Organizational Behavior (Stephen Robbins)

RESEARCH FINDINGS Behavioural Theories of Leadership

A lengthy review of the results of behavioural studies supports the idea that people-

oriented behaviour by leaders is related to employee satisfaction and motivation, and

leader effectiveness; meanwhile, production-oriented behaviour by leaders is slightly

more strongly related to performance by the leader, the group, and the organization.^14

The research also provides some insights into when leaders should be production ori-

ented and when they should be people oriented:^15

• When subordinates experience a lot of pressure because of deadlines or
  unclear tasks, leaders who are people oriented will increase employee satisfac-
  tion and performance.


• When the task is interesting or satisfying, there is less need for leaders to be
  people oriented.


• When it’s clear how to perform the task and what the goals are, leaders who
  are people oriented will increase employee satisfaction, while those who are
  task oriented will increase dissatisfaction.

262 Part 4Sharing the Organizational Vision

Exertion of minimum effort

to get required work done is

appropriate to sustain

organization membership.

Efficiency in operations results

from arranging conditions of

work in such a way that human

elements interfere to a minimum

degree.

9

2345678 9

Low High

Concern for production

Low

High

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Concern for people

1

Country club management

1,9

Thoughtful attention to the needs

of people for satisfying relation-

ships leads to a comfortable,

friendly organization atmosphere

and work tempo.

Team management

9,9

Work accomplishment is from

committed people who have a

ìcommon stake” in the organiza-

tion's purpose.This leads to

relationships of trust and respect.

Impoverished management

1,1

Authority-obedience

9,1

Middle-of-the-road management

5,5

Adequate organizational performance is

possible through balancing the necessity

to get out work with maintaining

morale of people at a satisfactory level.

EXHIBIT 8-4 The Leadership Grid

Source:Reprinted by permission of Harvard Business Review.Based on an exhibit from “Breakthrough in

Organization Development” by R. R. Blake, J. S. Mouton, L. B. Barnes, and L. E. Greiner (November–

December 1964). Copyright © 1964 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College; all rights reserved.