- Subject: Leadership in Organizations. - Mandatory book for this week's assignment (file attached - please include in citations): Yukl, G. A. (2013). Leadership in organizations. Harlow, Boston: Pea

A nsw er t h ese e ssay q uestio ns:

E ssay # 1: C ase S tu dy: C ro m well E le ctr o nic s

D an D alt o n w as th e m ark e tin g v ic e p re sid ent ( V P) fo r C ro m well E le ctr o nic s. T e n

m onth s e arlie r h e h ad a ppoin te d E d C ore lli a s th e m an ager o f a n ew ly fo rm ed

m ark e tin g u nit fo r th e e aste rn r e g io n. T he u nit w as r e sp o nsib le fo r d eve lo pin g

m ark e tin g p re se nta tio ns, a dve rtis in g c a m pa ig ns, a nd p ro m otio ns fo r th e s a le o f

C ro m well p ro ducts in th e e aste rn r e gio n. T he u nit h ad s ix m ark e tin g s p ecia lis ts ; tw o

were lo ng-tim e e m plo ye es, a nd th e o th er fo ur w ere n ew ly h ir e d. E d w as p ro m ote d to

t h e p osit io n b ase d o n a g ood r e puta tio n a s a m ark e tin g s p e cia lis t. E ve n th ough th e

m ark e tin g u nit w as n ew , D an e xp e cte d it s p erfo rm an ce to b e b ette r b y n ow . T he

m ark e tin g u nit fo r th e w este rn r e g io n w as fo rm ed a t th e s a m e tim e, a nd it h ad h ig her

perfo rm ance . D an r e fle cte d o n t h e c o m ments m ad e b y tw o o f E d’s s u bord in ate s w hen

aske d h ow th ey lik e d w ork in g fo r h im .

Pat P osn er h ad w ork e d fo r th e c o m pa ny fo r n early 1 0 y e a rs . H e c o m mente d th at E d

w as “ a g re at m anager. ” P at e sp ecia lly lik e d th e h ig h le ve l o f a uto nom y h e w as a llo w ed.

P at s a id , “ E d g iv e s m e c o m ple te d is cre tio n to p la n th e m ark e tin g c a m paig ns fo r m y s e t

of p ro ducts . If I h ave a p ro ble m , h e e nco u ra ges m e to lo ok a t it fr o m d if f e re nt

pers p ectiv e s, b ut h e d oesn ’t s a y w hat h e w ants m e to d o a bout it . H e tr u sts m e to s o lv e

m y o w n p ro ble m s. Wh en I m ake a m is ta ke , w hic h s e ld om h appens, h e d oesn ’t g et

upse t. In ste ad, h e e xp ects m e t o le arn fr o m it .” P at a ls o n ote d th at E d s h ow ed s in ce re

a ppre cia tio n fo r g ood p erfo rm an ce . “ M y m ark e tin g c a m pa ig n fo r th e n ew p ro duct w as

ve ry s u cce ssfu l, a nd I r e ally a ppre cia te d th e r e co g nit io n E d g ave m e in th e m onth ly u nit

m eetin g. H e a ls o to ld m e th at h e w ould tr y to g et m e a p ay in cre ase .”

K atie O ’T o ole , o ne o f th e n ew e m plo ye e s, w as le ss s a tis fie d w it h E d a s a m anager.

“ S om etim es I w is h E d w ould g iv e m e m ore d ir e ctio n. H e is a lw ays p ush in g m e to m ake

m y o w n d ecis io ns. M ayb e if I h a d m ore e xp e rie nce I w ould lik e it , b ut r ig ht n ow it m ake s

m e fe el v e ry in se cu re . I n eve r r e ally k n o w if I a m d oin g w hat h e e xp ects . W hen I g o to

h im fo r h elp w it h a p ro ble m , h e tu rn s th e q uestio n a ro und a nd a sks w hat I w ould d o. H e

doesn ’t s e em to u nders ta nd th at I w ould n’t a sk if I a lr e ady k n e w th e a nsw er. A nd w hen I

d o s o m eth in g w ro ng, h e d oesn ’t s e e m to c a re . E d lik e s to p re te nd th at m is ta ke s w ill g o

aw ay if y o u d on’t ta lk a bout th em .”

K atie h ad a noth er c o m pla in t a s w ell. S he s a id , “ H e s e e m s to fa vo r th e tw o e m plo ye es

w ho h ave b een w it h th e c o m pa ny lo nger. H e g iv e s th em th e m ost in te re stin g

assig nm ents , h e c o nsu lt s w it h t h em m ore a bout h is p la ns fo r th e u nit , a nd h e

re co m mends th em fo r la rg er p ay in cre ase s.” K atie n ote d th at S ally a nd G eorg e, b oth

n ew e m plo ye es, a gre ed w it h h er c o m pla in ts a bout E d.

A t lu nch la te r th at d ay, D an a ske d E d h ow th in gs w ere g oin g in h is u nit . E d r e plie d th at

he w as d is a ppoin te d in s o m e o f th e n ew m ark e tin g s p e cia lis ts . O nly o ne o f th e n ew

em plo ye es ( L in da) w as p erfo rm in g w ell. T he o th ers s e e m ed to la ck d riv e a nd in it ia tiv e . Ed e m phasiz e d th at h e tr ie d to a vo id a ny fa vo rit is m , w hic h h ad b een a s e rio us p ro ble m

fo r a fo rm er b oss. A lt h ough h e g a ve th e m ost c o m ple x a ssig nm ents to th e m ark e tin g

sp ecia lis ts w it h m ore e xp erie nce , e ve ry o n e h ad c h a lle ngin g a ssig nm ents a nd

opportu nit ie s to e xce l. E d h ad a tte nded th e c o m pa ny w ork sh op o n e m pow erm ent, a nd

he w as tr y in g to g iv e e m plo ye es th e a uto nom y th ey n eeded to le arn a nd d eve lo p n ew

skills o n th e jo b. H e w as c a re fu l n ot to s u p erv is e to o c lo se ly o r c rit ic iz e m is ta ke s. H e

pro vid ed r e co gnit io n fo r o uts ta nd in g a ch ie ve m en ts a nd r e co m mended p ay r a is e s fo r

good p erfo rm ance . E d a ske d h is b oss, “ W hat a m I d oin g w ro ng?”

Q uestio ns

1. Wh at th eorie s fr o m th is c h apte r a re r e le va n t fo r a naly zin g th e c a se ?

2. E va lu ate E d’s b ehavio r a s a m an ager, a nd id entif y e ff e ctiv e a nd in eff e ctiv e a ctio ns.

3. Wh at s h ould D an s a y o r d o n ow ?

E ssay # 2: C ase S tu dy: A m eric a n F in ancia l C orp ora tio n

B etty P ow ell is th e m anager o f h um an r e so u rc e s fo r A m eric a n F in ancia l C orp ora tio n, a

la rg e fin ancia l s e rv ic e s c o m pany. W hen s h e a rriv e d b ack in h er o ff ic e M onday a fte r

bein g a w ay fo r a w eek, s h e d is co ve re d th at a s ta ff in g r e port d ue th e d ay b efo re w as s till

n ot fin is h ed. T he r e port w as fo r th e v ic e p re sid ent o f th e c o m pa ny’s b ro ke ra ge d iv is io n,

and B etty w as s u ppose d to g iv e h im th e r e port b y W ednesd a y.

S ix w eeks e arlie r B etty h ad a ske d D on A dam s, o ne o f h er s u b ord in ate s to c o lle ct th e

in fo rm atio n a nd to w rit e th e s ta ff in g r e port. A t th at tim e s h e to ld h im w hat s h ould b e

in clu ded in th e r e port a nd w hen it w as d ue. It is n ot th e fir s t tim e D on h as m is se d a

d eadlin e. H is w ork is c a re fu l a nd m etic u lo us, b ut h e a ppears to b e c o m puls iv e a bout

ch eckin g a nd r e ch eckin g e ve ry th in g s e ve ra l tim es to a vo id a ny m is ta ke s.

