Question 1

Which of the following is a situational leadership model?

Accepted Answer

Path-goal theory is a situational leadership model that suggests leaders should adapt their style based on the situation and the needs of their followers. It involves identifying the goals of followers, clarifying their path to those goals, providing the necessary support and resources, and adjusting leadership style as needed.

Question 2

According to Fiedler

Accepted Answer

According to Fiedler's contingency theory, a leader's effectiveness is contingent upon how well the leader's style matches the context. Fiedler argued that leadership style is fixed and cannot be changed.

Question 3

____ is a path-goal situational factor that describes the personal belief that whatever happens to the individual is a matter of luck or fate.

Accepted Answer

External locus of control is the belief that one's accomplishments and outcomes are determined by external factors such as luck or fate, rather than their own actions or abilities. This can affect a leader's decision-making and motivation in achieving goals. A leader with a strong external locus of control may have lower motivation and believe that their efforts don't make a difference in achieving outcomes, leading to a lack of effort or persistence.

Question 4

According to Fiedler's research on his contingency theory of leadership,relationship-oriented leaders get the best results when

Accepted Answer

According to Fiedler's contingency theory of leadership, relationship-oriented leaders are most effective in situations of moderate to high situational favorability. Situational favorability refers to the degree to which the situation gives the leader control and influence over their followers, the task, and the organization. In moderate to high situational favorability, the leader has some control over these factors, but they are not completely in charge. In these situations, a leader who focuses on developing relationships with their subordinates and building trust is best able to motivate their team and achieve their goals. Therefore, option B is the best choice as it mentions moderate situational favorability.

Question 5

What leadership style would a person with an external locus of control be most likely to DISLIKE?

Accepted Answer

Individuals with an external locus of control believe that their successes or failures result from external factors beyond their control. Therefore, they are likely to dislike participative leadership styles, which emphasize employee involvement in decision-making, as they may feel less capable or less motivated to influence outcomes.

Question 6

Vernique consults with her subordinates and encourages their involvement in the decision-making process.Based on the path-goal theory,what kind of leader behavior is Vernique exhibiting.

Accepted Answer

Vernique is exhibiting participative leader behavior by involving her subordinates in the decision-making process. This type of leadership involves consulting with subordinates and considering their suggestions when making decisions.

Question 7

Arpi is a manager.She set high standards and expects her workers to reach them.She uses ____ leadership.

Accepted Answer

The statement "She set high standards and expects her workers to reach them" suggests that Arpi uses achievement-oriented leadership, which focuses on setting challenging goals and expecting high performance from employees.

Question 8

Matt is fresh out of college.He is feeling a bit overwhelmed at work and appreciates his boss's ____ leadership because he needs help at this point.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Matt is fresh out of college.He is...

Question 9

Which of the following leadership theories is a direct extension of the expectancy theory of motivation?

Accepted Answer

The path-goal theory of leadership is a direct extension of the expectancy theory of motivation. This theory proposes that leaders should choose the most effective motivational strategy (directive, supportive, participative, or achievement-oriented) based on their follower's expectations related to effort, performance, and rewards. The theory states that leaders' behavior should align with followers' preferences and abilities to increase their motivation, job satisfaction, and performance.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT one of the situational factors thought to modify the relationship between leader behavior and subordinate motivation to perform in the path-goal theory?

Accepted Answer

The preferences of the leader are not considered as one of the situational factors that modify the relationship between leader behavior and subordinate motivation to perform in the path-goal theory. The situational factors that are considered include subordinate locus of control, characteristics of the work group, task structure, and subordinates' perceptions of their ability.

Question 11

Two general categories of situational factors that receive special attention in path-goal theory are the

Accepted Answer

Path-goal theory focuses on how the leader can support and guide their subordinates to achieve their goals. Two situational factors that receive special attention in this theory are the personal characteristics of subordinates (such as their needs and preferences) and the environmental characteristics of the workplace (such as the level of task structure and the amount of feedback available). These factors can affect the leader's choice of leadership style and the strategies they use to motivate and empower their subordinates.

