Leadership and Innovation Courses: Fall 2010



Leadership

LEAF 500: Organizational Leadership and Self Development

0 Credit Hour(s)

Drawing on material from various social science disciplines, this integrative course focuses on research and models of leadership relevant to defining and achieving collective goals in a variety of organizational settings. Students explore the relationship between personality and behaviors of the socially responsible leader. This course explores the historical development of leadership theory and examines multiple leadership models with their associated strengths, weaknesses, and cross-cultural applicability to promote a broad understanding of leadership in an ethical context. Topics include personality theory, leadership style, theories of motivation, power and authority; transactional leadership; path goal, contingency and trait approach theories; transformational leadership; leader-member exchange; and the group development theory. Approaches include diagnostic instruments for self and others, role-plays, case studies, a writing project to establish a personal mission statement, and formulating strategies for balancing work and personal lives. The Leadership Portfolio is introduced. Prerequisite: Majors only or permission of instructor. Offered Fall (weekends) and Spring (Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 501: Critical Thinking, Creative Problem Solving, and Decision Making: Methods of Organization Research

0 Credit Hour(s)

The main goal of this course is to provide students with thinking and facilitation tools necessary for effective problem solving and decision-making. The course is based on a model of creative problem solving and decision-making, which unites a firm understanding of various methodologies, used for studying organizations, communities, and human behavior, with creative and critical thinking skills. The course includes the study of the inquiry process appropriate to investigation of organizational dynamics and human behavior. Topics include systems thinking, facilitation, collecting and processing information, defining core issues, weighing multiple potential solutions and planning for action. Common organizational processes and organizational skills practiced are gathering and organizing data, forecasting, decision-making under uncertainty, and communicating or presenting results. Teaching methods include lecture, computer assignments, case studies, and projects. Qualitative methods such as case studies, narrative accounts, and interviews will be discussed. Also, "scientific" ways of knowing will be contrasted with more intuitively based decision-making processes, demonstrating the importance of both in making ethical and personal leadership decisions. During this course, students will be encouraged to apply methodologies to their own experiences, and will engage in facilitation projects designed to allow them to use various methods to aid in the discovery of their own leadership decision-making processes. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered Fall (weekends) and Spring (Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 502: Leadership and Organizational Ethics, Values and Social Environment

0 Credit Hour(s)

This course presents an inquiry into the philosophical foundations of interpersonal relations and values in organizational contexts. The application of ethical, regulatory, and legal systems to the responsibilities of people in organizations toward society and individuals is explored. The leader's ability to recognize and address ethical issues using a grounded visible decision making process will be presented. Case studies will be used throughout the course. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered Fall (weekends) and Summer (Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 513: Developing Leadership Skills: One-on- One Leadership, Conflict Management, and Team Building

0 Credit Hour(s)

This course explores the problems, possibilities, and prescriptions when ethically leading in a one-on-one context, and how to effectively manage conflict and build teams. Topics include, systems thinking, coaching, organizational frameworks, employee competence and commitment, diagnosis, style flexibility, goal setting, feedback, and relationship building as processes in developing people. Students learn to diagnose employee development level, flexibly change leadership styles, set goals, listen, show how, and facilitate the problem solving of others. The second segment of the course emphasizes varied approaches and styles that facilitate the effective resolution of conflict. The third segment of the course emphasizes that teams execute better, learn faster, implement change more readily, and deliver quality products and services quicker and more efficiently. As a result, the team structure will be the vehicle organizations use to move forward in the new millennium. The curriculum incorporates models for transforming organizations into team-based cultures. Students learn as team leaders in the workplace to create a clear vision and purpose, empower and involve all team members, create an open, productive environment, meet deadlines, and celebrate successes. Teaching methods include diagnostic instruments for others and self, role-plays, case studies, and a project that applies these learnings to leading organizational development. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered Spring (weekends) and Summer (Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 514: Leadership and Community: Empowerment, Collaboration, and Dialogue

0 Credit Hour(s)

Through leadership immersion, an appreciation for and an understanding of the leadership processes of empowerment, collaboration, and dialogue in the context of creating and transforming community is obtained. Emphasis is given to understanding individual and group development, structures of collaboration and dialogue, and leadership that is oriented toward process rather than product. For this course, the student may work individually or within a small group to become knowledgeable about an agency or community group (identified below as practice setting), identify a goal/problem within the practice setting, and activate appropriate resources relating to the accomplishment of the goal or the solving of the problem. The student will apply action research methods to become knowledgeable about the practice setting. By spending time in a variety of positions within the practice setting, the student will become increasingly sensitive to the culture of the agency (or community group). Drawing on foundational theories relating to decision-making and problem solving, the student will become familiar with the problem solving mechanisms already in place at the practice setting. Applying theories of group dynamics and strategies for negotiation, the student will work with pivotal people to develop a goal or a problem statement. The remainder of the course will be spent on activating appropriate resources to meet mutually agreed upon goals or to solve the identified problem. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered Spring (weekends) and Fall (Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 515: The Business of Leadership: Financial, Organizational and Cultural

