Foreign Auto Body case study 2
Case 2.4 Foreign Auto Shop Part 2
Tabatha Sipho
MG688: Leadership and Influence
Questions:
1. Describe Alan’s leadership style during the flood, and evaluate how appropriate it was for the leadership situation?
During the flood Alan exhibited a Management by Exception-Active leadership style. This leadership type behavior “keeps people and processes in control” (Education, 2010), by monitoring and controlling followers through forced compliance. This may not seem like the most effective way to lead people. However, in the scenario it mentions that “Alan had everybody’s attention, but nobody seemed to be moving” (Yukl, 2013, p. 183), Kirk even strolled over to him with a smile on his face like nothing was wrong. So by using this type of leadership style Alan was able to reduce any uncertainties his employees may have had in knowing their task at the time, and also ensured that the important goal of saving whatever they possibly could from the flash flood was obtained.
2. Identify effective behaviors by Alan after the flood subsided?
BF skinner said “Fat, happy rats don’t run mazes.” (Education, 2010) You’re probably thinking what does this have to do with the auto shop case study, but Skinner realized that a fundamental principle of motivation is to use rewards to reinforce desired behaviors if they occur. After the flood, Alan recognized the importance and the need to reward his employee’s for their contributions, so he personally thanked each person and gave them the morning off. The next day during their break Alan also used positive reinforcement when he gave all of the credit to his staff. Alan even “went to all the trouble of pointing out personal contributions, no matter how minor each person made.” (Yukl, 2013, p. 183)
3. How should Alan behave towards his employees in the future?
This is a hard question to answer. In this case study we watch Alan who may at times be a bit of a “laissez-faire” type of a leader jump to a very controlled autocratic type
Tabatha Sipho
MG688: Leadership and Influence
Questions:
1. Describe Alan’s leadership style during the flood, and evaluate how appropriate it was for the leadership situation?
During the flood Alan exhibited a Management by Exception-Active leadership style. This leadership type behavior “keeps people and processes in control” (Education, 2010), by monitoring and controlling followers through forced compliance. This may not seem like the most effective way to lead people. However, in the scenario it mentions that “Alan had everybody’s attention, but nobody seemed to be moving” (Yukl, 2013, p. 183), Kirk even strolled over to him with a smile on his face like nothing was wrong. So by using this type of leadership style Alan was able to reduce any uncertainties his employees may have had in knowing their task at the time, and also ensured that the important goal of saving whatever they possibly could from the flash flood was obtained.
2. Identify effective behaviors by Alan after the flood subsided?
BF skinner said “Fat, happy rats don’t run mazes.” (Education, 2010) You’re probably thinking what does this have to do with the auto shop case study, but Skinner realized that a fundamental principle of motivation is to use rewards to reinforce desired behaviors if they occur. After the flood, Alan recognized the importance and the need to reward his employee’s for their contributions, so he personally thanked each person and gave them the morning off. The next day during their break Alan also used positive reinforcement when he gave all of the credit to his staff. Alan even “went to all the trouble of pointing out personal contributions, no matter how minor each person made.” (Yukl, 2013, p. 183)
3. How should Alan behave towards his employees in the future?
This is a hard question to answer. In this case study we watch Alan who may at times be a bit of a “laissez-faire” type of a leader jump to a very controlled autocratic type
References: Education, T. N. (2010). USAF Enlisted Professional Military Education Procedural Guidance. Maxwell AFB: Department of the Air Force. Holmes, S. (2013). Blake and Mouton Leadership Grid. Retrieved Nov 17, 2014, from Make a Dent Leadership: http://www.makeadentleadership.com/blake-and-mouton.html Yukl, G. (2013). Leadership in Organizations Eighth Edition. Boston: Pearson.