44.312 Security Management
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Theories of Leadership (continued)

  • Managerial grid: assumes leadership is multi-dimensional
    • 2 prime behavioral aspects are concern for production and concern for people (Blake and Mouton, 1964)
    • 3 interrelated universals: purpose, people, hierarchy -- how will leader prioritize among and connect them? Because of different weights of the 3, leadership styles can vary, are affected by external factors, organizational issues, policies, etc. Mapped them on a grid (you can take a self-administered test online to decide your style)
  • Contingency theory
    • beginning in 1960's, looked at how situation dictated type of leader who emerged, "Contingency-based theories take the perspective that a leader, by influencing the behaviors of followers, will affect organizational outcomes."
    • Situational Leadership Model
      argues that leader must adapt style to the particular situation that they find.
      • focuses on leader's task behaviors (which are associated with amount of guidance a follower needs to accomplish organizational goals) and relationship behaviors (which are associated with level of socio-emotional support leader provides, through communicating, listening, etc.), and how they interact with follower's level of maturity -- if the follower hasn't achieved proper level of maturity, they won't respond. Leader has to be flexible, to match differing maturity levels.

how did Northeastern and BU plan for and deal with SuperBowl celebration issues?

  • Path-Goal Theory:
    focuses on leader's effectiveness and moderating effects of situation.
    • "..motivational function of the leader consists of increasing personal pay-offs to subordinates for work-goal attainment, and making the path to these pay-offs much easier to travel by clarifying it, reducing road blocks and pitfalls, and increasing the opportunities for personal satisfaction en route."
    • argues the leader's behavior is acceptable when followers see it as either immediately satisfying or as way to future satisfaction. Leader motivates by providing proper rewards, coaching, and support. 
    • Talks about 4 types of leader behaviors:
      • directive leadership
      • supportive leadership
      • participative leadership
      • achievement orientation.

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