School of Management, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
MN50263 Leadership in organizations & groups |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Masters |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: This unit aims to provide students with awareness, knowledge and understanding of key issues in theory and practice of leadership and governance of (and in) organizations.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit, students should have developed an understanding of key criteria, important contextual issues and relevant frameworks for understanding and evaluating leadership and governance in/of organizations, and against which board and corporate performance at this level are judged. Skills: Intellectual Skills (T/A) * a systematic understanding of organizations and their analysis, the internal and external context in which they operate and how they may be (in)effectively led, governed and managed by small groups of people eg. board, top management team etc; * a critical awareness of current issues and frameworks in leadership and governance of organizations and organizing; * the ability to acquire and analyse data, information and situations; to evaluate relevance and validity; and to synthesise this in the context of topical business problems; * a conceptual understanding of theoretical concepts and frameworks that enables the student to integrate, as well critically appraise, both theory and practice. Professional Practical Skills (F) * operate effectively both independently as well as within teams and assume leadership roles where appropriate; * be self-directed and able to act effectively in planning and implementing projects at professional levels. Transferable/Key Skills (F/A) * ability to reflect on and continue to learn from theory and practice of leadership and governance of organizing/ organizations; * ability to conduct in-depth research into management and business issues; * awareness of issues such as culture and context, personal working styles and decision making which influence effective performance and to use these to benefit both individual and 'team'; * the facility to incorporate subject specific knowledge into organizational situations with an appreciation of their practical implications for leadership and governance; and * the facility to communicate including preparing and presenting ideas to others. Content: Leadership is considered an essential ingredient for successful organizations and organizing: so also is governance. Against this backdrop, the unit aims to make sense of the exercise of influence by which 'things are made to happen' and are 'controlled' at senior levels of organizing. Drawing on classic and contemporary theory/literature and business illustrations as well as exercises and videos, this unit will explore where leadership and governance come together with strategic, financial, legal and human resource issues in the decision making group called the board which holds ultimate (moral) responsibility for corporate performance and control. Necessarily, the unit will consider both external/ contextual (eg. rules vs. principles etc) and internal/ cultural issues which impact on behaviour at this level, to develop an integrative appreciation of leadership (both individual and collective) and governance in the directing of organizations. Starting from the question of whether or not boards actually 'do' leadership, this unit will explore a number of significant themes, including board and director roles and responsibilities, key organizational stakeholders/ shareholders and accountability, risk behaviour and decision making, remuneration and succession planning, performance and board / director evaluation. |