Case Study Analysis: Leadership, Politics, and Organizational Behavior

This case study examines a situation within a growing technology company, where an employee, Barry, experiences workplace politics when his boss, Raphael, takes credit for his work. The analysis explores Barry's options for addressing the issue, including approaching higher authorities and utilizing various tactics to avoid being perceived as a complainer. It delves into the application of contingency leadership theory, specifically Fiedler's Contingency Model, to guide Barry in his new managerial role. The case study highlights the importance of job satisfaction, relationship-oriented leadership, and adapting leadership styles to different situations for effective management and organizational success. The study emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior, employee motivation, and the impact of workplace politics on an organization's overall environment.

Running head: Case Study Analysis 1
Organizational behaviour
Case study analysis

Case Study Analysis 2
Contents
Engagement of Raphael in political activity................................................................................................3
Action of Barry against issue.......................................................................................................................4
Barry avoid appearing to be a whiner..........................................................................................................6
Look for another job....................................................................................................................................8
Contingency leadership theory....................................................................................................................9
References.................................................................................................................................................11

Case Study Analysis 3
Engagement of Raphael in political activity
Raphael was promoted and became the Barry’s boss. Barry was the employee of the
CTM which was small but growing technology company. It has been analyzed through case
study that Raphael often told Barry about his workand performance. The performance of the
Barry in the enterprise was appreciated and he was giving effort in the progress of company and
Raphael had taken credit of his efforts. It is considered as the political activity because Raphael
started to show his performance bytaken credit of Barry.The thought of Barry had changed
towards Raphael. It is the part of the illegitimate behaviour which can be considered as the part
of political activity. Illegitimate politics defines when someone is not able to get what he desires
and start to choose the way which is not ethical (Kinicki and Kreitner, 2012). Same thing was
done by Raphael and he just wanted to go ahead at any cost or obtained what he wanted.
Illegitimate political power goes against with spoken or unspoken rules of the business. The
height of politics appears to ascend as that preferred object. It is considered as the prohibited
activities and Barry had right to take action against it because there were some federal laws were
presented which could support Barry. Raphael was using benefits of his services because he had
the authority to see the email and make the amendments that is why he opted to take credits of
efforts of others.The activity which was done by Raphael may have decreased the motivation and
trust towards the work and the company’s fairness.

Case Study Analysis 4
Action of Barry against issue
Barry has various options regarding his felling towards his work. Barry should not complaint
about his treatment rather than he can approach to the higher authority as per the policies of an
organization about the behaviour of Raphael by taking support of factual evidence and logical
arguments. Barry can take the support of his co-workers to show that what is going on in the
organization and in what manner his manager is taking advantages of his efforts. Moreover,
Barry can consult of the group to resolve the situation because no one has the right to take
advantages of another effort to fulfill personal desires and for getting appreciated from super
authority. However, Raphael has been taking credit of his work and Barry should approach CEO
of the company and explain them about occurred situation. There are several tactics which is able
to give support Barry.He can take support of soft tactics by discussing the issue with his co-
employees. Formal meeting would be helpful for him to discuss what happened with him and
resolve the concern clearly there and then. Some of tactics refers to being open with his boss,
work harder and show good attitude towards the company and work (Benn, Dunphy and
Griffiths, 2014). These tactics will be more helpful instead of complaining at legal basis. In case
he would not get any resolution than he can move to the hard tactics and power tactics. He could
utilize rational persuasion which defines that he has the authority to show the logical arguments
and factual evidence to define that the request is sensible (Micó, and Casero-Ripollés, 2014).
Coalition would be helpful for him who refers that he will join the helps or support of others to
influence the target to agree. These kinds of tactics would be helpful for him because it reflects
that he wanted to be a part of company for a long time and he cares about the organization that is
why instead of complaining he approached to the higher authority and discussed about
phenomenon (Wildavsky, 2017). He should focus on his careerand keep going with good work.

