Perception of Leadership in Small Groups

Abstract

Abstract : This study represents an attempt to develop valid and predictable criteria of success based on the study of data from the participants in the three classes of the Executive Development Program at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. It records an effort to develop success criteria to be used in connection with a large scale study to predict management potential of candidates for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) which is being conducted. Thus, if suitable criteria of success could be found in a group of men who might all be considered successful, but in varying degress, these criteria might be used in the follow-up studies to differentiate the highly successful from the not so successful MBA's after they have graduated from the business school. Using these successful MBA's and EDP's (executives who have participated in the Executive Development Program) as criterion groups, the final goal is to predict before the MBA applicants enter the business school which of the applicants have greater potential for becoming successful general managers on the basis of the SMPTB. Another purpose for studying criteria of management success is to examine the relationship between managerial success in the business world and leadership in small group discussions. It is hypothesized that success depends, in part, on leadership qualities. (Author)