MGMT09022 2022 Understanding Leadership

Explore leadership theories and their potential application within organisations.

Consider ideas of strategic leadership and its place within the professional environment.

Critically appraise the role of leadership in a change management process.

Critically examine the relationship between leadership, power and influence.

Examine and critically evaluate transdisciplinary working to determine its relevance and application to professional leadership.

Live online learning will occur weekly. Once per term students will be offered the opportunity to attend residential learning. The teaching and learning plan will be developed in consultation with students. It may vary year by year.

A variety of teaching and learning techniques will be incorporated including case studies, problem-based learning, guest lecturing, flipped classroom, peer learning. 

An important element of the assessment is the student’s ability to apply their learning to their own work practices and reflect critically on its implications. Consequentially assessments are as follows:

1. Assessment one requires the student to critique a case study to determine the leadership style and strategy employed (35%).
2. Assessment two requires the student to carry out three interviews with Professional Leaders. Two of which must be outside their current employment, one of which must be from the private sector and one from the public sector.  Students will be required to compare and contrast leadership theory studied with the professional in practice. They are expected to present this in the style of a research article (65%).

Repeat assessments requirements will be based on failed components. This will be recorded at the Progression and Award Boards.

LO1) Explore leadership theories and their potential application within organisations. Students will undertake a review of leadership and professional leadership practices both in public, private and third sector organisations. They will examine theories of leadership such as situational, contingency theory, adaptive theory, and more recent theories such as emotional intelligence, the authentic leader, and determine their relevance to today's working environments. Students will examine their own leadership approach and identify necessary changes to it.

LO2) Consider ideas of strategic leadership and its place within professional work.  Theoretical Ideas and concepts such as leadership legitimacy, ethical consciousness, self-governance, Goffman's impression management will be examined and their role in professional leadership interrogated. Students will be expected to use this frame to plan for their role as a professional leader, taking the opportunity to identify areas for change and/or development.

LO3) Critically appraise the role of leadership in a change management process. Students will identify the key role of leadership in the effectiveness of the change process, and as a result understand the desirable characteristics of good leaders, in professional practice. They are expected to explore the change management process through works of Lewin and others. They must develop a plan to manage change initiatives and present these to their peers. 

LO4) Critically examine the relationship between leadership, power and influence.  Students will review key literature on this relationship, power and how it impacts on organisational functioning.  

LO5) Examine and critically evaluate transdisciplinary working to determine its relevance and application to professional leadership.  Students will explore the value of problem-solving in isolation, and collaboratively with other disciplines. Students will be expected to work together to problem solve and from this come up with a plan for action. Issues of team motivation, hierarchies will be reflected upon as part of this learning experience.