Practice questions for Business Management and Behavioral Studies

1. Chapter 08 – Leadership
Past paper questions 1
Q. Explain the salient features of Fiedler’s Contingency Model of Leadership
Effectiveness.(10)
Q. During the past 7-8 years, the crisis of leadership has permeated at all levels in the
organisational hierarchy of Sunrise Motors Limited (SML). The company’s reputation
and credibility has deteriorated considerably over the period and it is presently in the
midst of serious leadership, organisational and financial crises.
Briefly describe six main factors which in your opinion may be responsible for the
pervasive crisis of leadership in the organisational hierarchy of SML. (09)
Q. The Leadership Grid or Managerial Grid classifies the different types of leadership
styles in various combinations such as:
(i) 1,1 (ii) 1,9 (iii) 9,1 (iv) 5,5 (v) 9,9
Identify the different types of leadership styles depicted by each of the above
combinations. (05)
Q. Explain briefly the Participative and Authoritarian Styles of Leadership.
State the different situations in which each of these Leadership Styles would be most
effective in achieving optimal results. (07)
Q. What are the key characteristics of Charismatic Leaders? (03)
Q. (a) Discuss what is Transformational Style of Leadership.
(b) Identify and explain briefly six characteristics and traits which are most commonly
observed in leaders who pursue the Transformational Style of Leadership. (09)
Q. (a) What is Autocratic style of Leadership? (02)
(b) Give four advantages and disadvantages each of Autocratic style of Leadership. (06)
Q. List and briefly explain the four different decision-making styles of leadership. (06)
Q. What is Leadership? In your opinion what are leadership skills and why are they of
such critical importance for the success of global operations in the present business
environment? (08)
Q. In the present highly competitive business environment, successful and effective
Business Leaders devote an ever-increasing proportion of their time, effort and energy
to the critical tasks of strategic planning and organizational development and delegate
the recurring operational responsibilities to the lower echelons of management.
Identify and briefly explain any SIX different tasks/responsibilities which should be
performed by the top business leadership in an organization operating in an intensely
competitive business environment. (09)
Q. What do you understand by the Tells, Sells, Consults and Joins styles of leadership?
In which situations do you expect to see these styles at work? (10)
Q. Discuss different leadership skills that are important for an effective leader in an
organization. (07)

2. Chapter 08 – Leadership
Past paper questions 2
Q. Describe the decision making styles of a leader. As a manager, which style would you
like to choose and why? (05)
Q. What is contingency approach to leadership? (07)
Q. What is the difference between a Boss and a Leader? (08)
Q. What skills and techniques the leaders of the new millennium should use in order to
bring about a quality revolution? Support your answer with suitable examples. (05)
Q. What are the factors or forces that play an important part in selecting the types of
leadership that are practicable and desirable? (05)
Q. How would you compare the characteristics of Managers versus Leaders proposed by
Bennis? (05)
Q. Explain Fiedler’s Contingency Theory of Leadership. Also write down the research
findings related to this model. How can this theory be applied in organizational
selling?(10)
Q. “Leaders are born not made”. Give reasons for your agreement or disagreement with
the statement. (13)
Q. “Participation in decision making generally fosters a sense of identification with the
firm, a positive quality of working life and enhanced mental health”. Comment. (05)