Introductory description

Current Issues in Leadership is designed to provide students with the ability to critically assess issues related to leadership and management in organisations, with a particular emphasis on management consulting. This is achieved by reading and discussing relevant literature, as well as simulating and studying real life examples. The key aims of this module are to (1) introduce students to key contemporary themes, debates and theoretical frameworks in the area of leadership; (2) examine key leadership themes and applicability of theoretical frameworks in relation to real-world cases; and (3) develop students' capacity for critical and reflexive thinking about leadership theory and practice. Each week's content is based on a particular leadership issue or set of issues and builds on the previous week to generate a coherent learning journey. These issues may include the following:

When should you lead, manage, command?
How can you motivate others?
How can you drive and manage organizational change?
How can you lead global and remote teams?
How can you build personal and organizational influence?
How can you make better organizational decisions?
How can you address conflict between stakeholders?
How can you stimulate innovation and creativity?
How can you contribute to sustainability and positive societal change?

Module web page

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.

Topics to be examined will include:

• Trait approaches to leadership
• Style approaches to leadership
• Contingency approaches to leadership
• New Genre theories of leadership
• Leadership skills
• Effective team leadership
• Current topics in leadership

Learning outcomes

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

• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of key leadership theories
• Demonstrate critical understanding of the role of leadership in organisations, and an awareness of the role of context
• Demonstrate Analytical skills
• Ability to assess and critique research on leadership.
• Demonstrate a thorough awareness of critical current issues in leadership and of leading edge research in the field

Indicative reading list

Dugan, P. Leadership theory: cultivating critical perspectives (2017). Jossey-Bass

Daft, R.L., Lane, P.G. The leadership experience (2018). Cengage Learning

Buchanan, D.A.., Huczynski, A. Organizational behaviour (2019). Pearson

Judge, T. A., Colbert, A. E., & Ilies, R. (2004). Intelligence and leadership: A quantitative review and test of theoretical propositions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 89(3), 542-552.

Morgeson, F. P., Reider, M. H., & Campion, M. A. (2005). Selecting individuals in team settings: The importance of social skills, personality characteristics, and teamwork knowledge. Personnel Psychology, 58(3), 583-611.

Yoo, Y., & Alavi, M. (2004). Emergent leadership in virtual teams: what do emergent leaders do? Information and Organization, 14(1), 27-58.

Research element

The module exposes students to academic research and requires critically engaging with and applying theory. The assignments support students’ abilities to work with academic research and interpret items, such as news articles, using different theoretical lenses. Moreover, students are required do their own research for each group assignment which involves searching for relevant empirical material.

Interdisciplinary

The module is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing from psychology, social psychology, sociology, philosophy and other disciplines to critically discuss leadership

International

The module is designed to be international in every aspect. Learning material includes publications from scholars across the world, as well as interviews with senior consultants and managers across different regions (e.g. UK, Hungary, Romania, South Africa). Cultural issues are discussed throughout the module, beginning with discussions about how leadership is typically interpreted in different parts of the world, for instance highlighting differences between American, German and Chinese understandings. This also applies to communication norms and power relations, which are key topics in the module.

Subject specific skills

Apply knowledge and understanding of leadership theories to cases and “real life” situations

Demonstrate research skills

Transferable skills

Written and verbal communication skills

Time management skills

Critical thinking skills