MGT 501 Module 3 Case

Background

In a sense, leadership resembles love: it is something most people believe they can recognize but often cannot define. What is leadership and what are the main differences between leadership and management? In this Module you will learn about the defining aspects of leadership, the history of research on leadership and contemporary theories of leadership.

Required Reading

House, R. J. & Aditya, R. N. (1997). The social scientific study of leadership: Quo Vadis?. Journal of Management, 23, 409-473.

Assignment

Read the House and Aditya article on leadership research. This article reviews the history of the study of leadership and the prevailing theories of leadership that have gain empirical support. If you want you can supplement your reading with items from the Optional Reading list or other outside reading you find useful. Then, write a 4 pages critique in which you will relate to the following questions and tasks:

1. Define leadership and contrast leadership and management. What do you consider the 3 most important differences between leaders and managers? Substantiate your arguments with material from the House & Aditya article or other articles on the topic.

2. Summarize the conclusions of trait theories of leadership. Also try to identify the main differences between past and more recent trait theories.

3. Identify the central tenets and main limitations of behavioral theories.

4. Describe the main contribution of contingency theory of leadership.