Comparing Leaders' Ratings to Targets' Self-Reported Resistance to Task Assignments: An Extension of Chester Barnard's Zones of Indifference

Abstract

This description and preliminary test of target resistance compared leaders' with targets' ratings of the targets' willingness to perform the nature of tasks assigned by leaders. Barbuto's concentric zones were used to test this difference in perceived resistance. The concentric zones—Preference, Indifference, Legitimate, Influence, and Noninfluence—were examined from both leaders' and targets' perspectives. Response from 201 leaders and targets demonstrated that leaders and followers generally reported the anticipated resistance of assigned tasks differently. Specifically, leaders rated the tasks they assigned to targets as less enjoyable, undesirable, more above the call of duty, and more likely to be resisted than targets self-reported.