Leadership Theory BUS 500

Leadership Theory
Unit Code: BUS 500
Type of Assessment: Assessment 3 – Leadership Paper
Unit Learning Outcomes addressed: a) Analyse and explain historical trends in the concept of leadership
b) Analyse and explain how leadership overlaps with, yet can be distinguished from, management.
c) Demonstrate an ability to synthesise and apply knowledge and understanding of contemporary theories and practices of leadership to the analysis of case study and research data.
d) Demonstrate a critical understanding of how leadership theory informs contemporary leadership practice across a spectrum of organisational contexts.
e) Demonstrate a critical understanding of the differences between leadership influence and coercion, and other forms of power and authority.
f) Integrate biblical frameworks into a contemporary understanding of leadership theories.
g) Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the types of leadership styles and behaviours adopted by self and others, and their efficacy.
Criteria for Assessment: • Range and relevance of research undertaken
• Depth and breadth of issues covered with respect to the selected organisation
• Demonstrated level of understanding of issues, insights, including insights acquired into leadership within the selected organisation
• Professional recommendations that reflect advanced knowledge of Leadership theory and its application
Assessment Task: Each individual student will research and write a paper with analysis of leadership practices and associated issues within a selected organisation (word count: 2,500 words).
Submission Date: Week 13
Total Mark & Weighting: 40 marks | 40%
Students are advised that any submissions past the due date without an approved extension or without approved extenuating circumstances incurs a 5% penalty per calendar day,
calculated from the total mark e.g. a task marked out of 35 will incur a 1.75 mark penalty per calendar day.
ASSESSMENT DESCRIPTION:
Each individual student will research and write a paper with analysis of leadership practices and associated issues within a selected organisation, aimed at synthesizing the learning experience of the unit. The paper will cover the following:
• General overview of the organisation’s activities
• A general overview of the leadership practice within the selected organisation including leadership styles, any leadership challenges identified and leadership development activities in the organisation
• Analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the identified leadership practices in the organisation. This should include an analysis that the leadership practice has had on the overall organisational strategy or how the identified leadership practices have affected the performance of the organisation
• Basing on the issues identified and supporting theory, make recommendations for the organisation (focus on how the leadership practices can be optimised for maximum organisational impact).
RUBRIC:
High Distinction Distinction Credit Pass Fail
Content / Range of research 9-10 8 7 5-6 0-4
Range and relevance of
research undertaken
Excellent articulation and sound analysis with evidence of good research. Good analysis with evidence of good research undertaken for the presentation. Some attempt at critical analysis with evidence of research. Evidence of research but it is inadequate. Limited critical analysis Limited research and poor quality sources with little indication the author tried to critically analyze material.
Depth and breadth of issues 9-10 8 7 5-6 0-4
Depth and breadth of issues covered with respect to leadership in the selected organisation Appropriate content is covered in-depth without being redundant.
Good and in-depth coverage of issues Major sections of relevant content are included but not covered with depth as expected.
Limited scope of coverage, relevant content not covered in-depth. Major sections of relevant content have been omitted.
Understanding and analysis 9-10 8 7 5-6 0-4
Demonstrated level of
understanding of issues,
including insights
acquired into leadership
Exceptional understanding of leadership issues and practices with exceptional insights on the topic. Excellent analysis of the organization’s leadership issues
Good understanding of leadership issues and practices with good insights on the topic. Competent analysis of the organization’s leadership issues
Good understanding of leadership issues and practices organization. Some insights offered. Basic analysis of the organization’s leadership issues Basic understanding of leadership issues and practices in the organization. Limited insights offered. Limited analysis of the organization’s leadership issues
Limited understanding of leadership issues and practices in the organization. Generic presentation of issues; no insights offered. Lack of analysis of the organization’s leadership issues
Lessons / Recommendations 9-10 8 7 5-6 0-4
Professional recommendations that reflect advanced knowledge of Leadership theory and its application.
Exceptional analysis with professional recommendations that demonstrate strong knowledge and applicability of leadership theory.
Very good analysis with professional recommendations that demonstrate good knowledge and applicability of leadership theory.
Good analysis with some recommendations that demonstrate knowledge and applicability of leadership theory Analysis with fair recommendations that demonstrate some knowledge and applicability of leadership theory Limited, insufficient analysis. Inappropriate recommendations; demonstrates limited knowledge and applicability of leadership theory
Total /40
GENERAL NOTES FOR ASSIGNMENTS
Assignments should usually incorporate a formal introduction, main points and conclusion, covering the key issue in the selected organisation. Rather than giving a personal account of events, students are encouraged to write a professional paper with appropriate evidence to substantiate claims and citations and references as required.
Marks will be deducted for failure to adhere to the word count of 2,500 – generally you may go over or under by 10% than the stated length of 2,500 words.
GENERAL NOTES FOR REFERENCING
Students may draw on both academic sources (books, chapters from edited books, journals etc) and non-academic sources (e.g. company website, annual reports). Your work must show evidence of that you conducted your own research.

