Ans: Personal power derives from being seen by others as likeable or knowledgeable. One form of personal power is referent power which is power based on identifying and liking the leader. Another form of personal power is expert power which is based on perceptions of the leader’s competence.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Leadership and Power
Difficulty Level: Easy
AACSB Standard: Application of knowledge
3. Define leadership as it is presented in your textbook.
Ans: Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Leadership Defined
Difficulty Level: Easy
AACSB Standard: Application of knowledge
4. Name and briefly describe one of the approaches to studying leadership that has emerged in the 21st Century?
Ans: Several approaches have emerged in 21st Century leadership research. [Students could answer one of the following:]
Authentic leadership focuses on the authenticity of leaders and their leadership.
Spiritual leadership focuses on leadership that utilizes values and a sense of calling and membership to motivate followers.
Servant leadership sees the leader in the role of servant, putting followers first and using caring principles.
Adaptive leadership is when leaders encourage followers to adapt by confronting challenges and change.
Followership puts spotlight on followers and the role they play in the leadership process.
Discursive leadership holds that leadership is created through communication practices negotiated between leader and follower.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Leadership Defined
Difficulty Level: Moderate
AACSB Standard: Application of knowledge
5. If your boss subscribes to the definition of leadership offered by your textbook, which part of that definition lessens the possibility that she will act unethically toward you and your co-workers?
Ans: Leadership includes attention to common goals. The focus on common means leaders and followers mutually decide on their purpose and goals. This mutuality helps ensure that leaders will work ethically with followers in ways that do not force or coerce.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: Leadership Defined
Difficulty Level: Moderate
AACSB Standard: Analytical thinking
Essay
1. Using Hogg’s social identity theory, how could you coach a minority person who aspires to leadership in his or her organization?
Ans: There are two facets to this answer: First, social identity theory suggests that emergence is tied to a person’s fit with the identity of the group as a whole. If a minority person does not fit the racial/ethnic/gender profile of the majority, then he or she should identify other dimensions of the group identity with which he or she does fit, such as political ideology or group mission, and highlight those when seeking leadership. Second, research on emergent leadership identifies some positive communication behaviors associated with leader emergence. Coaches should help individuals practice speaking up in meetings, being well informed, being good listeners and seeking out others’ ideas, initiating new ideas, and being firm but not rigid.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Assigned Versus Emergent Leadership
Difficulty Level: Moderate
AACSB Standard: Interpersonal relations and teamwork
2. Defend or refute: Men and women are equally likely to emerge as leaders in mixed-sex groups.
Ans: Research on emergent leadership identifies some positive communication behaviors associated with leader emergence: speaking up in meetings, being well informed, being a good listener and seeking out others’ ideas, initiating new ideas, and being firm but not rigid. At the same time, when men and women engage in these behaviors, they are perceived differently by group members. In Watson and Hoffman’s 2004 study, men and women were seen as equally influential, but women were rated lower on leadership and likability. Depending on the group and task, women and men may not have equal opportunity to emerge as group leaders.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: Assigned Versus Emergent Leadership
Difficulty Level: Moderate
AACSB Standard: Contexts of organizations in a global society
3. Using Kotter’s functions of management and leadership model to support your argument, would you rather your direct supervisor be a leader or a manager? Use Kotter's model as a reference to the specifics of each.
Ans: Either manager or leader could be chosen here as long as the answer is well supported. A leader choice should consist of the key aspects suggested by Kotter: producing change and movement, establishing direction, aligning people, and motivating and inspiring. The same should be done if manager is chosen, focusing again on the following points: produces order and consistency, planning and budgeting, organizing and staffing, and controlling and problem solving.