This document provides instructions and grading criteria for a midterm assignment on leadership theories for a class called HTM 491 – Leadership and Self Savvy. Students are asked to complete a template analyzing 7 leadership theories by providing definitions, examples from a specified movie, and relating the theories to characters. The theories to be analyzed are: trait based theories, skills and competencies, behavior based theories, leader-member exchange, path-goal theory, situational leadership, and transformational leadership. Guidelines are provided on formatting, content, and referencing course materials.

1. HTM 491 – Leadership and Self Savvy
Midterm/Spring 2012
Student Name: Cami Tran
Name of Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Instructions: Fill in the template on the next two slides. Use 10 point font. Fill in every section
for each of the 7 theories listed in the table. When finished, save the 3 slides as
a pdf file. Print and bring a hard copy of the pdf file to class March 13.
Post a pdf file of your midterm on your blog, but do not post until after class
March 13. Post by noon March 14.
Grading: Based on clarity of ideas, being able to distinguish among the different
theories based on the definitions/examples you provide. You must refer to
at least 4 characters (total overall, not in each example) in your examples.
Remember to be specific and refer to the slides and articles throughout.

2. Theory Definition Scene Character Example
Explanation Using 10 pt. font, define the theory of Describe the Describe the Give a detailed example of the theory and tell us why
collection of theories. Response should scene you will character and/or this illustrates the theory. Refer to the definition and
include information from the slides and/ reference. Set up characters in key components of the theory as much as possible. Be
or the articles. Can include your opinion the situation to order to give us a as specific as possible. It is okay to add your opinion if it
if backed up by evidence, but should not include where it reference related is backed up by evidence you cite about the scene and
only be your opinion. Make sure to occurs in the to the situation character. Do not make the reader infer anything about
include the components of the theory if movie and the you will the scene or character. For example, if you discuss
applicable. Do not provide examples plot overall. reference. intellectual stimulation as part of transformational
here. leadership it should be defined.
Trait Based Trait based theory is a leadership theory The scene is the President Car, In the Business Harvard article, one of the types of
Theories where leader characteristics are already middle of the who is the head action logic is described as an expert. The
present in a person. They seem to be movie when of the college. characteristics described for the expert says they rule
“born” with those specific traits. President Car is by logic and expertise and they use hard data to gain
Described in Rooke and Torbert’s article, sitting down with consensus and they tend to lack emotional intelligence
Seven Transformations of Leadership, Amanda and is and lack respect for those with less expertise. In this
one of the types of action logic is about to scene, President Car demonstrates the role of an
described as an expert. terminate her expert. While Amanda was in the office, President Car
decided to terminate her because she was handing out
birth control to the students of the college. She made
this rule by logic and the traditions the school follows.
Her actions reflect the traditions of the school and she
doesn’t show any emotion towards Amanda when she
shares the news with her.

3. Theory Definition Scene Character Example
Skills and The HTM Competency model used This scene at the Katherine This scene demonstrates the HTM Model with
Competencies throughout the program comprises of beginning of the Watson, who is Katherine Watson working on people savvy. After her
three main savvies and they include self, movie when Ms. art history first teaching experience with her students, she knew
(Use HTM people and business savvy. This was Watson first teacher of the that something needed to be changed. She wouldn’t
Model) based upon service leader research and walks into the college. allow her students to walk all over her and needed to
each savvy is made up of its own classroom and all take charge. Using skills such as interpersonal
development features. The overall goal the students communication and coaching/training, she is more
of this model is to assist in training prove to her that successful with her class. She coaches her students to
development and make a leader well they know the get involved and challenges them to think beyond the
rounded in these three savvies. material. After textbook. She trains them to think like this when her
the class is over, students enter the classroom. She also demonstrates
she has to learn a interpersonal communication by actively listening to
different teaching her strong-opinionated students. Through all of this,
technique to she is able to gain a better network with her students
approach her and gain their respect.
students.
Behavior Behavior based theory can be identified This scene is in Connie Connie demonstrates behavior based theory in this
Based within task-orientation and relationship the beginning of scene through the MLQ questionnaire. When she finds
orientation. This theory believes that the movie where Giselle’s birth control, she gets kind of excited about it
Theories (Use leaders are made, not born. The MLQ all the girls are in but then she gets slammed down by a comment Betty
MLQ or LPI) and LPI questionnaires are designed to a bedroom just says. Connie gets upsets but instead of fighting back
specify the leadership behavior rankings. chatting before she chooses to avoid involvement and acts with
Each question asks what type of bed and Connie integrity by walking away. Those two things are made
behavior is done to identify a certain finds birth control up in the MLQ questionnaire and Connie demonstrates
practice. in Giselle’s purse it in this scene.
and Betty throws
a rude comment
towards Connie.