0 Credit Hour(s)

This course examines basic administrative tools and leadership techniques as they apply to a variety of organizations. Financial accounting and reporting (covering the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows) are introduced as important planning tools. The course focuses on identifying and managing organizational culture and people of diverse national cultures through differing approaches to leadership. Cultural considerations are woven through the managerial topics of planning and organizing for domestic and global organizations. This course includes common business processes and skills, such as innovative problem solving, negotiation, and effective presentations. Teaching methods include role-plays, discussions, case studies, readings, and experimental exercises. Prerequisites: Majors only. Offered Spring (weekends) and Fall (Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 526: Leadership in Business

0 Credit Hour(s)

This course focuses on synthesizing the study of ethical, creative leadership into the context of business organizations. The course encourages examination of the leadership demands specific to the business environment as well as personal application of these concepts. Common business process and skills studied are financial statement analysis, segment analysis, allocation and activity-based costing, transfer pricing, budgeting, and cost/volume/profit analysis. Topics include costing methods, performance assessment, open book management and enterprise resource planning. Special attention is given to the legal and ethical context in the practice of interviewing, selecting, training, promoting, and terminating employees. Teaching methods include lecture, computer assignments, case studies, and projects, illuminating the different and often-conflicting factors involved in incorporating financial data in visionary decision-making. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered Summer (weekends and Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 527: Leadership in Non-Profit Organizations and Community-Based Change

0 Credit Hour(s)

Designed for students preparing to assume the role and duties of a leader, supervisor, or governing board member of a non-profit organization. This course will review theory and investigate specific methods of behaviors of non-profit organization leaders. The course also develops the theory and practice of how community-based change often takes place under the aegis of members of that community themselves, rather than under the direction of outside organizations. The connection is made between the need for non-profits to help implement change directed by community, rather than simply setting the agenda for the community. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered Summer (weekends and Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 528: Leadership in Health Care Organizations

0 Credit Hour(s)

Designed for students preparing to assume the role and duties of a leader, supervisor, or governing board member of a health-care organization. This course will review theory and investigate specific methods of behaviors of health care organization leaders and the unique challenges and issues facing them. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered Summer(weekends and Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 529: Transformational Leadership and Organizational Change

0 Credit Hour(s)

This course explores the challenges and possibilities encountered when leading an organizational change effort. Topics include organizational vision, focusing behaviors, inspiring behaviors, levels of concern when making organizational change, alignment of organizational systems, and theories of change. Students learn to form vision statements, examine systems alignment, and implement strategies for organizational change. Teaching methods include diagnostic schemes, role-plays, case studies, and a writing project documenting an organizational change effort. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered Summer (weekends & Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 530: Customers, Stakeholders and Markets

0 Credit Hour(s)

This course focuses on internal and external customers and stakeholders while examining the key elements of marketing and underlying economic concepts. Students learn how to define a vision, determine salient customer and stakeholder values, institute effective values-driven systems, create a constituent-driven culture, develop brand identity and position products or services, choose distribution channels and promotion techniques, use statistical demand estimation, make pricing decisions, and develop a creative marketing strategy. Teaching methods include lecture, case studies, and simulations. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered Fall (weeekends and Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 540: Research Project/Thesis in Executive Leadership and Change I

0 Credit Hour(s)

The first part of the research project/thesis consists of identifying the problem, processing information, statistical methods, and use of information technology. This is a semi-independent study that entails research conducted under the supervision of a faculty member in an area of mutual interest. The course affords an opportunity to study a specific organizational problem, demonstrate a leadership initiative or institute an organizational change through Research Project I. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered Summer (weekends) and Spring (Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 541: Research Project/Thesis in Executive Leadership and Change II

0 Credit Hour(s)

Research project II/Thesis II consists of conducting and concluding independent research under the supervision of a faculty member. This is the conclusion of the thesis or the completion of Research Project II. While it is expected that LEAF 541 will be completed within the term of enrollment, it is recognized that an additional term may be needed depending on the specific nature of the student's research. Students who anticipate needing an extension for this reason should consult the program director regarding policy and procedure. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered Fall(weekends) and Summer (Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 557: Special Topics in Leadership

0 Credit Hour(s)

This class allows students and faculty the opportunity to design an individually tailored course suited to the special needs of the student or the cohort. Students can address a particular leadership issue peculiar to their profession or work situation. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered by special arrangement. (GR)


LEAF 560: Capstone Course in Leadership

0 Credit Hour(s)

This is the integrating course of the leadership program. There are two basic components of this capstone experience: first, peer evaluation and discussion of readings and research projects under the direction of the seminar leader; second, review of the leadership portfolio for completion. Teaching methods include cases and simulations. As part of the second part of the course, students will be exposed to the concepts of leadership development, personal growth, leading with soul, managing stress and self-management, working effectively with people, organizational and personal change. The course helps individuals develop a renewed sense of self and learn how to foster the development of self-confidence and esteem. Individuals assess their core values and finalize a strategic personal plan including a vision and mission statement, to be included in their leadership portfolio. The course helps participants focus attention on their creative potentials and how to begin to realize more of them. An appreciation for and understanding of different strategies and tools for fostering such developments in others is explored within the context of Executive Leadership Studies and Change. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered Fall (weekends and Tuesday nights). (GR)


LEAF 597: Independent Study in Executive Leadership Studies

0 Credit Hour(s)

This independent study entails research conducted under the supervision of a faculty member in an area of mutual interest to the student and faculty member. The course affords an opportunity to study a specific organizational problem or area of interest. Prerequisite: Majors only. Offered by special arrangement. (GR)