Case Study Analysis 5
As per case study, it has been analyzed that the experience of Barry in the company is not
enough that is why it has been suggested that Barry should be focused on his career and instead
of coming in lime light through complaining; he should focus on the promotion.

Case Study Analysis 6
Barry avoid appearing to be a whiner
Complaining and whining is having the similarities but in actual the meaning of both is
keeping huge differences. Workplace whining interfere the work of entire project of the company
and the employee can get distracted what he want to accomplish and bring the bad environment
within the organization while complaining refers to take action against the particular subject.
However, whining and complaining is liable to bring the lower power and effect but both of
them are dependent upon the situation. For instance, if employee of the organization does
complaining due to laziness or bad attitude than it cannot concern under the diminishing of
power and influence. It has been analyzed that people or employee who complain about the
situation, the main purpose behind complaining of them is to show the emotions regarding
negatives instead of considering on what can do best for improving the environment of working
place (Colquitt, Lepine, Wesson and Gellatly, 2011). But in the case of Barry, it can be seen
that he is fighting with his work and take step against what bad going on within the organization.
It is necessary because Barry has right to fight against what had done with him, it will be helpful
for another employee as well because it will encourage them to take action against wrong thing
and manager like Raphael will not do wrong practice with employees again. Barry can represent
that he is not a whiner because he has some factual evidence which has the ability to so how the
fairness of the Barry. Raphael has been taking advantages of his work which is not considered as
the term of fairness and the promotion and the reputation of thee Barry can get affected if he
does not say what occurred with his work. He should avoid disrespectful situation and should not
involve in the rumors and whispers of others. It may impact the position of the Barry in the
organization. If Barry wants to continue with fight and complaint about the situation, it is
required for him to be very active and smart about how to do it. For not becoming the part off

Case Study Analysis 7
whiner, he must not only complaint about Raphael but he must know about the area of
improvement as well. Every coin has two aspects and a problem can be resolved easily and
hastily if both parties are willing to amend some things. There are several steps which can be
helpful for Barry to get prevented from the whining reputation (Gafar, Yusoff, Kasim and
Martin, 2015). Barry should reserve his complaints for valid and legitimate purpose and try to
come up with a solution not just a complaint. He should not listen of them who wants to boggle
his mind because it forces him to take action negatively which may affect the job of him.

Case Study Analysis 8
Look for another job
Barry should not look for another job because this decision will may bring him in
difficult position because it is not possible that he get job after leaving and will get same desire
position in another company. There are numerous ways which can be accepted by Barry to
resolve the issues and which he could improve the environment of working, he should wait till
result come and discussion made among managers or super authority. He could use various
tactics to prove himself in the working environment. The decision of leaving job is dependent
upon the Barry and it should be taken by him after the result from the CEO. In case CEO does
not take any appropriate action with the support of Barry’s query, he can quit the job because
with the behaviour of credit taking by Raphael would not be ableto make him satisfied with the
job and job satisfaction is vital for the organization for remaining with the company for a long
time (Tyssen, Wald and Spieth, 2013). Lack of job satisfaction will bring the situation of crisis
and the loyalty of Barry towards the organization may be disappeared.

Case Study Analysis 9
Contingency leadership theory
After 6 months, he promoted in his company as a manager. He took right decision to not
leaving job. There are several contingency leadership theories. Contingency theory of leadership
defines the ability of the leaders to adapt the various leadership styles at different situation
(Healy, 2016). The leaders who adapt contingency theory know that one leadership theory which
worked in the past, it is necessary that it will work in potential issues. There are three kind of
contingency theories which can be implemented by Barry in leading team. These theories are
Fiedler’s Contingency Model, House’s Path-Goal Theory and Hersey and Blanchard’s
Situational Model. The most suitable contingency theory for Barry can be Fiedler’s Contingency
Model because it approaches to situational leadership (Cornelissen and Cornelissen, 2017).
Fiedler's contingency leadership theory
Fiedler's contingency leadership theory is a typeof contingency theory. It directly defines
that the efficiency of leadership relies upon the situation and there are several factors like the
nature of the task, personality of the leader and makeup of the tam being led (Fiedler, 2011). The
contingency theory of fielder is one of the effective theories of contingency that defines that
effective leadership does not depends only the style of leadership but also leading on the control
over the situation. Barry with Fiedler's contingency leadership theory will be able to handle the
team with an appropriate manner. It is the model which created the least preferred co-worker
scale, where Barry can ask what personality can be assigned to the co-worker. There are two
different leadership style is existed that is task oriented and relationship oriented, both can be
effective in different situations. It has been identified fielders that there are there are three
different types of variable that can influence the situation of the organization (Dinh, Lord,

