1. According to path-goal theory, why is Daniel an effective leader?
2. How does his leadership style affect the motivation of employees at The Copy Center?
3. How do characteristics of the tasks and the followers influence Daniel's leadership?
4. One of the principles of path-goal theory is to make the end goal valuable to workers. What could Daniel do to improve follower motivation in this area?
Daniel is an effective leader and owner of a profitable copy center near a large university. Some of his employees are part-time college students who work on standard copy and duplication jobs. Daniel knows this work is repetitive and mundane, but he provides a fun environment for these employees and works to get to know them on a personal level. Daniel's other employees work desktop publishing, a more complex and demanding job. These employees are autonomous, self-motivated, and assured. Daniel is a resource person for these employees, giving them space to conduct their work while being available for support and assistance when needed.