Leadership & Organizational Behavior Flashcards

A strategic manager notices that a high-performing team becomes complacent after a major success. Which leadership action best addresses this?

Answer: Introduce stretch goals and new challenges to re-engage motivation

Stretch goals re-energize complacent high performers by restoring a sense of purpose and challenge.

According to Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, which of the following is a hygiene factor rather than a motivator?

Answer: Company policy and administration

Hygiene factors like company policy prevent dissatisfaction but do not actively motivate employees.

A CEO delegates full authority for a product launch to a VP but then overrides key decisions publicly. Which leadership failure does this illustrate?

Answer: Micromanagement through formal authority

Publicly overriding a delegate's decisions while formally claiming delegation is a form of micromanagement.

In organizational behavior, 'role ambiguity' most directly leads to which outcome?

Answer: Higher stress and reduced job satisfaction

Role ambiguity creates uncertainty about expectations, which elevates employee stress and lowers satisfaction.

Which conflict resolution style is most appropriate when a strategic issue is critical and time is short?

Answer: Competing

The competing style is assertive and quick, making it appropriate for urgent, high-stakes decisions.

A leader using the 'coaching' style in Situational Leadership II is working with an employee who has which profile?

Answer: Some competence, variable commitment

The coaching style addresses employees with developing skills but inconsistent motivation through direction and dialogue.

Organizational culture is BEST described as:

Answer: Shared values, beliefs, and norms that guide member behavior

Organizational culture encompasses the unwritten shared values and norms that shape how members think and act.