The study form

Leadership: theory and practice

Name of the Theory and main contributors (names): Three-Skill Approach by Robert Katz
Student’s name: Arpita Sahu , Student No :425409

1. What is the most fundamental contribution of the theory?

Main contribution of this theory was that effective administration or leadership depends not only
on traits but on three basic personal skills: technical, human, and conceptual as Skills are what
leaders can accomplish, whereas traits are who leaders are (i.e., their innate characteristics).
Katz identified these three skill areas as the most important skills that the executives/ mangers
had in common and used on a regular basis. The result was the setting of the three areas
of managerial skills and determination, for which level they are characterize
 Technical skills - competencies important, particularly for lower management
 Human skills - competencies needed for all levels of management
 Conceptual skills - competencies with a substantial importance, particularly for top
management
2. What kind of evidence do you find to support the theory?
This skills-based theory of leadership acknowledges that anyone can become a leader.
Individuals only need to find relevant resources and work hard to develop the skills of a good
leader. This is encouraging for people who are interested in gaining leadership effectiveness but
do not possess the traits as proposed in other trait based leadership theories. A skills-based
leadership theory also provides a competency based toolkit to organizations to recruit, train and
grow leaders in their organization by taking inventory of each potential leader's skills in the
important areas. 
 Technical skills play an essential role in producing the actual products a company is
designed to produce. Having appropriate technical skills signify that the person is
competent and knowledgeable with respect to the activities specific to an organization,
the organization’s rules and standard operating procedures, and the organization’s
products and services. e.g. For a Software Company the following skills or knowledge
areas can be considered as technical skills; Knowledge of Unix/Linux Operating System,
Java/C++/Perl Programming Language, MySQL/Oracle Database Management, XML -
Extensible Markup Language, HTML Skills etc. .
 Human skills enable the leader to work effectively with subordinates, peers, and
superiors. It is the leader's expertise in interacting with others in a way that will enhance
the successful completion of the task at hand. Consequently, leaders with higher levels of
interpersonal skills are better able to adapt their own ideas to other people’s ideas,
especially when this will aid in achieving organizational goals more quickly and efficiently.
e.g. developing effective communication skill (both verbal and written), motivating
others and creation of a positive attitude, development of cooperation and team spirit etc.
 Conceptual skills allow the leader to think through and work with ideas. Leaders with
higher levels of conceptual skills are good at thinking through the ideas that form an
organization and its vision for the future. As a leader grows higher in an organizational
ladder, there is huge expectations to provide strategic direction, create the vision and
motivate the folks to dedicatedly pursue the organizational goal which is Necessary skill
to climb the career ladder. e.g. Creativity, decision making, wing to wing
interconnectedness, thinking as a whole, strategic thinking, problem solving etc.
3. What are the limitations of the theory?
Three skill approach has its inherent limitations, like other leadership models because the
development of many of the skills might be dependent on personal traits as every individual is
different from the other and come from different background, and has different thought process
and different capabilities .And these traits becomes the basis of individual personalities which
decides whether it be easy or difficult for a person to develop certain skills. This model also
focuses on identifying the skills and the importance at various growth stages of a professional but
doesn’t explain the impact these skills are having on the whole process of leadership .Also it
does not defines a particular skill matrix or framework which an individual can access & update
on a personal level ,It also fails to measure the gap between the skills the individual is
possessing and the level of skill required to be competent for the job and become a successful
leader .
4. What are the practical/managerial implications of the theory?
 All the major MNC now a days applies this theory for developing efficient Top manager &
leaders .While recruiting fresher’s from universities most of the organization first gives
technical training so that the fresher’s can become knowledgeable proficient in a specific type
of work or activity. Based on the technical performance organization selects only fresher’s to
grow professionally by providing advance training on human skills & finally very few ( 1-2)
reaches the top management based on the conceptual skill they learn with time and get the
opportunity to lead the organization .
 Successful leaders in an organization must learn to use the technological assets at their
disposal, collecting critical information and data to communicate upward for strategic planning. An
example of information management is a mid-level manager in the automotive industry who is
responsible for recognizing global marketing potential This individual must be capable of realizing
the legal, demographic, social, technological, and economic considerations of entering a market;
the manager will use effective research and delegation skills and also consolidate the information
into a useful presentation using technological and communicative skills.
 While upper level leaders may use conceptual skills the most, all leaders must both understand
and participate in the generation of company objectives and values. Of particular importance are
the abilities to communicate these critical concepts to subordinates and the ability to gather useful
information to convey to upper management so that the concepts can evolve. Collecting the
results of conceptual thinking represent a feedback loop. Creating a healthy environment
conducive to development, criticism, and higher degrees of achievement simply requires strong
human skills, particularly in the realm of communication.
 Now a days, most MNC are having flat hierarchy system ,hence companies instead rely on the
delegation of responsibilities and authority to achieve goals. As a result, businesses often speak
of leading or guiding, people rather than giving instructions for every action. Leading people
represents a central component of human skills. Interpersonal skills differentiate a manager from
a leader.Due to the this theory most organization could view vital contribution conceptual skill
does for the leaders who can view their teams analytically and objectively, evaluating
inefficiencies and making unpopular choices.
 Most crucial part of being a great leader is be a person of values .Since this theory doesn’t
describes values ,Ethics, loyalty etc. Any skilled leader will be considered failure in personal
and professional life. Practically just working to improve success rate and management skill is not
sufficient as a leader needs to learn on improving your personality and value rate. To develop
trust among the employee which is the foundation of modern management ,as no
organisation can grow without a strong team of employee , it is required that manger should have
moral values which will helps to win the trust of their employees in the organisation.