Path Goal Theory

Path-Goal Analysis  
House's (1971) Path-Goal Theory was developed to provide ways in which leaders can encourage and support their followers in achieving the goals they have been set by making a clear and easy path. According to House and Mitchell (1974) leaders can: 1) clarify the path so followers know the way to go, 2) help remove roadblocks, and 3) increase rewards along the path.

Normative Model

Vroom and Yetton (1973) defined five different decision procedures and the situational factors that influence a leaders decision making strategy. Two are autocratic (A1 and A2), two are consultative (C1 and C2) and one is Group based (G2).
    • A1: Leader takes known information and then decides alone.
    • A2: Leader gets information from followers, and then decides alone.
    • C1: Leader shares problem with followers individually, listens to ideas and then decides alone.
    • C2: Leader shares problems with followers as a group, listens to ideas and then decides alone.
    • G2: Leader shares problems with followers as a group and then seeks and accepts consensus agreement.
http://northgeorgia.edu/Leadership/Default_1col.aspx?id=1533

Path-Goal Theory of Leadership

 

Description

The Path-Goal Theory of Leadership was developed to describe the way that leaders encourage and support their followers in achieving the goals they have been set by making the path that they should take clear and easy.
In particular, leaders:
    • Clarify the path so subordinates know which way to go.
    • Remove roadblocks that are stopping them going there.
    • Increasing the rewards along the route.
Leaders can take a strong or limited approach in these. In clarifying the path, they may be directive or give vague hints. In removing roadblocks, they may scour the path or help the follower move the bigger blocks. In increasing rewards, they may give occasional encouragement or pave the way with gold.
This variation in approach will depend on the... [continues]

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