Robert Blake, Jane Mouton
Sergio Caredda
Blake, R. R., & Mouton, J. S. (1977). The managerial grid: Key orientations for achieving production through people. Gulf Pub. Co.
Description:
Several studies, already from the 1950’s, started to identify two specific types of managerial behaviours: concern for people or concern for tasks. Although called differently in many ways, these two behaviours have been underlying leadership research for some time. Initially, the idea was that these two orientations could be positioned at the end of one continuum, but the reality was a bit more complex.
In 1977 Blake and Mouton combined the two elements into a survey and later created a matrix that put that two dimensions, “concern for people” and “Concern for Production”, in correlation. (Blake and Mouton, 1977)
The survey allowed the authors to position the individual leaders on the grid through a scoring, and understand their behaviours. The model ended up with four styles, plus a “middle of the road” management style. The theory goes on by choosing a “sweet spot” style, which would be to be positioned in the Team Leadership quadrant (thus scoring a minimum of 6 in both dimensions). However, the authors also clarify that in certain situations it is possible to adopt any of the other styles, as it could be more appropriate for the specific context.
Notes:
Other Sources:
The Blake Mouton Grid: Leading People and Producing Results
When you recruit a new team member, what's your priority? Is it to focus on tasks by explaining the first year's objectives to them? Or, do you spend time understanding their strengths and interests so you can give them tasks that they'll enjoy?
www.mindtools.com
Blake and Moutons Managerial Grid
The treatment of task orientation and people orientation as two independent dimensions was a major step in leadership studies. Many of the leadership studies conducted in the 1950s at the University of Michigan and the Ohio State University focused on these two dimensions.
managementstudyguide.com
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