Change, Power, and Conflict in Leadership – CLED 780

Course Description

This course provides an analysis of dynamics surrounding the innovation and strategic change process. While innovation and change are essential to the progress of any organization, they often produce conflict situations. This course looks at how innovation brings valuable disruption to an organization. Students learn how to lead change effectively while leveraging the benefits of the disruption and conflict that innovative change created. Leaders learn to capture and capitalize on the opportunities of new technologies, creative methods, and strategic initiatives to move their church or organization forward. Additionally, this course explores the role of entrepreneurial leadership in the development of strategic initiatives within a faith-based organization and strategic partnerships outside of faith-based organization.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

Leaders must introduce change. In fact, if one cannot effectively lead change, it is unlikely leadership is actually taking place. But change, by its nature, can lead to power struggles and conflicts. This course looks at how change actually occurs in non-profit, faith-based organizations. It looks at the dynamics surrounding change and how leaders can leverage those dynamics to move an organization forward from conflict to collaboration. This course will foster a number of research-related topics which can develop into a potential dissertation.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. 

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. There are total of four discussion in the course. For three of the discussions, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt. Each thread must be at least 400 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 200 words. The fourth discussion is the Discussion: Case Study Analysis. Please see the Discussion Assignment Instructions document and the Discussion: Case Study Analysis Grading Rubric for more information on this discussion. (CLO: A, B, C, D)

Management and Leadership Paper Assignment

The student will prepare a 1,250–1,750-word paper on the difference between leadership and management. Each paper must include 7 scholarly references and follow current APA style. (CLO: D)

Innovation, Disruption, and Change Paper Assignment

The student will prepare a 1,250–1,750-word paper on the relationship between innovation, disruption, and change. The paper must discuss diffusion of innovation, disruptive innovation, and the change process. The student must provide examples of innovation, disruptive innovation, and change processes. Each paper must include 7 references and follow current APA style. (CLO: B, D)

Case Study Development Assignment

The case study system is a proven method for the development of analytical and evaluative skills essential to effective leadership development. The student will write a 500–750-word Case Study to discuss a change or conflict situation in an organizational setting. The goal is to apply the principles found in the Van Yperen and the Bridges textbooks. The Case Study must adhere to current APA formatting. (CLO: C)

Discussion: Case Study Analysis

The student will post his/her case study to the discussion area as a discussion thread. The student will then reply to two class members in a minimum 200 word replies. The student must base replies on the Van Yperen and Bridges textbooks. (CLO: C)

Movie Analysis or Research Paper Assignment

The final assignment in this course allows the student to choose between 2 options. The first option is a Movie Analysis. The second option is a Research Paper focused on conflict and the Christian leader. Both options must be (CLO: A)

Movie Analysis Option: The student will rent or purchase the film October Sky. After viewing the movie, the student will complete an analysis of the film. The analysis must focus on change, power, conflict, leadership, and influence dynamics examples observed in the film. The film should be used to illustrate concepts learned in the course. The analysis must be 1,250–1,750 words. The analysis must also include 4 scholarly references, in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible, and follow current APA style.

Research Paper Option: The student will write an academic research paper on the topic of the Christian leader and conflict. This paper will consist of an analysis and synthesis of research completed on the topic. The paper must also include a biblical and theological perspective related to conflict management and resolution. The paper must be a minimum of 1,250–1,750 words and follow current APA style. The paper must also include 10 scholarly references in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible.