OL/PD 224 OC2: ORGANIZATIONAL

LEADERSHIP Fall 2023

Land Acknowledgement: I acknowledge that in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and Brantford
we are on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples.

Instructor Shane Dixon

E-mail sdixon@wlu.ca (* I do not use or monitor the

MyLS email system*)

Online Office Hours: Virtual, by appointment; In-person, Wednesdays

10:45-11:45 MDC 008 (Brantford Campus)

COURSE INFORMATION
This interdisciplinary course introduces students to a broad range of organizational types and
students will examine the ways in which leaders shape and influence organizations. Historical,
contemporary, and emerging leadership theories and debates will be covered.
EXCLUSIONS: BU288, PD224, PD202. If you have taken and successfully completed any of these
courses, the Registrar’s Office will not grant you credit for this course. Please contact the
instructor if you have questions.
PLEASE NOTE: This is an ONLINE version of the course. This means it is delivered
asynchronously and there are no scheduled class meetings times. By design/ intent the
expectations are for a self-directed style of learning where the student can set their own pace
in terms of accessing the course lessons and preparing themselves for the various assignments
and tests as the term progresses.

LEARNING MATERIALS
1. E-Text – Available on MyLearningSpace (MyLS)
• DuBrin, A. J. (2023). Leadership: Research findings, practice, and skills. (10th ed.): South-
Western, Cengage Learning.
o If your encounter any e-text access issues, contact digitaltextaccess@wlu.ca
2. Additional Articles – Available on MyLS
• Jones, G. R. (2013). Organizational theory, design, and change. (7th ed.). Pearson.
o Ch. 4: Basic challenges of organizational design
o Ch. 5: Organizational structure – Authority and control

© Shane Dixon, OL/PD 224 OC2 Fall 2023

1
COURSE OVERVIEW AND DESCRIPTION
Organizations come in all shapes and sizes, and leadership is key to the success or failure of
organizations. This interdisciplinary introduction to the study of leadership, organizations, and
their behaviour looks at:
• the internal workings of organizations; and their roles within broader society; and
• the role of leadership within them.
Students will discuss issues inherent to Organizational Leadership – including examining the
qualities and practices that a leader can exert in creating a culture where all members feel
valued, and where they can develop to their full potential in contributing to the organization’s
success. Specifically, to be an effective leader of an organization, you must understand
individual, group, and organizational-level issues that influence (and are influenced by) leaders
and leadership. For example:
• how organizations operate (e.g., structure, culture, environment)
• what motivates/demotivates people (e.g., values)
• the range of leadership approaches/models available (e.g., transformational,
charismatic, autocratic, democratic, servant).
There is a strong focus on leadership implications; in other words, given the information
available – what should leaders do next? Students will learn to evaluate organizational
situations from several perspectives (e.g., follower, leader, organizational), building their
foundation for effective performance as a leader and organizational member.

To accomplish these goals, we’ll rely on case studies, videos, and exercises. “Spotlights” on
contemporary organizations and leaders will illustrate course theory and models in action.

COURSE GOALS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, you will be able to:
• Identify and describe contemporary and traditional models and theories of leadership.
• Describe the characteristics of various types of organizations.
• List approaches to addressing various organizational issues such as conflict, innovation,
teamwork, and diversity.
• Discuss the ways in which individuals can be effective followers as well as the relationship
between leadership and followership.
• Recognize the ethical challenges facing leaders and approaches to managing those ethical
challenges.
• Develop your written and online communication skills – both of which are important for today’s
leaders.

