2.3 Leadership and management

• Scientific thinking and management is based on objectivity, facts and empirical evidence.
• Intuitive thinking and management is based on personal beliefs, perceptions and instincts.
• What type of thinking is based on objectivity, facts and empirical evidence?

  Scientific thinking and management
• Scientific or intuitive decision making is a combination of scientific and intuitive decision making with each used based on a number of factors based on the situation including extent of work experience, the scale of the decision or the urgency of the decision.
• Management is the practice of achieving an organization’s objectives by using and controlling the available human and non-human resources of the business in an effective way.
• A manager is someone with decision-making authority within a firm, and has responsibility for problem-solving in order to achieve specific organizational goals.
• Key functions of management include planning, organising, commanding, coordinating and controlling.
• Leadership is the practice of influencing, invigorating and inspiring others to achieve organizational goals.
• A leader is someone who influences and inspires others to get things done. They foster: motivation, respect, trust and loyalty.
• Autocratic leadership is when a leader makes all decisions independently, does not delegate and instructs others. This method of leadership is suitable for unskilled employees or crisis situations.
• Paternalistic leadership is when a leader treats their employees as if they were family members.
• Democratic leadership is when a leader involves employees in decision making, consults staff and considers their views and develops better morale. This method of leadership is suitable for situations when the leader isn't always present.
• Laissez-faire leadership is when a leader has minimal direct input, allows staff to make decisions and rely on high levels of staff motivation. This method of leadership is suited for environments requiring creativity.
• Situational leadership is when a leader adapts to circumstances to change their leadership style. This may be impacted by factors such as culture, leader, organisation, task or subordinators.