Please read the case carefully and answer the questions that follow:Case StudyDaniel Asante is the manager of a small business called The Copy Center, which is located near a largeuniversity. The Copy Center employs about 18 people, most of whom work part-time while going to schoolfull-time. The store caters to the university community by specializing in course packs, but it also providesdesktop publishing and standard copying services. It has three large, state-of-the-art copy machines and severalcomputer workstations.There are two other national chain copy stores in the immediate vicinity of The Copy Center, yet this store doesmore business than both of the other stores combined. A major factor contributing to the success of this store isDaniel’s leadership style.One of the things that stand out about Daniel is the way he works with his part-time staff. Most of them arestudents, who have to schedule their work hours around their class schedules, and Daniel has a reputation ofbeing really helpful with working out schedule conflicts. No conflict is too small for Daniel, who is alwayswilling to juggle schedules to meet the needs of everyone. Students talk about how much they feel included andlike the spirit at The Copy Center. It is as if Daniel makes the store like a second family for them.Work at The Copy Center divides itself into two main areas: duplicating services and desktop publishing. Inboth areas, Daniel’s leadership is effective.Duplicating is a straightforward operation that entails taking a customer’s originals and making copies of them.Because this job is tedious, Daniel goes out of his way to help the staff make it tolerable. He promotes a friendlywork atmosphere by doing such things as letting the staff wear casual attire, letting them choose their own tapesfor background music, and letting them be a bit wild on the job. Daniel spends a lot of time each day conversinginformally with each employee; he also welcomes staff talking with each other. Daniel has a knack for makingeach worker feel significant even when the work is insignificant. He promotes camaraderie among his staff, andhe is not afraid to become involved in their activities.The desktop publishing area is more complex than duplicating. It involves creating business forms, advertisingpieces, and résumés for customers. Working in desktop publishing requires skills in writing, editing, design,and layout. It is challenging work because it is not always easy to satisfy customers’ needs. Most of theemployees in this area are full-time workers.Through the years, Daniel has found that employees who work best in desktop publishing are a unique type ofperson, very different from those who work in duplicating. They are usually quite independent, self-assured,and self-motivated. In supervising them, Daniel gives them a lot of space, is available when they need help, butotherwise leaves them alone.Daniel likes the role of being the resource person for these employees. For example, if an employee is havingdifficulty on a customer’s project, he willingly joins the employee in troubleshooting the problem. Similarly, if one of the staff is having problems with a software program, Daniel is quick to offer his technical expertise.Because the employees in desktop publishing are self-directed, Daniel spends far less time with them than withthose who work in duplicating.Overall, Daniel feels successful with his leadership at The Copy Center. Profits for the store continue to groweach year, and its reputation for high-quality service is widespread.Questions:i. According to the Path-Goal theory, why is Daniel an effective leader? ii. How does Daniel’s leadership style affect the motivation of employees at the duplicating service area?iii. How does Daniel’s leadership style motivate employees in the desktop publishing section?iv. How do characteristics of the task and the subordinates influence Daniel’s leadership in the duplicatingservice area? v. How do characteristics of the task and the subordinates influence Daniel’s leadership in the desktoppublishing section? vi. One of the principles of path–goal theory is to make the end goal valuable to workers. Discuss fivethings Daniel could do to improve subordinate motivation in this area?vii. According to the Situation Approach what leadership style(s) should Daniel adopt?
Please read the case carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Case Study
Daniel Asante is the manager of a small business called The Copy Center, which is located near a large
university. The Copy Center employs about 18 people, most of whom work part-time while going to school
full-time. The store caters to the university community by specializing in course packs, but it also provides
desktop publishing and standard copying services. It has three large, state-of-the-art copy machines and several
computer workstations.
There are two other national chain copy stores in the immediate vicinity of The Copy Center, yet this store does
more business than both of the other stores combined. A major factor contributing to the success of this store is
Daniel’s leadership style.
One of the things that stand out about Daniel is the way he works with his part-time staff. Most of them are
students, who have to schedule their work hours around their class schedules, and Daniel has a reputation of
being really helpful with working out schedule conflicts. No conflict is too small for Daniel, who is always
willing to juggle schedules to meet the needs of everyone. Students talk about how much they feel included and
like the spirit at The Copy Center. It is as if Daniel makes the store like a second family for them.
Work at The Copy Center divides itself into two main areas: duplicating services and desktop publishing. In
both areas, Daniel’s leadership is effective.
Duplicating is a straightforward operation that entails taking a customer’s originals and making copies of them.
Because this job is tedious, Daniel goes out of his way to help the staff make it tolerable. He promotes a friendly
work atmosphere by doing such things as letting the staff wear casual attire, letting them choose their own tapes
for background music, and letting them be a bit wild on the job. Daniel spends a lot of time each day conversing
informally with each employee; he also welcomes staff talking with each other. Daniel has a knack for making
each worker feel significant even when the work is insignificant. He promotes camaraderie among his staff, and
he is not afraid to become involved in their activities.
The desktop publishing area is more complex than duplicating. It involves creating business forms, advertising
pieces, and résumés for customers. Working in desktop publishing requires skills in writing, editing, design,
and layout. It is challenging work because it is not always easy to satisfy customers’ needs. Most of the
employees in this area are full-time workers.
Through the years, Daniel has found that employees who work best in desktop publishing are a unique type of
person, very different from those who work in duplicating. They are usually quite independent, self-assured,
and self-motivated. In supervising them, Daniel gives them a lot of space, is available when they need help, but
otherwise leaves them alone.
Daniel likes the role of being the resource person for these employees. For example, if an employee is having
difficulty on a customer’s project, he willingly joins the employee in troubleshooting the problem. Similarly, if one of the staff is having problems with a software program, Daniel is quick to offer his technical expertise.
Because the employees in desktop publishing are self-directed, Daniel spends far less time with them than with
those who work in duplicating.
Overall, Daniel feels successful with his leadership at The Copy Center. Profits for the store continue to grow
each year, and its reputation for high-quality service is widespread.
Questions:
i. According to the Path-Goal theory, why is Daniel an effective leader?
ii. How does Daniel’s leadership style affect the motivation of employees at the duplicating service area?
iii. How does Daniel’s leadership style motivate employees in the desktop publishing section?
iv. How do characteristics of the task and the subordinates influence Daniel’s leadership in the duplicating
service area?
v. How do characteristics of the task and the subordinates influence Daniel’s leadership in the desktop
publishing section?
vi. One of the principles of path–goal theory is to make the end goal valuable to workers. Discuss five
things Daniel could do to improve subordinate motivation in this area?
vii. According to the Situation Approach what leadership style(s) should Daniel adopt?
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