**Disclaimer**

This syllabus is to be used as a guideline only. The information provided is a summary of topics to be covered in the class.
Information contained in this document such as assignments, grading scales, due dates, office hours, required books and materials may be from
a previous semester and are subject to change. Please refer to your instructor for the most recent version of the syllabus.

SYLLABUS
PAF 410 Building Leadership Skills – Fall 2020

Professor: Ginger Spencer
Email: gybealer@asu.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment
Phone: (602) 722-2145
Class Time and Place: Wednesday 6:00-8:45 PM CRONK 125
8/26/2020 – 12/2/2020

Course Description:

This course introduces understanding and developing leadership skills, including an
examination of leadership theories and models from multidisciplinary and cross-cultural
points of view, an assessment of the student’s leadership capabilities, and practical
applications to improve individual leadership capabilities.

Course Objectives/Expected Outcomes:

Leadership is often emphasized as the single most important factor in organization studies.
Abilities to formulate a clear sense of direction for the organization, motivate its individuals
and navigate its external environment are considered crucial for organizational success. In
your careers, you will depend on other people to accomplish tasks, goals, and projects.
Understanding the human side of management will help you help others in reaching their
fullest potential and set you and your organization up for success. We will focus on a broad
set of leadership concerns and skills that are equally applicable to different types of
organizations, including public, non-profit, and for-profit organizations.

The course is an introduction to the basic concepts and theories of leadership as they have
evolved in management and public management research. The course is structured in three
parts. First, we will discuss the nature and significance of leadership, covering trait
(personality) and behavioral perspectives. Then we will cover the major theories of
transformational, charismatic, transactional leadership and leader-member exchange
theory. Last, we will explore the significance of context and how leadership may require
certain adaptations to the particular organizational context. All parts of the course are
designed to help you acquire knowledge of core leadership concepts, reflect on their nature
and significance and apply them to real-world scenarios.

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Required Text and Reading Materials

Northouse, Peter G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and Practice. 8th ed., Sage Publications. ISBN:
9781506362311

Harvard Business Review. (2011). HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Leadership. ISBN: 9781422157978

Class Assignments, Grades and Attendance:

Grade Low High
A+ 98 100
A 93 97.9
A- 90 92.9
B+ 87 89.9
B 83 86.9
B- 80 82.9
C+ 77 79.9
C 70 76.9
D 60 69.9
E 0 59.9

Assignment Weight Due Date
Participation 20% Ongoing
Current 10% Weekly
Event/Leadership Text
Discussion
Midterm 15% October 7, 2020
Leadership Assignment 35% November 18, 2020
& Presentation November 25, 2020
December 2, 2020
Final Exam 20% December 2, 2020

Students are expected to follow these guidelines:

• Students are expected to be prepared for class, arrive on time, actively participate and
remain in class until the end of each session.

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 • All assignments must be submitted for full credit. It is the student’s responsibility to
make sure that work is turned in on time. Computer-related problems are not an
acceptable excuse.
• All papers should use professional language.
• Grades will take into account grammar, spelling and presentation. Papers and other
written work must be well developed, logically consistent and brief.
• All quotations and paraphrases should be properly cited using APA format.
• Wikipedia should not be used as a source – it is a fine place to become familiar with
topics, but you must move to more reputable references.
• Students may not submit work undertaken for a different class.
• Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a 0.
• Late work will only be accepted on a limited basis. The midterm and final exam will
not be accepted late. If you know an assignment will likely be late, please let the
instructor know in advance of submission.

Class Schedule: An Overview

Date Topic

August 26, 2020 Introduction: Leadership – What is it and why is it important?

September 2, 2020 Ethics & Leadership

September 9, 2020 Early Leadership Theories: Traits, Skills and Behaviors I

September 16, 2020 Early Leadership Theories: Traits, Skills and Behaviors II

September 23, 2020 Transformational Leadership

September 30, 2020 Authentic Leadership

October 7, 2020 Midterm

October 14, 2020 Fall Break – Class Excused

October 21, 2020 Servant Leadership

October 28, 2020 Adaptive Leadership

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November 4, 2020 Gender & Leadership

November 11, 2020 Veteran’s Day Holiday – No Class

November 18, 2020 Leadership Assignment Presentations

November 25, 2020 Leadership Assignment Presentations

December 2, 2020 Leadership Assignment Presentations &
Final Exams Due

December 9, 2020 Final Grades Due

Class Content Schedule: Detailed

Session 1. Introduction: Leadership – What is it and why is it important? Aug. 26

Activity Description Deadline

Readings: Northouse (NH) Chapter 1 After Class

Session 2. Ethics & Leadership Sept. 2

Activity Description Deadline

Readings: NH Chapter 13 Before Class

The Leadership Blind Spots at Wells Fargo. October 2016.
Harvard Business Review.
https://hbr.org/2016/10/the-leadership-blind-spots-at-wells-fargo

Session 3. Early Leadership Theories: Traits, Skills and Behaviors I Sept. 9

Activity Description Deadline

Readings: NH Chapters 2 & 3 Before Class

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Session 4. Early Leadership Theories: Traits, Skills and Behaviors II Sept. 16

Activity Description Deadline

Readings: NH Chapters 4 & 5 Before Class


Session 5. Transformational Leadership Sept. 23

Activity Description Deadline

Readings: NH Chapter 8 Before Class

HBR Chapter 3 – What Leaders Really Do

Session 6. Authentic Leadership Sept. 30

Activity Description Deadline

Readings: NH Chapter 9 Before Class

HBR Chapter 9 – Discovering Your Authentic Leadership

Session 7. Midterm Oct. 7

Activity Description Deadline

The mid-term will be in-class and will consist of short answer and fill-in-the-blank questions.


Session 8. Servant Leadership Oct.21

Activity Description Deadline

Readings: NH Chapter 10 Before Class

HBR Chapter 4 – The Work of Leadership

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Session 9. Adaptive Leadership Oct. 28

Activity Description Deadline

Readings: NH Chapter 11 Before Class

Session 10. Gender & Leadership Nov. 4

Activity Description Deadline

Readings: NH Chapter 15 Before Class

Session 11. Leadership Assignment Presentations Nov. 18

Activity Description Deadline

You will have the opportunity to apply your leadership learning from throughout the course
by finding multiple leadership role models from multiple sources (real-world examples) and
take the lessons learned from them to create an integrated leadership presentation.

Session 12. Leadership Assignment Presentations Nov. 25

Activity Description Deadline

You will have the opportunity to apply your leadership learning from throughout the course
by finding multiple leadership role models from multiple sources (real-world examples) and
take the lessons learned from them to create an integrated leadership presentation.

Session 13. Leadership Assignment Presentations & Final Exam Dec. 2

Activity Description Deadline

You will have the opportunity to apply your leadership learning from throughout the course
by finding multiple leadership role models from multiple sources (real-world examples) and
take the lessons learned from them to create an integrated leadership presentation.

The Final Exam will include content from the entire semester and will follow the same
format as the midterm.

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