Question

Using Decision-Making's contingency theory of leadership  discuss how leadership styles might need to vary according to the task, the group and the individual, illustrating your answer with appropriate examples.

Answer 1

Decision making contingency theory tells that a leader has to change according to the situation in order to prove his or her effectiveness. Mainly a leader posse only one kind of leadership style but this theory tells that a leader should have that capability to switch leadership style as per the situation so that effectiveness in operations is maintained. For example we can take example of google where democratic leadership style is followed in which subordinates are given chance to give their suggestion on important decision matters, which usually motivates but sometimes it’s may go wrong also because some employees are like they will start taking undue advantage and start thinking that they are very superior and when they feel that freedom they become lazy and never do their work on time. In such case the leader should have that capability to switch to autocratic leadership style which is very strict full control will be in the hands of the leader and no freedom will be given to subordinates. For employees who take undue advantage of freedom should be treated under autocratic leadership which will help in maintaining effectiveness in the leadership. Same goes for vice-versa.