2.3 Advantages and Disadvantages of Leadership and Management

Advantages of Autocratic Leadership

fast decision making
clear direction and expectations
high control and supervision

Limitations of autocratic leadership

low employee motivation
lack of creativity and innovation
high labour turnover

Advantages of paternalistic leadership

strong employee loyalty
sense of belonging and job security
decisions consider employee welfare

Limitations of paternalistic leadership

overdependence on leader
difficult decisions can harm relationships
may ignore best business interests

Advantages of laissez-faire leadership

high employee autonomy
encourages creativity and initiative
motivates skilled employees

Limitations of laissez-faire leadership

lack of direction for employees
depends on highly skilled workforce
risk of poor performance if employees lack ability

Advantages of democratic leadership

high employee motivation
better decision-making through input
improves communication and teamwork

Limitations of democratic leadership

slow decision-making
not suitable in crisis situations
can be costly in time-sensitive situations

Advantages of situational leadership

flexible to different situations
uses most appropriate leadership style
effective for diverse teams

Limitations of situational leadership

requires highly skilled leader
can be inconsistent
may confuse employees

Advantages of scientific thinking/management

Efficiency
Accuracy
Less bias in decision making

Limitations of scientific thinking/management

Erroneous assumptions
Difficulty obtaining data
Slower

Advantages of intuitive thinking/management

Faster
Suitable in emergencies

Limitations of intuitive thinking/management

Not based on data
Riskier