Question 1

The contingency approaches explain the relationship between leadership styles and effectiveness in specific situations.

Accepted Answer

The contingency approaches to leadership propose that the effectiveness of a leader's style depends on the specific situation they are facing. Different situations call for different leadership styles, and understanding the match between the two is key to effective leadership. Therefore, statement A is true.

Question 2

According to Fiedler's contingency model of leadership, which of the following indicates a high degree of task structure?

Accepted Answer

Fiedler's contingency model of leadership suggests that a high degree of task structure (the extent to which tasks are clear and specific) is favorable to a leader's success. Routine tasks are relatively straightforward and well-defined, whereas ill-defined, creative, or research tasks are less structured and may pose more difficulty for a leader. Therefore, choice B indicates a high degree of task structure.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true of Fiedler's contingency theory of leadership?

Accepted Answer

Fiedler's contingency theory states that relationship-oriented leaders are more effective in moderately favorable situations, while task-oriented leaders are more effective in either highly favorable or unfavorable situations. Option A is incorrect because task-oriented leaders are well-suited to highly favorable situations, where there is much structure and task direction needed. Option B is also incorrect because task structure only needs to be defined in unfavorable situations, not highly favorable ones. Option D is incorrect because relationship-oriented leaders would not necessarily excel in an unfavorable situation where there is conflict and unclear tasks.

Question 4

Which of the following is stated by the contingency approach to leadership?

Accepted Answer

The contingency approach to leadership suggests that there is not one best way of leadership and that the effectiveness of a particular leadership style is contingent on the specific situation. Therefore, choice A is the correct statement. B, C, and D are incorrect statements as the contingency approach does not investigate traits that can improve performance in all situations, does not consider the leader to be the most important contingency, and does not suggest that there is only one best way of leadership.

Question 5

According to the situational theory of leadership, a leader with a _____ provides detailed objectives and explicit instructions about how tasks should be accomplished.

Accepted Answer

The telling style is characterized by a high task orientation and a low relationship orientation, where the leader provides specific instructions and closely supervises subordinates to ensure they are following the instructions correctly. This leadership style works well when followers are inexperienced, unskilled, or lack confidence in their abilities. It is part of the situational leadership theory, which suggests that the most effective leadership style depends on the follower's readiness level.

Question 6

The situational theory of leadership focuses on the characteristics of leaders as the most important element of the situation.

Accepted Answer

The situational theory of leadership focuses on the characteristics of the situation, such as the task, the followers, and the context, as the most important element rather than the characteristics of the leaders themselves. The theory suggests that different situational factors require different types of leadership styles.

Question 7

In the context of Fiedler's contingency model of leadership, if a leader describes the least preferred coworker using positive concepts, he or she is considered relationship-oriented.

Accepted Answer

According to Fiedler's contingency model, a leader who describes their least preferred coworker (LPC) in positive terms is considered to be relationship-oriented, as this indicates a focus on interpersonal relationships and a high LPC score.

Question 8

According to the situational theory of leadership, a _____ can be effective when followers have the necessary education, skills, and experience but might be insecure in their abilities and need some encouragement from the leader.

Accepted Answer

The participating leadership style is effective when followers are capable but may lack confidence. It involves the leader providing support and encouragement to boost their confidence and involvement in decision-making.

Question 9

According to the situational theory of leadership, a leader with a _____ provides little direction or support because complete responsibility for decisions and their implementation is turned over to followers.

Accepted Answer

The delegating leadership style involves giving complete responsibility for decision-making and implementation to followers, providing little direction or support. This style works best when followers are highly experienced and skilled in their work and can take on more responsibility.

Question 10

The contingencies most important to leadership are the situation and followers.

Accepted Answer

The situational and follower contingencies are crucial factors that affect a leader's effectiveness. Situational factors such as the organization's culture, the task at hand, and the external environment can significantly impact a leader's ability to lead successfully. Additionally, understanding the motivations, skills, and preferences of followers is essential in tailoring a leadership style that resonates with them, thereby enhancing performance outcomes.

Question 11

In the context of Fiedler's contingency model of leadership, which of the following does leader-member relations refer to?

