2021-2022 BS4S19 Leadership & Management Theories and Practices Module 20 credits
Term 2 – Spring Term – Assignment 1 – 21 March 2022 – 23:59
2.500 words +/- 10% – 50% of the total value of the module
Assignment 1 – Critical Assessment of the Evolution of the Traditional and Contemporary Leadership & Management Theories
IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE
• Recommended font is Calibri, font size 12, spaced 1.5, aligned on both margins
• Recommended Structure for Assignment is aligned to Marking Guide
• Write in the 3rd person – academic writing
• Ensure to label and number any diagrams, figures or tables, including source
• Ensure the assignment has page numbers
• Ensure to use English (UK) spell check function
• Must use USW Harvard Style Referencing (available on Blackboard) throughout the Report and in the References section.
Recommended Structure for the BS4S19 Assignment 1
COVER PAGE must include:
USW Logo
Title for the Assignment: Critical Assessment of the Evolution of Traditional and
(A must include) Contemporary Leadership and Management Theories
Student number (a must include) and name (optional)
Module Name and Code: Leadership and Management Theories and Practices BS4S19
Course Title: (a must include) Course Leader: (a must include)
Next Page if appropriate:
List of Abbreviations, List of Diagrams, List of Figures, List of Tables, …
Next Page:
Table of Contents – Use core Headings as they are related to Marking Guide
1. INTRODUCTION – +/- 500 words – Marking Guide 20%
• Context – outline the importance of L&M theories as a point of discussion today and use relevant supporting references
• Aim of Assignment
• Overview of the Methodology
Qualitative/Quantitative analysis
Secondary data analysis
Literature Review
Desk research
2. CRITICAL Assessment of the Evolution of Traditional and Contemporary Leadership and Management Theories – +/-1650 words – Marking Guide 65%
• Critically evaluate the evolution of Traditional and Contemporary Leadership and Management Theories (supported by relevant references) in a chronological order. This will enable you to better illustrate their evolution.
• In the Critical Assessment of the Evolution of the Traditional and Contemporary Leadership and Management Theories, make sure to include the related socio-economic-technical context and drivers (supported by relevant references) for the Theories presented. This will add depth to the Critical Assessment.
• Critically evaluate any emerging context and drivers’ trends (supported by relevant references) likely to inform and influence the development of new Leadership and Management Theories in the future
• The use of relevant contemporary supporting references is essential!!!!!
3. CONCLUSION – +/- 350 words – Marking Guide 10%
• Overview of the key critical context and drivers that impacted on the evolution of Traditional and Contemporary Leadership and Management Theories
4. REFERENCES
Must use USW Harvard Style Referencing (guide available on Blackboard)
Overall a minimum of 40 to 50 references are expected (Acceptable Academic references)
Overall Presentation, Structure, Style and Referencing – Marking Guide 5%
• Overall presentation, structure, style and referencing matters
• Recommended Structure for Assignment is aligned to Marking Guide
• Must be written in the 3rd person – academic writing
• Ensure to label all diagrams or tables and including source
• Ensure the assignment has page numbers
• Ensure to use English (UK) spell check function
• Must use USW Harvard Style Referencing (available on Blackboard) throughout the body of the Report and in the References section.
Note: This paper is like a literature review, compare and contrast the works of different authors. The professor wants a new reference and a citation on every two lines.
Assignment Structure
Introduction 500 words (Should be centred, in title case and bolded)
Under the introduction you should have the following sub topics that are listed below in bullet form (Should be flushed to the left, in title case and bolded like shown below)
Importance of Leadership and Management Theories
These are some of the importance of Leadership and management theories
• To understand
• To explain
• To apply
• To learn
• To improve practice
Aim of Assignment
For this part clearly state the aim of your assignment (Make sure you start with a thesis statement and end with a purpose statement)
Overview of the Methodology
For this part discuss the methodology you used to collect data bear in mind that this is secondary research so please use literature review as your method of data collection. (So basically, for this part you will say that you used literature review to collect your data and clearly discuss why you choose lit review, how you choose your sources and where.)
