The effectiveness of the Action Centered Leadership Model
Assignment Information
Task: Evaluate the effectiveness of the Action Centred Leadership (ACT) Model in the
context of task, team and individual performance during the Outreach field trip
Assignment length Part: Part 1A: Approx. 1250 words
Proportion of total Module Mark: 50%
3. Date Handed Out Week commencing 18 th January 2016
5. Submission Procedure Part 1A: This assignment must be submitted
via Turnitin on the module web by 23.55 on the above deadline.
Solution
Introduction
Field operation management requires organization of leadership models to ensure
performance in field operations especially in disaster and emergency situations. The paper
evaluates the field operation management through careful comparison and analysis of the ACL
leadership model. Adair’s leadership model incorporates three aspects of an organization; task,
team, and individual in leadership management, (Businessballs, 2016). According to Kapou and
Ozerdem, (2011, p. 191) the leadership of an organization contributes greatly to the response of
the organization, especially the employees, in case of emergency or disaster situations. The paper
will focus on two of Adair’s theories; group, and task. The goals of a team in emergency or
disaster are to ensure that functions run smoothly, problems that arise are solved, and targets are
met.
Leadership and Performance Management
A group may fail to achieve the set goals in emergencies due to pressure and lack of
coordination. A proper leadership team should deliver results in an effective manner in this
period. To achieve this, the team should have full understanding of the goals they target to
achieve in this period. Leadership involves directing actions of people towards achieving certain
goals. In emergencies, these efforts are structured to ensure operational activities go on smoothly
and leaders deal with arising problems smoothly, (Mullins, 2010, p. 372). Performance of
employees has to be adaptive and innovative to meet standards requires in the assessment
process. Innovation involves structuring the physical and mental capabilities of the employees as
individuals and as a group to fit the emergency that may arise.
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The application of Adair’s leadership theory is emergencies and disaster management is
significant due to relevance leadership it champions. The establishment of events that could
cause emergencies and the performance required is the first task. The activity ensures a certain
percentage of preparedness in the team. Occurrences that may occur beyond the control of the
team can be dealt with, as there is foundation for emergency action. Allocation of
responsibilities, assessment of capabilities, and resource allocation is the next step. Each person
in the group is aware of the responsibilities they should perform and the necessary resources are
readily available. Finances, systems, human resources etc are critical as tools for use in disasters
and emergencies. Assessment and follow up to establish the effectiveness, relevance, and
probable improvements in each sector are required to certify the best performance of the
measures. For the group to function effectively, a healthy environment of open communication,
professional standards, and high morale among employees. The cooperation and performance
level of the team determines the ability of member to coordinate and deliver in emergencies and
disasters, the leadership is fundamental to encourage and sustain such an environment.
Leadership Traits
Emergencies and disaster situations are different though certain traits can distinguish a
leader who can effectively manage a team and one who would fail. Flexibility in operation and
though is necessary to establish whether changes in circumstances will make a leader unable to
deal with hard situation and therefore incapable of leading a team. Due to the hard situations in
disaster and emergencies, a leader who can remain calm and think critically is of advantage due
to the necessity of fast problem solving. The leader has the responsibility of training the group,
and ensuring that members are well prepared. To achieve this, leaders should have extensive
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knowledge of the appropriate procedures and experience to give skills relevant in emergencies in
the field; application of theoretical plans.
Analytical Problem Solving
The most difficult of emergencies and disasters could be situation where technical rescue
is required. The leadership and group performance is tested greatly in this situation. Apart from
the training that the group undergoes, the mental capabilities are tested to test effectiveness of the
group to implement the manual training. The first step in problem solving is to understand the
problem, in technical rescue situation the speed of response greatly matters and situations could
determine life situations or large losses. Establishing the areas where the problem is and
critically and speedily formulating possible solutions is necessary. From the vast number of
possible solutions, the leader must analyze the possible losses that they may hold. These losses
must be reduced in the process of choosing the solution that holds minimum risks in execution
and results. Completely avoiding risks may be impossible; therefore, the least risks are
acceptable in the situation.
