Course Outline Leadership Theory and Management

Semester: Summer
Instructor: Farooq Omar
Course Code:

Course Description
This course provides an opportunity for practitioners and students to focus on
leadership in the information professions from both theoretical and practical
perspectives. The course employs theoretical concepts and models, coupled
with case studies based on the experiences of leaders within the profession to
understand how to develop leadership potential pertaining to Strategic
Environment & Management - in oneself and others.
1. Course Outline
Theory and practice will be explored together throughout the course,
specifically tailored to the organizational impacts and performance in varied
circumstances. Relationship between leadership and management theories
Leadership theories overview
Leadership theories in general will be covered, with an emphasis on their
relevance to the information services context. A case study will be used each
week to provide an opportunity for in depth application, reflection and review.
An integrated approach to theory and practice will be taken throughout.
2. Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will
Be able to analyze the drivers of change and the appropriateness of different
change models along with fundamental theories and concepts for particular
situations
Have a thorough understanding of the contested concept of leadership
Be able to apply leadership, change and innovation models and principles in
organizations
Understand the complex relationships between leadership, change and
innovation
Be able to critically analyze organizations in terms of their leadership needs
for change and innovation
3. Teaching and Learning Methodology
This course takes the form of modularized workshops on different but
interrelated topics on leadership, change and innovation. There will be
assignments, quiz & short presentations on each topic by the course
convener. For the topic of Innovation, Garrett Up still will be the presenter,
these presentations will be accompanied by extensive discussions of all topics
during which participants are expected to draw on their own work experiences
and relate them to the academic literature being presented. There will also be

in-class group work and presentations. Case studies will be used for some of
the group work. Students will develop their research and writing skills through
seeking, gathering and processing information and ideas for their major
assignment. At all times, students are encouraged to engage in critical
reflection of the study materials.
4. Structure and Content
There is will a reference textbook for this
course. Appropriate readings will be provided by
Class CR for through group mail each module.
Course Content
Week 1 Context and challenges in leadership
Challenges for leadership in the information services professions
Case Study
At the end of week one you should be able to:
Understand the relationship between leadership and management
theories
Understand the key leadership theories explored
Week 2 Knowing yourself as a leader
Self-assessment tools and approaches
Leadership traits and styles (theory and application)
Emotional intelligence
Gender and leadership
Case Study
At the end of week two you should be able to:
Understand a range of self-assessment tools and how to apply them
Understand and be able to apply the concepts of leadership traits and
style
Appreciate the role of emotional intelligence in leadership
Engage in the debate around gender and leadership
Describe and reflect on your leadership style
Week 3

Leading people

Understanding and leading individuals

Coaching, mentoring and facilitating
Creating and leading teams

Case Study
At the end of week three you should be able to:
Appreciate the complexity and challenges associated with leading
individuals
Understand the concepts of coaching, mentoring and facilitating and
debate their value in an information services context
Understand approaches to creating and leading teams
Critically Reflect on your own experience within a team and its
leadership
Week 4

Direction and strategy

Strategic focus and direction

Shaping values and cultures
Change leadership
Case Study
At the end of week four you should be able to:
Understand the role of leaders in setting strategic focus and direction
Appreciate the role of leaders in shaping values and culture in an
information services context
Understand the concept of change leadership
Appreciate peoples experience and response to change
Week 5

Developing leaders

Models and theories of leadership development

Leadership development for yourself
Leadership development for others
Case Study
At the end of week five you should be able to:
Understand the different models and theories associated with
leadership development
Critically assess leadership development approaches for the
information professions
Demonstrate knowledge of development approaches for yourself and
for others

Week 6

Influential leadership

Influence and persuasion

Working with politics and power
Leadership beyond the information services context
Case Study
At the end of week six you should be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge of theories associated with influence and
persuasion
Critically reflect on the impact of working with politics and power in the
information services context
Consider and demonstrate the importance of leadership beyond the
information services context
Reflect on your own approach to influencing
Assessment:
Weekly reflective journal entries relating to the case discussed in the
synchronous class.
a) A plan to develop ones own leadership potential based on the theory and
practical examples examined during the course trough quizzes and
discussions.
b) Reflective essay (5%)

This short essay concerns reflection on the materials presented in class and
in the readings for the course. You are expected to reflect on some (not all) of
the materials and assess their relevance to organizational leadership, change
and innovation. You are encouraged to draw on both personal experience and
appropriate literature in writing your essays. You can be both critical and
supportive of literature, theories, and concepts. The overall aim of the essay is
to demonstrate your understanding of the readings and other materials and
their relevance for the real world in which you and other people work. This is
an individual assignment. The effective use of theory and practice to
illustrate the argument, c) Ability to answer questions and respond
to comments
5. In class group presentation, duration 15 minutes maximum (5%)
Topics; Choose from any of the given below.
1. Its the followers not the leaders who determine organizational success
2. Organizational change is doomed to failure without effective leadership
3. Organizational change initiatives never involve empowerment but are
simple exercise in top-down authority.
4. despite (or, who knows, because of) the reams of worthy academic
treatises, the unending stream of self-congratulatory I did it my way blather

from pensioned-off executives and the veritable textual diarrhea of selfserving guru handbooks, (organizational] change remains a mystery)
Note: This assignment is aimed to test your ability to present a convincing
argument orally and to respond effectively to questions and critical comments.
There is no written paper to hand in.
Course Grading Criteria
Quiz
Assignments
Reflective Essay
Presentations
Midterm
Final Examination

10%
10%
05% (Part of Term Paper)
05% (
)
25%
35%

Total: 100

Course textbook:
Roberts, S. and Rowley, J. (2008). Leadership: The challenge for the
information profession. London: Facet Publishing.

X
Farooq Omar
Faculty IMS