1. A group has formed to organize the annual company picnic. Because one member has
experience planning a church fall festival, he volunteers to take the helm. The other
employees choose to follow him. Which kind of leadership does this exemplify? -
ANSWER A) Situational
B)Contingency
C) Emergent
D) Behavioral
1. Right Answer: C) Explanation: The emergent leadership theory proposes that leaders can
emerge from a group, deriving their power from the group's agreement with this role. The
other leadership theories refer to the ways team leaders use their roles to produce results
and engage, develop, and motivate team members.
2. Which is a trait of an effective leader? - ANSWER A) Providing detailed directions to
subordinates
B) Allowing employees to manage themselves
C) Fulfilling promises and commitments
D) Terminating poor performers and promoting high performers
Right Answer: CExplanation: Leaders must model the values the organization aspires to,
which means being trustworthy and reliable. Effective leaders may not allow all employees
to direct themselves. They provide coaching rather than terminating poor performers. They
provide detailed directions to those who need it.
3. A manager uses his skill with people to smooth over problems and to make his employees
feel secure in their positions. According to the Blake-Mouton theory, what leadership style is
the manager using? - ANSWER A) Authoritarian manager
1
,B) Country club manager
C) Impoverished manager
D) Team leader
Right Answer: B Explanation: Managers who exhibit low task, high people (country club)
leadership styles avoid using their authority because they fear that it will jeopardize their
relationships. They try to create a supportive atmosphere and trust that employees will
respond positively. An authoritarian leader emphasizes task, and an impoverished leader
neglects both task and people. A true team leader attends to needs related to both tasks
and people.
4. Refer to the following scenario for the next 2 questions. The administrative assistant to
the vice president of operations confides in the HR manager that the VP has been making
inappropriate advances that have been getting progressively more forward and aggressive.
This has made the administrative assistant uncomfortable, and now she wants to find a new
position in the organization. The administrative assistant and the HR manager are long-time
personal friends, and this information is shared with the HR manager outside of the work
environment, on personal time. While the HR manager informs the administrative assistant
that she should bring a formal complaint, the administrative assistant is very clear that she is
sharing this information as a friend. She does not want to file a formal complaint out of fear
of retaliation. Instead, she asks the HR manager to help her find a new role so that she can
quietly leave h - ANSWER A) A. Confront the VP of operations directly with the
allegations and demand an explanation as to why he has behaved inappropriately.
B) B. Respect the friendship with the administrative assistant, honor the request for privacy
on the issue, and not take any action in response to the complaint.
C) C. Have a follow-up discussion with the administrative assistant reassuring her of
protection against retaliation and urging her to formally complain of the behavior.
D) D. Notify the VP of HR of the allegations so that a formal investigation can begin of these
allegations of harassment.
Right Answer: D Explanation: D is the best response. This is a very delicate situation for an
HR manager, who must fulfill a duty to the organization. Respecting friendship and honoring
other's requests are serious considerations. However, if ignored, claims of harassment put
the organization in a precarious position, with potential liability. Given that the allegations
are being made against a senior management employee, it is important for the HR manager
to escalate this issue to a more senior HR leader to determine the best way to proceed.
Furthermore, since the HR manager has a long-standing personal friendship with the
employee making the harassment claim, it is probably best for another HR person to step in
2
, for the investigation so as to fend off any perception of HR bias. A is incorrect. The VP of
operations should not be confronted until a formal plan of action is created. B is incorrect.
Once the administrative assistant has shared the allegations with the HR manager, even if in
confidence and during personal time, the HR manager has a duty to protect the employer
from any liability. If the HR manager does not act on the allegations of misconduct and
harassment, she is jeopardizing the organization. C is incorrect. Talking with the a
5. The VP of operations has been identified as one of the top two possibilities to succeed the
current CEO. The VP of HR receives a letter from the attorney of a different employee that
charges the VP of operations and the organization with unlawful harassment. Which is the
best first course of action the HR VP should take? - ANSWER A) A. Notify the CEO and
the organization's attorney, asking to meet to determine appropriate next steps.
B) B. Initiate the investigation by gathering all the facts about the unlawful harassment
claim.
C) C. Independently speak to the VP of operations and ask if there is any merit to the claim
of unlawful harassment.
D) D. Terminate the VP of operations' employment immediately in order to mitigate any
further risks.
Right Answer: A Explanation: A is the best response. The VP of operations plays a critical role
in the organization and has been identified as a potential successor to the CEO. Given that
this is the second time sexual harassment allegations have been made against him and that
this time there's a threat of a lawsuit, it is important to notify the CEO and corporate
counsel. B is incorrect. It is important to investigate the entire situation, with all allegations
and claims considered equally. C is incorrect. HR should not take any action independent of
the organization's CEO and attorney. D is incorrect. At this stage, firing the VP of operations
may be premature, as it is just an allegation with no actual evidence and not even clarity on
the facts. A sound and unbiased investigation must be conducted to uncover the facts, and
only then would the policy on disciplinary action apply if deemed necessary.
