Leadership in Practice

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

Leadership in practice, 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 extend 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.

Following the Foundations of Leadership subject, in Leadership in Practice, students will extend their development by learning and applying more advanced knowledge and skills in order to exercise and foster leadership within more complex organisational environments and systems. Drawing on theories and empirical evidence students will devise a plan to overcome a complex personal leadership conundrum. Students will also undertake more complex collaborative leadership challenges, in order to develop their critical analysis and strategic thinking, decision making, coaching and supporting skills.

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

On successful completion of this subject students will be able to:
• Analyse a workplace scenario and critique examples of effective and ineffective leadership
• Demonstrate the ability to listen, coach and support others to maximise their workplace performance
• Work collaboratively to make decisions and solve a complex leadership challenge
• Implement a personal leadership development plan
• Interpret and apply new leadership skills and knowledge in the workplace
• Reflect upon and evaluate his or her personal leadership development.

• Individual weekly online activities relating to pre-reading materials and webinar/lecture content, completion of online leadership diagnostics (equivalent 1000 words in total), due weekly during teaching period (20%)
• Individual reflection on leadership plan (750 words), due Week 3 (15%)
• Personal leadership conundrum (2000 words in total) (35% in total)
  • Part A: Plan (500 words), due Week 5 (10%)
  • Part B: Final Paper (1,500 words), due at end of assessment period (25%)
• Team case study analysis, 3- 4 students per group (1500 words equivalent per student), due Week 7 (30%)

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:

• Systems thinking
• Self-knowledge and regulation
• Wise and effective decision making
• Taking values-based action
• Understanding good governance and business ethics
• 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)