Contingency theory
Answer these essay questions:
Define “trait,” “behavior,” and “power-influence” approaches. List the unique insights that each approach provides about effective leadership.
Compare the following theories of leadership and explain why all types of theory are useful or not:
Descriptive theory
Prescriptive theory
Universal theory
Contingency theory
How is a crisis likely to affect managerial activities and behavior? For example, the machinery broke down at your factory and you have to get the product out within a 24-hour deadline or the contract will be broken and your customer will go to another company “that can produce.”
Case Study: Acme Manufacturing Company
Steve Arnold is a production manager at Acme Manufacturing Company in New Jersey. When Steve drove into the parking lot at the plant on Tuesday morning at 8:35, he was already 35 minutes late for work. Steve had overslept that morning because the night before he had stayed up late to finish the monthly production report for his department. He parked his car and entered the rear of the plant building. Passing through the shipping area, Steve spotted his friend George Summers and stopped to ask how work was progressing on the new addition to George’s house.
Entering the office at 8:55, Steve greeted his secretary, Ruth Sweeney, and asked whether anything urgent needed his immediate attention. Ruth reminded him of the staff meeting at 9:30 with Steve’s boss — Frank Jones, the vice president for Production — and the other production managers. Steve thanked Ruth for reminding him (he had forgotten about the meeting) and continued on to his adjoining inner office to look for the memo announcing the meeting. He vaguely remembered getting the memo in an email one or two weeks earlier, but did not take the time to read it or look at the attached materials.
