Chapter 6 – Path-Goal Theory
Questions for Study
- What researchers are most associated with path-goal theory?
The stated goal of this leadership theory is to enhance follower performance and follower satifiscation by focusing on follower motivation.
- What are the assumptions of expectancy theory and how do they undergird path-goal theory?
The assumption is that followers will be motivated if they think they are capable of performing their work, if they believe their efforts will result in a certain outcome, and if they believe that the payoffs for doing their work are worthwhile.
3. Explain each of the four leader behaviors considered in path-goal theory.
Leader Behaviors
- Directive- it is a leader who gives followers instructions about their task, including what is expected of them, and how it is done and when how much time it should take them
- Supportive- being friendly and approachable as a leader and includes attending to the well-being and human needs of followers.
- Participative- inviting followers to share in the decision making process
- Achievement-Orientated- who challenges followers to perform work at the highest level possible.
4. Identify the follower characteristics that influence how workers interpret a leader’s behavior.
Need for affiliation, preference for structure, desires for control, and self-perceieved level of task ability.
5. How does each follower characteristic affect that interpretation?
Path-goal theory predicts that followers who have strong needs for affiliation prefer supportive leadership.
Other followers that have a desire for control they have received special attention in path-goal. When followers have perceptions of their own abilities to perform tasks this affects the follower’s ability to achieve their work. Internal locus of control believe their in charge of the events that occur in their life and then External locus of control believe its chance or fate that determines their life. This could effect a followers ability to work or do what they are told by the leader.
6. Identify the task characteristics that influence how workers interpret a leader’s behavior.
It makes the leader have to have involvement with his or her worker’s. It also makes the leader provide more motivation to workers. The leader also has to clarify or coach the followers in order for them to understand how to do their task.
7. How does each task characteristic affect how the leader’s behavior influences motivation?
The leader has to give more motivation to his workers when the task is unclear or complex and the leader will help out and remove those obstacles to provide a clearly picture on the task.
8. Explain the conditions under which each of the four leadership styles is optimally used.
For tasks that are structured, unsatisfying, or frustrating, path-goal Theory suggests that leadrs should use a supportive style.
Participative leadership is considerd best when a task is ambiguous.
Achievement-orientated leadership is most effective in settings in which followers are required to perform ambigious tasks.
Directive style of leadership is best in sitiatutions in which followers are dogmatic and authoritarian, the task demands are ambiguous, the organized rules are unclear, and the task is complex
9. What are strengths of path-goal theory?
Path-goal provides useful theoretical framework for understanding how various leadership behaviors affect follower’s satifiscation and work performance. Seconded, it attempts to intergrate the motivation principles of expectancy theory into a theory of leadership. Third, it provides a model that in certain ways is very practical.
10. What are criticisms of path-goal theory?
It is so complex and incorporates so many different aspects of leadership that interpreting the theory can be confusing. Seconded, that it has received only partial support from the many empirical research studies that have been conducted. Third, that it fails to explain adequately the relationship between leadership behavior and follower motivation.
11. How does path-goal theory fit with the four components of leadership (process, influence, groups, common goals)?Path-goal theory is useful to help followers define goals and then to help followers reach their goals in the most efficient manner. It can be used in all levels in organizations and for all types of tasks.