Skill development and decision-making in assignment models

Skill-Development Exercise 1: (PARTS III & IV)

Deciding Which Leadership Decision-Making Style to Use

Preparation for Skill-Development Exercise

Below are 10 situations calling for a decision. Select the appropriate decision-making style for each. Be sure to use Model 8.1 when determining the style to use. First determine the answers to the variables (S1A, S2C, S3P, S4E) and write them on the lines below the situation. Then place the selected style on the "Leadership style" line.

S1A autocratic

S2C consultative

S3P participative

S4E empowerment

You have developed a new work procedure that will increase productivity. Your boss likes the idea and wants you to try it in a few weeks. You view your followers as fairly capable, and believe that they will be receptive to the change.

_Yes____time__S2C____information__S2C____acceptance____S2C__capability

Leadership style ____S2C

2. There is new competition in your industry. Your organization's revenues have been dropping. You have been told to lay off three of your 15 followers in two weeks. You have been supervisor for over three years. Normally, your followers are very capable.

__Yes____time____S2C__information_S3P____acceptance__S3P____capability

Leadership style ____S3P

3. Your department has been facing a problem for several months. Many solutions have been tried and have failed. You've finally thought of a solution, but you're not sure of the possible consequences of the change required, or of acceptance by your highly capable followers.

____Yes__time__S4E____information__S4E____acceptance____S4E__capability

Leadership style ____S4E

4. Flextime has become popular in your organization. Some departments let each employee start and end work when he or she chooses. However, because of the cooperation required of your followers, they must all work the same eight hours. You're not sure of the level of interest in changing the hours. Your followers are a very capable group and like to make decisions.

__Yes____time__S2C____information__S3P____acceptance__S3P____capability

Leadership style ____S3P

5. The technology in your industry is changing too fast for the members of your organization to keep up. Top management hired a consultant who has made recommendations. You have two weeks to decide what to do about the recommendations. Your followers are usually capable; they enjoy participating in the decision-making process.

__Yes__time__S2C____information__S2C____acceptance_S2C____capability

Leadership style ____S2C

6. Top management has handed down a change. How you implement it is your decision. The change takes effect in one month. It will affect everyone in your department. Their acceptance is critical to the success of the change. Your followers are usually not interested in making routine decisions.

____Yes__time____S1A__information__S2C____acceptance__S1A____capability

Leadership style ____S1A

8. Top management has decided to make a change that will affect all of your followers. You know that they will be upset because it will cause them hardship. One or two may even quit. The change goes into effect in 30 days. Your followers are very capable.

____Yes__time__S2C____information__S3P____acceptance__S3P____capability

Leadership style ____S3P

9. You believe that productivity in your department could be increased. You have thought of some ways to increase it, but you're not sure of them. Your followers are very experienced; almost all of them have been in the department longer than you have.

__Yes____time_S4E____information_S4E____acceptance__S4E____capability

Leadership style

10. A customer offered you a contract for your product with a quick delivery date. The offer is open for two days. To meet the contract deadline, followers would have to work nights and weekends for six weeks. You cannot require them to work overtime. Filling this profitable contract could help get you the raise you want and feel you deserve. However, if you take the contract and don't deliver on time, it will hurt your chances of getting a big raise. Your followers are very capable.

__Yes____time__S2C____information__S3P____acceptance__S3P____capability

Leadership style ____S3P

(Lussier, Robert N.. Leadership: Theory, Application, and Skill Development, 4th Edition. South Western Educational Publishing, 2009-02-01. pp. 323-324).