Contemporary Issues in Organizational Leadership

Discussion 1 : Ethical Leadership

Companies have become increasingly aware of the advantages that being ethically conscious have to offer, especially in the global economy.

Using the overview of ethical leadership provided in this week's lecture and readings, in what way can ethical business practices increase organizational competitiveness in their respective industries and help to further substantiate the notion that an ethical culture is good for business?

Conversely, how does unethical leadership adversely affect the organization's bottom line? What impact can a leader's position on ethics have on the culture of an organization?

Discussion 2 : Ethical Organizational Culture

What is the relationship between a leader's responsibility for ethical behavior and the idea of an ethical organizational culture?

Research a specific nonfictional leader of your choice and provide examples of the behaviors this leader exhibits that highlight the role of ethics in leadership.

Answer the following in your post:

1. Can a leader's public and private morality be distinguished? Should they be?

2. Can a bad person be a good leader?

3. Why is it important for leaders to demonstrate ethical conduct?

4. Which is more important for improving ethical values in an organization: a code of ethics, leader behavior, or employee training?

Assignment : Characteristics of Leader Effectiveness

The purpose of this assignment is to examine similarities and differences in characteristics of effectiveness for several familiar leadership roles. In a three- to four-page paper (excluding the title and reference pages)

• Identify the characteristics by which the effectiveness of the following leaders might be evaluated: an assistant coach, a teacher, and a minister. Prioritize and explain the rationale for these characteristics.

• Discuss the ethical issues or challenges associated with prioritization.

• Compare and contrast the extent to which there are unique or similar characteristics across the different roles, and the extent to which the criteria are measurable.

For example, some of the characteristics you might identify for the role of assistant coach might include the leadership behind a team's win-loss record, player perceptions, team morale, etc.

Your paper must be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center, and it must include citations and references from the text and at least two scholarly sources from the Ashford University Library.