2
ASSESSMENT DETAILS
Assessment % Due Date
1 Online Discussions 20 Runs Thursdays to Tuesdays for during Weeks 3,
Best 3 of 4 6, 9, and 11
(3 x 6.67% = 20%)

2 Quizzes 50 Quiz 1: Opens Tuesday, October 17 at 12:01 pm

(2 @ 25%) (just after noon) and open until Wednesday,
October 18 at 11:59 am (just before noon).
Quiz 2: Opens Tuesday, November 7 at 12:01 pm
(just after noon) and open until Wednesday,
November 8 at 11:59 am (just before noon).
3 Final Exam 30 To be scheduled during the final examination
period December 9-21.
4 Bonus Assignments Optional. Due by Wednesday (last day) of the
(Max of 3 x 1% each) scheduled week for each Lesson. See MyLS
Dropboxes for exact dates.
TOTAL 100

Assessments: Additional Details

1. Online Discussion Groups: Completed on MyLS. Generally, involves:
a. an initial submission based on a short reading/description;
b. ongoing discussion with your online group;
c. a final reflection submission; and
d. adherence to timelines.
Detailed instructions and discussions topic will be provided for each discussion approximately
one week prior to the start date. Note: given that discussions require you to collaborate with
your peers, there are no alternatives for missed discussions. To offer you flexibility in your
schedule, a “Best 3 of 4” structure has been implemented. In others words, you can miss one
discussion without penalty, or complete all 4 and have your best 3 grades count.

2. Quizzes: Consists of short-answer questions. Quizzes will be open for 24 hours on the day(s)
indicated above. However, once you begin, you will have 90 minutes to complete the quiz.
a. Quiz 1 Content: Lessons 1 to 4, inclusive
b. Quiz 2 Content: Lessons 1 to 7, inclusive

3. Final Exam: May include multiple choice and/or short-answer questions. The final exam is
cumulative; all course materials are testable. Note: the final exam will NOT be open for 24
hours; it will be scheduled at a specific time by the university during the exam period.

3
4. Optional Bonus Assignments: You can find information about the bonus assignments on
the first screen of each lesson.
a. Content and Format: varies by bonus assignment
b. Some lessons have more than one bonus assignment; some lessons have no bonus
assignments. If a lesson has more than one bonus assignment, you are welcome to
complete multiple (up to a maximum of 3), or just one if you prefer.

Please keep in mind the following for all assessments:

• As this is a leadership class, my assumption is that you are an aspiring leader: Accordingly,
I have high standards and expectations that each student will complete individual and group
assignments in a professional, ethical, and respectful way.
• Deadlines: If you are unable to meet a deadline, please get in touch with your instructor in
advance of the deadline to discuss possible options: we have more options available to us
before the deadline has passed.
• Spelling and Grammar: Professionals need to maintain systematic, dated, and legible
records to avoid misleading or inaccurate information in reports. Therefore, students are
expected to be able to present clear and concise information in writing in a variety of
formats, using correct spelling and grammar. You are responsible for ensuring that all
assignments, including discussion submissions/posts, are free of spelling and grammatical
mistakes. Spelling and grammar will be evaluated as part of every assessment.
• Extra Credit: There are bonus assignments associated with most Lessons. Each bonus
assignment is worth 1% for a maximum of 3 bonus assignments for a maximum of 3%.
Please check the MyLS Dropbox Folders for due dates.
• APA Referencing: Laurier students are expected to cite sources of their information
according to Academic Honesty guidelines using APA 7th or 8th edition referencing
guidelines. For more information, please see the academic integrity policy below, as well as
the following library resources:
o APA Guide: https://library.wlu.ca/help/activity/citing-sources/styles#libcontent-apa
o How to Cite in APA: https://library.wlu.ca/help/tutorials/how-cite-apa-style
o Managing Citations: https://library.wlu.ca/services/manage-citations

e-Text Information (Digital Textbook Access)

You are enrolled in a Digital Textbook Access (DTA) course. The DTA model was chosen to offer
you the most affordable option for the course resources. Please note the following:
• Access to these digital materials is free for the first 2 weeks of your course(s)
• You need to opt out of the program if you do not choose to access the digital materials or
you have sourced the materials elsewhere.
• Watch for the email from digitaltextaccess@wlu.ca for more information on how to opt out