B etty c a lle d D on a nd a ske d h im to m ee t w it h h er im media te ly . W hen D on c a m e in to h er

off ic e , s h e g re ete d h im a nd a ske d h im to s it d ow n. T he fo llo w in g d ia lo gue o ccu rre d.

“D on, I u nders ta nd th e s ta ff in g r e p ort fo r th e b ro ke ra ge d iv is io n is n ot c o m ple te d y e t.

T he d iv is io n v ic e p re sid ent n eeds th at r e port to p re pare h is a nnual b udget, a nd h e is

p uttin g a lo t o f p re ssu re o n m e to g et it to h im im media te ly . W hen I g ave y o u th is

a ssig nm ent, y o u a ssu re d m e th a t s ix w eeks w as a m ple tim e to d o it .”

“ I’m s o rry th at th e r e port w asn ’t r e ady o n s ch edule ,” r e sp o nded D on, “ b ut it tu rn ed o ut

to b e m uch m ore c o m ple x th an I in it ia lly e xp e cte d. I h ad to s p e nd e xtr a tim e v e rif y in g

th e fig ure s fr o m th e b ra nch o ff ic e s, b eca u se th ey ju st d id n’t lo ok r ig ht. J u st w hen I

t h ought… ”

“L ook D on,” in te rru pte d B etty , “ th is is n ot th e fir s t tim e y o u h ave b een la te o n a n

im porta nt p ro je ct. Y ou’r e s u ppose d to b e a p ro fe ssio nal, a nd p ro fe ssio nals p la n th eir

w ork a nd g et it d one o n tim e.”

“ It w ould n ot b e v e ry p ro fe ssio n al to d o a r e port fu ll o f m is ta ke s,” r e plie d D on. “ It’s

i m porta nt to m e to d o q ualit y w ork th at I c a n b e p ro ud o f. It’s n ot m y fa ult th at th e

bra nch m anagers d on’t k e ep a ccu ra te r e co rd s.” “Wh at ty p es o f m is ta ke s d id y o u fin d w hen y o u c h e cke d th eir r e co rd s? ” a ske d B etty .

“W ell. .., I d id n’t a ctu ally fin d a ny m is ta ke s,” r e plie d D on, lo okin g e m barra sse d, “ b ut a fte r

I e nte re d th e in fo rm atio n in to th e c o m pu te r a nd d id th e p re lim in ary a naly sis , I

d is co ve re d th at th e r e co rd s w ere m is sin g fo r o ne o f th e b ra nch o ff ic e s. I lo st a w eek

w ait in g to g et th e m is sin g in fo rm atio n, b ut w it h out it th e r e port w ould n ot p ro vid e a n

accu ra te p ic tu re o f th e d iv is io n’s s ta ff in g n eeds. It’s a g ood th in g I n otic e d th e... ”

B etty in te rru pte d im patie ntly , “ D on, w e h ave in te rn s to d o th in gs lik e c h eckin g c o m pute r

re co rd s a nd m akin g s u re th ey a re c o m ple te . It s o u nds to m e lik e y o u a re n ot v e ry

e ff ic ie nt a bout m anagin g y o ur tim e. If y o u d ele gate d s o m e o f th ese s im ple ta sks, y o u

w ould n’t g et s o fa r b ehin d in y o u r w ork .”

“ T he in te rn s w ere b usy w ork in g o n th e n ew fin ancia l r e ports ,” D on p ro te ste d. “ I d on’t

g et e nough c le ric a l s u pport o n a n y o f m y p ro je cts , a nd th at’s w hy th ey a re s o m etim es

la te .”

“ Wh y d id n’t y o u in fo rm m e th ere w ere p ro ble m s th at m ig ht d ela y th e r e port? ” a ske d

B etty , h er v o ic e s h ow in g s h e w as b eco m in g v e ry a nnoye d . “ I c o uld h ave fo und y o u

so m e c le ric a l s u pport.”

