You Have Recently Been Appointed as Head of the Nine-Person

question 279

Essay

You have recently been appointed as head of the nine-person accounting department in a large oil company. The accounting offices are located on the 6th and 3rd floors of head office. The three accounting employees on the 3rd floor use extra office space in the purchasing department. Two accounting employees were hired a few months before you took over the unit; one was offered a job at the time she submitted her application form (i.e. hired without an interview or careful review). The employees possess the skills and resources (e.g. new computer systems) to perform effectively if they work together as a team. However, you sense that this department lacks the necessary esprit de corps that would help it achieve the highest performance. Describe four distinct strategies you would use to build the accounting department into a more cohesive unit and explain how these strategies would increase cohesiveness.

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Definitions:

Follower Characteristics

Traits or attributes of individuals who support and are influenced by leaders, affecting the dynamics of the leadership process.

Task Structure

The clarity and predictability of the goals, procedures, and roles associated with a specific task.

Authority System

A structured framework within an organization that defines levels of authority and responsibility, guiding decision-making processes and hierarchical relationships.

Path-Goal Leadership Theory

A theory that suggests a leader's behavior is contingent to the satisfaction, motivation, and performance of their subordinates.