_________________________
a) Analyse and explain historical trends in the concept of leadership
b) Analyse and explain how leadership overlaps with, yet can be distinguished from, management.
c) Demonstrate an ability to synthesise and apply knowledge and understanding of contemporary theories and practices of leadership to the analysis of case study and research data.
d) Demonstrate a critical understanding of how leadership theory informs contemporary leadership practice across a spectrum of organisational contexts.
e) Demonstrate a critical understanding of the differences between leadership influence and coercion, and other forms of power and authority.
f) Integrate biblical frameworks into a contemporary understanding of leadership theories.
g) Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the types of leadership styles and behaviours adopted by self and others, and their efficacy.
ChatGPT
a) The concept of leadership has evolved over time. Historically, leadership was often viewed as an innate quality possessed by a select few individuals. However, as societies became more complex and diverse, leadership became more democratized and inclusive. In the early 20th century, scholars began to study leadership as a distinct area of research. The trait theory of leadership emerged, which focused on identifying the innate traits that made individuals effective leaders. Later, situational and contingency theories suggested that the effectiveness of leadership depended on the context in which it was applied. Transformational and charismatic leadership theories emphasized the importance of the leader’s ability to inspire and motivate followers. More recently, leadership has been studied in the context of teams and organizations, with an emphasis on distributed leadership, shared leadership, and servant leadership.

b) Leadership and management are often used interchangeably, but they are distinct concepts. Management involves the process of planning, organizing, directing, and controlling resources to achieve organizational goals. Leadership involves inspiring and motivating individuals to work towards shared goals. While management is focused on efficiency and optimizing resources, leadership is focused on innovation and creating a vision for the future. Leadership can be seen as a subset of management, with the primary focus on the human aspect of management. However, not all managers are necessarily leaders, and not all leaders are necessarily managers.

c) To demonstrate an ability to synthesize and apply knowledge and understanding of contemporary theories and practices of leadership to the analysis of case study and research data, one could analyze a case study or research data in light of different leadership theories and practices. For example, one could analyze a successful organization and identify the leadership styles and practices that contributed to its success. Alternatively, one could analyze a failing organization and identify the leadership deficiencies that contributed to its failure. The analysis could draw on different leadership theories and practices, such as transformational, servant, or distributed leadership.

d) To demonstrate a critical understanding of how leadership theory informs contemporary leadership practice across a spectrum of organizational contexts, one could examine how different leadership theories are applied in different organizational contexts. For example, one could compare the leadership practices of a non-profit organization with those of a for-profit corporation. Alternatively, one could examine how leadership practices differ in a multinational organization with operations in different cultural contexts. By analyzing how leadership theory informs contemporary leadership practice, one can gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of leadership in different organizational contexts.

e) To demonstrate a critical understanding of the differences between leadership influence and coercion, and other forms of power and authority, one could examine the different types of power and authority that leaders can wield, such as legitimate, coercive, reward, expert, and referent power. By analyzing how leaders use these different forms of power and authority, one can gain a deeper understanding of the ethical implications of different leadership styles. For example, a leader who relies heavily on coercive power may achieve short-term results, but may also alienate followers and damage morale.

f) To integrate biblical frameworks into a contemporary understanding of leadership theories, one could examine how leadership is portrayed in the Bible, such as the leadership of Moses, David, and Jesus. By analyzing these biblical examples, one can identify the leadership traits and practices that are valued in Christian leadership, such as servant leadership, humility, and compassion. This can inform a contemporary understanding of leadership that emphasizes ethical and moral values.

g) To demonstrate a critical appreciation of the types of leadership styles and behaviors adopted by self and others, and their efficacy, one could reflect on personal experiences of leadership, both as a leader and a follower. By analyzing different leadership styles and behaviors, one can gain a deeper understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. For example, a leader who is too autocratic may stifle creativity and innovation, while a leader who is too laissez-faire