The Blake-Mouton Managerial Grid
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Abstract
Leading various projects requires a good leader with a wide range of properties, within knowledge about project management as well as knowledge for dealing with different types of people. A good project manager is aware of what it takes to reach the milestones of a project and has the ability to get an overview of the resources, time and economy. It also requires a leader who can communicate with the employees and has a knowledge and understanding for them. Therefore, is the type of leadership an important topic, and the identification of the style can contribute to better project management and to better project results. As a project leader it is an advantage to address your own strengths and weaknesses, so you can become a better leader, but also know your own qualities. It provides an opportunity to be able to develop your abilities and optimize the competencies. In this context will the article be representing the management tool called “Blake-Mouton Managerial Grid”, which is a model developed by Robert R. Blake and Jane Mouton. The tool gives an impression and opportunity for managers to analyze their own leadership styles. The main points of the tool will be covered and a description on how to apply the “Blake-Mouton Managerial Grid” will be included. Moreover, will the Advantages and disadvantages of the tool be discussed.
Introduction
and Jane S. Mouton,. .The Blake Mouton grid is a matrix which characterizes five different leadership styles based on a two-behavioral dimensional graph. The Y-axis represents the leader behavior, “Concern for people” and the X-axis. represents the “Concern for results”. In the context of human concern, there are various leadership qualities that primarily are described as the manager´s interest in the employees´ motivation, well-being and needs, which can provide the work effort / performance. While the other interest for the manager is to complete the project with a focus on the production itself, the results, and the economy.
The two dimensions of leader behavior leads into 5 different management styles.
- Impoverished Management
- Produce or Perish Management
- Middle-of-the-Road Management
- Country Club Management
- Team Management
How to use the tool
Discussion
Advantages:
The Blake-Mouton grid provides a simple way to understand “Your” leadership style. And that makes it easier to takes steps to address your weaknesses, so you can develop and become a better leader.
Disadvantages:
The Blake-Mouton grid is overly simplistic, and the tool has a big focus on the leader and does not pay attention to other factors there may be. Therefore, is this type of leader analyzes limited, but it can provide a direction and create an overall picture of the leadership style.