D on w as n ow b eco m in g m ore d e fe nsiv e . “ I tr ie d to le t y o u k n o w la st w eek, b ut y o u w ere

o n th e W est C oast fo r th e m anage m en t tr a in in g w ork sh op. I le ft a m essa ge fo r y o u to

c a ll m e.” “ D on, y o u h ave a n e xcu se fo r e ve ry th in g, a nd n oth in g is e ve r y o ur fa ult ,” B etty

s a id s a rc a stic a lly . “ Y ou s e em to b e in ca p able o f p la nnin g th e a ctio n s te ps n eeded to d o

a p ro je ct lik e th is o ne. Y ou s h ould h ave c h e cke d th e r e co rd s b efo re y o u b egan th e d ata

a naly sis . A s fo r th e m is sin g r e co rd s, it w ould n’t s u rp ris e m e if th ey a re b urie d

so m ew here u nder th e p ile s o f s tu ff s ca tte re d a ro und y o u r o ff ic e . Y ou h ave th e m essie st

o ff ic e in th e c o m pany.”

D on lo oke d s u lle n b ut d id n ot r e ply . B etty c o n tin ued h er tir a de. “ D on, y o ur c a re er in th is

c o m pany is g oin g to b e v e ry s h o rt u nle ss y o u g et y o u r a ct to geth er. I w ant th at r e port in

m y h ands b y n oon to m orro w , a nd n o m ore e xcu se s.”

Q uestio ns

1. Wh at d id B etty d o w ro ng p rio r to th e m ee tin g, a nd w hat c o u ld h ave b een d one to

a vo id m is sin g th e d eadlin e?

2. Wh at d id B etty d o w ro ng in th e m ee tin g it s e lf , a nd w hat c o u ld h ave b een d one to

m ake th e m eetin g m ore e ff e ctiv e ?

3. Wh at s h ould D on h ave d one to b e m ore e ff e ctiv e ?

E ssay # 3: C ase S tu dy: S outh w est E ngin ee rin g S erv ic e s

D onna B urk e w as a s yste m s e ng in eer a t S outh w est E ngin eerin g S erv ic e s fo r fiv e y e ars

w hen s h e w as in vit e d to p artic ip ate in a p ro je ct to d eve lo p a n ew ty p e o f s o ftw are fo r

th e c o m pany. T he p ro je ct d ir e cto r w as R on M orris o n , w ho h ad a r e puta tio n a s a

s o ftw are w hiz a nd r is in g s ta r in th e c o m pa ny. D onna w as n ot s u re w hy s h e w as in vit e d

to w ork o n th is p ro je ct, b ut s h e w as v e ry e xcit e d a bout it . S he u nders to od th at th e w ork would b e im porta nt, a nd s h e k n e w th at a s u cce ssfu l p ro je ct w ould a ls o p ro vid e a b ig

b oost fo r h er c a re er in th e c o m pa ny.

R on c a lle d a m eetin g th e fir s t d ay fo r th e 1 2 p eople in vit e d to b e p art o f th e p ro je ct

te am . A fte r in tr o ducin g h im se lf , R on g ave a s h o rt w elc o m in g s p eech to th e g ro up. “ A ll

o f y o u a re h ere to day b eca use y o u h ave s p e cia l s kills th at a re e sse ntia l fo r th e s u cce ss

o f th is p ro je ct. Y our b oss r e co m men ded e ach o f y o u , a nd o nly th e m ost q ualif ie d p eople

i n th e c o m pany w ere in vit e d to p a rtic ip ate . A s y o u k n o w , th e v o lu m e o f b usin ess

h andle d b y S outh w est E ngin eerin g h as b een g ro w in g s te adily . T he c o m pany n eeds a

b ette r ty p e o f d ecis io n s u pport s yste m fo r m an agin g e ngin eerin g p ro je cts in a w ay th at

w ill g uara nte e q ualit y w hile k e epin g c o sts lo w . S outh w est E ngin eerin g fa ce s a n

in cre asin gly c o m petit iv e m ark e t, a nd th is d ecis io n s u p port s yste m is e sse ntia l fo r th e

co m pany to r e m ain p ro fit a ble . O ur o bje ctiv e is to d eve lo p a n ew a nd in nova tiv e s yste m

th at is b ette r th an a nyth in g e ls e c u rre ntly a va ila ble . It is a n e xtr e m ely c h alle ngin g

