Joanna Mills has recently been promoted to the position of a project manager at Palmer Inc., a software development firm. As a project manager, she now has the authority to delegate work, provide supervision and feedback, and monitor employee performance. Ever since her promotion, she has been preparing herself to guide her subordinates in different project activities. However, she feels that the employees do not proactively approach her for help. Which of the following, if true, would best explain this situation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that Joanna has several years of experience in working on software programs does not explain why her team members do not approach her for help. The fact that the sole criterion for Joanna's promotion was her effectiveness in meeting individual targets does explain why her team members do not proactively approach her for help. While the promotion provided her with legitimate power, she does not enjoy referent power, which would encourage team members to reach out to her for help. The fact that the employees identify with Joanna because she successfully rose from the position of a programmer to that of a manager does not explain the current situation. The fact that the managers who promoted her believed that her approachable nature would be a key factor in improving team performance does not explain why her team does not approach her for help. The fact that the company follows a 360-degree performance evaluation system does not explain why her team does not approach her for help.

Joanna Mills Has Recently Been Promoted to the Position of a Project