Leadership and Change: Theories, Models, and Practice

Module Aims

The aims of the module are twofold:
1. To develop an in-depth understanding of the theories of leading change and the ingredients of effective leadership.
2. To support personal and professional leadership development in a way that ensures students can take the learning from the module into their respective organisation. Successful participants will be able to:
        
1 Understand the concept of leadership and acquire the knowledge and skills to lead people through effective decision-making and communication.
2 Understand the range of research perspectives relating to the field of leadership and change.
3 Utilise skills of personal and professional effectiveness such as self-awareness, self reflection and self-management.
4 Take responsibility to constantly develop leadership skills and grow through personal and professional development.

Authentic leadership and ethical leadership are today’s popular models of leadership. 
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of both, using the academic literature, and use real world examples of leaders, to support your answer.  Conclude with which model of the two that you propose for leading today and why. (40 marks)

Assessment Guidelines
1)The assignment may take the form of either an individual:
a)written, word-processed essay of not more than 1800 words, including title page, and in-text references, but excluding tables, reference list and appendices. 
OR
b)video recorded, multi-media presentation (e.g. a narrated PowerPoint) that is no longer than 15 minutes (approx. 12 slides), including on screen intro by student, title slide, overview of content, in-text referencing, reference list and appendices. Write your script in the notes section below each slide. You can record using Panopto. For information and the video submission link, go to the folder on BBL called ‘coursework assessment’ and open the folder ‘info for creating a video for your coursework’. The choice of essay/video allows you to consider which method suits you best and is in line with the best practise of Universal Design for Learning (inclusive design). 
2)Guidance will be given in class for this assessment exercise.
3)If you email your lecturer a one page outline of your coursework 1 essay (CW1 only) up to one week before the hand-in date, feedback and advice on its suitability (related to the assessment criteria) will be given.

4)This element of coursework accounts for 40% of the overall assessment. Students should refer to the marking criteria attached to provide them with fuller details of marking criteria for each classification band.

Assessment Task: Case Study of Leadership and Change: The Lego Group
The case study will be available in Week 7 on the module area on BBL in the CW2 Case Study folder.
Use the information, plus the academic theory and concepts from the module, to illustrate your understanding of leadership and change theory and practice. Answer all of the following three questions. 

Please note: Both models of authentic and ethical leadership (featured in your CW1) CANNOT be the basis of your answers to CW2 (they can be mentioned if relevant, but other leadership models need to be applied). 

Question 1 (20 marks)
Discuss and evaluate the changes made in The Lego Group since Jorgen Vig Knudstorp took over as CEO in 2004.  Use Kotter’s 8 Step Change Management Model (Kotter, 1995) and other relevant literature/models to support your answer.
 
Question 2 (20 marks)
Discuss and evaluate Jorgen Vig Knudstorp’s leadership of The Lego Group. Use Transformational Leadership Theory (Bass & Avolio 1985) as the basis for your answer.
Question 3 (20 marks)
Using your understanding of leadership and change during the COVID19 pandemic what recommendations would you give to The Lego Group to continue their success in the future (2022 onwards)? Support your recommendations with theory/COVID based reports, as appropriate.