Leadership In Action: Real Life Application of Leadership Concepts and Theories (10-12 pages, 70 points)
This assignment provides you the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the various theories and concepts studied in the ORGL program by applying them to real life leadership situations and scenarios. The submitted paper should address leadership of organizations from a real life perspective. Topics to be addressed are:
- Leadership style or approach.
- Success as a leader- how is it achieved?
- How do leaders handle difficult situations, circumstances and people?
- How do leaders strike a balance between organizational effectiveness and follower morale and well being?
- Reliance of leaders on certain theory, concept or philosophy to effectively move an organization forward.
- How leaders develop followers to follow in their footsteps. How is the next generation of leaders chosen?
- How current leaders are adapting to changes in technology and society.
As you develop this paper, plan on using three reference sources:
- Outside literature that focuses on organizational health, development and leadership
- Literature and other materials you used and studied in the ORGL program
- Content and insight from conducting interviews with two leaders of complex organizations
The completed paper should have no less than SIX references from outside sources and the ORGL program. Most superior papers have at least 10.
For the interview reference, select two upper level leaders from two different types of organizations to interview. The two individuals you are asked to interview must have a high level of responsibility and supervision within their complex organizations. They must be leaders, not managers. You will be rewarded for your creativity in choosing your appropriate interviewees. The aim of these interviews is to allow you to learn about leadership practices and realities from people who are practicing them on day-to-day basis in real organizations.
Do not interview a family member, relative, or close friend. For your two organizations, pick organizations that are reasonably large and complex in function. For example, one organization could be a for-profit business company (like L-3 Communications, American Airlines, JC Penney, a chain restaurant, or a local bank), while the second one could be a non-profit governmental, educational, or public organization (such as a city government, a local post office, a community college or university, YMCA, or the Red Cross). Do not select someone from your current organization or place of work. I would like for you to explore as many concepts and practices of leadership as possible in a variety of organizational settings.
Please make certain the interviewees know that what they tell you will be kept confidential. Ask for permission to write notes or audio tape your interviews to keep an audit trail. Use the Interview Questions template that is provided.
For non-interview reference material, review previous work in the ORGL program for material that relates to the paper’s topics. Also, seek supporting material from other outside sources such as journals, published papers and other scholarly sources. Do not rely 100% on website articles from weak, unknown sources as these will result in a lower grade.
Please write an integrated paper, analyzing the information you received from your reference material and the two interview participants. Discuss, compare and contrast material that you have gathered around each topic. Include a robust, but concise, introductory paragraph which will introduce the material to be covered.
To be sure, I want you to do very little reporting, just enough for your readers to understand the context of your discussion. The major bulk of your paper should be your analysis of your topics and reference material. Make sure that you relate or connect the views or perspectives of your interviewees to the other reference material about leadership, followership, organizational theory (how organizations work), and organizational behavior. Familiarize yourself with leadership theories and concepts, particularly Fiedler’s Contingency Leadership Theory and Hersey and Blanchard’s Situational Leadership Theory and use these to support your content.
You should use quotes where feasible and relate back to applicable concepts and theories from your readings and experience. Please provide both in-text citations and a complete reference page for all sources. All scholarly papers must have a reference sheet. Please familiarize yourself with the APA style of referencing. The APA style is the most popular and also easiest to use.
Here are guidelines for referencing a personal interview:
Here are guidelines for an APA reference sheet:
All scholarly papers must be written in complete sentences (not point from), with proper introduction of new topics or ideas, transition between points and paragraphs, and coherence. You must have a list of references at the end of your paper. Please remember that you are senior about ready to graduate with your degree. You must present a well-written scholarly and rigorous paper, with clear indications that you understand the concepts and practices of leadership and the ways to which they are connected to how organizations work (organizational theory). Academic scholarship is about presenting new ideas, not regurgitating old ones.
Please use Microsoft Word, Times New Roman 12 pt. font, typed double spaced, with no more than 1″ border on all four sides. Write in complete sentences (not in point form) using regular indented paragraphs. Remember to number your pages and run your spell checker before you submit your paper. I am expecting between 10-12 pages for this paper, not counting the formal title page, reference pages, and appendices. If you wait until the end of the term to submit your paper, you run the risk of getting an F grade since you will not have the time to rewrite
Leadership Interview Questions
These are general questions that can start the conversation with your interviewees. Ask follow-up questions to suit the conversation and interview process.
Question 1: What would you describe your leadership style or approach?
Question 2: What has contributed to your success as a leader?
Question 3: What is your typical approach in handling difficult people, conflicts, and complicated circumstances as a leader?
Question 4: Leaders may have to strike a balance between organizational effectiveness on the one hand and a regard for subordinate or follower satisfaction or morale on the other. Can you please explain how you personally balance the two and make it work?
Question 5: Have you developed or relied on a particular philosophy, theory, or approach to leadership that has helped you succeed as a leader? Can you please describe it and explain how and why it has worked for you?
