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MICHAEL DEMPSEY - Cranfield University

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•<br />

Use of authority by manager<br />

Tells<br />

Sells<br />

Area of freedom for staff<br />

Tests<br />

Suggests<br />

Consults<br />

Joins Delegates<br />

EXHIBIT 2.3 The Tannenbaum and Schmidt continuum (1973)<br />

Many of ‘the led’ may also share the same principles. However, ‘within<br />

unions there is a widespread but incorrect tendency to make<br />

assumptions about staff commitment’, as Dempsey (2000:54) points<br />

out. If true, this suggests that whilst building on existing commitment<br />

may be one aspect of the approach of a manager in a trade union,<br />

achieving commitment of other staff may be another. In terms of skills,<br />

Clark and Gray (1991), citing Barbash (1959), suggest that the<br />

background, experience and personal characteristics of those who<br />

succeed to high office in unions tend to clash with the businesslike<br />

characteristics needed to administer a large organisation. In the<br />

absence of evidence for the statement, this may be seen as a rather<br />

patronising generalisation.<br />

A contingency relating to the achievement of a task may have little<br />

different effect to its effect in other organisations. If an employer is<br />

40

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