"Path-Goal Theory" of Leadership was developed by:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:
The Path-Goal Theory of Leadership was primarily developed and extensively refined by Robert House, beginning with his seminal work in 1971, building upon the foundational ideas of Martin Evans. This theory is a cornerstone of the contingency approach to leadership, asserting that the leader's main role is to motivate subordinates by increasing their personal payoffs for achieving organizational goals and making the "path" to these goals easier to travel. Drawing heavily from Victor Vroom's Expectancy Theory of Motivation, House proposed that effective leaders clarify the path, remove obstacles, and ensure that the rewards at the end of the path are valued by the employees. To achieve this, leaders must be flexible, adopting one of four behaviors—Directive, Supportive, Participative, or Achievement-oriented—based on the specific needs of the followers and the demands of the work environment.

The incorrect option is 1, 3, and 4:
The incorrect option is 1: Stephen Robbins is a highly respected professor and the author of best-selling textbooks on Management and Organizational Behavior. While his works meticulously discuss and popularize the Path-Goal Theory, he is a significant figure in compiling and disseminating management knowledge, not the originator of this specific theory. The incorrect option is 3: F. W. Taylor is famously known as the 'Father of Scientific Management' for his seminal work in the early 20th century. His focus was on industrial efficiency, time-and-motion studies, and the principles of 'science, not rule of thumb,' a management approach that is conceptually distinct from and predates the behavioral and contingency-based theories of leadership like Path-Goal Theory by decades. The incorrect option is 4: 'Hicks' is not a recognized or prominent figure associated with the development of major, established motivation or leadership theories in the field of organizational behavior or management studies. This option serves as a distractor.