Principles of Management CLEP Practice Exam 2026 - Free Management Practice Questions and Study Guide

Situational favorableness in Fiedler's contingency theory refers to the compatibility of leadership style and the situation. Fiedler posited that effective leadership is contingent upon the match between a leader's style—task-oriented or relationship-oriented—and the favorableness of the situational context in which they operate.

Factors that contribute to situational favorableness include leader-member relations, task structure, and positional power. When a leader's style aligns well with these situational factors, the context is considered favorable. A favorable situation can enhance the leader's effectiveness, leading to better team performance and achieving organizational goals. This concept emphasizes the importance of adapting leadership approaches to the specific circumstances a leader faces, rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all strategy.

The other options focus on different aspects of management or leadership but do not specifically capture the essence of situational favorableness as defined in Fiedler's theory. The ease of a task refers to task complexity instead of leadership compatibility, the availability of resources can affect overall operational efficiency but is not directly related to Fiedler's assessment of situational factors, and the motivation of team members is an important factor in team dynamics but does not specifically address the interaction between leadership style and situational context.