AN ANALYSIS OF THE LEADERSHIP STYLES AT THE ST. LUKE'S NURSING HOME
This research analyzes the leadership styles applied in the St. Luke's Nursing Home organization.The St. Luke's Nursing Home is a 200 bed facility located in a metropolitan service area of approximately 200 thousand persons. The funding for the facility is derived from both public and private sources.
On a general level, most leadership styles may be grouped in Douglas McGregor's (1960, pp. 30 60). "Theory X and Theory Y" framework. In contemporary organizations, however, the most effective leadership style is not always and either/or situation, but, rather, some mix of styles that is dependent upon the contingencies of the specific situation (Sheridan, Brewster, and Walker, 1984, pp. 73 77). In the determination of the appropriate leadership style mix, the health care administrator must be able to accurately assess the contingencies of a situation, determine the appropriate leadership style mix for that situation, and effectively implement that leadership style mix (Sheridan, Brewster, and Walker, 1984, pp. 89 91).
The leadership styles practiced at the St. Luke's Nursing Home are predominantly Theory Y in character. There exists, however, a mix of leadership styles within the organization, with some leaders more than others incorporating Theory X characteristics into their practice of leadership.
Both Theory X and Theory Y define leadership style in the context of an individual administrator's perceptions of the people with whom he or she must interact within an organizational environment. Perceptions, in this instance, do not refer to an administrator's opinions of specific individuals. Rather, these perceptions refer to an administrator's views on human beings generally as they function within organizational environments.
Douglas McGregor (1960, pp. 30 60) placed all management styles into one of two basic groups. McGregor (1960, pp. 30 60) ...