Leadership Matters: Contemporary Debates

Module title	Leadership Matters: Contemporary Debates
Module code	SECM030
Academic year	2023/4
Credits	15
Module staff

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks		1

Number students taking module (anticipated)	20

Module description

This course will introduce academic research related to leadership and how this can be applied to the military setting. Leadership is a topic that has inspired a vast amount of opinion and research. The number of different perspectives can be overwhelming. In this course we will focus on the evidence: what does the research in this area tell us about effective leadership? What will become apparent is that there is no simple answer to what makes a leader effective, but we will discuss some things that should be considered.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The course aims to:

Outline the evidence base related to leadership theory and practice, and discuss trends in thinking about leadership.
Share evidence of good leadership practices from a range of different sectors.
Enable participants to challenge romantic views and assumptions of leadership
Equip participants to apply their understanding of leadership theory in their own situations

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. demonstrate familiarity with the concept of leadership;
2. explain a range of theoretical approaches to understanding leadership.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. describe fundamental influence processes involved in leadership;
4. evidence practical examples of leadership in a variety of contexts.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. identify the approaches, styles, strengths, and weaknesses that you bring to the leadership process;
6. work independently, within a limited time frame, to complete specified tasks.

Syllabus plan

The first day of the course will be spent on discussing some of the major approaches to studying leadership. This will include a discussion on the research methods involved and two main leadership approaches: the trait approach and the behavioural approach. Concepts such as authentic, empowering, and ethical leadership will be introduced. We will challenge previously held assumptions about what leadership is and explore some new potential paradigms. Theories will be supported by case studies and research studies. Group discussions will explore the underlying assumptions of different classical and contemporary theories and their applicability in the ‘real’ world. The final session will focus on the importance of considering the importance of considering how leadership can be embedded in wider organisational design and how embedding certain structures can enhance leadership effectiveness.

The second day will challenge some of the traditional ideas that leadership is about behaviours and traits. Instead, there will be an exploration of how what may be considered effective leadership in one context may be highly ineffective in another context. Relatedly we will discuss some of the negative sides of leadership such as the dark side of leadership, narcissistic and toxic leadership. In practical terms, how we deal with toxic leaders and their influence will be a key theme. We will discuss the importance of considering the role of followership in the leadership process. The day will also explore the impact of purpose, aligned values and shared leadership when leading and motivating others.

The third day will build on the previous day and continue to explore different perspectives on leadership. There will be further discussions around the importance of followership, identity, and leader-follower relationships.

Cross cutting these days we will examine a series of more practical issues necessary in leadership: developing awareness of others and one’s own impact, giving and receiving feedback, observation/reflection and critical review skills.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
18	132	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	18	Seminars (12 x 1.5 hours)
Guided Independent Study	21	Preparation for seminars
Guided Independent Study	80	Consolidation and further reading
Guided Independent Study	30	Preparation for summative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay (Assessment is optional)	100	1,500	1-7	Written feedback with percentage grade

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Essay	Essay	1-7	Reassessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Not required, but some suggested reading

Leadership: Past, present, and future. In Antonakis, J., Cianciolo, A.T., & Sternberg, R.J. (2004). The nature of leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications

Donovan, J. A , C. A.,., Gopalakrishna-Pillai, K., Pellegrini, E. K., & Rossomme, J. L. (2004). Antonakis, J., Schriesheim

Methods for studying leadership. The nature of leadership, 48-70.

Haslam, S. A., & Reicher, S. D. (2016).

Rethinking the psychology of leadership: From personal identity to social identity. Daedalus, 145(3), 21-34.

Key words search

Leadership; Leadership theory; leadership practice; leadership behaviours

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	29/01/2024
Last revision date	29/01/2024