Assignment 1: (Week 4) 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.