Likert Management System, Meaning and Examples
Read about the Likert Management System of leadership. Learn about the key variables of the management system.
Izhar Ahmad22 Dec, 2023
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Likert Management System: Rensis Likert and his colleagues thoroughly studied management trends and styles across different companies. This led Likert to create a continuum involving four different management systems. Consequently, this method came to be known as the Likert management system, covering four different ways of management.
He developed the processes based on a study carried out with highly effective managers and their teams at an American insurance company. Likert changed the methods to make them useful in educational settings. Created to define the roles of leaders, students, and teachers, these methods were expanded to include additional groups such as superintendents, managers, and parents.Also Read- How Government Policies Affect Businesses?
Likert Management System-Meaning
Likert Management System essentially represents various phases in developing management patterns within organizations. The system relies on several factors: motivation, leadership, communication, influence, interaction, decision-making, and more. According to Likert, there are four management systems or four leadership styles:- Benevolent Autocratic System
- Exploitative Autocratic System
- Consultative System
- Democratic System
Likert Management System 1- Benevolent Autocratic
Managers in this system employ an autocratic approach without exploitation. They take on a paternalistic role, allowing subordinates some freedom in task execution. However, a patronizing attitude is directed toward loyal and obedient subordinates, with rewards for goal achievers and harsh punishment for those who fail. This system utilizes a carrot-and-stick motivation approach.Likert Management System 2- Exploitative Autocratic
This system is work-oriented, with managers focusing on making work-related decisions and issuing orders without considering subordinates' views. Communication is downward and highly formal, emphasizing punishment and threats for task completion. Managers exercise control and supervision over subordinates.Likert Management System 3- Consultative
Managers in this system consult with subordinates to issue orders and set goals. Subordinates make routine decisions, while managers make major decisions. Two-way communication is encouraged, and managers trust subordinates to carry out tasks. Rewards take precedence over penalties in this system.Likert Management System 4- Participative
In this system, subordinates play a significant role in decision-making and goal-setting. Control and supervision are group-oriented, and managers are friendly and supportive. Goals are mutually set, allowing subordinates to self-appraise upon goal achievement. Communication is open, making Likert suggest that System 4 is the ideal organizational working system.Also Read- How to Become a Shareholder
Key Variables of the Likert Management System
The Likert Management System asserts that each of the previously mentioned management systems is affected to different degrees by important variables, according to Likert. These variables include:Motivational Forces:
Likert's method defines how management uses warnings, threats, or awards to affect workers based on performance. Motivational forces include monetary aspects like pay and non-monetary aspects such as duty, growth chances, and human relationships with colleagues or management.Leadership Processes:
Likert's study looks into different leadership styles, such as authoritarian, genuine, strength-based, autocratic, and flexible leadership. Each style has different effects on how leaders lead.Communication Processes:
The communication style within a company, particularly from management to workers, shows the desired power gap. The Likert Management System outlines communication methods for each of the four leadership systems. For instance, participative leadership emphasizes two-way communication, while authoritative leadership involves one-way communication.Looking for the Best Commerce Coaching?
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Interaction/Influencing Processes:
Likert's method shows that workers hold different amounts of influence in various management styles. For example, participative leadership actively seeks the opinions and objectives of workers, compared with the benevolent authoritative style where such feedback is not wanted.Decision-making Processes:
Likert studies how workers' feedback and thoughts shape decision-making in businesses. In participative leadership, employees indirectly affect choices, while authoritative leadership excludes employee feedback. Decision-making may vary, requiring a team, person, or management conversation in groups with flat structures.Control Processes:
Likert's study also considers how management watches employees, showing different control processes across companies. Some managers engage their entire team in decision-making, while others independently make choices without input. Control methods range significantly among companies.Likert Management System FAQs
What does a 5-point Likert scale mean?
A worldwide method of evaluating opinions and attitudes is the 5-point Likert scale.
What kind of scale is the Likert?
The standard Likert scale is a 5- or 7-point ordinal scale that respondents use to assess the degree to which they agree or disagree with a statement. It was developed in 1932 by Rensis Likert1 to measure attitudes.
What criteria do we use to measure importance?
Avoiding questions altogether is one method to gauge significance! Rather, statistical analysis of the data set may be used to determine significance.
What is a Likert scale question?
A question with five or seven possible answers is called a Likert scale question.
Is A Likert scale quantitative?
Of course, Likert scales give qualitative data a quantitative meaning.
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