case study $7\mathrm{.}2$

Through the Ranks

Daura had been promoted through the ranks of her company to her present supervisory position in management. The president of the company recently asked her to create another administrative position$-$one that would report directly to Daura$-$which would be filled internally. The president was aware that a lot of recent conflict between administration and nonadministrative staff members had led to low morale and high employee turnover, and she had decided one way to reduce this was to create the new position to bridge the gap between these two employee groups. Seven people applied for the newly created position, and Daura sent each of them an e$-$mail saying that she would be interviewing only the top three candidates.

Soon, grumbling among applicants and other employees interested in the process began to be heard, based mainly on the decision to interview only a few candidates. Since interviews for seven applicants could be managed pretty easily, and employee morale was already low, they reasoned, all applicants deserved at least a "courtesy interview." Before the final candidates were announced, Daura's administrative assistant approached her and asked her if it would be possible to schedule interviews for all seven candidates as a way to reduce growing resentment among employees.

Daura's response was straight to the point as she snapped: $"$If they don't like the process, they can quit. They'd better be happy I even agreed to go along with the decision to open this position. I$\text{'}$m in charge here, and none of you had better forget it$.$ Anyone who wants to stand up to me on this had better do it now, so I know who the troublemakers are and I can make sure they don't get promoted."

Case Study Questions

What leadership style does Daura seem to be using?

Autocratic leadership

Consultative leadership

Participative leadership

Persuasive leadership

Free$-$rein leadership