Written Assessment - Leadership

Assessment Brief: Interrogate the limits of current leadership practice and outline the potential of new forms of informed action as revealed in the set division readings.

Set question: "How can leadership be enacted in ways that address the messy world of organisations?"

To serve as a useful structure, the following three set readings will provide a skeleton framework to help you address the arguments which they will expand upon by choosing five other set readings from the three Module topic areas.

The three primary readings are:

1. Denis, Langley & Rouleau (2010)'The practice of leadership in the messy world of organizations'

2. Sinclair, A (2005) 'Body possibilities in leadership'

3. Ancona, Malone, Orlikowski &Senge (2007) 'In praise of the incomplete leader' Three prescribed readings are chosen because of the way in which:

i) Denis et al, lay out the shortcomings of current leadership theory and practice;

ii) Sinclair, illustrates two examples of alternative approaches;

iii) Ancona et al, provide a contemporary model of leadership practice to address the 'knowledge work' conditions organisations presently encounter.

The assignment requires you to use examples from each of these resources to signify your understanding of the challenges that leaders are facing To assist you in terms of direction the following briefly outlines the key focus of each of these base articles:

Content and Contextual Reference Points

i) The first reading lays out the issues that have been overlooked by the leadership 'industry'1 It draws attention to the complex conditions within which leadership is practised, revealing the pressures on leaders, in terms of context, relationships, and processes. Accordingly, you will gain insights into misunderstood/neglected aspects regarding contemporary practice.

ii) The second research article by Sinclair identifies aspects of identity that are idealised, yet little understood, in relation to leadership portrayals and links this to the consequent expectations in terms of sets of behaviours. Two examples of leaders operating differently, and successfully, are provided which reveal the shortcomings of taken-for-granted leadership behavioural stereotypes. The scenarios provide rich illustrations of productive practices.

iii) The final reading by Ancona et al outlines a succinct model that addresses the new directions leadership practices will need to take to address 21st-century workplace conditions. This example could be used to allow you to link with examples of how you would enact the leadership capabilities described.

Thus, the three reference points provide you with a template from which to contemplate the type of leadership understanding and sets of practices that will be most productive for the decades ahead for leaders operating in the global environment.

Suggested approach -

Identify and explain some of the shortcomings in current leadership programs and practice

Describe alternative approaches to current leadership programs and practice and the impact of these practices or approaches

Outline and explain some of the new approaches to leadership in the 21st century and factors driving these changes

Describe how an understanding of leadership and leadership practices is important to understanding their own leadership and leading effectively.

Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

Analyse frameworks and theory to develop strategies to manage diverse leadership challenges.

Provide a critique of the roles personal qualities, strategies and diversity play in leading others.

Recognise and evaluate the role of power, position, and incentives in leadership and identify strategies to manage more effectively.