Case

Mr. Daniel Mensah is a part-owner and manager of an athletic equipment shop specialized in shoes

and accessories. The shop employed about 50 people most of whom are college students. The

athletics shop is located in a prime business area with a population of 20,000. The annual sales

figures have increasingly witnessed 15% growth each year. Daniel works for fifty hours a week

where he wears many hats as a majority shareholder. He lives no stone unturned to ensure that the

shop continues to maintain its reputation and pattern of growth.

One trait of Daniel, which has become a topical issue, is the habit of taking lunch while on his feet;

ensuring that supervision and work are not distracted. This situation had created varied reactions

from his subordinates most of whom tagged him as too focused on the task, while others

maintained that it is a mark of hardworking. In fact, many of the followers described his leadership

style as forward-looking that could enhance organizational effectiveness and increase his leadermember-relation (LMR). Additionally, some of the workers have described Daniel as very

intelligent and human-focused. In particular, he ensures that assigned tasks are well-structured,

understood, and devoid of ambiguity. The workers who have a high locus of control in the

company loved to work with Daniel because of his competence, his good LMR, and positional

power. In all, Daniel's educational background, achievement drive, intelligence, social

characteristics, motivation, integrity, confidence is unquestionable.

Nonetheless, a section of the staff has described Daniel as being too focused on tasks at the expense

of followers. In the opinion of the other workers, Daniel always transacts task with reward, which

accordingly, do not foster innovation and hardworking among workers. Furthermore, they believe

Daniel is always concentrating on getting the job done and cared little about the staff, which could

negatively affect both workers and the organization going forward. Daniel has noticed the

acrimonies in the work environment and feels disturbed as he thinks the development could further

affect the growth of the company going forward if the situation is not handled well. You have been

consulted as a leadership expert to appraise the happenings in the organization with the view of

identifying the issues giving rise to the division and advise Daniel accordingly.

1a. In reference to the case, identify any five (5) issues connected with leadership.

1b. In each issue identified, indicate the appropriate theory that applies.

1c. From 1b, explain how each identified theory applies in the case

1d. Discuss the implications of each leadership issue identified on Daniel's leadership style.

1e. Describe any five (5) traits that define Daniel's behavior.

1f. Explain how each character trait identified influenced Daniel's behavior in the case