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ACCA Strategic Professional · Strategic Business Leader · Qualities of leadership

Under Vroom and Yetton's contingency approach to decision making, a leader faces an urgent decision where subordinates' acceptance is not critical and the leader has all the information needed. Which style is most appropriate?

An autocratic style is appropriate. Vroom and Yetton say the style should fit the situation, and here the leader already holds the information, time is short and subordinates' acceptance is not critical. Participative approaches would add delay without improving the quality of the decision.

  1. AGroup consensus, because participation always improves outcomes
  2. BAutocratic, because time is short and acceptance is not essentialCorrect
  3. CDelegation to the group, because the leader lacks time
  4. DConsultative, because information must be gathered first

Explanation

Vroom and Yetton match decision style to the situation, including decision quality, information, need for acceptance and time. With all information in hand, urgency and no need for buy-in, an autocratic decision is efficient. Consultation or consensus would waste time without adding quality or acceptance.

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