RENSIS LIKERT

An American educator and

organizational psychologist best
known for his research on
management styles.
Born on 5th of August ,1903.
He is famous for developing the :

q Likert Scale
a psychometric scale
commonly involved in
research using
questionnaires.
A five (5) scale measurement
tool to determine the level of
agreement and disagreement
of the respondent to a set of
questions that could be
objective or subjective in

 The format of a typical five level

Likert item is:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree or disagree
Agree
Strongly agree

q Linking Pin Model

is the concept of the ideal
work relationship of a
workers in an organization.
Likert uses the concept of
family to characterize the
desirable social interaction
that should occur between
different work units.

 In this model, he encouraged

strong personal relations
between work units above
and below management to
achieve an effective
organization.
The model below presents an
organization as a number of
overlapping work units in
which a member of a unit is
the leader of another unit.

Steering
Group

Department / Function Teams A D

The arrows indicate the

linking pin function. Team
B and C display a full
supplier and customer
linking pin function

Likert identified four (4) main styles

of leadership called to Four Systems
Approach (1967).
Four Types of management System:
1. Exploitative-Authoritative
Responsibilities lies in the hands
of the people in the upper
ranks of the hierarchy.

 Superior has no trust and

confidence in sub-ordinates.
Decisions are imposed on the subordinates
It has no teamwork and
communication.
Motivation is based on threats.
2. Benevolent-Authoritative
Responsibility lies at the
managerial

levels but not at the lower levels of

the organizational hierarchy
Superior has condescending
confidence and trust in the
sub-ordinates.
Decisions are imposed on the
sub-ordinates.
Teamwork and communication is
very little.
Motivations is based on rewards.

3. Consultative
Responsibility is spread widely
throughout the organizational
hierarchy.
Superior has substantial but not
complete confidence in staff
associates.
Discussion and management
will constructively used the
subordinates ideas and
opinions.

 Fair amount of teamwork and

communication takes place
verticaly and horizontally.
Motivations is not only based on
rewards but also of
involvement in job.
4. Participative
Management have complete
confidence in their
subordinates/employees.

 Responsibility for achieving the

organizational goal is wide spread
throughout the organizational
hierarchy.
Discussions about job related issues
takes place regularly with the
superior and the subordinates.
High level of teamwork and
communication are present.
Decision-making is well integrated

throughout the organization with full

involvement of staff associates.
Comparison of four system with one
another is based on certain
organizational variables, which are:
v Leadership process
v Motivational process
v Communication process
v Decision-making process

v Goal-setting
v Control processes
Advantages of Likert System;
Was able to quantify the results of
the work done in the field of
group dynamics.
Helped in measurement of the
soft areas of management ,
such as TRUST AND
COMMUNICATION.

According to Dr. Rensis Likert, the

nearer the behavioral
characteristics of an organization
approach system 4
(Participative), the more likely this
will lead to long-term
improvement in staff turnover and
high productivity, low scrap, low
cost, and high earnings and the
organization will achieve optimum
effectiveness.