ACCA Strategic Professional · Strategic Business Leader · Qualities of leadership
Orion Textiles faces a crisis: a key customer has left. The chief executive, Sipho Dlamini, immediately issues detailed instructions on each department's cost cuts and reporting lines, and says he does not want debate. Using the leadership versus management lens, which comment is most accurate?
His behaviour leans towards management: detailed instructions, cost control and no debate focus on control and problem solving. Leadership would add a communicated direction and efforts to align and motivate staff. Decisiveness alone does not make it leadership.
- AHis behaviour leans towards management-style control and problem solving, and may not build the alignment and commitment that leadership would seekCorrect
- BHis behaviour is pure leadership because he acts decisively
- CHis behaviour shows no management at all, only vision-setting
- DHis behaviour is leadership because crises always require leadership instead of management
Explanation
Detailed instructions, tight control and problem solving reflect management emphasis on order. Leadership would also communicate a direction and engage people to gain commitment. Decisiveness alone does not make behaviour leadership, and a crisis can call for both.
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