Blake and Mouton’s managerial grid
Blake and Mouton’s managerial grid describes leadership using concern for production or task on the horizontal axis and concern for people on the vertical axis, each scored from 1 to 9. Common reference positions are (1,1) impoverished, (9,1) task-oriented or authority-compliance, (1,9) country-club, (5,5) middle-of-the-road and (9,9) team management. The coordinates summarise a leader’s approach to the two concerns rather than a direct measurement of output and employee happiness.
Worked example
A manager plans work carefully and also involves staff in resolving workload problems. These behaviours suggest high concern for both task and people, close to the model’s (9,9) position. The assessment still needs evidence of actual performance.
Common mistake
The first coordinate is concern for task, not people. Five commonly discussed positions do not mean that the grid contains only five possible positions.
Where it appears in your exams
| Qualification | Exam | Relationship | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCA | BT | Direct | September 2026–June 2027 |
| ACCA | SBL | Supporting | September 2026–June 2027 |
| FIA | FBT | Direct | September 2026–June 2027 |