4
• Accessing your e-text and billing/opting-out information can be found in MyLS via “Content
> eText Access and Info”.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES
1. Academic Calendars: Students are encouraged to review the Academic Calendar for
information regarding all important dates, deadlines, and services available on campus.
2. Intellectual Property: The educational materials developed for this course, including, but
not limited to, lecture notes and slides, handout materials, examinations and assignments,
and any materials posted to MyLearningSpace, are the intellectual property of the course
instructors. These materials have been developed for student use only and they are not
intended for wider dissemination and/or communication outside of a given course. Posting
or providing unauthorized audio, video, or textual material of course content to third-party
websites violates instructors’ intellectual property rights, and the Canadian Copyright
Act. Recording lectures in any way is prohibited in this course unless specific permission has
been granted by instructors. Failure to follow these instructions may be in contravention of
the university’s Student Non-Academic Code of Conduct and/or Code of Academic Conduct,
and will result in appropriate penalties. Participation in this course constitutes an
agreement by all parties to abide by the relevant University Policies, and to respect the
intellectual property of others during and after their association with Wilfrid Laurier
University.
3. Accessibility: Students requiring accommodation are advised to contact Laurier’s Accessible
Learning Centre for information regarding its services and resources.
4. Plagiarism: Wilfrid Laurier University uses software that can check for plagiarism. If
requested to do so by course instructors, students are required to submit their written work
in electronic form and have it checked for plagiarism. (Approved by Senate May 14, 2002).
5. Academic Integrity: Laurier is committed to a culture of integrity within and beyond the
classroom. This culture values trustworthiness (e.g., honesty, integrity, reliability), fairness,
caring, respect, responsibility and citizenship. Together, we have a shared responsibility to
uphold this culture in our academic and nonacademic behaviour. The University has a
defined policy with respect to academic misconduct. As a Laurier student you are
responsible for familiarizing yourself with this policy and the accompanying penalty
guidelines, some of which may appear on your transcript if there is a finding of misconduct.
The relevant policy can be found at Laurier's academic integrity website along with
resources to educate and support you in upholding a culture of integrity. Ignorance is not a
defense.
6. Final Examinations: Students are strongly urged not to make any commitments (e.g.,
vacation) during the examination period. Students are required to be available for
examinations during the examination periods of all terms in which they register. Refer to
the Handbook on Undergraduate Course Management for more information.
7. Religious and Spiritual Accommodation: The University welcomes students, staff and
faculty from a wide range of backgrounds, beliefs and traditions and has a duty to provide
accommodation based on creed (religion and spirituality) under the Ontario Human Rights
Code. This obligation requires the University to work with students to provide reasonable

5
 accommodation when a student's religious observances or spiritual beliefs creates a conflict
with their academic schedule. In order for instructors to provide proper accommodations,
students have obligations to request accommodations in a timely manner. All policies,
procedures, timelines, and request forms are found on Laurier’s Religious and Spiritual
Accommodations and Supports webpage.
8. The use of generative AI is not permitted in this course. Using generative AI to aid in or
fully complete your coursework will be considered academic misconduct and Senate Policy
12.2 Student Code of Conduct: Academic Misconduct will be applied.

UNIVERSITY RESOURCES
• Student Food Bank: Food 4 Hawks | Students - Wilfrid Laurier University (wlu.ca)
o All students are eligible to use this service to ensure they’re eating healthy when
overwhelmed, stressed or financially strained. Anonymously request a package
online 24-7. All dietary restrictions accommodated.

• Foot Patrol: Foot Patrol | Students - Wilfrid Laurier University (wlu.ca)

o Waterloo - 519.886.FOOT (3668);
o Brantford – 519.751.7875 (PTRL)
o A volunteer operated safe-walk program, available Fall and Winter, daily from 6:30
pm to 3:00 am. Teams of two are assigned to escort students to and from campus by
foot or by van.

• The Wellness Centre: Health and Wellness | Students - Wilfrid Laurier University (wlu.ca)
o Laurier's Student Wellness Centres are the home of all physical, emotional and
mental health services for students on our Waterloo and Brantford campuses. We
are a multidisciplinary team offering comprehensive, collaborative service to help
you get the best support in the most seamless and coordinated manner possible.

