11/16/2016

Contingency Theories of Leadership

Naveen, Ratan, Ramesh, Sudhakar

Contingency

Dictionary Meaning-
-a future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be
predicted with certainty.
-a provision for a possible event or circumstance.
-an incidental expense.

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Theories of Discussion

Leader-Member Exchange LMX Theory

Normative Decision Model

The Situational Leadership Model

The Contingency Model

The Path-Goal Theory

Leader-Member Exchange LMX Theory

Role Taking: happens early in a followers work experience. Here
the leader offers opportunities and evaluates the followers
performance and potential.

Role Making: is the next phase where a role is created based on a

process of trust building. This is fragile stage, and any perceived
betrayals can lead to lead to the follower being dropped from the
developing in-group and assigned to the out-group.

Routinization: occurs as the relationship becomes well

established. It is in the phase that similarities (for the in-group)
and differences (often accentuated for the out-group) become
cemented.

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Leader-Member Exchange LMX Theory

Time

Characteristic Stranger Acquaintance Maturity

Relationship Role-Taking Role-Making Role Routinization
building phase
Reciprocity Cash and Carry Mixed In-kind

Time span of Immediate Some delay Indefinite

reciprocity

LMX Low Medium High

Incremental None Limited Almost unlimited

Influence

Normative Decision Model

This model views Leadership as the Decision Making Process. It
specifies what a leader ought to do in a given situation. It is solely
directed at determining the amount of subordinate input in
decision making process. Normative refers to the idea that the
leader should follow certain prescriptions indicated in the model.

The two key factors are Decision Quality and Acceptance.

Decision Quality: means simply that if the decision has a rational

or objectively determinable better or worse alternative, the
leader is supposed to choose the better alternative.
Decision Acceptance: implies that followers accept the decision
as if it is their own and do not merely comply with the decision.
Acceptance of the decisions would be critical for any team.

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Normative Decision Model Decision Tree

Normative Decision Model Interactional Framework

Leader
Decision Process Outcomes:
Preferences
Decision Quality
B. Does the leader has Decision acceptance
sufficient information? Subordinate development

D. Acceptance important
For implementation?
E. If decision made solely by
leader, will it be accepted by
subordinates? A. Quality requirement?
F. Do subordinates share C. Is problem structured?
org. goals?
G. Is conflict over preferred
solution likely?

Follower Situation

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The Situational Leadership Model

The Situational Leadership Model

The real world is a messy place

Yet, even a messy place can be
attacked systematically.
- Alex Cornell

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The Contingency Leadership Model

Motivational Hierarchies for Least Preferred Co-worker Leaders

People

Low - LPC
Task

Task

High - LPC
People

The Contingency Leadership Model

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The Path-Goal Theory

Leader Behavior Team Members Task Characteristics
Directive Dogmatic Ambiguous, Unclear Rules,
Authoritarian Complex

Supportive Unsatisfied Repetitive, Unchallenging,

Need Affiliation Mundane & Mechanical
Need Human
Touch
Participative Autonomous Ambiguous, Unclear,
Need for control Unstructured
Need for clarity
Achievement High Expectations Ambiguous, Challenging,
Oriented Need to Excel Complex

Mini Case Big Changes for a Small Hospital

Windber Medical Center

No State of art facilities

Lesser paid employees
Turnover was steep