Write a paper (approximately 2,500 words not including title page, abstract, or reference list) that demonstrates mastery of the major course theories and concepts pertaining to leadership (i.e., power, contingency factors, influence tactics, leader-member exchange, decision styles, time-driven model, transformational/transactional) and their relevance and usefulness in a situation that has meaning for you.
Comply with these requirements for this assignment. Part I:
Consider an individual in your professional life (not necessarily a CEO or formal leader) who either demonstrated the characteristics and behaviors associated with effective leadership or failed to do so. Select an example sufficiently meaningful for you that it caused you to reflect upon your own leadership capacity and goals. Your example must be someone who impacted you personally in your workplace, not a national public or business leader. In making your selection, it is wise to ensure you have sufficient emotional distance to undertake a balanced analysis. Find and effectively incorporate insights and support from at least three current and relevant scholarly journal articles from our list Leading Business, Management & Technology journals in Module III in addition to the assigned readings.
Part III: Apply APA formatting rules (see Hacker & Sommers) and include the following information in your paper.
Title page (separate page)
Abstract (separate page – maximum 150 words)
Introduction (approximately 150 words)
Explain the purpose of the assignment, the main points you will be making from your analysis of this case example, and the organization for the paper.
Context (approximately 150 words)
Succinctly explain the leadership example you will be using and the rationale for your choice.
Theoretical Framework (approximately 600 – 700 words)
Summarize the main points gleaned from your readings and research that you will be applying when analyzing your case. Your primary source for the theories and ideas relevant for this assignment are those summarized by Colquitt et al. in Chapters 13 and 14. In other words, this section of your paper should summarize what we would expect of any highly effective leader given what we know from research conducted on sources and uses of power, contingency factors, influence tactics, organizational politics, approaches to conflict, leader-member relationships, traits, decision styles, and transformational versus transactional leadership.
Application and Analysis (approximately 800 – 850 words)
Apply the relevant course ideas (introduced in the section above) to your leader example, consistently addressing whether there is verifiable evidence your particular leader example meets or does not meet the characteristics expected of a highly effective leader. Supplementing your analysis with ideas gleaned from your journal research will help strengthen this section. As you undertake your analysis, apply Browne & Keeley’s model to ensure you present sound reasons for your choice, avoid use of ambiguous words and phrases (i.e., ensure key terms are well explained), monitor your own assumptions and prevent against potential biases, develop logical arguments free of fallacious reasoning, rely on compelling objective and verifiable evidence, consider alternative perspectives and causes, ensure significant information has not been missed, and verify that the conclusions you have reached are sound and well supported. To serve as a foundation for the next section, conclude with a brief paragraph that summarizes your key findings about the relative effectiveness of your particular leader.
Conclusions and Reflections (approximately 250 – 300 words)
Present a brief summary of your conclusions about effective leadership, including anything you found that was surprising and any important factors that may have limited your ability to undertake a thorough and unbiased analysis of your leader example.
Reflect back on what you wrote in week one about your own leadership strengths and areas needing improvement. Consider, as well, the results of the various self-assessments you have completed throughout this course. Discuss the lessons you will take from this research project as a current or future manager/leader.
References
Present your references in alphabetical order, being sure each one is formatted in compliance with APA standards. Include only those articles that are cited in the body of your paper. Ensure your references qualify as scholarly and that at least three of them are published in the list of leading business and management journals posted in the Content section of our classroom. Remember that, with the exception of the course textbook, faculty must be able to access all materials used and cited in UMUC’s password-protected library databases.
