Deck 8: Contingency and Path-Goal Theories of Leadership

Question 1

The path-goal approach has its roots in a more general motivational theory called expectancy theory.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

According to Fiedler,the effectiveness of the leader will be defined in terms of how well his/her group or organization performs the primary tasks for which the group exists.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

According to Mitchell,a participative climate should increase the clarity of organizational contingencies.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

A number of studies suggest that each leader follows a unique leadership style irrespective of the situation.

Question 5

Common sense suggests that it is much easier to change the man than to change various aspects of a man's job.

Question 6

Leaders with a low least preferred co-worker (LPC) score are more task-oriented,and they tend to evaluate their least preferred co-worker fairly negatively.

Question 7

Situational conditions and follower attributes interact with the leader,shaping what might be effective leadership.

Question 8

According to the contingency theory of leadership,leaders' motivational orientation toward others can be captured by the attitudes they express about their most preferred worker.

Question 9

An organization can change leadership performance either by trying to change the individual's personality and motivational pattern or by changing the favorableness of the leader's situation.

Question 10

The path-goal theory not only suggests what type of style may be most effective in a given situation,but it also attempts to explain why it is most effective.

Question 11

A contingency factor is a variable which moderates the relationship between two other variables such as leader behavior and subordinate satisfaction.

Question 12

The path-goal theory hypothesizes that achievement-oriented leadership will cause subordinates to strive for very high standards of performance thereby reducing their confidence in performing the tasks.

Question 13

The path-goal theory asserts that the more dissatisfying the task,the more the subordinate will appreciate leader behavior directed at increasing productivity or enforcing compliance.

Question 14

The study by Fiedler determined that task-motivated individuals performed better than relationship-motivated leaders in situations that were intermediate in favorableness.

Question 15

According to Robert J.House and Terence R.Mitchell's path-goal model,role ambiguity calls for participative leadership to clarify the path to performance.

Question 16

The contingency model holds that the effectiveness of group performance is contingent upon the subordinates' motivational pattern and the actual performance of followers.

Question 17

The need for leadership is defined in terms of the extent to which an individual wishes independence in facilitating the paths toward individual,group,and/or organizational goals.

Question 18

One of the myths that the Fiedler article discredits is the idea that some men are born leaders and that neither training,experience,nor conditions can materially affect leadership skills.

Question 19

The expectations of subordinates that effort will result in effective performance and that effective performance will result in a reward is one of the subordinate attitudes described in the path-goal theory.

Question 20

Supportive leadership is characterized by a leader who lets subordinates know what is expected of them,gives them specific guidance as to what should be done and how it should be done,and asks that group members follow standard rules and regulations.

Question 21

Which of the following statements about leaders with a low LPC score is true?

A)They associate themselves with participative leadership style.
B)They tend to be relationship-oriented.
C)They are most effective as leaders in situations of intermediate favorability.
D)They tend to evaluate their least preferred co-worker fairly negatively.

Question 22

Leader directiveness has a positive correlation with satisfaction and expectancies of subordinates who are engaged in:

A)ambiguous tasks.
B)explicit tasks.
C)tasks with definite goals.
D)structured jobs.

Question 23

Managers should be alert to the critical need for supportive leadership under conditions where:

A)tasks are simple.
B)workers have an external orientation.
C)workers are not under control.
D)tasks are dissatisfying.

Question 24

_____ model holds that the effectiveness of a group depends on the leader's motivational pattern and the degree to which the situation gives the leader power and influence.

A)Contingency
B)Path-goal
C)Situational
D)Five forces

Question 25

From a path-goal viewpoint,participation would lead to:

A)many goals through a single path.
B)greater clarity of the paths to various goals.
C)many paths that would lead to a single goal.
D)productive intrapersonal conflicts.

Question 26

A path-goal approach attempts to explain:

A)the traits that are important in determining the effectiveness of leadership.
B)what type of style may be most effective and why it is most effective.
C)various situations that completely determine performance as a leader.
D)the necessary prerequisites for a person to become an effective leader.

Question 27

_____ leadership will have its most positive effect on subordinate satisfaction for subordinates who work on stressful,frustrating,or dissatisfying tasks.

A)Voluntary
B)Achievement-oriented
C)Supportive
D)Goal-oriented

Question 28

According to the _____ theory of leadership,leaders are effective because of their impact on subordinates' motivation,ability to perform effectively,and satisfactions.

