Introductory description

This module aims to develop the leadership skills of final year undergraduate students. Students will learn theories of managing teams, conflict management, coaching skills, and influencing skills to become resilient and effective leaders who can navigate a fluid and complex world. Also, students will train their leadership mindset by becoming familiar with cutting-edge research on contemporary management issues, including grand societal challenges and wicked problems such as equality, diversity, ethics, sustainability, entrepreneurship, future of work and digital business. In the seminars, students will engage in high-level, intellectually challenging critical discussion and debates, and practice their leadership skills, and complex problem-solving skills.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Introduction – what is my leadership style?
Complex problem solving skills 1
Managing teams
Conflict management
Complex problem solving skills 2
Negotiation skills
Influencing skills
Coaching skills
Complex problem solving skills 3
Conclusions & reflections

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Understand and critically analyse cutting-edge contemporary issues and research.
• Become familiar with theories of leadership skills.
• Engage in critical discussion about contemporary management issues.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills.
• Voice different perspectives creatively.
• Build a tolerance for ambiguity and incompleteness.
• Develop creative and original thinking.
• Complex problem-solving.

Indicative reading list

Buchanan, D. A., & Huczynski, A. A. (2019). Organizational behaviour. Pearson UK.
Dugan, John P. (2017) Leadership theory: cultivating critical perspectives. Jossey-Bass.
Heifetz, Ronald A., Marty Linsky, and Alexander Grashow. (2009) The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World. Harvard Business Press.
Ivory, S. B. (2021). Becoming a Critical Thinker: For Your University Studies and Beyond. Oxford University Press. (Available at the library, print book)
Schein, E. (1990). A General Philosophy of Helping: Process Consultation. Sloan Management Review, 31, 57 (available online).
Thomson, B. (2020) How to Coach: First Steps and Beyond. London: Sage.

Subject specific skills

Select, synthesise, and critically elaborate a set of relevant theories and concepts, research facts, insights, and considerations that form the basis for writing a compelling reflective essay.
Write a compelling narrative that reflects the multiple facets of contemporary management problems.
Critically reflect how to impact society through leading others in a complex world.

Transferable skills

Develop leadership skills.