8th Edition by Daft All Chapters 1 to
15 | 2026 Update
CHAPTER 1: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A LEADER?
1. The leadership process is an influence relationship among leaders and followers
who intend real changes and outcomes that reflect their shared purposes.
a. True
b. False
Answer: a. True
Rationale: Leadership is defined as an influence relationship among leaders and followers
who intend real changes and outcomes that reflect their shared purposes. This is the
foundational definition presented in Chapter 1.
, 2. Leadership is a people activity and is distinct from administration paperwork or
planning activities.
a. True
b. False
Answer: a. True
Rationale: Leadership is fundamentally a people activity. It differs from administrative
tasks, paperwork, or planning activities because it focuses on influencing and working with
people to achieve shared goals.
3. A shared mindset that represents a fundamental way of thinking about,
perceiving, and understanding the world is called:
a. Vision
b. Culture
c. Paradigm
d. Mission
Answer: c. Paradigm
Rationale: A paradigm is defined as a shared mindset that represents a fundamental way
of thinking about, perceiving, and understanding the world. It shapes how leaders and
followers interpret their environment and make decisions.
4. Which statement best characterizes the fundamental nature of leadership in
contemporary organizations?
, a. Leadership primarily involves maintaining organizational stability and preserving
established procedures
b. Leadership is a reciprocal relationship in which leaders and followers intentionally
desire significant changes
c. Leadership is exclusively exercised by those in formal management positions
d. Leadership focuses on controlling resources and maximizing efficiency
Answer: b. Leadership is a reciprocal relationship in which leaders and followers
intentionally desire significant changes
Rationale: Leadership is defined as a reciprocal relationship where both leaders and
followers intentionally seek substantive changes, not mere maintenance of the status quo.
This represents a fundamental shift from traditional views that equated leadership with
stability and control.
5. Which of the following represents an outdated stereotype about leadership?
a. Leaders can also be effective followers
b. Leadership requires genuine interest in developing others
c. Leaders are somehow different from and above others
d. Leadership involves influencing others toward common goals
Answer: c. Leaders are somehow different from and above others
Rationale: The stereotype that leaders are inherently different from or superior to others is
outdated. In reality, the qualities needed for effective leadership are similar to those
needed to be an effective follower, and all leaders are sometimes followers as well.
, 6. A manager who has reached a plateau, been fired, or forced into early
retirement after initially showing promise is experiencing:
a. Career transition
b. Derailment
c. Paradigm shift
d. Organizational restructuring
Answer: b. Derailment
Rationale: Derailment refers to a phenomenon in organizations where a manager with an
impressive track record reaches a certain level but goes off track and cannot advance
because of a mismatch between job needs and the manager's personal skills and
qualities.
7. According to Daft's framework, new paradigm leaders are characterized by all
of the following EXCEPT:
a. Humility
b. Facilitation
c. Control orientation
d. Diversity promotion
Answer: c. Control orientation
Rationale: New paradigm leaders are facilitators, collaborators, humble, and diversity
promoters. They move away from control-oriented, heroic, and competitive approaches
characteristic of old paradigm leadership.