Organizational Behavior: Applying Path Goal and Resistance Theory

This report delves into the concepts of organizational behavior (OB), specifically focusing on Path Goal Theory and Situational Resistance. The report explains the core concepts of OB, including perception, motivation, and holistic concepts. It then elaborates on Path Goal Theory, detailing its four leadership styles: directive, supportive, achievement-oriented, and participative, emphasizing the importance of adapting leadership based on employee capacity and environment. The report also defines Situational Resistance, highlighting how employees react to changes or leadership decisions, and provides examples related to Hays Travel. Furthermore, the report discusses the application of these theories, emphasizing how Path Goal Theory can help companies use suitable leadership styles, especially during challenging situations like the pandemic. The advantages and disadvantages of both theories are also provided, offering a comprehensive understanding of their practical implications in managing employee behavior and organizational success.

ORGANIZATIONAL
BEHAVIOUR

Table of Contents
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................2
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Concept and philosophies of organizational behaviour..............................................................3
Philosophies of OB.....................................................................................................................3
Path goal theory..........................................................................................................................3
Situational resistance...................................................................................................................3
Applying path goal and situational resistance in helping company and staff.............................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

MAIN BODY
Concept and philosophies of organizational behaviour
Concept- the concept of OB generally revolves around the nature of people and the nature
of organization. This involves the different concepts like perception, motivated behaviour,
human dignity, holistic concept and many others.
Philosophies of OB
This includes the path goal theory and situational resistance
Path goal theory
The path goal theory is the one which is based on the fact that leader’s style of leadership
is based over employees working capacity and the environment of business (What is path goal
theory? 2019). The path goal theory is a type of leadership theory which states that it is the
responsibility of the leader to provide all the information and facts and figures to the followers.
This is basically because of the reason that leader is responsible for managing the performance of
all the employees within the company. Thus, for this the leader has to use the path goal theory as
this theory states that for every path or objective the way of leading is different and this need to
be understood by the leader. Every employees and every situation within the business
environment need to be dealt in different manner and this can only be decided with help of path
goal theory. This is necessary as if the leader will not use the correct type of leadership style then
the company will not be able to manage the employees within the company (McNeil, 2020). The
major path goal theories are directive, supportive, achievement oriented and participative.
Example- for Hays travel it is very essential that the leaders must use the path goal theory
of supportive type as this will assist the company in managing the new staff in the situation of
the pandemic.
Situational resistance
The situational resistance is defined as the way in which the employees within the
company resist in accepting anything whether any change in business environment or any
decision of leader. This can also be termed as employee resisting in accepting any of the change
intended by the leader or within the business. in simpler words the resistance by employees is
generally on the basis of the challenges created by the leaders. This is basically because of the

situation prevailing in the business environment and this sometimes hampers the leadership style
followed by the leader.
Examples
For instance, the leadership style being used by the leader of Hays Travel is autocratic
leadership style that is all the decision will be taken by the leader itself. But in the new staff the
employees are not the followers and they do not like to work under some other person guidance.
Now if in this situation the leader will impose only their rules by using directive leadership under
path goal then the employees of Hays Travel will resist and will not work in proper condition.
Thus, this will have a negative impact over the working of the company and will reduce the
profitability and productivity of the company (Bickle, 2017).
Applying path goal and situational resistance in helping company and staff
Both the path goal theory and the situational resistance is very essential for the company
as this will have a great impact over the working of the company. Thus, for this it is essential for
the Hays Travel to apply the path goal theory in the leading of the business. The path goal theory
is applied in Hays Travel as this will assist the company in using the leadership style which will
suit the present situation and whether the company is being benefited by using that style of
leadership or not. If the leadership style being used by the leader of Hays Travel is not effective
then the business will not get successful (Wright, 2017).
Examples
For instance, the new employees of the company are not having more of the knowledge
relating to the working and operation of company. Thus, here the leaders with help of
participative leadership style under path goal theory can help the new employees in developing a
good understanding relating to the working of company.
For instance, the employees of Hays Travel are frightful in coming to the office because
of the current pandemic situation then it is the duty of the leader to deal with this situation in
very calm and effective manner. Thus, for this it is the duty of the leader to motivate the
employees that the whole office will be sanitized and also the company will provide the services
of pick and drop for the employees who are not having the personal vehicles. This way the
employees will get motivated and they will come to the office. On the flip side if the leader
would have forced the employees to come to the office or have threatened the employees that if
they will not come then their job will be at stake than it might be possible that the employees will

not come. If the employees would have not come to the office, then it can be said as resistance
by the employees because of the prevailing situation.
Path goal theory
Advantages
 The major advantage is that this provide for a framework which is clearly understandable
by the leader and can be effectively applied by them.
 Another advantage of this is that this is linked with the motivation of the employees as
well.
Disadvantages
 The major drawback is that this is complicated to be understood as if the leader will not
understand that which theory is applied for which situation then this will not help the
company (Tortorella and Fogliatto, 2017).
Situational resistance
Advantages
 The major advantage of this is that the style of leadership under this is totally dependent
over the situation and this is a benefit as the situation cannot be predicted.
 Another advantage is that there is flexibility as the situation is not known and if the
situation is not relevant then the leadership style can be changed as well.
Disadvantages
 The major drawback is that the situation or the future cannot be predicted that what will
happen in the future and this does not provide clarity of the style of leadership.
 Another major drawback is that if the environment of the company is task oriented then
the leadership style needs to be based on the task and not the environmental changes
taking place.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
McNeil, F.D., 2020. Healthcare Leadership: A Qualitative Study of How Path-Goal Theory
Relates to Radiology Managers (Doctoral dissertation, Northcentral University).
Bickle, J.T., 2017. Developing remote training consultants as leaders—Dialogic/network
application of path‐goal leadership theory in leadership development. Performance
Improvement. 56(9). pp.32-39.
Wright, E.S., 2017. Dialogic development in the situational leadership style. Performance
Improvement. 56(9). pp.27-31.
Tortorella, G. and Fogliatto, F., 2017. Implementation of lean manufacturing and situational
leadership styles. Leadership & Organization Development Journal.
Online
What is path goal theory? 2019. [Online]. Available through: < https://pathgoal.com/path-goal-
theory/#:~:text=Goal's%20Four%20Styles-,The%20Path%2DGoal%20model%20is
%20a%20theory%20based%20on%20specifying,productive%20member%20of%20the
%20organization. >