Will Paten Was the Manager of a Team of Twelve

Will Paten was the manager of a team of twelve people in the marketing division of Palmer Inc. Will, who was working in the company for eleven years, was held in high regard and liked by all his colleagues and subordinates. However, Aaron and Abby, two of his subordinates, were noted for flouting his rules and directives frequently. They continued behaving in this manner even after Will had categorically requested them to refrain from upsetting the momentum of the team. Which of the following, if true, would best explain Aaron and Abby's continued noncompliance with Will's requests?

A) The company had provided Will with additional duties and he was left with little time to ensure that his team members performed well.
B) Will was considered an expert at analyzing market trends and making accurate projections about demand and revenue.
C) The promotions and bonuses of the team members depended heavily on Will's performance ratings.
D) Will believed that since the job demands in marketing were ambiguous and ever-changing, a supportive approach to leadership would suffice.
E) Will was uncomfortable exercising coercive measures to control employees.