answer 16

passing authority from centre of an organisation to those working elsewhere in the business.

Question 17

what is a negative of autocratic leadership

Answer 17

employees have little confidence and freedom in decision making even small matters so they pass them up the authority chain,
- leads to slower communications

Question 18

democratic leadership definition

Answer 18

operating a business according to decisions agreed by the majority,
- leader delegates a lot and encourages decentralisation
- employee participation is encouraged
- leader acts on advice and explains the reasons for their decisions
- employees are empowered

Question 19

benefits of democratic leadership style

Answer 19

• low dependency on leaders
• empowerment
• self-motivation
• little supervision

Question 20

laissez-faire leadership definition

Answer 20

leader has minimal input into the operation, employees empowered to take most the decisions

Question 21

negative of laissez-faire leadership style

Answer 21

organisation can lack a sense of direction as well as coordination and planning

Question 22

when is laissez-faire leadership successful

Answer 22

• the manager and leader are both equals in terms of experience and qualifications
• workforce self-motivated
• workforce understands and agrees with the organisations objectives

Question 23

what makes the best manager/managing style of leadership

Answer 23

versatile manager is the best, chooses style based on situation

Question 24

what are the 4 influences on styles of management and leadership

Answer 24

• tradition and history of the business
• type of labour force
• nature of the task and timescale
• personality of the manager or leader