Leadership Case Study: Tents-R-Us

According to the case of Tents-r-Us, the leadership theory and approach of great man approach, trait theory and behavioral approach was applied in this case.
5.1. Summing up few points of the case which related to great man approach
Firstly, Ridge is aggressiveness and action orientation leader as he has operated his enterprise over 15 years. If he did not actively run his business, his company will close down and impossible to run until now.
Secondly, Ridge possesses ambitious nature. It is because he plans to expand business into northern England. In order to expand his business widely, his business is set up in Edinburgh and entire Scotland is not enough so he wish to expand business into northern England.
Next, according to the case content,
It is benefit to make decision fast as Ridge has no need to spend time on seeking suggestions from others. Also, Ridge can provide strong direction and motivation to subordinates. Therefore, subordinates have clear scope to work under his style and they have no need to do any planning, organizing and decision making. Due to Ridge possess ambitious nature, his business’s development is grown up fast and helped company to earn more profit. He manage his company day to day is beneficial to grasp and update daily routine business easily. Great man approach help Ridge to strength his personal status in the company, let everybody to understand that he is the only one person in charge in this company. Thus, employees avoid going beyond his boundaries and against his regulation.
Next, Ridge applied the trait theory leadership. He has employed his family members in his business. It is beneficial to save recruitment cost and time. Besides, he clearly knows about his family nature and character so there is no need to spend time on understand outsider. Self-confidence is a good advantage for leader and a necessary requirement for a successful leader. If leader is lack of self-confidence and he will lead to lost trust form subordinates. As a key man of the company, Ridge’s motivation is good for achieve the company goal
This behavior will make employees antipathy towards Ridge and it will damage relationship between him and his family. Ridge uses autocratic style to drive away other useful family who has talented or trustful. He cannot capture his family members’ mind therefore his dispute with his family recently.
Next, Ridge applied the trait theory leadership. He has employed his family members in his business. According to the case content, due to Ridge has strong desire to control “resulted in several family disputes around respective roles in the organization”. It will create negative feeling from employees as no body want to be control by other. Everyone wishes has their thinking and respect by others.
Finally, top-down command will lead to subordinates lack of motivation and reduce their morale as Ridge too strict. Also, control employees’ action will result increase conflict and frustration. Subordinates will more depend on Ridge and they are less individual thinking in the company and cannot train and develop the future