Leadership

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

The teaching period for this subject is an intensive one-week program involving high profile industry leaders and mentors as presenters, held at the University of Melbourne. Pre-reading will be required prior.

145 hours. Students will be required to attend the one-week intensive teaching period and also to commit extra time after for the follow-up assignment work. Students will be required to undertake some reading requirements during the pre-teaching period of this subject.

Permission of Subject Coordinator.

To maximize rewards from undertaking this subject and to enable effective participation, students should have five years' experience in a working environment.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Agri-organisations rely on organisational leadership as the basis for meeting the challenges of the industry sector and managing a dynamic workplace. Managers require an understanding of the leadership implications of the trends, issues and constraints relevant to their sector.
This subject focuses on the leadership role of managers in small, medium or large organisations involved in the agricultural value chain (e.g. on-farm, in food and fibre processing, professional services, government, or R&D organisations). This includes the traditional role of management, and consideration of different leadership models and current theories of leadership and leadership development for the modern organisation. The subject examines the leaders role related to:

• Organisational culture and values
• Social responsibilities and ethics
• Managing change, creativity and innovation

Students are encouraged to explore their own perceptions and experiences of leadership, and apply these to real-life work examples in agri-organisation contexts.
This subject will cover:

• Management versus leadership, the study of management and leadership, theories of leadership, leadership styles
• Trends, constraints and factors influencing management practice in agribusiness organisations. Organisational values, culture and environment. The global environment
• Followership, place-based leadership, gender and power in leadership, leading teams
• Organisational social responsibility and ethical behaviour
• Leadership and change, transformational leadership qualities, change management
• Models of leadership development in organisations and in agriculture
• Case studies of leadership in agri-organisations

The objective of this subject is to extend the participant's ability to:

• Understand the role of leaders and managers
• Assess theories of management and leadership
• Identify and interpret the trends, issues and constraints affecting leadership practice in organisations across agri-organisations
• Understand the importance of leadership succession
• More effectively practice leadership in a range or organisational settings

• Group presentations, 750 word summary and copy of PowerPoint presentation, due during the intensive teaching period worth 20%
• A two-hour written examination, due at the end of the intensive teaching period worth 30%
• One 2500 word individual assignment due at the end of March worth 50%

Daft, R. and Pirola-Merlo, A. (2009). The Leadership Experience: First Asia Pacific Edition. Cengage Learning: Melbourne. ISBN: 9780170134835.

A reading pack will be available on the LMS prior to the residential week and will be available as a hard copy on the first day.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• A profound respect for truth, intellectual and professional integrity, and the ethics of scholarship
• Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning
• An ability to derive, interpret and analyse social, technical or economic information from primary and other sources
• Awareness of an ability to utilise appropriate communication technology
• Capacity for creativity and innovation, through the application of skills and knowledge
• Ability to integrate information across a relevant discipline to solve problems in applied situations
• Highly developed written communication skills to allow informed dialogue with individuals and groups from industry, government and the community
• Highly developed oral communication skills to allow informed dialogue and liaison with individuals and groups from industry, government and the community
• Appreciation of social and cultural diversity from a regional to a global context
• Ability to participate effectively as a member of a team
• Ability to plan work, use time effectively and manage small projects