Skip to Content

Foundations of Organisational Leadership

Unit code: MBM531

Credit points12.5 Credit Points
Duration
 
12 weeks or equivalent
Contact hours36 hours or equivalent
CampusPrahran
Prerequisites
 
Nil
Corequisites
 
Nil

Related course(s)

This unit is a core unit for the Graduate Certificate of Business Management (Organisational Leadership) and an elective unit in specified Graduate Certificates of Business Management.
 
The Graduate Certificate programs form the first year of the Master of Business Management .

Aims and objectives

This unit aims to provide students with an understanding of shifting leadership challenges across organisations and the influence of leaders at each organisational level. This unit will also introduce students to models of leadership and help them critique their relevance to contemporary organisational challenges and cultures. Finally, students will gain an understanding of group and team dynamics as they apply to decision making and problem solving.

The aims of this unit are to:
  • Compare and contrast leadership models and their perceived impact on the organisation
  • Describe and critique emergent leadership models and behaviours
  • Understand the impact of personal qualities, values, power and authority on responsible leadership roles
  • Understand the leader's role in responsible governance and stakeholder management
  • Explain the role of leadership in designing and shaping participative and collaborative work teams
  • Understand the role of leadership in empowering teams in decision making and problem solving

Teaching methods

Lectures, guest speakers, industry visits, case study analysis, online delivery.

Assessment

Individual assignment/report (30-50%)

Case-based project (30-50%)

Group-based online discussion (10-30%)

Generic skills outcomes

Swinburne University of Technology works to produce higher education graduates who are capable in their chosen professions, can contribute in an entrepreneurial and innovative way within their workplace or community, can operate effectively and ethically in their business life, and are adaptable and able to manage change. It is expected that graduates will leave with a diverse wealth of experiences and will have developed individual knowledge, abilities and attitudes commensurate with professional standards appropriate to the business and wider community.

Within this context it is the intention that this program will enable students to develop the following skills:
  • Teamwork skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Business research skills appropriate to addressing managerial challenges and problem solving
  • Problem solving and decision making skills
  • Communication skills
  • Reporting and presentation skills
  • Strategic thinking skills
  • Ability to work independently
  • Ability to address unfamiliar problems
  • Ability to engage in critical enquiry and discussion
  • Ability to identify and address ethical matters in business

Content

  • Introduction to leadership in complex environments
  • Leadership and influence in organisations
  • A critique of leadership across the organisation
  • Emergent leadership models and behaviour
  • Leadership qualities
  • Values, power and authority
  • Organisational political dynamics
  • Ethics, credibility and influence
  • Participative leadership, collaboration and empowerment
  • Stakeholder management and leadership
  • Group and team design and dynamics
  • Leading teams to decision make and problem solve

Reading materials

Buytendijk, F 2009, Performance Leadership, McGraw Hill, USA.

Champoux, JE 2006, Organizational Behaviour: Integrating Individuals, Groups and Organizations, 3rd edn, Thomson.

Durbin, A., Dalglish, C & Miller, P 2006, Leadership, 2nd edn, John Wiley & Sons, Milton, QLD.

Moodian, M 2009, Contemporary Leadership and Intercultural Competence: Exploring the cross-cultural dynamics within organisations, SAGE, USA.

Nahavandi, A 2009, The Art and Science of Leadership, 5th edn, Pearson Prentice Hall, USA.