assig nm ent, b ut I b elie ve w e c a n p ull it o ff if w e h ave to ta l c o m mit m ent b y e ve ry

m em ber o f th e te am . If y o u a re g oin g to b e p art o f th is te am , th e p ro je ct m ust ta ke

p rio rit y o ve r e ve ry th in g e ls e in y o ur lif e fo r th e n ext n in e m on th s. W e w ill b e w ork in g

lo ng d ays a nd e ve n m any w eeke nds. If a nyo n e h as r e se rv a tio ns a bout m akin g a to ta l

co m mit m ent, th ere is s till tim e to w it h dra w fr o m th e te am . P le ase le t m e k n ow y o ur

decis io n b y 9 :0 0 a .m . to m orro w .” T he n ext d ay, D onna a nd 1 0 o th er e m plo ye es jo in ed

th e te am . T he o ne p ers o n w ho d e clin ed to jo in h ad fa m ily h ealt h p ro ble m s th at w ould

p re ve nt h im fr o m w ork in g e xtr a h ours o n th e p ro je ct.

A s th e te am p lu nged in to th e p ro je ct, th e w ork w as e ve n m ore in te nse th an D onna h ad

exp ecte d. O n w eekd ays it w as c o m mon to o rd er in fo od a nd w ork la te in to th e e ve nin g.

W ork in g S atu rd ay m orn in gs w as ta ke n fo r g ra nte d, a nd th e te am w ould o fte n g o to

lu nch to geth er a fte r fin is h in g w ork o n S atu rd ays. R on h ad a n a ttit u de o f e nth usia sm

a nd o ptim is m th at w as c o nta gio u s, a nd b efo re lo ng e ve n th e m ost c yn ic a l a nd

unem otio nal m em ber o f th e te am w as c a u ght u p in th e e xcit e m ent. D esp it e th e lo ng

hours , th e w ork w as e xh ila ra tin g b eca u se e ve ry o n e k n e w th at th ey w ere p art o f

so m eth in g th at w ould c h ange th e w ay th in gs a re d one in th e c o m pany.

R on p ro vid ed a c le ar p ic tu re o f th e s p e cif ic a tio ns n ece ssa ry fo r th e n ew s yste m , a nd

th is p ic tu re w as im porta nt fo r g uid in g th e w ork o f te am m em be rs a nd k e epin g th em

fo cu se d o n th e s a m e o bje ctiv e . H ow eve r, R on d id n ot d ic ta te h ow th e w ork s h ould b e

done. T e am m em bers w ere e xp ecte d to u se th eir e xp e rtis e to d ete rm in e h ow to d o th e

w ork . R on w as a va ila ble to p ro vid e g uid ance if a ske d, b ut h e w as c a re fu l n ot to im pose

h im se lf w hen n ot n eeded. Wh en s o m eo ne w as e xp e rie ncin g d if f ic u lt ie s in d oin g a ta sk,

R on w as s u pportiv e a nd h elp fu l. N eve rth ele ss, it w as c le ar th at h e w ould n ot to le ra te

le ss th an a m axim um e ff o rt.

R on p ush ed r e le ntle ssly fo r c o n tin ued p ro gre ss in th e w ork . T he te am m et r e gula rly to

e va lu ate p ro gre ss a nd d ete rm in e h ow to d eal w it h o bsta cle s a nd p ro ble m s. E ve ry

m em ber o f th e te am h ad a n o pportu nit y to in flu ence im po rta nt d ecis io ns a bout th e

desig n o f th e s o ftw are s yste m , a nd th e a ctu al in flu ence fo r a p artic u la r is su e d epended on o ne’s e xp ertis e a nd q ualit y o f id eas r a th er th an o n s ta tu s in th e c o m pany o r y e ars o f

exp erie nce .

