GRA 2239 Leadership in Organisations

GRA 2239 Leadership in Organisations

Course code: 
GRA 2239
Department: 
Leadership and Organizational Behaviour
Credits: 
6
Course coordinator: 
Wajda Wikhamn
Course name in Norwegian: 
Leadership in Organisations
Product category: 
Master
Portfolio: 
MSc in Leadership and Organisational Psychology
Semester: 
2021 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

It is indisputable that leaders have substantial impact on individuals and organizations. Among other things, they are the prime target of praise and blame for organizational outcomes. They are also organization’s face towards the internal (e.g., employees) and external (e.g., communities) environments. Defining what makes a successful or effective leader, however, is challenging and can be controversial. Scientifically, leadership is a conceptually complex construct as it touches upon various organizational, social and personal processes. Practically, it is paradoxical because it can be the problem and the solution for the challenges organizations face.

Developments in societies, including increased digitalization and demographic diversity, the changing nature of work (e.g., precarious work) and workers (e.g., the rise of the creative class), and the emergence of new forms of organizing work, such as networks and contingent teams, have all added to the complexity of studying leadership and contributed to the challenges faced by today’s organizational leaders.

The aim of this course is to give the participants an overview of the various scientific perspectives used for studying leadership, how leaders influence individual and organizational performance, and current developments and trends in leadership as a practice and a field of scientific research.

 

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

By the end of the course, the student should be able to: 

  • distinguish the various leadership theoretical perspectives.
  • explain how leaders influence individual and organizational performance
  • identify recent leadership trends in an evolving global environment.
Learning outcomes - Skills

By the end of the course, the student the student should be able to:

  • demonstrate the consequences of leadership on individual, group and organizational performance in today’s society.
  • apply relevant leadership theories to real-life work situations.
General Competence

By the end of the course, the student the student should be able to:

  • critically discuss the various theoretical perspectives and trends of leadership.
  • consider ethical implications of leadership and leadership in organizations.
Course content

Topics covered in the course include:

  • Managerial Work in the 21st century
  • Leadership perspectives and theories
  • Power and Influence Tactics
  • Leadership, creativity and Innovation
  • Leadership and Diversity
  • Leadership ethics
  • Leadership, sustainability, and societal challenges
Teaching and learning activities

The course consists of lectures, individual reflections, and group discussions and presentations of specified assignments.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

This course might have elements to be delivered by the lecturer/s digitally. This information will be communicated to students upon course start.

Please note that while attendance is not compulsory in all courses, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class.

All parts of the assessment must be passed in order to get a grade in the course.

Qualifications

All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have specific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.

Covid-19

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there may be deviations in teaching and learning activities as well as exams, compared with what is described in this course description.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Invigilation
Weight: 
70
Grouping: 
Individual
Support materials: 
  • Bilingual dictionary
Duration: 
3 Hour(s)
Comment: 
.
Exam code: 
GRA22394
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Exam category: 
Activity
Form of assessment: 
Presentation
Weight: 
30
Grouping: 
Group (2 - 3)
Comment: 
.
Exam code: 
GRA 22395
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Student's own work with learning resources
75 Hour(s)
Teaching
36 Hour(s)
Group work / Assignments
30 Hour(s)
Group assignments with oral presentations.
Submission(s)
30 Hour(s)
Individual assignments with written submission.
Sum workload: 
171

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of at least 160 hours.