Leadership & Management Lesson 26: Characteristics of the Situation

Lesson 26 Objectives The student will comprehend the three basic situational variables. The student will comprehend and describe the seven task characteristics which can influence leadership decisions and follower performance. The student will apply their knowledge of the situation variables to the excerpt from the Perfect Storm.

3 Basic Situational Variables Task/Mission: What are you supposed to do? Organization: Which Organization or Command are you in? How is it run? Environment: What is the Tactical Situation, climate/weather, politics.

Task Characteristics Skill variety: how many skills are required to to the task? Task identity: does the task stand alone or is it part of a larger task? Task significance: Is the task important to others?

Task Characteristics Autonomy: Does the individual have control over what he does? Feedback: Does the task itself give feedback to the worker? Task Structure: How firm are the rules, procedures, and methods? Task Interdependence: Is coordination with other groups required?

The Perfect Storm http://perfectstorm.warnerbros.com/cmp/flash-thefilm-fr.html

Next Class Organizational Culture and Command Climate. Read: Leadership and Management, Chapter 27

Summary The situational variables will often significantly limit your options as a leader. The ability to identify the key factors in any given situation is of great value to the leader.