Leadership and Organizational Behavior 490

 

Northwestern University

Master of Engineering Management Program

 

Summer 2003

 

Classes:

Mondays  6:30-9:20pm

Schaumburg

Office Hours

 

 

Instructor:

                 

                  Maria Rubly

 

Phone: (847) 295-0608

Fax:     (847) 234-4504

E-mail: mrubly@msn.com

-       I will plan to be in the classroom by 6:00pm.

-       Please contact me to schedule other times, and I’ll be glad to meet or talk by phone. I also welcome your emails.

 

 

Readings:

 

First, Break All the Rules by M. Buckingham, C. Coffman  (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1999)

 

Coursepack of articles and cases (available at CopyCat in Evanston)

 

 

 

 

 

Course Description:

 

This course is designed for students who seek to enhance their leadership, influence and collaborative styles within a variety of organizations.  We will take a highly practical approach to the art and science of leadership, focusing on those tools available to select, organize, appraise, develop, reward, and lead others.  At the same time, the course will emphasize the need to understand different leadership/management styles, and will provide each of you with the opportunity to analyze and refine your individual approach.

 

Although basic principles of psychology will be covered, the course will focus on applying these concepts in an organizational environment.

 

 

 

 

Course Objectives:

 

After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:

 

1)     Better recognize yourself, your leadership styles and the mental models that you use to see the world..

2)     Understand the differences and similarities between leading and managing, and how different leadership models work in different organizations/situations.

3)     Observe and understand differences in individual behaviors, styles and motivation.

4)      Apply that knowledge in selecting/developing talent, using rewards, leading change, and building teams.

 

Grading:

 

Based 15% on class contribution, 35% on brief written assignments and 50% on the final exam. Additional notes on grading

One absence alone should not hurt your grade, although I appreciate prior notice by phone or email, and can then work with you on making up content; two absences would make it very difficult to successfully complete the course.

Both the papers and the final will be take-home. The key to doing well on these will be in applying what you learn from the readings, lectures and discussions to different situations. Late submission of the mid-term or final (up to 48 hours) will result in a 5 point deduction on the grade for that exam.

Class Schedule:

Overview of Class:

Readings/Assignments

 

Class One:

JUNE 23

 

Introductions and expectations; finding your mental models; values, attitudes, personality;

DISC self-assessment

 

(Note: all readings should be completed by the class session next to which they are listed)

Chapter 1 of First, Break…”

 

Class Two:

June 30

 

How leaders lead; models of leadership, managers vs. leaders; emotional intelligence (EQ);

Understanding your influence/behavior style: DISC

 

 

“What Makes a Leader?”

“Leadership that  Gets Results”

“Why Should Anyone be Led by

  You?”

“What Leaders Really Do”

 

short paper due

 

Class Three:

July 7

 

Principles of Selection—Forming the Team; Understanding perception, identifying biases, observing behavior; Structuring and conducting an effective interview; Evaluating talent and skills

 

 

First, Break… Chapter 3 and

pp. 213-221

 

 

 

 

short paper due

 

 

Class Four:

July 14

 

Motivating Others; Understanding and using motivation theory; Evaluating and utilizing reward systems

 

 

“One More Time…”

“Why Incentive Plans Can’t Work”

 First, Break… Chapters 4,5,6 &

 pp. 222-229

 

short paper due

      

 

Class Five:

July 21

 

Leading Change; Reading the organization, enlisting support, overcoming resistance; Injecting risk-taking into traditional cultures

 

 

“Leading Change…”

“Reaching and Changing

 Frontline Employees”

 

 

 

Class Six:

July 28

 

Discussion of student suggested topics, eg. conflict, creativity, managing up, etc.

 

 

“The Discipline of Teams”

 

 

short paper due

 

Class Seven:

August 4

 

Building and Leading High Performance Teams; Characteristics of effective (and ineffective) teams, team types and purpose, team leadership

 

 

Complete all assigned readings to date; begin research for final paper

 

   Class Eight:

August 11   

 

Creating Organizational Capability; Understanding the elements of a successful organization, defining a compelling culture

Review of course and “take-aways”

 

 

“Why Good Companies go Bad”

First, Break…  pp. 230-242

 

Final Paper Due