Foundations of Leadership

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 hours

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

Foundations of Leadership, as part of the Professional Certificate in Workplace Leadership, is designed to offer significant practical learning opportunities for a diverse range of early career professionals seeking to develop their business, managerial and leadership skills and knowledge. It is also suitable for emerging leaders, or those who have been promoted, or seek promotion and wish to develop their leadership capabilities to complement their technical knowledge and expertise, in order to get the most out of themselves and their teams.

In Foundations of Leadership, students will learn and apply core knowledge, skills and tools needed to be effective organisational leaders. This subject investigates what leadership is, why it is important and analyses the factors that impact upon workplace leadership and the impacts leadership has in an organisational context. This subject will begin by focusing on leadership of self, and the role of leadership in contemporary organisations. Students will undertake diagnostic assessment and reflective exercises to gain insights into their leadership values, strengths and weaknesses and use these to create a personal leadership development plan.

Students will also undertake a range of learning activities including simulated leadership challenges to demonstrate core capabilities including; interpreting and influencing, planning and problem solving. They will also apply and develop fundamental leadership skills such as collaboration, relationship building, listening and communication and self-reflection. This subject provides the foundation for the second subject in the course, Leadership in Practice, in which students will develop more advanced leadership knowledge and skills for leading and influencing within increasingly complex organisational environments and systems.

This subject includes lectures with leading experts, tutorials, case studies, leadership diagnostics, contemporary readings and resources, facilitated and group discussions.

On completion of this subject students will be able to:

• Demonstrate insight into what leadership is and why it is important
• Understand the broader trends affecting the future of work and modern workplace leadership
• Identify the knowledge, skills and applications of effective workplace leadership
• Analyse key issues related to effective leadership
• Explain how leadership impacts on employee performance, both positively and adversely
• Reflect upon his or her role, values, personal ability and opportunities to practice effective leadership within his or her teams, departments and broader organisations
• Design a personal leadership development plan.

• Weekly online activities, including discussion board contributions, quizzes, reading summaries etc. (1000 words), due throughout term (20%)
• Individual Leadership Diagnostic, due end of Week 1 (hurdle)
• Individual Leadership Development Outline (750 words), due end of Week 3 (15%)
• Group Assessment Case Analyses, 3-4 students per group (total 1500 words per student) (30%)
  • Part A: 500 words per student, due Week 5 (10%)
  • Part B: 1000 words per student, due Week 7 (20%)
• Individual Leadership Development Plan (2000 words), due at end of assessment period (35%)

This subject will use a Course Pack approach and provide students with relevant just-in-time readings from refereed journals, current academic monographs, industry and grey literature as well as relevant audio and video resources.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On successful completion of this program, students should have enhanced their skills in:

• Self knowledge and regulation
• Taking values-based action.
• Reflecting critically on their own learning and development
• Understanding and demonstrating ethical behaviour in leadership
• Analysis and problem solving
• Written and oral communication
• Giving and receiving effective feedback
• Strategic thinking and decision making
• Effective teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration (including online)
• Synthesising ideas, theories and data when developing solutions to problems related to management and leadership.