3.00 Credits
This course will provide students access to the concepts and skills to possess the competencies, commitment, emotional intelligence and character to be effective leaders. While competencies and commitment are important, character plays a critical role in leadership behavior and will be the focus of this course. By character it is meant the combination of traits, values and virtues that are recognized as admired and appreciated in leaders, providing them with the expertise to exercise quality of judgment and decision-making. For example, in the financial crisis of 2008 - 2009 some corporate leaders' needs for instant gratification triumphed over temperance; and others who knew ethical risks were taken remained silent because they did not have the skills or courage to speak up. A component of this course is to explore the fundamentals of corporate governance, emphasizing the leader's responsibility to make ethical, socially responsible, legal, and wise financial decisions on behalf of the organization. We will explore a number of corporate examples that demonstrate positive and negative character development. Effective corporate governance requires leaders know the purpose or values of the organization, design the space of the organization to achieve its purpose, organize the flow of power within the organization, and manage the relationships of the key stakeholders in the organization: owners, directors, managers, employees, customers, suppliers, regulators, and the wider community of which the organization is a member. The skills and knowledge acquired in this course are transferable to other areas of life including one's community service and interaction with family and friends.
Prerequisite:
COMM 3550 and HAS 3260 and MGMT 3010