4. Theory Definition Scene Character Example
Leader/ In LMX, a leader and a follower have This scene is at Katherine This scene demonstrates the last phase of LMX, where
Member social exchanges and the leader is more the end of the Watson and her the student gain a partnership with Katherine Watson.
concerned about having a relationship. movie where class You can see throughout the movie the first two
Exchange There are three phases to LMX and Katherine phases. Ms. Watson was a stranger to her class when
(LMX) they include; stranger, acquaintance, Watson is sitting she first stepped in but her students still followed her
and partnership. In this theory, the with her class because she was an authority figure, she became
leader must decide what to share with near the more of an acquaintance with them when she proved
the follower. projector and to them she was worthy of teaching art history and
they are talking that she had more to offer to them than the standard
about the Mona textbook. In the scene described at the end of the
Lisa portrait. movie is where the last phase of LMX comes into play.
You can see in Katherine’s eyes that she’s gained this
partnership with her students. The audience can see
that both the students and teacher respects one
another.
Path/Goal The path goal theory is where the This scene is Katherine Both Katherine and Joan demonstrate Path/Goal
Theory leader’s objective is to accomplish a when Katherine Watson, who is theory in this scene. With Katherine, she sees Joan
goal. The leader may be more directive, Watson shows up art history going along this path of attending grad school. She
goal clarifying, supportive, participative at Joan’s house teacher and Joan, goes through the different steps such has clarifying
and achievement oriented. Behaviors and shares who is one of her the goal for Joan and removing the obstacles by
they may demonstrate could be different brightest offering her different schools to attend in the
clarifying goals, removing obstacles and pamphlets of students. surrounding area. With Joan, she clarifies the goal that
supporting followers. where she can she doesn’t want to attend grad school but instead
continue her live a happy life with her husband. She wants to
education while remove the obstacle by not even considering grad
being closer to school as a part of her path. Joan is very achievement-
the guy she is oriented and her goal is to be married and have a
married to. family. Both these characters demonstrate that they
have a goal that they want to accomplish.

5. Theory Definition Scene Character Example
Situational Situational theories propose that This scene is Betty, who is a In situational leadership, it combines both task and
Leadership leaders choose the best course of where Betty is very opinionated relationship orientation. In this scene, Betty
action based upon situational variables. sitting at the pool individual and demonstrates high task-low relationship towards
Based upon four leadership behavior with the other speaks her mind. Connie. She has this goal to ruin Connie’s happiness
styles. They are high task-low girls and Connie by telling her lies about the boy is she seeing and
relationship (telling), high task-high is sharing her doesn’t care about the relationship she has with her
relationship (selling), low task-high weekend story friend Connie. When she tells Connie the information,
relationship (participating), and low and Betty she doesn’t think of the emotions that will affect
task-low relationship (delegating). The interrupts and Connie after she hears it.
most effective way of using situational tells Connie news
leadership is by identifying the that upsets her
readiness of the group. This means about the boy
looking at what relationship and/or she is currently
task needs to get done. Different styles seeing.
of leadership may be more appropriate
for certain types of decision-making.
Transform- Burns states that transformational This scene is Katherine Throughout the movie, Katherine tries to challenge
ational leadership is for leaders and followers towards the end Watson and her the college and the students about their view on the
to raise to a higher level of morality. It of the movie students. roles women play. Transformational leadership
Leadership is when charisma and vision becomes where the demonstrates change and a motivation for change.
bigger than everything else. This Alumni It is demonstrated through the vision of something
process of engaging leader and Association and bigger than art history and Katherine’s purpose at the
follower to a high level of motivation. the President are college. She didn’t come to the college just to teach
This type of leadership helps develop a considering the subject, she came to the college to make a change
significant change to the situation, Katherine’s and she was able to achieve that. She changed the
leader and follower. return to the way her students viewed the traditional roles and
school. allowed them to think for themselves. She also
changed the Alumni Association where they offered
her a job and she rejected it to prove that they’re
needed a change and