Leaders as Change Agents

In this assignment, you will study the factors involved in making leaders change agents.

For the assignment, you will put well-known personalities and yourself under the microscope to learn what makes you and the individuals you select not only leaders but also what it takes for leaders to be change agents.

Using the South University Online Library, the Internet, and periodicals such as Fortune, Business Week, and Forbes, research about the biographies, case studies, and articles of leaders.

Choose any two leaders who you consider to have been very successful change agents and two who you believe have been unsuccessful change agents. Write a brief biography of each of the leaders you selected.

In addition, answer the following questions regarding your chosen leaders:

• What were the leaders' bases of power? How was it gained? What was their reach or influence?

• How did the leaders find themselves in the position to serve as change agents? Describe the situation, including the need for a change agent.

• What mode did each leader operate in?

• Were the leaders successful change agents?

• What made the leaders successful or unsuccessful change agents?

• What were the similarities between the two successful leaders and the differences between the two successful and two unsuccessful leaders?

• Are there factors about the leaders you researched that might have predicted their success or failure before they achieved leadership roles? Explain at least three such factors.