---
title: "Autocratic leadership; entrepreneur characteristics"
subject: "Organization and Management"
chapter: 8
key: "semester_7/organization_and_management:autocratic-entrepreneur-characteristics"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/organization_and_management/autocratic-entrepreneur-characteristics
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Autocratic leadership; entrepreneur characteristics

Organization and Management · Chapter 8: Motivation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship

- Asked in: 2072 Chaitra, 3+5 marks
- Video: [Autocratic Leadership Style](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4VucyevSZ8) — Organizational Communication Channel
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/organization_and_management/autocratic-entrepreneur-characteristics
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/organization_and_management/chapter-8

## Question

Describe the autocratic leadership style. Explain the different characteristics of an entrepreneur.

## Short answer

Autocratic leadership centralises decisions, gives orders, and expects obedience with close supervision. An entrepreneur is innovative, takes calculated risks, seizes opportunities, is self-confident, persistent, achievement-motivated, visionary, a good organiser, decisive, flexible, and an ethical communicator.

## Answer

#### Autocratic leadership style
In the autocratic (authoritarian) style, the leader takes decisions alone, gives orders and expects strict obedience, with little or no consultation. Power is centralised, communication is downward and control is close.

**Features:** centralised decisions, strict supervision, rewards and punishment, one-way communication.

**Advantages:** quick decisions, clear direction, strong discipline; useful in emergencies and with untrained workers.

**Disadvantages:** low morale, no initiative or creativity, dependence on the leader, high labour turnover, resistance and conflict.

It matches McGregor's Theory X and is the authority-obedience (9,1) style in the Blake-Mouton grid.

#### Characteristics of an entrepreneur
1. **Innovative:** Creates new products, methods or markets.
2. **Risk-taker:** Takes calculated risks and accepts uncertainty and possible loss.
3. **Opportunity oriented:** Identifies needs and gaps in the market.
4. **Self-confident and independent:** Believes in own ideas.
5. **Hard-working and persistent:** Keeps going despite failure.
6. **Achievement motivated:** Sets high goals; wants results.
7. **Visionary and creative.**
8. **Leadership and organizing ability:** Builds and manages the team and resources.
9. **Decision maker:** Acts quickly with limited information.
10. **Flexible and adaptable** to change.
11. **Good communicator and networker:** Deals with customers, banks and suppliers.
12. **Responsible and ethical:** Honest and concerned for society.

Example: the founders of Nepali startups like Tootle, Foodmandu and Khalti show these traits.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. In the autocratic style:
   A. Decisions are taken jointly by the group
   B. The leader decides alone, gives orders and expects strict obedience
   C. The group has complete freedom
   D. Communication is mainly upward
   Answer: B. Power is centralised, communication is downward and control is close. (Key point: Autocratic style)

2. Which is an advantage of autocratic style?
   A. High creativity
   B. Quick decisions and strong discipline, useful in emergencies
   C. Low labour turnover
   D. High morale
   Answer: B. Quick decisions and clear direction are its strengths; low morale and creativity are disadvantages. (Key point: Autocratic advantages)

3. Autocratic style matches which theory and grid position?
   A. Theory Y and (9,9)
   B. Theory X and (9,1)
   C. Theory X and (1,9)
   D. Theory Y and (1,1)
   Answer: B. It matches McGregor's Theory X and the authority-obedience (9,1) style. (Key point: Theory and grid)

4. Which describes the risk-taking trait of an entrepreneur?
   A. Avoiding all uncertainty
   B. Accepting uncertainty and calculated possible loss
   C. Gambling without analysis
   D. Transferring all risk to the bank
   Answer: B. Entrepreneurs accept uncertainty and calculated loss. (Key point: Entrepreneur trait: risk)

## Related in Organization and Management

- [Leadership style for engineering project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Aleadership-style-engineering) — Organization and Management, chapter 8
- [Most efficient leadership style in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Aleadership-style-nepal) — Organization and Management, chapter 8

## Related in other subjects

- [Leadership and characteristics of a good leader](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aleadership-characteristics-good-leader) — Construction Management, chapter 10, asked 2×
- [Leadership and supervisory styles](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aleadership-styles) — Construction Management, chapter 10, asked 9×
- [Characteristics of successful entrepreneurs](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fentrepreneurship_development%3Acharacteristics-of-entrepreneurs) — Entrepreneurship Development, chapter 1