Accepted Answer

Leader-member relations refer to the quality of relationships between the leader and subordinates, including trust, respect, and communication. It refers to the group atmosphere and members' attitudes toward and acceptance of the leader. A, C, and D refer to different elements of the situational variables in Fiedler's contingency model.

Question 12

The use of substitutes to fill leadership "gaps" is often disadvantageous to organizations.

Accepted Answer

Using substitutes to fill leadership gaps can be advantageous as it allows organizations to maintain continuity, leverage diverse skills and perspectives, and potentially identify new leadership talent. It can also provide opportunities for professional development within the team.

Question 13

According to Fiedler's contingency model of leadership, if a leader uses negative concepts to describe the least preferred coworker, he or she is considered a _____.

Accepted Answer

According to Fiedler's contingency model of leadership, a leader who uses negative concepts to describe the least preferred coworker is considered a task-oriented leader. Fiedler believed that a leader's effectiveness depends on their leadership style and the favorableness of the situation, which is determined by three factors: leader-member relations, task structure, and position power. The leader's style is measured by their score on the Least Preferred Coworker (LPC) questionnaire. A task-oriented leader has a low LPC score, meaning they describe their least preferred coworker in negative terms, and is most effective in situations that are highly favorable or highly unfavorable.

Question 14

The Vroom-Jago contingency model of leadership starts with the idea that a leader faces a problem that requires a solution.

Accepted Answer

The Vroom-Jago contingency model of leadership begins with a problem or decision that requires a solution. The model then considers various situational factors that influence the leader's decision-making process, including the level of subordinate participation, time constraints, and the nature of the problem or task at hand.

Question 15

According to the path-goal theory of leadership, when an incorrect reward is given to a subordinate, directive leadership behavior is used to change this.

Accepted Answer

Path-goal theory suggests that leaders adjust their style to help their followers achieve their goals and navigate obstacles, rather than specifically focusing on correcting rewards through directive behavior. Directive leadership is one approach that might be used in various situations, but the theory itself does not prescribe it specifically for the correction of rewards.

Question 16

According to the situational theory of leadership, a leader with a _____ provides both task instruction and personal support, explains decisions, and gives followers a chance to ask questions and gain clarity about work tasks.

Accepted Answer

The situational theory of leadership suggests that the most effective leadership style varies according to the situation and the followers' needs. A leader with a "selling leadership style" provides both task instruction and personal support, explains decisions, and allows followers the opportunity to ask questions and gain clarity about work tasks, making it the best match for the description provided.

Question 17

According to Fiedler's contingency model of leadership, position power is low when the leader has:

Accepted Answer

Fiedler's contingency model of leadership states that a leader's effectiveness depends on the situational context, and one of the situational factors is the leader's position power. Position power refers to the degree to which the leader has formal authority over subordinates, including the power to reward or punish them. If the leader has little authority over subordinates and cannot evaluate their work, their position power would be considered low. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 18

According to the situational theory of leadership, the telling style reflects a low concern for both tasks and relationships.

Accepted Answer

The telling (or directing) style, according to the situational theory of leadership, reflects a high concern for tasks and a low concern for relationships. This style is most effective in situations where followers have low competence and low commitment.

Question 19

According to Fiedler's contingency model of leadership, a task-oriented leader performs better in situations of moderate favorability because human relations skills are important in achieving high group performance.

Accepted Answer

According to Fiedler's contingency model of leadership, a task-oriented leader performs better in situations of high or low favorability, while a relationship-oriented leader performs better in situations of moderate favorability. The reasoning behind this is that in highly favorable situations, the task-oriented leader can simply focus on achieving the task, while in low favorable situations, the leader needs to be more directive and task-oriented to overcome obstacles. In moderate situations, both task and relationship skills are important for achieving high group performance.

Question 20

According to the path-goal theory of leadership, path clarification means that the leader works with subordinates to help them identify and learn the behaviors that will lead to successful task accomplishment and organizational rewards.

Accepted Answer

Path clarification is a key element of the path-goal theory of leadership, which involves helping subordinates understand the behaviors necessary to achieve their goals and earn organizational rewards.

Quiz 3: Contingency Approaches to Leadership