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Fred Fiedler

Fred Edward Fiedler (July 13, 1922 - June 8, 2017) was a pioneering figure in the field of industrial and organizational psychology. He is best known for developing the Fiedler Contingency Model, a groundbreaking leadership theory that reshaped how leadership effectiveness was understood in various organizational settings.

Early Life and Background

Fred Fiedler was born in Vienna, Austria to Victor and Helga Schallinger Fiedler, who owned a textile and tailoring supply store. The Fiedler family moved to the United States shortly after the Anschluss in 1938, when Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany. Fiedler became a US citizen in 1943 and served in the United States Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945.

Academic Contributions

Fred Fiedler's most significant contribution to psychology and management was the development of the Fiedler Contingency Model. This model marked a departure from the traditional focus on the traits and personal characteristics of leaders, ushering in a new era that emphasized leadership styles and behaviors. The Fiedler Contingency Model posits that a leader's effectiveness is dependent on the situational contingency, which is the interaction between leadership style and the favorableness of the situation.

Fiedler Contingency Model

The Fiedler Contingency Model is a contingency theory that evaluates a leader's effectiveness based on situational contingency. This theory suggests that there is no single best way to lead an organization or team because the right leadership style depends on the context. The interaction of a leader's style with situational variables leads to varying degrees of success.

Situational Variables

Fiedler identified three key situational variables that determine the effectiveness of leadership:

  1. Leader-Member Relations: The degree of confidence, trust, and respect that members have in their leader.
  2. Task Structure: The extent to which tasks are defined and structured.
  3. Position Power: The power and authority a leader has due to their organizational position.

Cognitive Resource Theory

In addition to the Fiedler Contingency Model, Fred Fiedler co-developed the Cognitive Resource Theory with Joe Garcia. This theory, formulated in 1987, serves as a reconceptualization of the original contingency model. It focuses on how a leader's cognitive resources, such as intelligence and experience, interact with stress levels to affect leadership performance.

Personal Life

Fred Fiedler passed away in June 2017 at the age of 94 in Washington State. He was survived by his wife, Judith, whom he met during his student years in the 1940s, and their three daughters: Decky Fiedler, Tory Fiedler, and Carol Fiedler-Kawaguchi.

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