Unit 2 – Human Resource Management
2.3 – Leadership and Management
Topics Covered: Scientific & Intuitive Thinking/Management, Leadership vs Management, Leadership Styles
Scientific and Intuitive Thinking/Management
Scientific Management focuses on using data, logic, and structured analysis to make business decisions. Popularized by F.W. Taylor, it involves:
Cons: Can ignore innovation, creativity, and human/emotional factors
- Collecting quantitative (measurable) data
- Breaking tasks into defined steps
- Measuring outcomes, setting standards
- Evidence-based, rational decision making
- Emphasis on process efficiency
Cons: Can ignore innovation, creativity, and human/emotional factors
Intuitive Management/Thinking relies on experience, instinct, or "gut feeling" rather than only data. Also referred to as "art" of management:
Cons: Prone to bias, may lack rigor or consistency
- Decisions often made quickly, based on pattern recognition
- Used when data is incomplete, ambiguous, or time is short
- Valuable for innovation, crisis leadership, and uncertain environments
- Often combined with scientific approach in effective management
Cons: Prone to bias, may lack rigor or consistency
Leadership and Management: What’s the Difference?
- Leadership is about inspiring and motivating people to work towards a vision or shared goal.
- Management is about planning, organizing, and controlling resources to achieve business objectives efficiently.
- Both are necessary—leaders set direction and motivate, managers put the systems in place to reach goals and keep the organization running smoothly.
- Leadership inspires change and builds new directions
- Management maintains order, consistency, and operational excellence
| Aspect | Leadership | Management |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Vision, innovation, motivation | Processes, systems, execution |
| Core Function | Inspires people, sets direction | Plans and organizes work |
| Approach | People-centered, emotionally intelligent | Task/goal-oriented, logical |
| Authority | Personal charisma, influence | Formal position, assigned power |
| Change | Drives change and transformation | Ensures stability and predictability |
| Risk tolerance | Often accepts risk, challenges status quo | Tends to minimize risk |
| Example | Steve Jobs, Malala Yousafzai | Middle managers, operations heads |
Leadership Styles
Leadership style is the approach a leader uses to provide direction, implement plans, and motivate people. Effective leaders adapt styles to the context, team, and goals.
Major Leadership Styles:
- Autocratic: Leader makes decisions alone; expects obedience. Useful in crises but can demotivate creative teams.
- Democratic (Participative): Involves employees in decision-making. Builds motivation and commitment; can be slow.
- Laissez-faire: Delegates leadership to team. Promotes creativity and initiative; works well for skilled/motivated teams.
- Paternalistic: Leader acts as "parent" figure, caring for staff welfare but still makes final decisions.
- Transactional: Focuses on reward and punishment to manage performance (clear structure and accountability).
- Transformational: Inspires innovation and change by motivating through vision and values.
Key Points for Students:
- No single “best” style—context and people matter.
- Effective managers use both data and intuition, and can flex between leading and managing as the situation requires.
- Understanding yourself—and those you lead—helps match the right style to achieve organizational goals.