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Unit outline_

SMBA6001: Leadership Practice and Development

Semester 2, 2023 [Block mode] - Castlereagh St, Sydney

This course is about the development of leadership through practice. Ultimately, leadership is about what you do, not what you know. Your effectiveness as a leader is assessed by the behaviours you consistently manifest across time, not by the theoretical concepts in your head. For this reason, our orientation is behavioural: what does best practice leadership look like and how can you get better at doing it? Our face-to-face time will, to the largest extent possible, be focused on building your effectiveness at constituent leadership behaviours. We will do this by creating an environment where you will repeatedly practice these behaviours, receiving specific feedback from peers, coaches and faculty to accelerate your development. These behaviours originate from empirically based theories of leadership. Our intention with this course is for you to gain a solid grasp of these theories before class starts so that we can spend the maximum time possible building your effectiveness at these behaviours during class.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Management Education
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Dan Caprar, dan.caprar@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Class participation
Participation
10% Ongoing Ongoing
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO4 LO3
Assignment group assignment Team project
Written task (week 10), oral presentation (week 12)
40% Week 10
Due date: 14 Oct 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 21 Oct 2023
1500 words memo, 30 minute presentation
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Assignment Written assignment
Reflective report
50% Week 13
Due date: 04 Nov 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 11 Nov 2023
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Class Participation: This consists of contributions made to all of the sessions. You are expected to contribute, comment and engage in critical discussions during the sessions in a way that demonstrates knowledge of concepts from readings and intention to apply and practice these concepts and insights from class. You will also have the opportunity to contribute to online discussions. We will be assessing your ability to analyse problems, communicate your insight to other members clearly, collaborate effectively with team members, and assist others in their development across a number of in-class exercises.
  • Team project: A memo and in-class presentation of findings and process (due times detailed in the schedule at the end of this document). In teams, you will identify a business, business-related, or organisational challenge or problem and research and explore the nature of the issue. 
  • Written assignment: You will undertake an individual written reflection outlining your own personal learning journey during the team project and throughout the entire unit of study.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

According to University and Business School policies.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 1. Introduction to unit; 2. Overview of leadership models and thinking; 3. Conceptual underpinnings for the unit content and approach Seminar (7.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6
Week 02 1. Introduction to team dynamics and teams set up; 2. Team dynamics simulation and debrief; 3. Self awareness, reflection and noticing Seminar (7.5 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 03 1. Team processes; 2. Productive conversations and feedback; 3. Appreciating differences; 4. Personal leadership journeys and development Seminar (7.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 04 1. Teamwork and self-awareness experience and debrief; 2. Team projects work Seminar (7.5 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 05 1. Additional models of learning and development; 2. Coaching as a tool for leadership and leadership development; 3. Assignments progress, final clarifications Seminar (7.5 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 06 1. Understanding organisational dynamics and complexity - simulation and debrief Seminar (7.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 07 1. Complex adaptive systems/adaptive leadership 2. Diversity and inclusive leadership 3. Leadership development and immunity to change Seminar (7.5 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 1. Team projects presentations Seminar (7.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

  • No lecture recordings: Given the experiential nature of this class, sessions will not be recorded.
  • Attendance is mandatory.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library's reading list system - see the "Reading List" link on Canvas. Please note requirement to complete assigned readings BEFORE each module.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand and assess your leadership journey against models validated by research, and apply this understanding to your leadership practice and development
  • LO2. understand how you relate to others in teams context and in one-on-one interactions, and identify how this influences your ability to achieve your goals and manifest your purpose
  • LO3. appreciate and work with different perspectives and become comfortable with complexity, uncertainty, and diversity
  • LO4. demonstrate a consistent collaborative and constructive approach in dealing with others, and facilitate the engagement and contribution of others
  • LO5. proactively manage your leadership development and career through identifying your life and career values and purpose
  • LO6. apply reflective practice principles in your daily work and develop a life-long commitment to self-development.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

A new system of peer feedback for group work will be trialled.

More information can be found on Canvas.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.