---
title: "Contingency approach of leadership"
subject: "Organization and Management"
chapter: 8
key: "semester_7/organization_and_management:contingency-leadership"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/organization_and_management/contingency-leadership
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Contingency approach of leadership

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

- Asked in: 2069 Chaitra, 4 marks
- Video: [Contingency Theory of Leadership Explained](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N719umOxj-A) — EPM
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/organization_and_management/contingency-leadership
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/organization_and_management/chapter-8

## Question

Define the term contingency approach of leadership.

## Short answer

The contingency approach holds that no single leadership style is best; effectiveness depends on matching the leader’s style to the situation, including task, followers, and environment. Key models include Fiedler’s, situational leadership, and path-goal theory.

## Answer

#### Contingency approach of leadership
The contingency (situational) approach says that there is no single best leadership style for all situations. The effectiveness of a leader depends on the fit between the leader's style and the situational factors, such as the task, the followers and the environment. "It depends" is the key idea.

**Main models**
1. **Fiedler's contingency model:** Leader effectiveness depends on matching leader style (task-oriented or relationship-oriented, measured by the Least Preferred Co-worker scale) with situation favourableness, determined by leader-member relations, task structure and position power. Task-oriented leaders do best in very favourable or very unfavourable situations; relationship-oriented leaders in moderate ones.
2. **Hersey-Blanchard situational leadership:** The leader's style (telling, selling, participating, delegating) should match the maturity (ability and willingness) of followers.
3. **Path-goal theory (House):** The leader clarifies the path to goals and rewards, choosing directive, supportive, participative or achievement-oriented behaviour as needed.
4. **Vroom-Yetton model:** Chooses the degree of participation in decisions based on the problem.

```text
Leader style + Followers + Task/Situation --> Effectiveness
```

**Example:** In a flood emergency at a hydropower site, the project manager acts directively (autocratic); with a skilled design team, he delegates.

**Evaluation:** realistic and flexible, but complex and difficult to apply in practice.

## Check yourself

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

1. The key idea of the contingency approach is:
   A. One best style fits all situations
   B. Leader effectiveness depends on fit between style and situational factors
   C. Leaders are born, not made
   D. Followers do not matter
   Answer: B. 'It depends': no single best style exists. (Key point: Core idea)

2. Fiedler measures leader style with the LPC scale; situation favourableness is determined by:
   A. Leader-member relations, task structure and position power
   B. Follower maturity and task
   C. Goal clarity and rewards
   D. Degree of participation and problem type
   Answer: A. These three factors define favourableness in Fiedler's model. (Key point: Fiedler's model)

3. In Hersey-Blanchard, the leader's style (telling, selling, participating, delegating) should match:
   A. Position power
   B. Maturity of followers (ability and willingness)
   C. Organization size
   D. Leader's LPC score
   Answer: B. Follower maturity determines the suitable style. (Key point: Hersey-Blanchard)

4. At a flood emergency at a hydropower site, the contingency approach suggests the project manager should:
   A. Delegate fully
   B. Act directively (autocratic)
   C. Hold long group consultations
   D. Avoid decisions
   Answer: B. Emergencies call for directive style; skilled design teams allow delegation. (Key point: Example)

## 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