The coordination and performance of technical rescue in disasters are met with difficulty
from unforeseen issues that arise. Solving these issues is critical in creating an environment that
will enable rescue measure to continue. Among these is coordination problems among team
members that cause inability to perform task, understand instructions, and generally deal with the
disaster. The leaders should effectively manage the group understanding individual and group
dynamics that get in the way of performance. Among the major issues that arise are setbacks due
to failure to plan work effectively. Ensuring resources and time fit into the arranged plans is
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necessary for proper functioning of the rescue. Technical malfunctions are common and
unavoidable in some scenarios, through setting back-up means and teams that are present at
technical rescues, the team can deal with such issues effectively and speedily.
Project Management Techniques
PERT (Program Evaluation Review Techniques) involves identifying the steps that the
group will take in the case of an emergency, outlining these procedures carefully and including
the resources that will be used in the process ensures preparedness. The structure creates an
overall view of that details all steps needed. The steps are divided in consideration of the time
limit set in performance of the goals. The time limit is stretched out according to the period of
performance of one task or the entire operation period. The set plans in the PERT chart are
configured in the course of the duration and execution of the project. Changes in plans can be
done to enable the group to adapt to changes or adjustments caused by events.
The Gantt chart technique is based on time evaluation. The time taken to perform each
task is outlined after analysis of all relevant tasks to be performed. The technique helps the group
perform its action in consideration of time limits, which can create room for change in plans to
give more time to harder and more complex plan. The leaders are able to manage the process
effectively and monitor actions looking at activities and the duration needed to perform them,
(Schermerhorn, 2009, p. 127)
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Tactical and Strategic Management
Tactical reactions to disaster situation are the immediate response that an organization
makes in time of disasters. Strategic responses are laid out steps that outline the preparation
means, the action to be performed during a disaster and action that come afterwards. The
coordination, management, and medical efforts that occur at the moment are part of the tactical
responses. These means require careful performance, as they are very important in managing the
situation. Groups in charge of disaster operation need to work in coordination and have plans that
will yield best result in the disaster, (Phelan, 2011, p. 209). Strategic plans have a longer duration
and execution period. They are formed from plans that create a structure that establish system
that will act during the emergency, possible emergencies, rules to guide operations, allocation of
resources, risks possible and the methods to deal with the whole situation. The strategic plans
should outline all possible and relevant events that may occur to ensure effectiveness in
operation.
Conclusion
The paper relates action centered leadership in disaster situations and emergencies, with
the theories that Adair espouses; task and team. Field operations are met with various challenges
especially is disaster situations. For a team to operate effectively in such situations, proper
leadership is required. The traits that an effective leader requires ensure a team members deliver
the set goals in cases of emergencies and disasters. Problem-solving skills are critical in disaster
management due to the complexity and tension involved, teams need to coordinate and deal with
arising problems carefully and effectively.
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References
Businessballs. (2016). action centered leadership, (john adair's action-centred leadership
model). Retrieved from http://www.businessballs.com/action.htm
Kapucu, & Ozerdem. (2011). Managing Emergencies and Crises. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?id=3jsPN0w1tKAC&pg=PA191&lpg=PA191&dq=Assess+
the+importance+of+leadership+and+performance+in+emergency+management+resp
onse&source=bl&ots=syL9jsgfR6&sig=-
mx3GjYqXUG_YElilJPQEvdfRUY&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Ass
ess%20the%20importance%20of%20leadership%20and%20performance%20in%20e
mergency%20management%20response&f=false
Mullins, L. J. (2010). Management and organisational behaviour (9th ed.). Retrieved from
http://www.jcch.com.ar/books/Management%20and%20Organisational%20Behaviour.pdf
Phelan. (2011). Emergency Management and Tactical Response Operations. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?id=wRCqjRQy6WIC&pg=PA209&lpg=PA209&dq=tactica
l+management+in+disasters&source=bl&ots=nnyHl40urG&sig=5Gx65x10XskfXtJs
TbolQZePNYc&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=tactical%20management
%20in%20disasters&f=false
Schermerhorn. (2009). Exploring Management. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?id=dkd98RXEzmEC&pg=PA127&dq=pert+and+gantt+man
agement+techniques&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=pert%20and%20ga
ntt%20management%20techniques&f=false
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