According to the Hersey-Blanchard theory, which is generally the most suitable situational
leadership approach for entry-level employees? - ANSWER A) Delegating
B) Selling
C) Telling
D) Participating
3
experience planning a church fall festival, he volunteers to take the helm. The other
employees choose to follow him. Which kind of leadership does this exemplify? -
ANSWER A) Situational
B)Contingency
C) Emergent
D) Behavioral
1. Right Answer: C) Explanation: The emergent leadership theory proposes that leaders can
emerge from a group, deriving their power from the group's agreement with this role. The
other leadership theories refer to the ways team leaders use their roles to produce results
and engage, develop, and motivate team members.
2. Which is a trait of an effective leader? - ANSWER A) Providing detailed directions to
subordinates
B) Allowing employees to manage themselves
C) Fulfilling promises and commitments
D) Terminating poor performers and promoting high performers
Right Answer: CExplanation: Leaders must model the values the organization aspires to,
which means being trustworthy and reliable. Effective leaders may not allow all employees
to direct themselves. They provide coaching rather than terminating poor performers. They
provide detailed directions to those who need it.
3. A manager uses his skill with people to smooth over problems and to make his employees
feel secure in their positions. According to the Blake-Mouton theory, what leadership style is
the manager using? - ANSWER A) Authoritarian manager
1
,B) Country club manager
C) Impoverished manager
D) Team leader
Right Answer: B Explanation: Managers who exhibit low task, high people (country club)
leadership styles avoid using their authority because they fear that it will jeopardize their
relationships. They try to create a supportive atmosphere and trust that employees will
respond positively. An authoritarian leader emphasizes task, and an impoverished leader
neglects both task and people. A true team leader attends to needs related to both tasks
and people.
4. Refer to the following scenario for the next 2 questions. The administrative assistant to
the vice president of operations confides in the HR manager that the VP has been making
inappropriate advances that have been getting progressively more forward and aggressive.
This has made the administrative assistant uncomfortable, and now she wants to find a new
position in the organization. The administrative assistant and the HR manager are long-time
personal friends, and this information is shared with the HR manager outside of the work
environment, on personal time. While the HR manager informs the administrative assistant
that she should bring a formal complaint, the administrative assistant is very clear that she is
sharing this information as a friend. She does not want to file a formal complaint out of fear
of retaliation. Instead, she asks the HR manager to help her find a new role so that she can
quietly leave h - ANSWER A) A. Confront the VP of operations directly with the
allegations and demand an explanation as to why he has behaved inappropriately.
B) B. Respect the friendship with the administrative assistant, honor the request for privacy
on the issue, and not take any action in response to the complaint.
C) C. Have a follow-up discussion with the administrative assistant reassuring her of
protection against retaliation and urging her to formally complain of the behavior.
D) D. Notify the VP of HR of the allegations so that a formal investigation can begin of these
allegations of harassment.
Right Answer: D Explanation: D is the best response. This is a very delicate situation for an
HR manager, who must fulfill a duty to the organization. Respecting friendship and honoring
other's requests are serious considerations. However, if ignored, claims of harassment put
the organization in a precarious position, with potential liability. Given that the allegations
are being made against a senior management employee, it is important for the HR manager
to escalate this issue to a more senior HR leader to determine the best way to proceed.
Furthermore, since the HR manager has a long-standing personal friendship with the
employee making the harassment claim, it is probably best for another HR person to step in
2
, for the investigation so as to fend off any perception of HR bias. A is incorrect. The VP of
operations should not be confronted until a formal plan of action is created. B is incorrect.
Once the administrative assistant has shared the allegations with the HR manager, even if in
confidence and during personal time, the HR manager has a duty to protect the employer
from any liability. If the HR manager does not act on the allegations of misconduct and
harassment, she is jeopardizing the organization. C is incorrect. Talking with the a
5. The VP of operations has been identified as one of the top two possibilities to succeed the
current CEO. The VP of HR receives a letter from the attorney of a different employee that
charges the VP of operations and the organization with unlawful harassment. Which is the
best first course of action the HR VP should take? - ANSWER A) A. Notify the CEO and
the organization's attorney, asking to meet to determine appropriate next steps.
B) B. Initiate the investigation by gathering all the facts about the unlawful harassment
claim.
C) C. Independently speak to the VP of operations and ask if there is any merit to the claim
of unlawful harassment.
D) D. Terminate the VP of operations' employment immediately in order to mitigate any
further risks.
Right Answer: A Explanation: A is the best response. The VP of operations plays a critical role
in the organization and has been identified as a potential successor to the CEO. Given that
this is the second time sexual harassment allegations have been made against him and that
this time there's a threat of a lawsuit, it is important to notify the CEO and corporate
counsel. B is incorrect. It is important to investigate the entire situation, with all allegations
and claims considered equally. C is incorrect. HR should not take any action independent of
the organization's CEO and attorney. D is incorrect. At this stage, firing the VP of operations
may be premature, as it is just an allegation with no actual evidence and not even clarity on
the facts. A sound and unbiased investigation must be conducted to uncover the facts, and
only then would the policy on disciplinary action apply if deemed necessary.
According to the Hersey-Blanchard theory, which is generally the most suitable situational
leadership approach for entry-level employees? - ANSWER A) Delegating
B) Selling
C) Telling
D) Participating
3
