Dunham and Pierce's Leadership Process Model
Dunham and Pierce's Leadership Process Model
Taking an Intelligent, Long-Term Approach to Leadership
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Leadership is about setting direction and helping people do the right things. However, it can involve so much more than this!
In particular, leadership is a long-term process in which - in a very real and practical way - all actions have consequences, and "what goes around comes around."
Dunham and Pierce's Leadership Process Model helps you think about this, and understand why it's important to adopt a positive and long-term approach to leadership.
This model highlights the dynamic nature of leadership.
© iStockphoto/H-Gall
We'll look at the model in this article, and we'll explore why it's so important to understand it. We'll also look at how you can apply the model's lessons to your own situation.
What is the Leadership Process Model?
The Leadership Process Model was developed by Randall B. Dunham and Jon Pierce, and was published in their 1989 book "Managing." You can see our interpretation of the model in figure 1, below. (We've redrawn this for clarity.)
Figure 1 - The Leadership Process Model
The model shows the relationship between four key factors that contribute to leadership success or failure. These are:
1. The Leader: This is the person who takes charge, and directs the group's performance.
2. Followers: These are the people who follow the leader's directions on tasks and projects.
3. The Context: This is the situation in which the work is performed. For instance, it may be a regular workday, an emergency project, or a challenging, long-term assignment. Context can also cover the physical environment, resources available, and events in the wider organization.
4. Outcomes: These are the results of the process. Outcomes could be reaching a particular goal, developing a high-quality product, or resolving a customer service issue. They can also include things like improved
Taking an Intelligent, Long-Term Approach to Leadership
________________________________________
Leadership is about setting direction and helping people do the right things. However, it can involve so much more than this!
In particular, leadership is a long-term process in which - in a very real and practical way - all actions have consequences, and "what goes around comes around."
Dunham and Pierce's Leadership Process Model helps you think about this, and understand why it's important to adopt a positive and long-term approach to leadership.
This model highlights the dynamic nature of leadership.
© iStockphoto/H-Gall
We'll look at the model in this article, and we'll explore why it's so important to understand it. We'll also look at how you can apply the model's lessons to your own situation.
What is the Leadership Process Model?
The Leadership Process Model was developed by Randall B. Dunham and Jon Pierce, and was published in their 1989 book "Managing." You can see our interpretation of the model in figure 1, below. (We've redrawn this for clarity.)
Figure 1 - The Leadership Process Model
The model shows the relationship between four key factors that contribute to leadership success or failure. These are:
1. The Leader: This is the person who takes charge, and directs the group's performance.
2. Followers: These are the people who follow the leader's directions on tasks and projects.
3. The Context: This is the situation in which the work is performed. For instance, it may be a regular workday, an emergency project, or a challenging, long-term assignment. Context can also cover the physical environment, resources available, and events in the wider organization.
4. Outcomes: These are the results of the process. Outcomes could be reaching a particular goal, developing a high-quality product, or resolving a customer service issue. They can also include things like improved