LDR 504
1
Albertus Magnus College
New Haven, CT 06511
Mod 4
LDR 504
Cultural Anthropology and Leadership: Organizations as Culture
Master of Arts in Leadership Program
Instructor:
Office:
Contact
Office Hours:
John Donohue
AH 122
Phone: 203-773-8068
by appointment
email: jdonohue@albertus.edu
Tradition of Honor: As a member of the Albertus Magnus College Community, each student taking this
course agrees to uphold the principles of honor set forth by this community, to defend these principles
against abuse or misuse and to abide by the regulations of the College. To this end, every student must
write and sign the following statement at the end of each examination: "I declare that I have abided by
the Honor Pledge.”
Special Needs and Accommodations: Please advise the instructor of any special problems or needs at
the beginning of the semester or mod. Those students seeking accommodation based on disabilities
should provide a Faculty Contact Sheet obtained through the Academic Development Center in Aquinas
Hall, (203) 773-8590.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course, students will analyze organizations as cultures. Experts attribute the success or failure of
enterprises to their "organizational culture." What is culture? What are the distinctive methods that
leaders and consultants borrow from cultural anthropology to deepen their understanding of their
organizations? How does analysis of an organization's culture help its leaders achieve their mission? The
seminar will focus on the interplay of leadership, culture, and organizational effectiveness. How do
leaders create, embed, and change the values of the organizations they lead? Participants will begin to
learn the skills of ethnography, culminating in a mini-ethnographic study of an organization and a report
of their findings.
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COURSE OBJECTIVES
1.
The student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of culture.
2.
The student will explain how the tools of cultural anthropology are applied to studies of
organizations.
3.
The student will explain the relationship between organizational structure and effective leadership.
4.
The student will demonstrate the ability to integrate anthropological knowledge and techniques
through the production of a written mini-ethnographic study of an organization.
GRADING POLICY AND METHOD OF EVALUATION
Grades will be earned through the completion of seven written assignments:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
TOPIC
In a 2-3pp paper, research a specific leader and explains how she or he supports or challenges different
theories of leadership
In a 2-3 page paper, outline the life of Robert E. Lee. Was he a born leader or did he develop this
ability? Use at least 3 print or online sources in addition to Shaara.
In a 2-3 page paper describe how varying cultures or social types can shape the qualities needed to be a
leader.
In a 2-3 page paper compare and contrast the leadership styles of Lee and Chamberlain, relating them
to their individual backgrounds and the “culture” of the armies they served in.
In a 2-3 page paper, explain the characteristics of culture and how the dynamics of culture can be both
overt and covert, using the example of the Hawthorne study.
In a 2-3 pp. paper, outline a proposal for the ethnographic study of an organization
In a paper of at least 10 pp., present the result of your research, detailing its insights, limitations, and
suggesting avenues of further research
All assignments must be typed and properly formatted (12 pt, double-spaced) and utilize the APA
citation format. All papers must be submitted electronically in Word format no later than10:00 pm on
the date due. Submissions are sent to jdonohue@cc.albertus.edu.
The instructor is available for questions, discussion, etc. either by phone (203-773-8068) or
electronically at jdonohue@albertus.edu.
Points
10
10
10
10
10
10
40
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CLASS SCHEDULE
WEEK
IN CLASS
ON LINE
1
3/24
3/29
2
3/31
4/5
3
4/7
4/12
4
4/14
4/19
5
4/21
4/26
6
4/28
5/3
7
5/5
5/10
8
5/12
5/14
TEXTBOOK(S) and/or SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Required Texts:
Jordan, Ann T.
2003. Business Anthropology.
Long Grove, Ill: Waveland Press
ISBN-10: 157766213X
ISBN-13: 978-1577662136
Schwartzman, Helen B.
1993. Ethnography in Organizations
Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications
ISBN-10: 0803943792
ISBN-13: 978-0803943797
Shaara, Michael
2004. The Killer Angels. Modern Library
ISBN-10: 0679643249
ISBN-13: 978-0679643241
Supplementary Readings
As provided in Shared Files
LIBRARY COMPONENTS
As needed
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TOPICS and ASSIGNMENTS
WK
TOPIC
CLASS
BL
Reading
1
Leadership:
Overview
Traits, Process
Are leaders born or made
Class Notes
Begin Killer Angels
2
Culture
Definition,
Characteristics,
Human Plasticity
R.E. Lee: leader as
archetype*
Class Notes
Finish Killer Angels
3
Social
Organization
Structure
Function
Levels of
Complexity
How do culture and
society shape leaders?
Chamberlain
Malinoswki
Radcliffe-Brown
4
Complex
Organizations
Mission
Hierarchy
Process
5
Organizational
Anthropology
6
Research
7
8
Discussion
Compare and Contrast:
Lee and Chamberlain*
Murphy
Weber
Cultural Dynamics:
Overt and Implicit
the Hawthorne Effect
Jordan
Schwartzman
Designing a Study
Study Proposal**
FIELD
Prepare 10 minute
presentation
Class Presentations
Paper***
Assignment
In a 2-3pp paper, research a specific leader
and explains how she or he supports or
challenges different theories of leadership
In a 2-3 page paper, outline the life of Robert
E. Lee. Was he a born leader or did he
develop this ability? Use at least 3 print or
online sources in addition to Shaara.
In a 2-3 page paper describe how varying
cultures or social types can shape the
qualities needed to be a leader.
In a 2-3 page paper compare and contrast the
leadership styles of Lee and Chamberlain,
relating them to their individual backgrounds
and the “culture” of the armies they served
in.
In a 2-3 page paper, explain the
characteristics of culture and how the
dynamics of culture can be both overt and
covert, using the example of the Hawthorne
study.
In a 2-3 pp. paper, outline a proposal for the
ethnographic study of an organization
Conduct study
In a paper of at least 10 pp., present the result
of your research, detailing its insights,
limitations, and suggesting avenues of
further research
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Paper Topics
* For the short papers on leadership style, base your discussion on at least three cited sources, including
Shaara’s book, as well as our discussions.
** Basing your plan on the discussions in Jordan and Schwartzman, outline a proposal for a miniethnographic study of an organization in a 5pp. paper. Indicate what secondary resources exist relating
to the organization in question, describe your access to the members of the organization, and indicate the
scope of the ethnographic description and the methods you will utilize to research organizational culture,
structure, and leadership styles.
Note: Liberal Studies students may substitute a case study of leadership or a leader in literature
or history, being careful to utilize an anthropological perspective.
*** In a 15-20 pp. report, detail the activities completed and the information collected. Utilizing the
anthropological perspective, what insights did you come to regarding culture, organization, and
leadership? Did your conclusions fit your expectations? Why or why not? How useful was
anthropological analysis in understanding the organization? Include a list of sources.
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http://americancivilwar.com/south/lee.html
http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/sidebar/chambln.htm
http://community.curtislibrary.com/pejepscot/joshbiog.htm
http://www.
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