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Course 2020-2021 a.y.

20523 - LEADERSHIP AND POWER

Department of Management and Technology

Course taught in English

Go to class group/s: 31

GIO (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/10)
Course Director:
CASSANDRA RAE CHAMBERS

Classes: 31 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: CASSANDRA RAE CHAMBERS


Lezioni della classe erogate online

Suggested background knowledge

Knowledge of organizational behavior basics is a plus.


Mission & Content Summary
MISSION

Course Topic: What is leadership? This is a more difficult question to answer than one might think. This course takes as its fundamental premise that leadership is the exercise of power and influence over others. It explores how leadership can be exercised by anyone inside an organization, regardless of their level of formal authority. Using the case method with an emphasis on real-world examples of common challenges found in organizations, this course explores frameworks based on relational forms of leadership. Students learn different frameworks for understanding how individuals exercise power and influence over others, analyze which factors contribute to more effective leadership styles from positions at various levels of an organizational hierarchy, and apply this understanding to the analysis of real-life leaders’ strengths and weaknesses.

CONTENT SUMMARY

NOTE: This course is 100% online. You may complete this course as either an attending (remotely via online platforms) or non-attending student. Please carefully read the Attending vs. Non-attending sections of this syllabus. The key difference between attending and non-atteding options is that there is no exam for attending students and there is a course pack for readings. Non-attending students must read a textbook and complete an exam. The content information described below is for attending students only:  

 

Leadership models of the last century have been products of top-down, bureaucratic paradigms. These models are extremely effective for an economy premised on physical production but are not well-suited for a more knowledge-oriented economy. Surely, the context is changing but so are the people. Today’s students encounter a world that demands a new level of intellectual sophistication, intercultural literacy, and social engagement from college graduates. They face technological revolution, pressing societal problems, and unparalleled opportunities. This course postulates that leadership is not self-serving, but is a responsibility of everyone in an effort to positively impact the communities within which we belong. Thus, it becomes increasingly important to understand the emerging trend in theory and practice of leadership of the 21st century. The course covers the following topics:

  • Introduction to Leadership as the exercise of power and influence.
  • Motivation: How do you get people to do things they might not voluntarily do otherwise?
  • Creating and sustaining positive relationships: Emotional intelligence and social capital.
  • Managing differences: Managing across geographic, demographic, and social distance.
  • Managing conflict and difficult conversations: Effective feedback and conflict management.
  • Managing organizational politics: Understanding one’s own environment.
  • Negotiations 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Understand a variety of recent leadership theories, models, paradigms, and approaches.
  • Explore their leadership and/or followership identities, develop and expand awareness of diversity and social change.
  • Understand the complex underlying mechanisms of leader-follower relationships.
  • Examine leadership from a holistic, inclusive, sustainable, and ethical perspective.
  • Integrate theoretical leadership perspectives through applied and researched writing assignments.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Develop tractable solutions for resolving conflict in organizations.
  • Diagnose and implement effective leadership styles.

Teaching methods
  • Online lectures
  • Case studies /Incidents (traditional, online)
  • Individual assignments
  • Group assignments
  • Interactive class activities (role playing, business game, simulation, online forum, instant polls)
DETAILS

During the course, a variety of teaching and learning techniques are used to enable students to think critically and imaginatively about various perspectives on leadership. To realize the goal of a shared learning experience between students and the instructor, the course is aimed at integrating real challenges and practical experiences of leadership, which includes case discussions, self assessment, group projects, experiential exercises, and critical reflection on the various course materials.


Assessment methods
  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Individual assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)
  •     x
  • Group assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)
  •     x
  • Active class participation (virtual, attendance)
  •     x
  • Peer evaluation
  •     x
    ATTENDING STUDENTS

    There is no final exam for attending students. Cumulative assessment (CA) constitutes 100% of the final grade, consisting of:

     

    1. Required assessments / surveys                               5%

    2. Session Reading Memos                                          15%

    3. Case Analysis Take-Home Written Assignment        30% 

    4. Virtual Negotiation Assignment 1                                5%

    5. Virtual Negotiation Assignment 2                                5%

    6. Group Leadership Analysis and Presentation            40%   (presentation on December 4th) 

    NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

    Cumulative assessment (CA) constitutes 100% of the final grade based on a final exam for non-attending students. This final exam will include 40 multiple choice and true-false questions based on the textbook assigned for non-attending students. All sections of the book are assigned for the class and are “fair game” for the test.

     

    The book:

     

    Leadership for Organizations by David A. Waldman and Charles O’Reilly. Published in Sage Publications, Inc. 2019. ISBN: 9781544332727. The book is available at Amazon.it if you only search under the ISBN number.

     

     Final Exam                                    100%


    Teaching materials
    ATTENDING STUDENTS

    Course pack avaible at the beginning of the course.

    NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

    Leadership for Organizations by David A. Waldman and Charles O’Reilly. Published in Sage Publications, Inc. 2019. ISBN: 9781544332727. The book is available at Amazon.it if you search under the ISBN number only.

     

     

    Last change 16/07/2020 14:31