Details for Advanced Leadership and Decision Making

Organisations are groups of people working together for a purpose. Despite the pervasiveness of organisations in our modern society, effective group behaviour does not always come naturally. In fact, many goals are never achieved due to poor group dynamics rather than a lack of skills, vision or strategy.  This unit will help students to develop an understanding of how an organisation can encourage effective, efficient, social and ethical behaviour; how leadership styles, organisational structure and value systems influence behaviour and how ultimately the group dynamics impact the effectiveness of the organisation in its pursuit of its purpose.

Awards offering Advanced Leadership and Decision Making

This unit is offered as a part of the following awards:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Applied Social Science
• Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Theology
• Bachelor of Ministry

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

This unit is a study of the dynamics of individual and group behaviour and will encourage students to develop an understanding of how an organisation can encourage effective social and ethical behaviour. It covers traditional theoretical and recent developments arising out of psychology and sociology, different organisation structures, value systems and leadership styles which influencbehaviour.

Outcomes

Students should be able to:

1. Compare and assess current theories and concepts of individual, dyadic, and group behavior in organisations, and discuss and explain appropriate organisational leadership behaviors for increasing organisational effectiveness;
2. Compare and assess current theories of individual and group decision making within organisations, and discuss and explain how organisational leaders’ decision-making interacts with organisational structure and culture in facilitating change;
3. Describe and evaluate organisational communication theories, including dyadic, group, formal and informal communication, and discuss and explain the attributes and impacts of communication within organisations including in leader-member exchange and mass communication contexts;
4. Describe Australian corporate structures, including within churches and NFP organisations, and critically assess leadership models adopted for churches and NFP organisations;
5. Explain and appraise issues of power and responsibility in churches and NFP organisations, incorporating Christian and other perspectives;
6. Discuss and explain the role of leadership in shaping organisational responses to changing operating environments.

Subject Content

1. Historical perspectives on the philosophy of work
2. Behavioural aspects of organisational structure and design
3. The organization and the individual
4. Building and growing effective teams
5. Power and organisational politics
6. Leadership styles and organisational behaviour
7. Organisational culture and change
8. Common issues: stress, burn-out, conflict and cultural differences

This course may be offered in the following formats

• Face-to-Face
• Distance/ Global Online

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis University College.

Assessment Methods

• Forum Postings (20%)
• Major Essay (50%)
• Group Presentation (30%)

Prescribed Text

• Primary readings provided