Question 12

Which of the following statements BEST describes the path-goal theory of leadership?

Accepted Answer

The path-goal theory of leadership suggests that leaders can use any one of four styles of leadership (directive, supportive, participative, and achievement-oriented) as required to meet the needs of their subordinates and the situation at hand. This theory is flexible and adaptable, and it emphasizes the importance of the leader's role in clarifying goals, reducing obstacles, and providing support to their subordinates.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT one of the criticisms of Fiedler's contingency model of leadership?

Accepted Answer

This is not a common criticism of Fiedler's contingency model. In fact, the model is often praised for its integration of both behavior and trait approaches. The criticisms listed in the other options are commonly brought up when discussing the limitations of the model.

Question 14

Mihee set challenging goals and high expectations because she has confidence in her fellow nurses.Based on the path-goal theory,what kind of leader behavior is Mihee exhibiting?

Accepted Answer

Mihee is exhibiting achievement-oriented leader behavior, which is characterized by setting challenging goals and high expectations for followers. This behavior is associated with the path-goal theory, where the leader's role is to help followers achieve their goals by providing support and guidance. Mihee's confidence in her fellow nurses suggests that she believes in their abilities and is providing them with the support and resources needed to achieve their goals.

Question 15

Pete tells his staff what to do,but not how to do it.When they come to him for help,he assists them and treats them as equals.Based on the path-goal theory,what kind of leader behavior is Pete exhibiting?

Accepted Answer

Pete's behavior is supportive because he assists his staff and treats them as equals, which aligns with the supportive leadership style that focuses on the well-being and needs of team members.

Question 16

Adam is a human resource specialist who firmly believes that whatever happens to him is the result of hard work and determination.Which path-goal personal characteristic best describes Adam's attitude toward himself?

Accepted Answer

Adam's belief that his outcomes result from his own hard work and determination indicates an internal locus of control, meaning he attributes outcomes to internal factors within his control rather than external factors beyond his control.

Question 17

When there is a mismatch between leader style and the type of situation in which leaders find themselves,what does Fiedler suggest should be done?

Accepted Answer

Fiedler's contingency theory suggests that if there is a mismatch between a leader's style and the situation, it is more feasible to change the situation to fit the leader's style rather than changing the leader's style, which is considered relatively fixed.

Question 18

You supervise a group of very competent employees who have been at their present jobs an average of seven years.Which two theories would say that you have little need to use a directive style of leadership and that subordinates may even resent it if you do?

Accepted Answer

Both the Path-goal theory and the Substitutes for leadership theory suggest that the need for directive leadership is reduced when employees are experienced and competent. The Substitutes for leadership theory proposes that certain aspects of the work environment (such as clear goals, feedback, and external rewards) can substitute for the need for a leader's direction. The Path-goal theory emphasizes the importance of the leader clarifying goals and paths to achieve them, but also suggests that leaders should adapt their style to the situation and the needs of the followers. Therefore, using a directive leadership style may not be effective or necessary with this group of competent employees.

Question 19

Chrissy is a communications director.She has great talents and skills.Her boss annoys her because he uses ____ leadership.He is always telling her how to do things.

Accepted Answer

Directive leadership involves giving orders and specific instructions to subordinates. In this case, Chrissy's boss is constantly telling her how to do things, which is indicative of directive leadership.

Question 20

According to path-goal theory,a leader cannot change the personality of a subordinate,so the primary function of the leader is to

Accepted Answer

According to path-goal theory, the primary function of a leader is to make organizational rewards available and show employees what behavior will be effective in getting those rewards. The theory emphasizes that leaders should guide and motivate subordinates by providing them with rewards for achieving goals and by clarifying the paths to reach those goals. The leader must show subordinates how their effort and performance can lead to desired rewards. Therefore, option C is the correct choice.

Quiz 17: Managing Leadership and Influence Processes