Posted: September 16th, 2017

Two types of leadership

Two types of leadership

•    There are many different types of leadership style/theories such as charismatic, path goal, transactional, etc. Pick any two. Analyse, compare and contrast them in the context of which would be the best style for the leader of a country (preferably choose Australia—I only leave it open to other countries so that those who have just arrived in country are not disadvantaged by a lack of knowledge of the local culture).

The purpose of the essay, and most academic assignments, is to discuss issues that are relevant to the topic that you have chosen. In order to do this, it is important to undertake in-depth analyses of some of the key issues that you have identified through your reading. For example, in an essay on resistance to change, you may wish to discuss the role of resistance as a ‘negative’ or ‘positive’ influence in change management. This type of analytical discussion requires the development, support, and critique, of the arguments relating to the position that you wish to present. The arguments should be logically developed and supported through the use of journal articles that provide evidence for your points. A wide range of articles provides a broad array of perspectives on the topic and will also be more likely to provide some critical analysis (i.e. discuss some weaknesses or the positives of an alternative perspective).
A useful approach to this sort of analytical discussion is the drafting of an outline that describes the arguments you wish to present (and their critique). You can then use this outline to guide your ongoing review of the literature, so that you build a well-evidenced series of arguments. The approach is twofold – (1) you clearly articulate the arguments that you wish to make or the position that you wish to discuss, and (2) you use previous research (journal articles) as evidence to support your arguments and also to critique the arguments. This is why the quality of the material you use in your assignments is so important. It is the evidence that you are using to support and build your arguments, and therefore it is recommended to use only scholarly, academic material (a good baseline rule of thumb is that, for an article to be considered academic, it must have a reference list)
From this follows a number of issues. It is important to avoid listing points in favour of summarising the key attributes and the reasons for their inclusion on the list. For example, a list of reasons why people resist change could more usefully be a paragraph that summarises the reasons why people resist change, and perhaps then discusses alternative perspectives (such as that the reason why many people resist change is that the current system supports the ‘old’ way of doing things). You should avoid the use of diagrams that replicate what has been stated in the text. If you are going to use diagrams, it is important to use them as a tool to show connections between issues and illustrate the arguments that you are developing or points that you are discussing.
•    You must include sources that provide a variety of perspectives on the issue or problem you have selected. An assignment such as this will usually require a minimum of 15-30 references to support your positions and arguments.
•    Please use only peer-reviewed journal articles, research books or book chapters as evidence in your work. Do not include any websites, popular or management magazines, or dictionary entries. If a source does not have references, it can be eliminated immediately. If you are unsure about whether or not a source is academic and scholarly, please consult with your lecturer prior to its inclusion.
Your essay must be 2000 words, plus or minus 10%. This does not include references. The format must be in 12pt font and double spaced.
Graduate Attributes Targeted:
Attribute 1. Effective Communication,
Attribute 2. Effective Independent Work,
Attribute 3. Critical Thinking and Analytical Problem-Solving,
Attribute 4. Knowledge of Discipline theory, Models and Concepts and Proficiency in their Application
Learning Outcomes Targeted:
Outcome 1. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the prominent theories, concepts and models that are used to understand and analyse human behaviour in organisations, as well as an appreciation of their implications for practical management
Outcome 4. Display a working understanding of organisations as institutions including issues of structure, power, politics, leadership and change
Outcome 6. Synthesise and critically examine theoretical and empirical information relating to organisations, their structure and functioning, and implications for human behaviour.
Grading of Assignment
The following criteria will be used to allocate grades for this assignment:
1.    Is the assignment well researched?
2.    Is the assignment well structured?
3.    Is the assignment well-argued?
4.    Is the assignment well-written?
5.    Is the assignment well-presented?
All criteria will be allocated equal weighting
For further information please refer to:  http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/library/tutorials/infoskills/planning/page3-instructional.html