Question 1

Reasons for executive derailment include:
A) insensitive, abrasive, intimidating, bullying style.
B) good people skills.
C) overmanaging: unable to delegate or build a team.
D) both insensitive, abrasive, intimidating, bullying style and overmanaging: unable to delegate or build a team.

Accepted Answer

This choice includes both options A and C, making it the most comprehensive answer. Insensitive, abrasive, intimidating, and bullying behaviors are common causes of executive derailment, as are micromanaging tendencies that limit the ability to delegate effectively and build a cohesive team.

Question 2

Since the 1970s, leadership ideas may focused on how leaders and followers interact and influence one another.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true. Leadership theories and ideas have undergone significant evolution since the 1970s, with an increased focus on how leaders and followers interact and influence one another, compared to earlier theories that emphasized the traits and behaviors of leaders. This shift has led to the development of new leadership concepts such as transformational leadership, situational leadership, and servant leadership.

Question 3

Managers and leaders are different because:
A) Managers learn a set of skills for planning, organizing directing, and controlling.
B) Leaders must find the capacity to help create a vision of what the organization can be.
C) Leadership calls for caring about and engaging the whole employee.
D) Managers maintain stability while leaders promote change.

Accepted Answer

D

Question 4

Era 4 represents the learning leader who has given up control in the traditional sense.

Accepted Answer

Era 4 is focused on the learning leader who has shifted from a traditional, controlling leadership style to one that empowers learners and encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing. This means that the learning leader has given up control in the traditional sense and instead serves as a facilitator and supporter of learning.

Question 5

The new paradigm of leadership acknowledges that we live in a world characterized by uncertainty.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately reflects the new paradigm of leadership, which recognizes the unpredictable and constantly changing nature of the world we live in. Effective leaders in this paradigm must be adaptable, responsive, and able to make quick decisions in the face of uncertainty.

Question 6

A study showed that leaders who failed were described as having good human skills.

Accepted Answer

Studies on leadership failure often indicate that leaders who fail are typically described as lacking in interpersonal or human skills, which are crucial for effective leadership.

Question 7

Attempts to achieve teamwork, empowerment, and diversity can succeed only if:
A) leaders follow the principles and practices of the industrial era.
B) managers want to treat people the way they treat machines or the bottom line.
C) leaders value change over stability, control, competition, and uniformity.
D) leaders hire people who think and work alike.

Accepted Answer

To achieve teamwork, empowerment, and diversity, leaders must value change over stability, control, competition, and uniformity. This means that leaders must be willing to make changes to the organization's policies, structures, and culture to foster collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity. They must also be willing to give employees more autonomy, decision-making power, and responsibility. These changes require a mindset shift from the traditional industrial-era management approach that emphasized hierarchy, control, and standardization. Therefore, choice C is the best answer. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they promote outdated management practices and do not reflect the current state of organizational theory and practice.

Question 8

Leadership is considered an art because of a growing body of objective facts and knowledge that describe the leadership process.

Accepted Answer

Leadership is considered both an art and a science. While there is growing knowledge and understanding of the leadership process, there is also a subjective and creative element in how a leader applies this knowledge and interacts with their team. Therefore, leadership can be seen as both an art and a science.

Question 9

Self-Directed teams:
A) have structured jobs and work processes.
B) break down boundaries between departments.
C) use strict top-down control.
D) do not share power.

Accepted Answer

Self-directed teams are known for breaking down boundaries between departments and allowing team members to have more autonomy in decision making and problem solving. They often have more flexibility in their work processes and may have less structured jobs compared to traditional hierarchical teams. Strict top-down control and a lack of shared power would contradict the principles of a self-directed team.

Question 10

The Great Man Theories are emerging leadership theories

Accepted Answer

The Great Man Theories are historical theories that emerged in the 19th century, suggesting that leaders are born, not made, and inherently possess certain traits that make them effective leaders. These theories are not emerging; they have been largely superseded by more modern approaches to leadership.

Question 11

The recent ethical violations in the business world has led to a shifted in mindset from the individual leader as a hero.

Accepted Answer

The recent ethical violations in the business world have caused a shift in mindset towards a collective responsibility for ethical behavior rather than relying solely on individual leaders as heroes.

Question 12

Leadership focuses on getting everyone lined up in the same direction.

Accepted Answer

Leadership involves aligning individuals towards a common goal or vision, hence it involves getting everyone lined up in the same direction.

Question 13

The Behavior Theories studied larger-than-life leaders.

Accepted Answer

Behavior Theories of leadership focus on the behaviors and actions of leaders rather than their personalities, traits, or the context of their actions. They suggest that effective leadership is a result of learnable behaviors and not just innate qualities or characteristics.

Question 14

Empowerment emphasizes collaboration over competition and conflict.

Accepted Answer

Empowerment focuses on building a collaborative environment where individuals work together to achieve common goals. It emphasizes teamwork and cooperation rather than competition and conflict.

Question 15

Many organizations were built on assumptions of uniformity and specialization.

Accepted Answer

Many historical organizations were designed with the assumption that all employees would have a certain level of uniformity in their skills and roles, as well as specializing in specific areas to create efficient workflows.

Question 16

Leadership involves all EXCEPT:
A) creating change.
B) influencing followers.
C) maintaining stability.
D) shared purpose.

Accepted Answer

The concept of leadership involves creating change, influencing followers, and sharing a purpose. However, it does not necessarily involve maintaining stability. In fact, leaders may need to disrupt the status quo in order to create positive change.

Question 17

Management and leadership are the same thing.

Accepted Answer

Although management and leadership are related concepts, they are not the same thing. Management involves planning, organizing, directing, and controlling resources to achieve organizational goals, while leadership involves inspiring and motivating people to work towards a common vision or goal. While a manager may also be a leader, the two roles require different skills and approaches.

Question 18

The move to empowerment is an integral part of the old paradigm.

Accepted Answer

The move to empowerment is actually a fundamental aspect of the new paradigm. The old paradigm was characterized by a top-down approach to management, focusing on control and maintaining the status quo. In contrast, the new paradigm emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and a bottom-up approach that encourages individuals and teams to take ownership and responsibility for their work. Empowerment is a key feature of this approach, as it involves giving employees the autonomy, resources, and support they need to take initiative and make decisions that align with organizational goals.

Question 19

Leaders of today must maintain strict control of work processes to assure that the organization functions efficiently.

Accepted Answer

While leaders must ensure that work processes are effective and goals are achieved, strict control can stifle creativity and innovation. Modern leadership involves empowering employees to take ownership of their work and make decisions that improve processes and outcomes.

Question 20

Leadership is defined an influence relationship among leaders and followers who intend real changes that reflect their shared purposes.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of leadership as proposed by James MacGregor Burns, a noted leadership theorist.

Quiz 1: What Does It Mean to Be a Leader

Reasons for executive derailment include: