In the name of Allah, The Gracious, the Merciful

LEADERSHIP AND TEAM MANAGEMENT (MGMT623)

ASSIGNMENT NO. 1
INLINE Assignment
Due Date: 2nd May, 2024
Total Marks: 10=5*2
Topic: Followership Styles [Lesson 6 & 7]
OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTIVITY: To acquaint the students with the concept of
Followership styles as per Kelley’s theoretical concepts.
LEARNING OUTCOME: After successfully attempting this assignment, the students will be
able to think critically, analyze, and implement various concepts related to Followership styles.

Reading Material: Background Literature on Kelley's Five

Followership Styles With Diagrams & Illustrations.

• Both leaders and followers are important.

• We need to study both Leadership and followership styles.
• This assignment focuses on the Followership styles.

Based on two dimensions- critical thinking and active behavior - Robert E. Kelley
categorized 5 types of followership styles:
1. Independent, critical thinking, versus Dependent, uncritical thinking: Critical
thinking is where followers are vigilant of what is happening around them, and of what
the team needs for organizational goals to be attained.
2. Active versus passive behavior: Active behavior is where followers actively initiate a
decisive move or remain passive.

Based on the above two dimensions, Kelley came up with his Five Followership Styles
model, which is:
1) Exemplary/ Effective/star Followers:
They exhibit active behavior and are engaged in highly independent critical thinking. They
think plan and implement their plans effectively. He contributes above and beyond and
seeks to add value and assist others while taking risks and being creative.
 2) Alienated Followers: They exhibit passive behavior as far as work is concerned, but are
engaged in high independent critical thinking. They do little work but think too much!

3) Conventional/Conformist/Yes Followers: They exhibit active behavior but are engaged

in low independent critical thinking. Thus, they don’t seem to use their brains or initiative
but are actively doing work all the time.

4) Passive/Sheep Followers: They exhibit passive behavior but are engaged in low
independent critical thinking. Thus, they neither use their own brains nor do they show up
any real work. They are passive followers with a mediocre amount of work accomplished,
without using their thinking skills!

5) Pragmatic Follower or Survivor: Their critical skills and level of activity seem to stand
in the middle, they try to adjust according to the situation and choose the followership style
as per the demands of the situation which may be categorized as one of the following above
4 categories. They act like organizational canaries who try to signal impending danger!

Summary: No Followership style is bad! And employees often keep on changing their
followership styles!
We can't have only exemplary/effective followers in an organization who are an asset to
the organization. New employees or a majority of employees are often passives or
conformists, who, try to minimize risk until they are comfortable and more certain of their
environment. Organizations often need pragmatic survivors so when the culture starts to
worsen, we see canaries pulling away from danger. The devil's advocates or the Alienated
follower can spark new ways of thinking if we can direct their disparagement intelligently,
and help them move into new job roles which avoid resentment.

References:
Daft, Richard L. (2007). The Leadership Experience (4th Edition). USA: Thomson South-
Western.
Kelley, Robert E. (1988). In praise of followers. Harvard Business Review, November 1988,
Volume 66, issue 6 (pp. 142-148).
https://hbr.org/2007/12/what-every-leader-needs-to-know-about-followers
http://www.samyoung.co.nz/2016/02/kelleys-five-followership-styles.html

DIAGRAMMATIC ILLUSTRATIONS
REQUIREMENTS:

• Read the above definitions and discussion on 5 followership styles and study the
following diagrams as well.
• You as a leadership student, are required to analyze the situation and categorize the
given 2 scenarios, among 5 appropriate followership styles (Kelley, 1988)
• Provide logical arguments derived from the literature and diagrammatic illustrations
limiting yourself to 20-35 words only.
Reading material ends; Question & scenario start!

Question & SCENARIO for Analysis & Interpretation!

The following scenarios depict 2 types of followers.
Read thoroughly and categorize them as per Kelley’s Five Followership
Styles.
Also, provide logical arguments derived from the literature and
slides given.
NOTE: Words Limit for an answer is 20-40 Words only in the argument
section.
Marks: 5*2=10
EXAMPLE/Scenario A: Ali is a follower who has critical, independent thinking skills and
exhibits active behavior. He exhibits consistent behavior toward all employees, regardless of their
power in the organization, and effectively deals well with conflict and risk. He handles change,
puts forward his assessments, stays focused on what the organization needs, and is mindful of the
situation.

Scenario B: Sameen is very busy but doesn't essentially engage her brain to think through what
it is that they are doing in a team. However, she participates very willingly but doesn't question
orders. She will avoid conflict at all costs and take the quietest path but will defend her boss to
loyal extremes.

Scenario C: Sara neither engages her brain enough nor does she try to take any tangible action.
She does not show any initiative responsibility, or ties to think about what is going on. Thus, she
sometimes ends up micro-managing or tries to over-control or blame others. She exhibits mediocre
work with dependent and uncritical thinking.
 Match the 2 given scenarios provided with the appropriate
followership style & provide argument/s after reading the
above reading material.

The first scenario is already done for you so that you may
learn what is expected of you!

Scenario Follower Argument

Type 2 marks for each argument
20-35 Words only
Total marks for each 3 marks each
scenario=5
[students can write 2 relevant arguments
limiting their word count to 20-35 words only
in the arguments section.]

[Marks will be deducted for any extra words;

The more logical the argument is with fewer
words students will secure more marks!]

EXAMPLE/Scenario A: Ali is an • Ali has high critical, independent

Exemplary/ thinking skills.
Effective/star • Ali is highly active
Follower. • [WORD COUNT: 11 WORDS]

Scenario B: Sameen is a •
Scenario C: Sara is a

Note: The solution should be provided in the following table. Failure to

provide the answer as suggested will result in a deduction of marks.
[Marks will ALSO be deducted for any extra words; The more logical the argument is with
fewer words students will secure marks!]
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS:
a. Only answer in the above table format
b. Students are advised to study the whole text carefully.
c. Try not to include any irrelevant material in the solution.
d. Try to come up with precise and original answers.
e. Any act of plagiarism like copy-paste from the internet will result in ZERO
marks.
f. Assignments reaching after the due date would not be considered.
g. Make sure to upload the solution file before the due date on VULMS.
h. Any submission made via email after the due date will not be accepted.
FORMATTING GUIDELINES:
a. Use the font style “Times New Roman” or “Arial” and font size “12”.
b. It is advised to compose your document in table format.
c. Use black font color only.
d. Use APA style for referencing and citation.

RULES FOR MARKING:

Please note that your assignment will be graded as Zero (0), if:
a. It is submitted after the due date.
b. It is in any format other than MS Word or Open Office, e.g. Excel, PowerPoint,
PDF, etc.
c. It is cheated or copied from other students, the internet, books, journals, etc.
d. Note related to load shedding: Please be proactive
Dear students as you know that pre mid-term semester activities have started, and the load-
shedding problem is also prevailing in our country. Considering this fact, you are all advised to
post your activities as early as possible without waiting for the due date. For your convenience,
the activity schedule has already been uploaded on VULMS for the current semester, therefore
no excuse will be entertained after the due date.
IMPORTANT:
A 24-hour extra/grace period after the due date is usually available to overcome uploading
difficulties. This extra time should only be used to meet the emergencies and the above-
mentioned due date should always be treated as final to avoid any inconvenience.
Have an Optimum Learning experience!
Dr. Nabegha Mahmood
Assistant Professor
Department of Management Sciences
Virtual University of Pakistan