MGMT3021 Leadership

Week 1

Module 1: An Academic Study of Leadership (Wk. 1-6)

- Heavy on theories, concepts, empirical research AND practical application
- Lectures: Overview of research on topic, practical application, self-tests
- Tutorials: Case analysis (cases available on Wattle)

Module 2: Developing Leadership Ability (Wk. 7-12)

- Main emphasis is helping students to develop leadership ability and identify
strengths and areas for improvement
- Seminars: Activity-based e.g. how to prepare and deliver a vision

Assessments

- Tutorial participation 10%

o Active participation and prior readings

- Famous leader analysis 40%

o 3,000 words due week 7
o cumulate the learning from module 1
o select a famous leader and prepare an analysis of the leader
o using ONE theory or concept of leadership, critically evaluate the leader
o evaluate how useful the theory or concept was in understanding effective
leadership

- Visionary speech (personal video) 30%

o Due week 9
o Provide a compelling vision about an issue/challenge that you consider needs
to be addressed by ANU
o 3-5min personal video recording
o preparation begins week 7 seminar

- Leadership skills reflection 20%

o 1,500 words due week 12
o select topic from seminar 2,3,4,5  power and influence; interpersonal skills;
decision making and problem solving; conflict resolution and negotiation
o self-reflection (drawing on seminar experience) that discusses your own
capabilities and shortcomings related to the topic
o must attend seminar to pass this assignment
Some Definitions. Leadership is:

- ‘the behavior of an individual…directing the activities of a group toward a shared

goal’ (Hemphill & Coons, 1957, p.7)

- ‘the process of influencing the activities of an organized group toward goal

achievement’ (Rauch & Behling, 1984, p.46)
- ‘about articulating visions, embodying values, and creating the environment within
which things can be accomplished’ (Richards & Engle, 1986, p. 206)

- ‘the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute

toward the effectiveness and success of the organization’ (House et al, 1999, p. 184)

Leadership: Key Components

- Involves influence
- Occurs in groups
- Involves common goals

Definition for this course

Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a

group of individuals to achieve a common goal

Indicators of Leadership Effectiveness

- Criteria used to evaluate leader effectiveness reflect explicit or implicit conceptions

of leadership
- In organizations – consequences of influence on single individual, a team, or an
organization
- Team / Org Performance examples: sales, net profits, productivity
- Follower attitudes and perceptions eg surveys
- Leader’s career success eg Re-elected? Promoted?

Key Variables

- Characteristics of the Leader e.g. traits, values, skills and expertise, behavior,
influence tactics

- Characteristics of the Followers e.g. traits, skills and expertise, attributions about the
leader, identification with the leader, task commitment, cooperation and trust

- Characteristics of the Situation e.g. type / size of organisational unit, position power
and authority of leader, org. and national culture, environmental uncertainty and
change
Causal Relationships Among the Primary Types of Leadership Variables

Major Perspectives in Leadership Theory

- Trait Approach – personality, motives, skills (Week 2)

- Behavior Approach – what managers actually do (Week 3)
- Situational Approach – contextual factors (Week 3)
- Dyadic Approach – relationship between the leader and others (Week 4)
- Integrative Approach – more than one type of leadership variable (Week 5, 6)
- Power-Influence Approach – influence processes between leaders and others (Week
8, seminar)

Leadership: Key Components & Developing Leadership Capability