A n im porta nt p art o f R on’s jo b a s p ro je ct d ir e cto r w as to m ake s u re th e te am g ot th e

re so urc e s a nd a ssis ta nce it n eede d fr o m th e c o m pa ny. R on s p e nt c o nsid era ble tim e

tr a ve lin g to v a rio us c o m pany fa cilit ie s to m ee t w it h k e y p eople w hose s u pport a nd

co opera tio n w ere n eeded to d esig n a nd im ple m en t th e n ew s ys te m . B efo re le avin g o n

th ese tr ip s, R on w ould a sk a m em be r o f th e te am to c a rry o ut h is in te rn al le aders h ip

r e sp onsib ilit ie s. Wh en it w as h er tu rn , D onna w as a t fir s t a ppre hensiv e , b ut s h e fo und it

t o b e a n in te re stin g a nd s a tis fy in g e xp e rie nce . A s R on d ebrie fe d h er a fte rw ard , h e

enco ura ged h er to c o nsid er a m anageria l p osit io n a t S outh w est E ngin eerin g in h er

ca re er p la ns.

A t o ne p oin t d urin g th e fo urth m onth , th e te am b eca m e d is co ura ged o ve r a s e rie s o f

se tb acks in vo lv in g s o m e p ers is te nt te ch n ic a l p ro ble m s. R on c a lle d a m eetin g to g iv e

th em a p ep ta lk . H e s a id to th em , “ I k n o w y o u a re d is co ura ged a bout th ese s e tb acks,

b ut it h appens in a ny p ro je ct th at is b re akin g n ew g ro und. W e h ave m ade tr e m endous

pro gre ss, a nd I a m r e ally p ro ud o f w hat y o u h ave a cco m plis h e d s o fa r. I a m c o nfid ent

w e c a n o ve rc o m e th is la te st o bsta cle a nd m ake th e p ro je ct a s u cce ss. L et’s ta ke th e

re st o f th e d ay o ff to g iv e o urs e lv e s a lit tle r e st a nd m ee t a gain to m orro w to d is cu ss

s o m e n ew id eas fo r in te gra tin g th e s yste m c o m po nents .”

T he fo llo w in g w eek th e te am fig u re d o ut a n in nova tiv e w ay to d eal w it h th e o bsta cle .

T hey c e le bra te d th is b re akth ro u gh w it h a p arty a t R on’s h ouse . T he p ro je ct w as

co m ple te d th re e m onth s la te r, w hic h w as s e ve ra l w eeks e arlie r th an th e o rig in al

deadlin e. T he p ro je ct w as a g re at s u cce ss, a nd th ey fe lt tr e m en dous p rid e in w hat th ey

acco m plis h ed. A fin al c e le bra tio n p arty w as h eld b efo re p eople d is p ers e d b ack to th eir

r e gula r u nit s o r to n ew p ro je cts . A fte rw ard , D onna a nd a noth er te am m em ber

re m in is ce d a bout th eir e xp erie n ce s. D onna g ave R on m uch c re dit fo r b ein g a fa nta stic

c o ach a nd fa cilit a to r, a nd s h e h o ped to h ave th e o pportu nit y to w ork w it h h im a gain o n

anoth er p ro je ct. H ow eve r, s h e a ls o r e aliz e d th at th eir s u cce ss w as a te am e ff o rt th at

co uld n ot h ave b een a cco m plis h ed w it h out th e s ig nif ic a n t c o n tr ib utio ns o f a ll th e te am

m em bers a nd th eir w illin gness t o c o o pera te a nd p ut th e n eeds o f th e p ro je ct a bove

in div id ual s e lf - in te re sts .

Q uestio ns

1. D escrib e th e le aders h ip b ehavio rs R on u se d a nd th eir in flu ence o n th e a ttit u des

and b ehavio r o f th e te am m em be rs .

2. C om pare th is c ro ss-fu nctio nal p ro je ct te am to a s e lf - m an aged o pera tio ns te am b y

id entif y in g s im ila rit ie s a nd d if f e re nce s in th e le aders h ip r o le s.

E ssay # 4: U se a ttr ib utio n th eory to e xp la in h ow le aders in te rp re t th e r e aso ns fo r p oor

perfo rm ance b y s u bord in ate s. D escrib e h ow th e fo llo w in g a ttr ib ute s a re u se d to

m anage im pre ssio ns:

1. E xe m plif ic a tio n 2. In gra tia tio n

3. S elf - p ro m otio n

4. In tim id atio n