• Academic Support: Study Skills and Course Support | Students - Wilfrid Laurier University (wlu.ca)
o Our Centre for Student Success has a range of supports to help you plan your
academic requirements, with services ranging from supplement instruction for
traditionally hard courses to helping improve your writing and study skills.

• Accessible Learning Centre: Accessible Learning Centre | Students - Wilfrid Laurier University
(wlu.ca)
o Helps students with documented disabilities reach their full academic potential. Visit
our Academic Services webpage to explore all the academic support available to
you.

• Writing Resources: Writing Services | Students - Wilfrid Laurier University (wlu.ca)

o Writing services at Waterloo and Brantford can help undergraduate and graduate
students develop the writing skills needed to succeed in their academic studies. We
provide an accessible, supportive, student-centred environment where ideas can
take shape and students can develop their writing through critical thinking.
6
 COURSE SCHEDULE
Please note this is an outline and may change. Any changes will be communicated via the
course NewsFeed on the MyLS course homepage. It is your responsibility to be aware of any
changes and be prepared accordingly.

Week & Dates Topics, Readings and Assessments

Week 1 INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP

Sept 7 - 13 • Course Outline
• Lesson 1A
• E-Text Ch. 1: Nature and Importance of Leadership
• Lesson 1B
• E-Text Ch. 2: Traits, Motives, and Characteristics of Leaders
Week 2 UNDERSTANDING ORGANIZATIONS 1 & 2
Sept 14 - 20 • Lesson 2A – Categories of Organizations
• Lesson 2B – Organizational Structure & Context
• Jones, Ch. 4
Week 3 UNDERSTANDING ORGANIZATIONS 3
Sept 21 - 27 • Lesson 3
• Jones, Ch. 5
Assessment: Discussion 1 – Open Thurs Sept 21 to Tues Sept 26 @ 11:59pm
Week 4 DEVELOPING TEAMWORK
Sept 28 – Oct 4 • Lesson 4
• E-Text: Chapter 9 – Developing Teamwork
Week 5 HOW LEADERSHIP STYLES AND BEHAVIOURS CAN INFLUENCE
Oct 5 – 18 ORGANIZATIONAL AND SOCIETAL CHANGE
*Note that reading • Lesson 5A
week is Oct 10-13
• E-Text: Chapter 3 – Charismatic and Transformational Leadership
• Lesson 5B
• E-Text: Chapter 4 – Behaviors, Attitudes, and Styles
Assessment: Quiz 1 – Opens Tues, Oct 17 at 12:01 pm (just after noon)
and open until Wed, Oct 18 at 11:59 am (just before noon).

Week 6 THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINGENCIES AND ETHICS

Oct 19 - 25 • Lesson 6A
• E-Text: Chapter 5 – Contingency & Situational Leadership
• Lesson 6B
• E-Text: Chapter 6 – Leadership Ethics and Social Responsibility
Assessment: Discussion 2 – Open Thurs Oct 19 to Tues Oct 24 @ 11:59pm

7
Week 7 UNDERSTANDING YOUR POWER
Oct 26 – Nov 1 • Lesson 7
• E-Text: Chapter 7 – Power, Politics, and Leadership
Week 8 USING YOUR POWER
Nov 2 - 8 • Lesson 8A
• E-Text: Chapter 8 – Influence Tactics of Leaders
• Lesson 8B
• E-Text: Chapter 12 – Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills
(omit pages 323 to 329)

Assessment: Quiz 2 - Opens Tues Nov 7 at 12:01 pm (just after noon)

and open until Wed Nov 8 at 11:59 am (just before noon).

