MN50707: Leadership and change
[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]
 Academic Year: | 2020/1 |
| Owning Department/School: | School of Management |
| Credits: | 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 120 |
| Level: | Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
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| Assessment Summary: | CW 100% |
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| Description: | Aims: The aim of this unit is to provide students with an opportunity to explore a number of key challenges facing leaders in contemporary organisations of which the ability to manage change is paramount. 'Leadership' (or 'lack of leadership') is often heralded as the cause of organizational and societal crises, such as climate change and the banking collapse, yet is also often proposed as the solution to such problems - i.e. 'we need more leadership'. In this module we will explore different assumptions and understanding of leaders, leadership and how that is translated in interventions to make sense of and bring about change in a complex and dynamic world. The course is predicated on Lewin's dictum 'there is nothing so practical as good theory', and accordingly we will critically engage with theories of leadership and change in order to be practically relevant. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit, students will be able to: 1. demonstrate critical understanding, appreciation and application of the theories and perspectives that inform the literature on leadership and change 2. critically argue how this knowledge can be practically deployed and taken into their future work, life, communities and organisations 3. use 1 & 2 together to analyse with theoretical rigour and apply with practical relevance in the context of leadership and change. Skills: Knowledge and understanding: * An appreciation of the principles and practices underlying contemporary, strategic and sustainable leadership in organisations; * An appreciation of the fundamental frameworks necessary to understand internal and external organisational contexts as well as theoretical foundations underpinning the links between business and society; * Appreciation of the strategic management and development of people/human capital within organisations: the fundamental principles of human resource management; Skills * Ability to manage development of the mission, objectives and appropriate strategies of organisations within prevailing environmental and organisational constraints; * the ability to critically analyse specific situations using appropriate theoretical models, allied to pragmatic, well-reasoned judgements; * the facility to apply and integrate subject-specific knowledge, informed by academic research, into a range of complex situations; * operate effectively within teams as well as independently , assuming leadership roles where appropriate; * apply practical decision-making methods and tools at both tactical and strategic levels; * be self-directed and able to act autonomously in planning and implementing projects at professional levels; * an ability to reflect on their earlier learning and practice, so as to integrate new knowledge with past experience and effectively apply it to new situations; * an ability to develop a holistic perspective on an organisation and an understanding of how the different functions relate to one another. Content: This unit will cover a range of different perspectives on understanding leaders, leadership and change. Topics covered may include: * Leaders (a personality and trait view ); * Leadership (as a interactive process involving followers and extending to different types, e.g authentic / servant / dispersed). * Difference between leadership and management and its relationship to change * Connection between leaders/ leadership and bringing about different types of change ( 1st order / 2nd order ; continuous / discontinuous ) * Cultural change as the defining role of the leader * Leadership and change as a political process involving issues of power and trust. |
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MN50707 is Compulsory on the following programmes:School of Management
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