BBUS 3671 - Contemporary Leadership

Course Description

In this competency-based, paced course, students examine the relationship between leadership and management, explore the attributes of a good leader, and focus on developing their own leadership style. Attention is given to analyzing leadership stories, identifying relationships and connections and examining the level of alignment between organizational and personal values. Students are required to apply theoretical concepts to workplace, community or volunteer experiences.

Learning outcomes

• Examine what it means to be a leader.
• Capture the leadership stories that influence your philosophy.
• Study the web of relationships in which you act as a leader.
• Analyze the link between personal and organizational values.
• Demonstrate an understanding of ethical leadership.
• Develop your own personal statement of leadership.
• Demonstrate how you move your philosophy to action.
• Create a plan for your own leadership development.

Course topics

• The Nature of Leadership
• Theory and Practise of Leadership
• The Relationship between Managing and Leading; Key Leadership Attributes
• The Significant Role of Storytelling As It Relates to Leadership
• Leadership Stories in Your Organization
• Communication and Practice of Organizational Values
• Leading from Within
• Assess the Congruence between Personal Values and Organizational Values
• The Interplay between Leadership and Followership
• Your Role in the Web of Relationships at Work
• Ethical Leadership and Ethical Decision Making
• Building Community in Your Organization; Leadership Equals Change - Taking Risks

Required text and materials

Students are responsible for purchasing the required materials on their own: 

• Hughes R. L., Curphy, G. J., Ginnett, R. C. (2025). Leadership: Enhancing the lessons of experience (ISE 11th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
  Type: E-Textbook. ISBN: 9781264906406 / 9781265667771

Note: This item can be purchased directly from the following link.

• Kouzes, J.M. & Posner, B.Z. (2023) The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations (7^th ed.). Jossey Bass Inc. 
  Type: E-Textbook. ISBN: 9781119736127 / 9781119736158

Note: This item can be purchased directly from the following link.

• Northouse, P. (2024). Introduction to Leadership: Concepts and Practice. (6^th ed.). SAGE Publications. 
  Type: E-Textbook. ISBN: 9781071942253 / 9781071963142

Note: This item can be purchased directly from the following link.

• Yukl, G. (2020). Pearson eText for Leadership in Organizations (9^th ed.).  
  Type: E-Textbook. ISBN: 9780134895314 / 9780134895130

Note: This item can be purchased directly from the following link.

Assessments

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the mandatory final major project.