Case Study Analysis 10
Gardner, Meuser, Liden and Hu, 2014). They include the relationship between the leaders and
followers, structure of task and position power. Barry can use various styles of leadership while
performing in the organization or leading a team. It is required for the Barry to being an
inspiration for others because whatever had done with Barry, he can improve that condition and
situation through his position of present.
Barry could use this theory to bring effectiveness in the workplace. By applying this
theory, Barry can be effective in different situation with different people. Barry can focus on
particular situation and give solution as per requirement of solution of specific situation. The
theory of Fielder defines two types of situations such as low LPC and high LPC. Low LPC refers
to the situation when the nature of leaders is towards task motivated and high LPC refers to a
situation when the nature of leader towards making relationship with employees on prior basis.
Barry should give preference to build good relationship with followers and make them free to
share their views and ideas related to bring the changes in the organization. He can manage the
team by providing the sufficient knowledge about the work. Due to his variability of leadership
style, he will be helpful to make the better relationship with the employees. Good relationship
with employer is able for job satisfaction and employees of the organization want to be
connected with the organization if they are satisfied from their job (Fairclough, 2013).
The benefit of Fielder’s contingency theory is extremely well researched and defines the
task oriented and relationship oriented nature of leaders (Shao, Feng and Hu, 2016).The good
relations with leaders are compatible with the poor structured task environment. On the other
hand the leaders who are impersonal, they are hired for the well structured environment. Barry
has faced various issues regarding management and political activity. He can rectify the issue
which is born by Raphael which will be beneficiary for the employees and the environment of

Case Study Analysis 11
the company will be healthy if fair treatment would develop with every employee. It will
enhance the trust of the employee over the company (Lin and Cheng, 2017)

Case Study Analysis 12
References
Benn, S., Dunphy, D. and Griffiths, A., 2014, Organizational change for corporate
sustainability. Routledge.
Colquitt, J., Lepine, J.A., Wesson, M.J. and Gellatly, I.R., 2011, Organizational behavior:
Improving performance and commitment in the workplace, McGraw-Hill Irwin.
Cornelissen, J. and Cornelissen, J.P., 2017, Corporate communication: A guide to theory and
practice. Sage.
Dinh, J.E., Lord, R.G., Gardner, W.L., Meuser, J.D., Liden, R.C. and Hu, J., 2014, Leadership
theory and research in the new millennium: Current theoretical trends and changing
perspectives. The Leadership Quarterly, 25(1), pp.36-62.
Fairclough, N., 2013, Critical discourse analysis: The critical study of language, Routledge.
Fiedler, F.E., 2011, The contingency model and the dynamics of the leadership
process. Advances in experimental social psychology, 11, pp.59-112.
Fiedler, F.E., 2013, The leadership situation and the black box in contingency theories. In Annual
Claremont McKenna College Leadership Conference:" The Future of Leadership Research: A
Tribute to Fred Fiedler", 4th, Feb, 1991, Claremont McKenna Coll, Claremont, CA, US.
Academic Press.
Gafar, M., Yusoff, W.F.W., Kasim, R. and Martin, D., 2015, Attitude to Business Reality,
Perceived Value Creation and Subjective Norms: How They Impact on Students of Higher