A)situational
B)path-goal
C)contingency
D)expectancy

Question 29

Participative leadership will have a positive effect on the satisfaction and motivation of subordinates when the:

A)subjects are highly ego-involved in a decision or a task.
B)task demands are clear to the subordinates.
C)task demands are structured and closely aligned.
D)subordinates value self-interest and independence.

Question 30

Leadership experience almost always involves:

A)off-site training classrooms.
B)sensitivity training.
C)on-the-job training.
D)induction training.

Question 31

_____ leadership is characterized by a friendly and approachable leader who shows concern for the status,well-being,and needs of subordinates.

A)Achievement-oriented
B)Voluntary
C)Goal-oriented
D)Supportive

Question 32

_____ enable(s) followers to see their way more clearly toward performance accomplishment.

A)Reduction of role ambiguity
B)Job rotation policies
C)Complex jobs and job sharing
D)Achievement orientation

Question 33

The path-goal theory hypothesizes that _____ leadership will cause subordinates to strive for higher standards of performance and to have more confidence in the ability to meet challenging goals.

A)participative
B)directive
C)achievement-oriented
D)supportive

Question 34

The two contingency variables discussed in the path-goal theory are personal characteristics of the subordinates and the _____ and demands with which subordinates must cope in order to accomplish the work goals and to satisfy their needs.

A)leadership behaviors
B)environmental pressures
C)personal characteristics of the leader
D)traits of leaders

Question 35

The path-goal approach has its roots in a more general motivational theory called the:

A)hygiene theory.
B)ERG theory.
C)expectancy theory.
D)equity theory.

Question 36

Which of the following statements is consistent with the general propositions of the path-goal theory?

A)Employee satisfaction is not related to leaders' motivational behavior.
B)Leaders' operational functions are more crucial than the strategic functions.
C)Effective leaders could minimize personal payoffs to subordinates.
D)Coaching,guidance,support,and rewards are necessary for effective performance.

Question 37

Robert J.House contends that leader effectiveness is most appropriately examined in terms of the leader's impact on:

A)the attrition in an organization or department.
B)the performance of his/her followers.
C)his/her own performance and its transparency.
D)the labor management in the organization.

Question 38

A contingency factor is a:

A)function that relates two or more variables related to each other.
B)variable which moderates the relationship between two other variables.
C)function that is used to relate two opposing variables.
D)common variable that establishes a relation between two functional groups.

Question 39

The focus of the contingency model of leadership offered by Vroom and Yetton is limited to the:

A)role of management in legitimizing leadership.
B)role of the leader and his/her followers in decision-making situations.
C)extent of power available to the leader.
D)various decision-making models used by leaders.

Question 40

Smircich and Morgan define leadership as a product of:

A)desirable traits and behaviors of an individual.
B)the inherent skills and abilities of a manager or leader.
C)an interaction between the situation,the leader,and the followers.
D)interpersonal and intergroup conflicts in an organization.

Question 41

Leaders will have more power and influence if their station is vested with such prerogatives as being able to hire and fire.This illustrates which leadership dimension?

A)Leader-member relations
B)Goal emphasis
C)Task structure
D)Position power

Question 42

Relationship-motivated leaders tend to perform better than task-motivated leaders in situations that are:

A)extremely favorable and structured.
B)least favorable.
C)intermediate in favorableness.
D)extremely favorable and unstructured.

Question 43

What are the two contingency variables associated with the path-goal theory? Explain these variables.

Question 44

Briefly explain the contingency model of leadership.

Question 45

Which of the following is a conclusion derived from the study conducted by Fiedler on leader effectiveness?

A)People differ in how they respond to management situations.
B)There is one ideal type of leader.
C)Traits such as cognitive abilities and intelligence are important in leadership.
D)Experience and training can materially affect leadership skills.

Question 46

According to Fiedler's study,to improve leadership performance,we can either change the leader by training or change the:

A)leader's leadership situation.
B)context of evaluation.
C)follower.
D)performance targets.

Question 47

Which of the following types of managers should be trained for jobs in which the situational favorableness is intermediate?

A)Managers who are neither relationship-motivated nor task-motivated.
B)Managers who are relationship-motivated and task-motivated.
C)Managers who are not relationship-motivated but task-motivated.
D)Managers who are relationship-motivated but not task-motivated.

Question 48

Explain the relationship between the behavior of leaders and the subordinates' expectations that effort leads to rewards based on Evans's study.

Question 49

What are the general propositions of the path-goal theory?

Question 50

Explain the effects of inconsistent relationships between the behaviors that leaders engage in.