NPTEL Leadership and Team Effectiveness Week 1 And 2 Assignment Answers 2025
1. Which of the following defines leadership as “the art of influencing others to their maximum performance”?
Options:
- A. Northouse (2004)
- B. Cohen (1990)
- C. Jacobs and Jaques (1990)
- D. Joanne Ciulla (1998)
✅ Answer: B. Cohen (1990)
Explanation: Cohen described leadership as influencing others to achieve their best performance, emphasizing motivation and empowerment.
2. Which team type consists of members from the same department but lacks the authority to implement decisions independently?
Options:
- A. Cross-functional teams
- B. Self-managed teams
- C. Problem-solving teams
- D. Virtual teams
✅ Answer: C. Problem-solving teams
Explanation: These teams analyze and suggest solutions but do not have decision-making authority themselves.
3. What is the critical task for leaders during their first day on the job?
Options:
- A. Meet external stakeholders
- B. Lay down long-term goals
- C. Meet their boss and team
- D. Redesign organizational strategy
✅ Answer: C. Meet their boss and team
Explanation: Building early relationships and understanding expectations is key to success as a new leader.
4. Which leadership style described by Goleman focuses on emotional bonding?
Options:
- A. Commanding
- B. Visionary
- C. Affiliative
- D. Coaching
✅ Answer: C. Affiliative
Explanation: The affiliative style builds emotional connections, promotes harmony, and boosts team morale.
5. Why is leadership considered both a science and an art?
Options:
- A. It combines formal education with practical skills
- B. It relies exclusively on scientific methods
- C. It avoids artistic principles entirely
- D. It depends solely on personal traits
✅ Answer: A. It combines formal education with practical skills
Explanation: Leadership is both theoretical (science) and intuitive/personal (art), requiring a balance of both.
6. What is the purpose of benchmarking during the first 90 days as a leader?
Options:
- A. To replace team meetings
- B. To evaluate past leadership failures
- C. To gather external perspectives
- D. To finalize internal hiring decisions
✅ Answer: C. To gather external perspectives
Explanation: Benchmarking helps new leaders learn from best practices outside the organization to improve performance.
7. Which type of team operates across organizational boundaries?
Options:
- A. Self-managed teams
- B. Cross-functional teams
- C. Problem-solving teams
- D. Virtual teams
✅ Answer: B. Cross-functional teams
Explanation: Cross-functional teams consist of members from different departments, bringing varied expertise to solve complex problems.
8. According to the myths about leadership, a charismatic personality is must to become a leader.
Options:
- A. True
- B. False
✅ Answer: B. False
Explanation: Charisma can help, but leadership success comes more from communication, integrity, and empathy.
9. What is a common challenge new leaders face in their first 90 days?
Options:
- A. Understanding organizational finances
- B. Over-delegating responsibilities
- C. Balancing relational and task-oriented goals
- D. Avoiding long-term planning
✅ Answer: C. Balancing relational and task-oriented goals
Explanation: Leaders must manage performance while building relationships, which can be hard to balance at first.
10. Which element is central to the “interactional framework” for analyzing leadership?
Options:
- A. Organizational culture
- B. Leader, followers, and situation
- C. Individual capabilities
- D. Leadership charisma
✅ Answer: B. Leader, followers, and situation
Explanation: This model sees leadership as a result of the dynamic between the leader, the people they lead, and the context.
NPTEL Leadership and Team Effectiveness Week 2 Assignment Answers
1. What are the three components of the Action-Observation-Reflection (AOR) model?
Options:
- A. Action, Analysis, and Reflection
- B. Observation, Decision, and Feedback
- C. Action, Observation, and Reflection
- D. Planning, Observation, and Evaluation
✅ Answer: C. Action, Observation, and Reflection
Explanation: The AOR model emphasizes learning from experience. It involves performing an action, observing the outcomes, and reflecting to improve future performance.
2. Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory distinguishes between which two groups?
Options:
- A. In-group and out-group
- B. Core-group and peripheral group
- C. Leader-focused and team-focused
- D. Experienced and novice groups
✅ Answer: A. In-group and out-group
Explanation: LMX theory suggests leaders form different relationships with team members. In-group members have more trust and communication, while out-group members receive less interaction.
3. Which decision-making process involves the leader solving the problem independently?
Options:
- A. Autocratic (A1)
- B. Consultative (C1)
- C. Group (G2)
- D. Collaborative (C2)
✅ Answer: A. Autocratic (A1)
Explanation: In the A1 style, the leader makes the decision alone without input from others. It is useful for quick, simple decisions.
4. ______________ leadership style is recommended for followers with low ability and low willingness in the Situational Leadership model?
Options:
- A. Delegating
- B. Participating
- C. Selling
- D. Telling
✅ Answer: D. Telling
Explanation: The Telling style (high direction, low support) is best for followers who are unwilling and unable — they need clear instructions and close supervision.
5. What does Fiedler’s Contingency Model use to determine leadership effectiveness?
Options:
- A. Leadership style and task complexity
- B. Leadership style and situational favorability
- C. Personality traits and maturity levels
- D. Emotional intelligence and readiness
✅ Answer: B. Leadership style and situational favorability
Explanation: Fiedler’s model argues that effectiveness depends on how well the leader’s style matches the situation’s favorability (leader-member relations, task structure, and position power).
6. Which leadership behavior in the Path-Goal Theory involves providing emotional support and showing concern for followers?
Options:
- A. Directive
- B. Supportive
- C. Participative
- D. Achievement-oriented
✅ Answer: B. Supportive
Explanation: Supportive leaders show concern for employees’ well-being, creating a friendly and approachable environment.
7. What is the primary focus of high-quality LMX relationships?
Options:
- A. Hierarchical superiority
- B. Equal treatment for all team members
- C. Mutual trust and respect
- D. Increased contractual obligations
✅ Answer: C. Mutual trust and respect
Explanation: High-quality LMX relationships are built on mutual respect, trust, and obligation, leading to better communication and performance.
8. What is the least-used leadership style according to SLII research findings?
Options:
- A. High support, low direction
- B. High direction, high support
- C. Low direction, high support
- D. High direction, low support
✅ Answer: D. High direction, low support
Explanation: This “telling” style is rarely used because it is less collaborative and can be demotivating unless strictly necessary (e.g., emergencies).
9. Which style of leadership in the Vroom-Yetton model involves the leader accepting group consensus?
Options:
- A. A1
- B. C2
- C. G2
- D. C1
✅ Answer: C. G2
Explanation: In the G2 style, the group discusses the problem and reaches a consensus, which the leader supports and implements.
10. According to the AOR model, what is the most neglected phase in leadership development?
Options:
- A. Action
- B. Observation
- C. Reflection
- D. Decision-making
✅ Answer: C. Reflection
Explanation: Reflection is often skipped, but it’s critical to derive learning from actions and observations, enabling true leadership growth.