TWO ASSIGNMENTS

Application: The Relationship Between Follower Traits and Values and Leader Performance

The impact of leadership on follower outcomes, such as individual satisfaction, group cohesion, and quality of performance, has been heavily researched. But what about the importance of follower traits and values to leader outcomes and performance? Although behaviorist Mary Parker Follest suggested in 1947 that organizational performance depended largely on leaders understanding and accommodating the needs of followers, this is a less-researched area of study in management (Chong & Wolf, 2010); however, it is no less important to the makeup of an effective organization.

In addition, in 1967, Fred Fiedler proposed a seminal theory of leadership he called the contingency model (Bons & Fiedler, 1976). Fiedler saw leadership behaviors and perceptions of followers as depending on contexts and situations. Subsequent theorists proposed that both leaders and followers were influenced by situational variables, and that these variables, in turn, ultimately affect the performance or the organization. What situational variables pertain to public and nonprofit organizations that would affect this leader-follower relationship and, ultimately, organizational effectiveness?

Leadership is about more than simply possessing particular traits and characteristics. It also is about how a leader’s traits and characteristics mesh with the values of followers and the complexities of the organizational environment.

For this assignment, review this week’s Learning Resources. Think about how leader characteristics, follower characteristics, and situational factors interact to influence leadership effectiveness. Then, identify challenges leaders might encounter when engaging in the leadership process.

The assignment: (3–4 pages)

Write a 3- to 4-page paper that includes the following:

• An explanation of how the interaction between leader characteristics, follower characteristics, and situational factors influences leadership effectiveness.
• A description of at least two challenges related to the practice of leadership based on your analysis of this interaction.
• An explanation of how leaders might address those challenges.

Application: Impact of the Death Penalty

Societal transformation reflects in the use of the death penalty in the United States over time. Public attitudes, court decisions, and the social and financial impact of the death penalty are important factors in the history of the use of the death penalty. How these factors influenced the use of the death penalty throughout American history is a critical matter to consider in criminal justice.

For this Application Assignment, You review the Supreme Court decisions presented in the interactive media. You consider the influence Supreme Court decisions had on the evolution of the death penalty. In addition, you think about the financial and social impacts of the death penalty on society.

The assignment (2–3 pages):

• Explain how Supreme Court decisions influenced the evolution of the death penalty.
• Explain the financial impact of the death penalty on society. Include at least one specific cost associated with the death penalty.
• Explain the social impact of the death penalty on society.