Visa svensk kursplan
 
SYLLABUS
Classic Leadership and Organization Dilemmas, 15 ECTS Credits
 
COURSE CATEGORY   Single Subject Course
MAIN FIELD OF STUDY  
SUBJECT AREA  
  COURSE CODE   722A38
AIM OF THE COURSE
After completion of the course, the student should be able to
- identify, explain and apply key concepts of leadership and organization and relate them to the exploration/exploitation challenge.
- identify, explain and reflect upon fundamental leadership dilemmas through classic works of literature as well as business cases, and relate them to contemporary issues in innovation, organizational learning and decision-making
- analyse complex situations from a leadership and organization perspective, identify patterns and problems, develop plausible explanations, suggest possible solutions, and reflect upon the outcomes of actions taken.
- critically analyse and integrate knowledge gained through reading, discussions, and cases, and express it orally and in writing.
CONTENTS
The basic assumptions of this course is that (1) leadership and organization share a symbiotic relationship, (2) that major leadership issues also are issues of life, and (3) that great classic works of literature hence provide a good basis for exploring and reflecting upon some of the great challenges and dilemmas of leadership and organization.
In the first phase of the course we will focus an organizational challenge that has kept researchers (and managers) occupied for years:
How can we manage an organization's simultaneous needs for exploration of new opportunities (relying on imagination, vision, foolishness, courage, breaking rules and routines) and exploitation (developing more efficient ways of working through rationality, standards, routine, rules, and similar patterns of thinking) and more specifically how do we allocate scarce resources between the two?
In the second phase of the course we will go more in-depth and explore fundamental questions of leadership such as what is the relation between genius and madness? How do we recognize great leaders among the crazies? How do we nurture genius if we cannot recognize it? How do we sustain commitment in the face of adverse or ambiguous outcomes? How do we come to believe that a leader has succeeded or failed? That one leader is better than another? What should we value in leadership and individuals who are leaders? Here reading classic works such as Shakespeare’s Othello, Shaw’s Saint Joan, Tolstoy’s War and Peace, and Cervantes’ Don Quixote will provide food for thought. These questions will then be connected to the exploration and exploitation challenge as well as contemporary issues in innovation, organizational learning and decision-making.
TEACHING
The course is designed to encourage active participation and the students are involved in various forms of interactive learning situations. The basic learning pillars are
- Interactive lectures, complemented by individual reading to introduce the students to the research areas, lay a theoretical foundation, and provide a basis for discussion.
- Cases and classic seminars where the students will discuss and apply what they have learned during lectures and reading to practice their ability to analyse complex situations, and present reasonable and relevant solutions to problems in these areas.
- Paper-writing based on lectures, readings, cases and team discussions. Homework and independent study are a necessary complement to the course.
EXAMINATION
The course will be examined through a number of exercises that are spread out over the duration of the course. Detailed information about the examination can be found in the course’s study guide.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course two times are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor degree of at least 180 credits in Business, Economics, Social science or in a discipline relevant for the course. Documented knowledge of English equivalent to "Engelska B"; i.e. English as native language or an internationally recognized test, e.g. TOEFL (minimum scores: Paperbased 575 + TWE-score 4.5, internetbased 90 TWE-score 20), IELTS, academic (minimum score: Overall band 6.5 and no band under 5.5), or equivalent.
GRADING
The course is graded according to the ECTS grading scale A-F
CERTIFICATE
Course certificate is issued by the Faculty Board on request. The Department provides a special form which should be submitted to the Student Affairs Division.
COURSE LITERATURE
The course literature is decided upon by the department in question.
OTHER INFORMATION
Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus.

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.
 
Classic Leadership and Organization Dilemmas
Klassiska ledarskaps- och organisationsdilemman
 
Department responsible
for the course or equivalent:
IEI - Department of Management and Engineering
           
Registrar No: 2011-00254   Course Code: 722A38      
    Exam codes: see Local Computer System      
Subject/Subject Area :          
           
Level   Education level     Subject Area Code   Field of Education  
A1X   Advanced level     FÖA   SA  
The syllabus was approved by the Board of Faculty of Arts and Science 2011-09-21