Which style of leadership does not believe in use of power unless it is absolutely essential?
(i) Autocratic leadership
(ii) Democratic leadership
(iii) Laissez faire leadership
(iv) Political leadership
✔ Answer
(iii) Laissez faire leadership
Which element in the communication process involves converting the message into words, symbols, gestures etc.?
(i) Coding
(ii) Encoding
(iii) Sender
(iv) Receiver
✔ Answer
(ii) Encoding
Out of the following which is not an example of Noise?
(i) Crossing of a vehicle
(ii) Telephone lines going dead in between conversation
(iii) Group of people talking nearby
(iv) More number of organizational levels
✔ Answer
(iv) More number of organizational levels
It is an incentive offered over and above the wages/salary to the employees. Name the type of financial incentive referred here?
✔ Answer
Bonus (Financial incentive)
It is defined as a process of influencing other people to work willingly for group objectives. Mention this element of directing.
✔ Answer
Leadership
In an organization, employees always feel that they are under enormous unnecessary stress, as the manager does not provide any information about future plans but simply tell them what to do. He also does not listen to any of the suggestions given by the subordinates. Identify the type of leadership style followed by the manager in the above situation.
✔ Answer
Autocratic style of leadership
Leader plays a key role in introducing required changes in the organization. How?
✔ Answer
Leader persuades, clarifies and inspires people to accept changes whole-heartedly.
Lack of attention may be barrier to communication on the part of receiver to understand the message very clearly. How?
✔ Answer
The preoccupied mindset of receiver neither gives attention to the message nor grasps it which leads to ineffective communication.
Assertion (A): The directing function takes place at every level of management.
Reason (R): Every manager, from top executive to supervisor performs the function of directing.
(i) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(ii) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(iii) (A) is true but (R) is false.
(iv) (A) is false but (R) is true.
✔ Answer
(i) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Assertion (A): Directing facilitates introduction of needed changes in the organization.
Reason (R): Directing is the process of guiding the efforts of employees and other resources to accomplish the desired objectives.
(i) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(ii) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(iii) (A) is true but (R) is false.
(iv) (A) is false but (R) is true.
✔ Answer
(ii) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
“Maslow’s need hierarchy theory is considered fundamental to understanding of motivation.” In the light of this statement, explain ‘motivation’ and Maslow’s need hierarchy in motivation.
✔ Answer
Assumptions (any three):
- Urge to fulfil needs is a main factor in motivation of people at work.
- Human needs arise in a particular structure or hierarchy.
- Lower level needs must at least partially be satisfied before higher level needs emerge.
A reputed hotel, Hotel Sea View, provides medical aid and free education to children of its employees. Which incentive is being highlighted here? State its category and any two more incentives of the same category.
✔ Answer
The incentive being provided by the hotel is
‘perquisite’ under financial incentives. The two more incentives under the same category are:
- Co-partnership
- Retirement benefits
“Leadership indicates the ability of an individual to maintain good interpersonal relations with followers and motivate them to contribute towards achieving organizational objectives.” In the light of this statement, explain the styles of leadership.
✔ Answer
- Autocratic leadership
- Democratic leadership
- Laissez-faire leadership
State any three financial incentives other than ‘Pay and Allowances’ to motivate employees.
✔ Answer
- Bonus
- Perquisites
- Retirement benefits
Refer to the extract given below and choose the correct option to answer the following:
Ahuja, a sales representative of Oscar Ltd. has changed seven jobs in the last one year. He is a hard-working person but is not able to finalise deals with the customers due to his inadequate vocabulary and omission of needed word. Sometimes he uses wrong words because of which intended meaning is not conveyed. All this created a misunderstanding between him and his clients.
I. ‘He is a hard-working person but is not able to finalise deals with the customers due to his inadequate vocabulary and omission of needed words.’ Which type of communication barrier is referred here?
II. The barrier identified in (I) above can be categorized under:
III. Which of the following is not an importance of communication in management?
IV. Which of the following is not a measure to improve communication effectiveness?
✔ Answer
I. (C) Badly expressed message
II. (a) Semantic barrier
III. (d) Satisfies social and psychological needs
IV. (d) Communicate for present only
Identify and explain the elements of ‘directing’ in the following cases:
(a) Mahesh guides the efforts of his subordinates to accomplish the desired objectives and gives instructions to ensure optimum utilization of resources and achievement of work targets.
(b) ASWIN, MD, explains the plan in writing to the departmental managers and receives their feedback.
✔ Answer
(a) Supervision
(b) Communication
Biswas Ltd. assured their employees that inspite of recession, no worker will be retrenched from the job.
(i) Name and explain the type of incentive offered to the employees.
(ii) Explain one more incentive of the same category.
✔ Answer
(i) The type of incentive offered to the employees is job security (under non-financial). In India, due to widespread unemployment, job security is very important. It ensures regular income in future and relieves them of worry. However, it may make them complacent.
(ii) Career advancement opportunity. Most of the employees want to grow in their careers. If sound promotion policy and training programmes are implemented, it will help them to achieve promotions.
Laser Ltd. is an IT company having 1,000 employees. All its employees take things easy and are free to approach any one for minor queries and problems. Because of this the operations of the company are disturbed and its revenue has declined. Everyone is seen talking to each other resulting in inefficiency in its offices. It has also resulted in loss of secrecy and confidential information being leaked out. Explain the measures that the manager should adopt to improve communication system of ‘Laser Ltd.’
✔ Answer
Some measures to overcome communication barriers are:
- Clarify the ideas before communication
- Consult others before communication
- Communicate according to the needs of receiver
- Be aware of language, tone and content of message
- Convey things of help and value to listeners
- Be a good listener
Mr. Rajat is working as the Human Resource Consultant in a firm manufacturing cosmetic, which is facing a problem of high employee turnover. The CEO of the company has invited suggestions from him for retaining the talented employees and reducing the employee turnover. Mr. Rajat recommends that the good employees be rewarded in a way that it creates a feeling of ownership among the employees and at the same time makes them contribute towards the growth of the organization.
(a) Identify the incentive and explain its type, which has been suggested by Mr. Rajat to the CEO of the company.
(b) Also explain any two other incentives of the same type.
✔ Answer
(a) Mr. Rajat suggested financial incentives through
co-partnership / stock option. A company may offer share at a set price which is lower than the market price to its employees. This gives a sense of belongingness and feeling of ownership to them.
(b) Other financial incentives are:
- Pay and allowances
- Profit sharing
Sohan was a regional manager in ‘Haldi Ltd.’ for the last eight years. On the retirement of the Marketing Manager, Sohan applied for the same post because he was extremely ambitious and had dedicated all his energies to obtain the post of Marketing Manager. However, the top management decided to fill the position by selecting a better person from outside the company. Because of this Sohan was heart broken and his performance declined. When the new marketing manager joined, one of his major problems was how to motivate and inspire Sohan to his former level of performance.
Suggest any four non-financial benefits that the new marketing manager may use to motivate Sohan.
✔ Answer
The non-financial incentives used to motivate Sohan are:
- Employee Participation
- Employee Recognition
- Job Security
- Employee Empowerment