Great Basin College
Course Syllabus
Summer 2009
Course Title:
INT 349 -- Leadership for the 21st Century
Sections:
Credits:
Instructor:
Classroom:
Office Location:
E-Mail:
I01
Three (3)
E. Jay Larson, PhD
WebCampus
GTA Bldg. Room 101, Phone (775) 753-2125
jayl@gwmail.gbcnv.edu
Schedule: July 6 – Aug 7, 2009
Required Texts:
Paradigms: The Business of Discovering the Future, by Joel Barker
Rewiring the Corporate Brain, Danah Zohar
Leading Minds: An Anatomy of Leadership, Howard Gardner
Leadership: Theory & Practice, Peter G. Northouse
Good to Great, Jim Collins
Pyramids are Tombs, Joe Phelps
The Art of Business, Raymond Yeh
The Speed of Trust, Stephen M. R. Covey
COURSE PURPOSE:
This course is designed to introduce students to both the “evolution” of the concepts of leadership and to
present the more contemporary theories and proponents of leadership issues for the twenty-first century
practitioner. It is intended to provide students with an “enhanced” understanding of the richness and
diversity of this phenomenon. Students will be exploring a wealth of differing sources and approaches to
leadership, including English, American, Asian and European styles, and several social scientific
theories/definitions of leadership. As students proceed through the course and read the assigned
textbooks, the major goals will be for them to understand and appreciate the various perspectives and to
isolate the similarities presented; that is, students should try to integrate the materials of this course in
such a way as to see the evolving pattern of concepts over time. At the end of the course, students should
have an enlarged understanding of leadership; should be able to converse intelligently with peers about
leadership issues; have confidence in their ability to apply these concepts to actual leadership situations;
and be able to articulate their own individual “theory” or belief concerning the concepts of leadership and
its application.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An integrative seminar on topics in the social sciences. This topic on leadership – its history,
development and application -- addresses the needs and interests of those who wish to study or apply
leadership concepts or may desire to develop leadership traits in their personal and/or professional lives.
Course fulfills the upper-division integrative social sciences general education requirements. May be
repeated once for credit, if the topics are different. Prerequisite: 40 or more total credits, including ENG
102 or ENG 333 and MATH 116 or higher, including AMS 310 or STAT 152.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
To recognize and understand major interpretive frameworks of leadership;
To appreciate differing perspectives on the phenomenon of leadership;
To be able to apply the major frameworks of leadership to possible “real-life” situations;
To use this new-found understanding of leadership to devise one’s own leadership style; and
To create ability and confidence to use the “most” appropriate leadership techniques from now on.
COURSE OUTCOMES AND MEASUREMENTS:
Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 will be measured by papers, presentations, and a final exam.
Assignments:
Papers
Texts: Paradigms and Rewiring the Corporate Mind
Essay# 1: Paradigms: What are they? Why are they important?
1
Essay #2: Leadership: What is it? Why is it necessary today?
2
Topics: Complexity Science, Art and Business Thinking (For Individuals and in Organizations)
Student Presentation #1
Texts: Leading Minds and Leadership: Theory & Practice
Essay #3: Principal Dimensions of Leadership(Describe one example and his/her historical setting) 3
Essay #4: The Leaders’ Stories (Discuss One)
4
Essay #5: Leadership Approaches, Styles and Theories (Discuss One)
5
Texts: Good to Great and Pyramids Are Tombs
Essay #6: Level 4 vs. Level 5 Leadership Style
Essay #7: Examples of Leaders and Companies
Essay #8: Today’s Ideal Business Organizational Structure
Student Presentation #2
6
7
8
Texts: The Art of Business and The Speed of Trust
Essay #9: Theory Z and Asian Influence on Business Leaders
Essay #10: The Impact of Trust on Leaders and Followers—Why trust matters?
FINAL EXAM DUE!!
Graded Assignments:
POINTS:
10 papers (2-3 pages)
50
2 PowerPoint Presentations (10-15 minutes) 30
Final Exam
20
100%
9
10
Grading Scale:
Above 90 - A
Above 79 - B
Above 69 - C
Above 60 - D
Below 60 - F
PAPERS:
All papers must be original essays, well-written, and documented with appropriate credit given to the
authors of whose works you include which supports your ideas/position. Plagiarism will NOT be
tolerated and, in fact, could reduce your grade or result in you being withdrawn from the class without
credit or refund.