Leadership Essay: Overcoming Interpersonal and Operational Challenges

Theories of Leadership and Approach

Drawing on knowledge developed within this module, your own experience and wider reading, you are requested to compose an essay of 3500 words in which you critically engage and address the following aspects of the job:

1.Explain how you would lead your organization. In doing so you are expected to explore relevant theories of leadership that you would consider to arrive at theories/practices/approaches that might be appropriate. You will evaluate and justify your preferred approach/theory/perception/practice and why this/these might be suitable

2.You will certainly face challenges with cultural differences. Explain the theories within the study of culture, national culture and diversity that would inform your thinking. Critically draw on this knowledge to mitigate inevitable interpersonal and operational issues that will arise as a result of cultural, behavioural and personality differences

3.Communication will be another challenge which you will need to address. In your essay, critically reflect on ways in which you will manage communication barriers between employees. Also, elucidate how language difference could enhance/inhibit a closer/collegiate working environment.

4.You are advised to undertake a process of change that requires your subsidiary to show proof of awareness and application of ethical, moral and ecologically friendly approaches that enhance sustainability to boost the image of your company. What would you consider and how would you implement this demand.

5.At the time you are appointed, it has been noted that the performance level of your organization is on a decline. The pressure is on you to improve performance.

Critically explore the literature on motivation and construct an approache(s)/theories that might or might not lead you to enhance employee wellbeing and performance

6.As you will be aware, leadership is not just about leader influence, motivation and control. You are requires to engage with the literature on emotional intelligence, groups and teams to explore ways in which you could achieve effective leadership and employee engagement

7.We will expect you to write a clear introduction which clearly explains the task, identifies key issues to be developed and evidences a clear structure explaining the sequencing of the different sections of your essay

8.Your essay should end with a composite conclusion reminding the reader about what the task was, how it has been accomplished, the key points to take home as well as your own reflection on the learning gained in completing the module and the task .

Note that you have been asked to write an essay rather than a report. You will therefore avoid sub-headings and writing in the third person – ‘I’, ‘my’ or according to my opinion. Words from reference list are not included in the word count.

Culture and Diversity

Also, note that the reference sources you use for your essay should come from the following list of ABS3* and 4* journals: (Seek advice from a library staff should you find any difficulty in finding these journals and the articles you use to build your essay and support your arguements)

Recommended journals for select your articles:

§International Journal of Human Resource Management

§Work, Employment and Society

§Human Resource Management Journal

§European Journal of Industrial Relations

§Gender, Work and Organisation

§Employee Relations

§Human Relations

§Organizational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes

§Journal of Organizational Behaviour

§Academy of Management Perspectives

§Academy of Management Journal   

§Academy of Management Review

§Human Resource Management

§Leadership quarterly

§Leadership journal

Note further that the articles or reference sources you bring into your essay should not be older than 5 years. This means that you should only use reference sources or articles published between; 2015 - 2020. The markers are more interested in ongoing, current conversations/debates and issues around the various topics rather than references such as: Transformational leadership (Burns, 1978; Bass, 1985) or Maslow’s theory of motivation (Maslow, 1943). We are interested in your reading and understanding of the manner in which recent writers are engaging with these foundational concepts rather than in your ability to explain what these concepts are. As much as possible, avoid explanation and definitions of theories. Rather, engage in critical examination about how these concepts are written about and applied in today’s business and management context.

In your analysis, you should aim to compare and contrast between theories/perceptions/approaches etc. In the process, you will consider highlighting similarities and differences in the arguments developed, evaluate the value and contribution and suitability of theories/approaches in your context. Avoid simple explanation and description. Rather, seek to analyse current issues engaged in the various streams of literature in some depth, outlining implication, limitations and questioning assumptions drawing on your experience or alternative real life news, events or cultural conventions.

Submission is online only and it must be submitted through TURNITIN which you find on the module shell. Submit in the link DMU submit only not later than 1pm on April

Reassessment or resubmission

Students who fail on first submission will have to be retake and submit an improved version of their work within one month of the date of release of results. The lecturer (s) will inform candidates who will be retaking the assessment of the exact date and time for submission. The date will also be communicated by the admin office. Note however, that if you fail to achieve a passing grade of at least 50%. Your mark will be capped at a maximum of 50% on resubmission.

Assessment Regulations

Normal MSc/MA regulations apply – please refer to the programme handbook for further information on assessment rules.  The attached marking grid will be used to mark your work.

1)Your assignment will be anonymously marked so you must not identify yourself other than by using your student number (P number) anywhere on, or within, the assignment.

2)Your assignment must be submitted online via Turnitin only. Note that there will be different submission points. Submit to DMU student link only

3)The front cover of your assignment should include:-

4)Coursework must be submitted in Arial point 12 font, and double-line spacing.

5)There should be no header, footer or footnotes.

6)Harvard referencing rules apply.

7)There should be a single alphabetic reference list, in Harvard style, placed at the end of the assignment.

8)Submit your assignment by uploaded to Turnitin, before 12:00 noon on the 21st of January 2020. Any submissions of this deadline will automatically be capped at a maximum of 50%. You are encouraged to upload your assignment the day before just so that you are able to make amends in case there are any technical issues (which doesn’t count as an excuse for late submission). Check to be sure that you have uploaded the correct version and that you have met all the submission requirements.

•Cite and reference everything used and studied for your assignment.

•Always put quotes in quotation marks and indent quotes of significant length so they stand out from the rest of the text. This marks them as not your own words.

•Always acknowledge the source within the text and in full within the bibliography at the end.

•HOWEVER: It is not OK to copy and paste as long as you cite the source. You still need to express the information in your own words.

•Where paraphrasing an individual always acknowledge them as the source of the ideas.

•Do not leave your work until the last minute, in order to avoid panic plagiarism.