Assignment:
The Role of the Leader
Assignment: The Role of the
Leader
Purpose:
In the past weeks, students have
learned about leaders and their role in the organization. They have been
exposed to the idea that a leader is the social architect of the
organization. Definitively, leaders are those members of the
organization who create the flow of decision making and environment from which
organizational goals and values are set forth. Social architects create
vision, strategic direction, shape culture and values, and lead change.
Leaders align the people’s behavior with the goals and direction of the
organization.
This assessment is designed for
students to demonstrate knowledge of the material covered in weeks 1 – 4.
Students are asked to not only show an understanding of the role of the leader
within an organization but to apply leadership concepts and ideas to a real-world
situation. Students will delve into the details of the case study
and the course readings but must also look at the situation from a strategic
point of view since Dunn wants a sustainable business.
Outcomes Met:
- use leadership theories, assessment tools, and an
understanding of the role of ethics, values, and attitudes to evaluate and
enhance personal leadership skills
- evaluate the culture and policies of an organization to
recommend and implement improvements that support its vision, success, and
sustainability
Perspective:
In this assessment, students will
act as Joseph Dunn, the leader of Dunn’s Ski Emporium. Dunn want to
purchase The Deli, so there is a lot of work to do before entering into the
possible addition of a business that little is known about. Write from a
leader’s perspective. So, you ask, “What it means to write from a
leader’s perspective?”
Writing from the leader’s
perspective means approach Dunn’s vision through a people centric viewpoint.
Focus on how the two businesses will meet the vision through the decision
making flow and grouping of people within the organizations. How
does a leader best use the people to meet the vision? Even though it is
tempting to write in the first person, a plan is written in the third person
for which a story will unfold. Dunn is essentially telling a story
of how he is going to purchase the Deli and bring George and the business in as
part of the Dunn Ski Emporium. Dunn will need to figure out how he
is going to combine these two businesses and use his leadership skills to do
so. Remember, write from the leader’s perspective but do not attempt to
solve problems but create and develop an environment in which problems will be
resolved by those who make the business run.
Dunn plans on designing an organizational
structure that fulfills his vision, one that he believes George has for The
Deli, and one that will fulfill its mission. The organization must
be open to change and possess a culture that empowers its employees to follow
the vision created. Like all good social architects, the building
must start with a design that suites the purpose of the business and seeks to
make it the best building for the job. Students are expected to be
creative but realistic in completing the assignment. For example,
feel free to assign names and roles to the people in the
business. In being creative, students may not change the facts in
the plan. Dunn will present his ideas to George Atkins once Dunn
sits down with him to begin negotiations, so be sure that the final product is
polished. Also to make sure questions can easily be addressed, write in the
active voice and support the reasoning behind the ideas using the material from
the course. Dunn wants to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the
leadership material, so a wide range of the readings will be used.
Instructions:
This assignment is the first of
three assignments. In completing this assignment, students will analyze a
case study scenario and apply the concepts learned in weeks 1-4 using the
format described below. In completing the assignment, students will
answer the questions in narrative form and will follow the steps provided
below:
Step 1: Review “How to Analyze a Case Study” under Week 4 Content.
Step 2: Create a Word or Rich Text Format (RTF) document that
is double-spaced, 12-point font. The final product will be between 3-5
pages in length excluding the title page and reference page.
Step 3: Review the assignment grading rubric.
Step 4: Follow this format:
- Title page with title, your name, the course, the
instructor’s name;
- Introduction paragraph
- Body, in paragraph form using section headings
- Summary paragraph
Step 5: In writing a case study, the writing is in the third
person. What this means is that there are no words such as “I, me, my,
we, or us” (first person writing), nor is there use of “you or your” (second
person writing). If uncertain how to write in the third person, view this
link: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/first-second-and-third-person
Step 6: In writing this assignment, students are asked to
support the reasoning using in-text citations and a reference list. A
reference within a reference list cannot exist without an associated in-text
citation and vice versa. View the sample APA paper under Week 1 content
Step 7: In writing this assignment, students are expected to
paraphrase and not use direct quotes. Learn to paraphrase by reviewing
this link: https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html
Step 8: Read critically and analyze the scenario provided
under Week 4 Content.
Step 9: Jot down or highlight key facts from the
scenario. Consider making an outline to capture key points in the paper.
Step 10: In your paper, respond to the following elements of
leadership and plan design:
- Evaluate the business status, purpose and goals as well
as its requirements to be successful in the new venture. For
example, what do the businesses do to make money? What is required in
terms of the type of people who need to run the day-to-day operations?
Discuss the critical elements that must be in place for Dunn to be
successful in this new venture
- Joseph Dunn as a social architect. Discuss the elements
Dunn must evaluate to successfully accomplish the alignment of people and
business.
- Dunn selects and designs a business structure that will
align people with business purpose, vision, and mission. Explain the
reasons behind the choices made. Chart the structure and address the role
of George Aitkin.
- Dunn selects and designs a culture for the new venture.
Discuss reasons for selection and how it can aligned with structure after
applying the OCAI.
- Joseph Dunn is change agent for the business
environment. What steps should Dunn take for short-term change?
For long-term change? How does the culture and structure provide for
change?
Step 11: Create the introductory paragraph. The
introductory paragraph is the first paragraph of the paper but is typically
written after writing the body of the paper (Questions students responded to
above). View this website to learn how to write an introductory
paragraph: http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html
Step 12: Write a summary paragraph. A summary paragraph
restates the main idea(s) of the paper. Make sure to leave a reader with
a sense that the paper is complete. The summary paragraph is the last
paragraph of a paper.
Step 13: Using the grading rubric as a comparison, read
through the paper to ensure all required elements are presented.
Step 14: Proofread the paper for spelling and grammatical issues,
and third person writing.
- Use
the spell and grammar check in Word as a first measure;
- Have
someone who has excellent English skills to proof the paper;
- Consider
submitting the paper to the Effective Writing Center (EWC). The EWC
will provide 4-6 areas that may need improvement.
Step 15: Submit the paper in the Assignment Folder.
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