Reference no: EM132750392

Question - Gregory Kean was Manly Bistro's top apprentice six years ago and has always been a fast learner and an ambitious and willing worker. Because of his work ethic, his clear thinking and his organising abilities, the owner promoted Gregory to the position of head chef with a kitchen team of five. On his promotion, Gregory became more determined than ever to show his capabilities. His level of motivation was high and he decided to make a clean sweep of the kitchen and really smarten the place up.

The previous chef had run the kitchen in a relaxed, informal manner and, for the most part, everyone did their work well. However, as far as Gregory could see, the previous head chef didn't really 'manage' at all - meals just 'happened'.

So in went Gregory, ensuring breaks weren't extended, handing out jobs at the beginning of each shift, tightening up systems and procedures, checking people followed them, continually monitoring everyone's work and generally ruling with the proverbial iron hand. Now, four months later, the sous-chef has quit, the general kitchen hand is openly looking for another job and the team is no longer functioning as a unit. The four who are left seem to have withdrawn their cooperation, use no initiative and do only what Gregory tells them to do.

The owner decides it is time to have a chat to get to the bottom of what can only be described as a crisis in the kitchen.

(a) What, specifically, do you think led to this crisis? Use the concepts, theories/models that you have studied in your Managing Organisations and People course to answer this question.

(b) What leadership style would you say Gregory's predecessor used? What style does Gregory seem to be using? Is this style appropriate? Use relevant theories/models and give evidence for your answer.

(c) Which of the ways of thinking about motivation could Gregory use to help him correct the situation? Explain how your suggestion could help him and how it reinforces the ideas about situational leadership approach. Use relevant theories/concept and examples to support your answer.