Question

You manage a department of five employees. You have identified that Joe has a high need for achievement, Mary has a high need for power, and Tim has a high need for affiliation. Sarah scored high on the need for power and low on the need for affiliation. Doug scored low on both need for power and need for affiliation. Which of these five employees is most suitable for handling your responsibilities when you are on vacation? Mary Doug Tim Sarah Joe

Answer 1

Sarah is most suitable for handling the responsibilities when the department head is on vacation.

Option D

Explanation:

Sarah will be given chance to fulfill a role with power, while also fulfilling her relatively low need for affiliation. Joe’s high need for achievement scored him the second place, but the fact that he doesn’t need to achieve but manage the project for the duration of your vacation, which makes him a close second.

Mary was also a decent choice, but due to her decent need for affiliation still makes Sarah the best out of rest of them. Doug wouldn’t have given it his 100 percent due to his low need for power, and Tim’s high need for affiliation makes him unfit for this position.