Week 9 GETTING THE MOST FROM YOURSELF AND OTHERS 1

Nov 9 - 15 • Lesson 9
• E-Text: Chapter 10 – Motivation and Coaching Skills
Assessment: Discussion 3– Open Thurs Nov 9 to Tues Nov 14 @ 11:59pm

Week 10 GETTING THE MOST FROM YOURSELF AND OTHERS 2

Nov 16 - 22 • Lesson 10
• E-Text: Chapter 14 – International and Culturally Diverse Aspects of
Leadership

Week 11 GETTING THE MOST FROM YOURSELF AND OTHERS 3

Nov 23 - 29 • Lesson 11
• E-Text: Chapter 11 – Creativity, Innovation and Leadership
Assessment: Discussion 4– Open Thurs Nov 23 to Tues Nov 28 @ 11:59pm

Week 12 GETTING THE MOST FROM YOURSELF AND OTHERS 4

Nov 30 – Dec 6 • Lesson 12
• E-Text: Chapter 15 – Leadership Development and Succession
o Pages 393 to 408; and 411 to 412
o You are not responsible for the materials on leadership
succession on pages 8 408 to the end of “Promotion from
Within” on page 410.

8
 2023 to 2024 LEADERSHIP OPTION and MINOR
This sheet details how you can add Leadership to your degree with a Minor or Option.
You can learn more about courses through the links provided or by contacting the Course Co-ordinator.
For all other inquiries, reach out to Leadership Program Co-ordinator, Dr. Rosemary A. McGowan.

To graduate with a Leadership (OL) Option or Minor, you need…

Credential Credits GPA in OL courses # Required Courses # Elective Courses

Option 4.0 7.0 4 4
Minor 3.0 4.5 4 2
Have you successfully completed BU208 and/or BU288 and are interested in the Leadership Minor or Option?
Contact Dr. Rosemary A. McGowan for more information.

REQUIRED COURSES: 2.0 Credits (Each course is worth 0.5 credits)

Course Code and Title Co-ordinator(s) In-Person Online
OL/MB200 Communication Skills for Leadership+ Dr. Kris Gerhardt ✔ ✔
OL140 Leadership Foundations Dr. Lisa Kuron ✔ ✔
OL/PD224 Organizational Leadership Dr. Shane Dixon ✔
Choice of: Dr. Bruce Arai ✔
OL485 Expanding Leadership Potential (Fall)
OR* Dr. Kris Gerhardt ✔
OL401 Leadership Skills: Practice & Application (Winter) Dr. Lisa Kuron
Notes: +Previously OL/MB was OL/MB109. If you successfully completed OL/MB109, do NOT take OL/MB 200.
*If you take both OL401 and OL485, one will count as an elective credit toward your Minor or Option.
ELECTIVE COURSES: 2.0 Credits (Option) or 1.0 Credits (Minor)
• Pick 4 courses for the Option OR 2 Courses for the Minor
• In-class availability depends on campus location; check LORIS for more scheduling details
Course Code and Title Co-ordinator In-Person Online
OL101 Leadership and Personal Development Dr. Bruce Arai ✔
OL201 Applying Leadership Experience Dr. Kris Gerhardt ✔
OL202 Designing Leadership Experience Dr. Kris Gerhardt ✔
OL/CC/HS233 Intro. to Social Science Research Methods Dr. Shane Dixon ✔ ✔
WS209 Women and Leadership Dr. Rosemary A. McGowan ✔ ✔
OL/HR251 Workplace Diversity in the 21st Century Dr. Lisa Kuron ✔
OL270 Leadership: Followers & Leaders Dr. Rosemary A. McGowan ✔
OL298 Entrepreneurship Dr. Rosemary A. McGowan ✔
OL300 Leadership Ethics Dr. Rosemary A. McGowan ✔
HR/OL301 Development Theories, Approaches, & Issues Dr. Rosemary A. McGowan ✔
OL314 Nonverbal Communication and Listening Skills Dr. Kris Gerhardt ✔
HR/OL322 Non-Profits and NGOs Dr. Rosemary A. McGowan ✔
OL340 Leadership, Culture and Change Dr. Rosemary A. McGowan ✔
OL365 Influence, Persuasion and Negotiation Dr. Kris Gerhardt ✔
OL370 Power and Governance in Organizations Dr. Ed Dandalt ✔
OL380 Directed Studies Dr. Rosemary A. McGowan ✔ ✔

9
OL481 Project Management Dr. Rosemary A. McGowan ✔

10