Responsible Leadership and Systemic Risk Management For Business

Please note

This document only provides information for the academic year selected and does not form part of the student contract

School:

Huddersfield Business School

Credit Rating:

Level (including FHEQ):

M (FHEQ Level 7)

Graded or Non Graded:

Graded

Version Valid From:

2022-09-01

Module Leader:

Simon Kelly

Version Number

2024.01

Learning Methods

Supervised Time in Studio/Workshop

Guided Independent Study

Synopsis

Good leadership is considered to be one of the most important factors for ensuring organisational effectiveness and efficiency. Leadership in the 21st century also requires a consideration of wider issues of sustainability and responsibility, particularly in the context of systemic risks. This module presents the opportunity to explore and understand theories of responsible leadership and systemic risks and to consider how they, as responsible business leaders, can manage or mitigate them. Systemic risks are a modern manifestation of the tragedy of the commons and derive from and involve shared resources that are subject to indirect causality (often with long timescales) and are normally beyond the immediate and direct control of individuals and organisations. They require widespread, often global solutions and require changes in stakeholder behaviour. In order to survive them all stakeholders (businesses, governments, international organizations and civil society) need to display greater responsibility and leadership. This module therefore explores how responsible leadership can avoid or mitigate a selection of systemic risks.

Learning Strategy

A range of pedagogical methods are used to support student learning and to enable students to meet the module and course objectives. Seminar style teaching sessions provide a forum for group discussion utilising students’ own experiences in relation to the knowledge base as and where appropriate. Taught sessions are supported … For more content click the Read More button below. Lectures are also embedded within the seminar delivery to guide student learning and to provide students with appropriate and challenging theoretical and practical knowledge. These sessions will be used to explore the global, national and regional context in which they are working, and will lead to the development of understanding of the systemic risks that might threaten or challenge their organisation. The seminars will be used to explore the different styles of responsible leadership. A series of workshops will incorporate various active learning approaches, including role play and gaming, in order to understand the need for flexible and agile leadership when dealing with systemic risks. To enhance the teaching of this module a range of practical approaches to learning are utilised. These will include: Use of the University’s VLE and/or other learning platforms where appropriateScenarios and case studies exploring key leadership issues and conceptsDiscussions, group analyses and debatesShort lectures to introduce and critically evaluate weekly seminar topics Students are expected to work independently and in seminar groups on supporting activities and formative assignments outside timetabled class contact.

Taught sessions are supported by guided and independent reading using core texts and recommended academic sources from a knowledge base of classic, contemporary and critical leadership texts and perspectives.

Lectures are also embedded within the seminar delivery to guide student learning and to provide students with appropriate and challenging theoretical and practical knowledge. These sessions will be used to explore the global, national and regional context in which they are working, and will lead to the development of understanding of the systemic risks that might threaten or challenge their organisation. The seminars will be used to explore the different styles of responsible leadership. A series of workshops will incorporate various active learning approaches, including role play and gaming, in order to understand the need for flexible and agile leadership when dealing with systemic risks.

To enhance the teaching of this module a range of practical approaches to learning are utilised. These will include:

Use of the University’s VLE and/or other learning platforms where appropriate
Scenarios and case studies exploring key leadership issues and concepts
Discussions, group analyses and debates
Short lectures to introduce and critically evaluate weekly seminar topics

Students are expected to work independently and in seminar groups on supporting activities and formative assignments outside timetabled class contact.

Outline Syllabus

Scenario planningUnderstanding systemic risksRisk management theories and practiceHistorical foundations of leadership studiesPersonality and leader styleTransformational and authentic leadershipToxic and destructive leadershipCreating sustainable leadership culturesPower and responsibilityFollowers and followershipGender and equality Systemic Risk Investigations for responsible leaders in the following indicative areas: Resource stewardship – (e.g. the circular economy)Responsible, sustainable and … For more content click the Read More button below.

Scenario planning
Understanding systemic risks
Risk management theories and practice
Historical foundations of leadership studies
Personality and leader style
Transformational and authentic leadership
Toxic and destructive leadership
Creating sustainable leadership cultures
Power and responsibility
Followers and followership
Gender and equality

Systemic Risk Investigations for responsible leaders in the following indicative areas:

Resource stewardship – (e.g. the circular economy)
Responsible, sustainable and humanitarian supply chains
Responsible leadership in Financial Crises
Leading during health emergencies and pandemics
Vulnerability and leadership responses to technological failures and abuses (e.g. cyber-crime)
Leadership responsibilities during volatile political situations (elections, war)

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will

Have a comprehensive understanding of scenario models and techniques, and risk management theories and practice

Have in-depth understanding of the qualitative difference between a range of complementary and competing academic perspectives on leadership, followership, ethics and responsibility.

Recognise and analyse responsible leadership styles and critically assess their appropriateness for managing systemic risks in a business context

Have a heightened awareness and understanding of the threat of global systemic risks and have the knowledge to enhance the resilience of themselves, their colleagues, and their businesses.

Draw on case examples to consider the ethical challenges of leadership decision in crisis situations

Discuss and debate the wider implications of utilizing theories and models of responsible leadership in applied organisational settings.

Apply relevant tools and techniques for scenario planning

Evaluate leadership styles in crisis situations

Formative Assessment

Assessment 1: Other

Summative Assessment

Assessment 1: Presentation

Assessment 2: Written Assignment

Assessment Criteria

The module will be assessed according to the current Huddersfield Business School Assessment Criteria for Postgraduate Taught Programmes

Course and Module Catalogue