Critical Assessment of the Evolution of Traditional and Contemporary Leadership and Management Theories 1815 words (This should be your next subheading after the Introduction. It should be centred, in title case and bolded)
For this part you are supposed to give a critical Assessment of the evolution of leadership and management theories but since you can’t discuss all of them due to the word count limit, you’re required to choose three management theories (Two traditional and one contemporary 750 words) and three leadership theories (Two traditional and one contemporary 750 words). You should have the following subheadings (Flushed to the left, bolded and title case)
Evolution of Management Theories (750 words)
This is where you’ll discuss two traditional theories of management and one contemporary theory of management. You’re required to critically evaluate the evolution of Traditional and Contemporary Management Theories (supported by relevant references) in a chronological order. This will enable you to better illustrate their evolution. And you’re supposed to make sure you include the related socio-economic-technical context and drivers (supported by relevant references) for the Theories presented. This will add depth to the Critical Assessment. (Like the social context and drivers of this theories, the economic context and drivers and the technical context and drivers of each theory. (While discussing each theory ensure you mention the proponents of the theories, the year and what made the proponents to come up with these theories (socio-economic-technical context and drivers)
Traditional Management Theories
Scientific management by Frederick W. Taylor (1856-1917)
Administrative management Theory by Henri Fayol (1841-1925)
Bureaucratic management by Max Weber (1864-1920)
Organisation-Environment Theories
Contingency Systems
Management Science
Behavioural Management Approaches
Human Relations Theory
Motivation Theories
Evolution of Leadership Theories (750 words)
This is where you’ll discuss two leadership theories of management and one contemporary theory of Leadership. You’re required to critically evaluate the evolution of Traditional and Contemporary Leadership Theories (supported by relevant references) in a chronological order. This will enable you to better illustrate their evolution. And you’re supposed to make sure you include the related socio-economic-technical context and drivers (supported by relevant references) for the Theories presented. This will add depth to the Critical Assessment. (Like the social context and drivers of this theories, the economic context and drivers and the technical context and drivers of each theory. (While discussing each theory ensure you mention the proponents of the theories, the year and what made the proponents to come up with these theories (socio-economic-technical context and drivers)
Traditional Leadership Theories
Great Man Theory – Leaders are born and not made (1900-1930s)
Participative Leadership – Leadership Styles (Lewin, 1939)
Behavioural Theories – 1960 – 1964
Contingency Theories of Leadership (Fiedler, 1967)
Situational Theories (Hersey and Blanchard, 1969)
Servant Leadership (Robert Greenleaf, 1970)
Charismatic Leadership (House, 1977)
Contemporary Leadership Styles
Transactional, Transformational, Pseudo-transformational Burns (1978)
Trait Theory (Jago, 1982; Bass, 1990)
Principle–Centered Leadership (Covey 1992)
Ethical Leadership (1992, 2006)
Entrepreneurial Leadership (2004)
Emerging Context and Drivers’ Trends Likely to Influence the Development of New Leadership and Management Theories in the Future (300 words)
For this part, discuss two emerging context and drivers that are likely to bring about new theories of leadership and management.
Conclusion 350 words
Give an overview of the key critical context and drivers that impacted on the evolution of Traditional and Contemporary Leadership and Management Theories.
Assignment Tips (These are some of the context and drivers you should use)
Technological context and drivers
Nicolai Kondratiev: waves/long waves that are founded on technological innovation (every 40-60 years in last 200 years)
The Major Economic Cycles (1925)
Emergence of new industries
New job roles and professions
New business cultures and approaches
Increased productivity
Josef Schumpeter perspective – ‘creative destruction’ – technological progress as driver of growth, innovation, competition within capitalist system
Social context and drivers
Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy (1942)
Education
Values
Authority
Forms of social organisation; networks
Castells, The Rise of Networked Society (1996)
Benkler, The Wealth of Networks: how social production markets and freedom (2006)
Culture
Motivation and human needs
Economic context and drivers
Composition of the economy: industries, sectors
Employment and skills
New value creation and growth
Innovation
Entrepreneurship
Foundational and Circular Economies
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-SAMPLE ANSWER GUIDE-
Leadership and management theories are important in understanding how individuals and organizations can effectively lead and manage. These theories provide a framework for understanding the different styles and approaches to leadership and management, and can help individuals and organizations to improve their effectiveness.
Traditional leadership and management theories, such as the trait theory and the behavioral theory, focused on the characteristics and behaviors of leaders and managers. These theories emphasized the importance of certain traits and behaviors, such as intelligence, charisma, and decisiveness, in determining leadership effectiveness.
Contemporary leadership and management theories, such as transformational leadership and servant leadership, take a different approach. These theories focus on the leader’s ability to inspire and motivate followers, and on the leader’s role in creating a positive and empowering work environment. These theories also place a greater emphasis on the leader’s ability to empower and develop followers.
Recent trends in the field of leadership and management include the rise of remote work, the increasing importance of emotional intelligence, and the growing emphasis on sustainable and responsible leadership. These trends are likely to continue to influence the development of new leadership and management theories in the future.
Critical Assessment of the evolution of traditional and contemporary leadership and management theories suggests that traditional theories were more focused on the leader rather than the follower. Contemporary theories are more follower-centric and focused on creating a positive work environment.
However, the recent trend of the leader as a coach, mentor, and developer of the follower, has been instrumental in the evolution of leadership theories. The leader is seen as a role model, and their behavior is considered a key driver of follower behavior. This shift has been driven by the changing nature of work, as well as by a growing emphasis on ethical and sustainable leadership.
Leadership and management theories play an important role in understanding and improving leadership and management practices. While traditional theories have focused on the characteristics and behaviors of leaders, contemporary theories have emphasized the importance of the leader-follower relationship, and the leader’s ability to inspire and empower followers. The emerging context and drivers trends are likely to continue to influence the development of new leadership and management theories in the future.
