Reference no: EM133088229

Project Leadership

Case Study - An Emerging Leader

Objective 1: Define leadership and explain the difference between leadership and management.
Objective 2: Describe the sources of leader power.
Objective 3: Describe and analyse traits of leaders.
Objective 4: Describe and apply behavioural and contingency theories of leadership.
Objective 5: Outline how project managers lead.

Question 2.1 - What is Leadership? *
Do you have a preferred definition of leadership? Review the following definitions of leadership. What are the common features and variations in each definition? Develop your own definition from the those provided.

"Developing a vision and strategy, and motivating people towards achieving that vision and strategy" (Burke & Barron, 2014, p.7)
"An influence relationship among leaders and followers who intend real changes and outcomes that reflect their shared purposes" (Daft &Pirola-Merlo, 2009, p. 4)
"the state or position of being a leader" (oxforddicionaries.com, 2014)
"A process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task" (Wikipedia, 2014)
"Leadership is the art of leading others to deliberately create a result that wouldn't have happened otherwise" (siyli.org, 2014)
"The ability of a company's management to make sound decisions and inspire others to perform well" (investopedia.com, 2014)
"Leadership is the capacity and will to rally people to a common purpose willingly, and the character that inspires confidence and trust" (Tozer, 1997, p. 12)

Question 2.2 - Leadership and Management
Consider the following scenarios and indicate how i). leader, and ii). manager, would handle each situation.

a) A team member is constantly late for work
b) A team member is lacking motivation to complete a difficult task
c) A team member made a serious programming error which will blow out project costs
d) A team member is bullying another team member
e) The team completes a big project on time, cost and within scope
f) A team member develops a new algorithm which will improve the final product saving the sponsor company substantial money
g) A team member is using work computers to work on a university assignment
h) The project is falling behind schedule
i) The sponsor company on a project wants to increase the scope on a system's engineering project
j) An experienced programmer joins your team
k) Your team has been allocated a pro-bono project as part of your company's corporate social responsibility strategy team
l) A team member is using social networking during work time
m) A team member comes up with an idea which is outside the scope of a project
n) Your team is stuck unable to come up with a solution to a technical problem
o) You get assigned as a project manager to a team who have been working together for a long time

Question 2.3 - Leadership and Power
For each statement, circle the number that most closely resembles your attitude.

To obtain your score, add the number you have checked on questions; 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 10. For the other four questions, reverse the numbers you have checked; 5 becomes 1, 4 becomes 2, 2 becomes 4, and 1 becomes 5, 3 stays the same. Total your 10 numbers to find your score.

American adult national average is 25. The results of this research using the Mach test have found that:
• Men are generally more Machiavellian than women
• Older adults tend to have lower Mach scores than younger adults
• There is no significant difference between high-Machs and low-Machs on measures of intelligence or ability
• Machiavellianism is not significantly related to demographic characteristics such as educational level or marital status
• High Machs tend to be in professions that emphasise the control and manipulation of individuals - e.g. managers, lawyers, psychiatrists and behavioural scientists (Robbins, Millett, Cacioppe, & Waters-Marsh, 1998, p. 464)

Question 2.4 - Leadership Traits
Reflect upon the traits and values that define the role of a project leader. Circle five of the values listed below that best complete the following sentence: " _________________ is a ‘cornerstone' in my approach to leadership." Provide reasons for your selections.

Question 2.5 - Charismatic Leadership
Charisma is that special quality that makes us who we are. It is derived from the Greek term "kharisma" which literally means "divine favour." Click on the following link and take the test: What is your charisma quotient?

Question 2.6 - Leadership Theories *
Locate a you tube video, audio or website which provides information on one of the leadership theories examined this week (Lewin's framework, Blake and Mouton's Managerial Grid, Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory, House's Path Goal Theory, Fiedler's Contingency Model and the Leadership Process Model). Provide a brief written review of your selected resource. *

Question 2.7 - Case Study *
Read the case study: An emerging leader. How do Tim's traits compare to traits of effective leaders and project leaders? Which if any of Tim's traits would you incorporate into you own style of leadership? Why? *

Attachment:- Project Leadership.rar