Leadership Scenario

Management and Organization Theory (BMGT-364)

Leadership Scenario – Group Project

Introduction

“Leadership effectiveness is critically contingent on, and often defined in terms of, leaders’ ability to motivate followers toward collective goals or a collective mission or vision” (Shamir, Zakay, Breinin, & Popper, 1998). Focusing on leadership and motivation the purpose of this paper is to evaluate motivation and leadership theories as they relate a specific scenario. In the process, we will gain a better understanding of the definitions, positive and negative applications, and utilization of various motivation and leadership theories in relationship to a defined situation. Specifically, an analysis of goal setting, acquired needs, Tannenbaum and Schmidt Continuum, and The Hersey-Blanchard Model theories are used to systematically breakdown the leadership case study.

Goal Setting Theory

Defined

The goal setting theory is an explanation of why goal setting motivates people and helps give employers ideas of things to consider when setting goals. According to Carpenter, Bauer, Erdogan, and Short, goal setting is one of the most commonly used motivational theories. The implementation of goal setting has many benefits in a business; like motivating employees, giving direction to employees and stimulating the growth of a company. The goal setting theory suggests that there are four reasons goals motivate people; they give employees direction, motivates employees not to stop until they reach their goal, it challenges the employees and goals make people feel good when they reach them (39-41).

Applied

The theory is visible in the leadership case in the relationship between Lila and Toya. Lila worked with Toya and helped set up a goal for her to sell 10 boxes of truffles. Toya states that the goal is hard, but she believes she will be able do it and also she will be rewarded seventy-five dollars to do so. Lila successfully implemented the goal...