DPLS 772 - Power and Informal Leadership
3 Credits                                   Summer 2007

Course Dates: June 4th, 2007 – June 15th, 2007
Course Days: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
Course Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Course Location: RC218

Professor: Dr. Marcia Smart
E-Mail: marciasmart@swslnetwork.com

Introduction

Informal leadership is an example of leadership theory and practice based on a deep, personal sense of purpose and commitment to community and organizations (business, schools, non-profits, government). Informal Leaders are the primary leaders of the informal organization: the system that is not included in organizational charts or official blueprints. They are persons of influence without formal authority who exert a strong influence within their groups, have a thorough understanding of both structural systems and the practical workings of the organization, and act as enablers and motivators for driving the business forward.

Course Description
This course explores the exercise of informal leadership in the context of the leader within organizational systems. As organizations and communities strive to adapt to the fast, dynamic pace of global and economic changes, more and more of the work is being performed at the small group and individual level within organizational systems. In the exploration process, some of the questions to be asked and answered are: Who are these leaders of influence in organizations without formal authority? Why do they act with such passion and purpose? What are the risks and challenges they overcome to maintain authenticity and personal integrity to their purpose? What personal values motivate them to maintain focus and commitment without the promise of personal gain? What are their processes of discernment? How do they build and maintain confidence and credibility as their organizations strive to adapt to global and economic challenges?

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is designed to evoke reflective thinking on student’s own style, the focus and purpose of leadership in their group or organization, and expansion of their depth and breadth of knowledge on the practice of informal leadership.

At the end of the course students will:

1. Have a greater ability to reflect upon their own leadership examples within their organizations and have gained the ability to promote a deeper self-awareness of the personal practice of informal leadership.
2. Have a deeper understanding on organizations as social systems by expanding knowledge on the structure, climate and culture in organizations, and assessing the scope and types of power and influence.
3. Recognize and have the ability to articulate a personal position on the practice of Informal Leadership by identifying who informal leaders are within the community or organization and exploring how and why they do what they do.

Tentative Schedule:
This course is an intensive and accelerated delivery course, therefore there will be pre-assignments, which all students are required to complete and prepare before their arrival for the first class on June 5th.

Required Texts

• The Nature of Leadership. John Antonakis, Anna T. Cianciolo,Robert J. Sternberg: 2004 SAGE Publications
• Power and Influence in Organizations. Roderick M. Kramer, Margaret A. Neale, Editors: 1998 SAGE Publications
• The Hidden Power of Social Networks: Understanding How Work Really Gets Done in Organizations. Rob Cross, Andrew Parker: 2004 Harvard Business School Press

Reading Assignments:

• Gonzaga University (2005). The International Journal of Servant Leadership
• Harvard Management Update (2000) Trust, How to Build It, Earn It, and Reestablish When it is Broken.
• Heifetz, Ronald, Laurie, Donald (1997). The Work of Leadership. Harvard Business Review
• Mintzberg, Henry (1985). The Organization as Political Arena. Journal of Management Studies, 22:2
• Smart, Marcia (2005). The Role of Informal Leaders in Organizations: The Hidden Organizational Asset. Dissertation, University of Idaho, USA.(Will be provided by Professor)

Assignments
Completion of Assignments: No late Assignments!! There will be no missed and/or late assignments without resulting in a drop in letter grade increment each day it is late. The paper and group project must be turned in on the scheduled date without exception (Unless approved by the professor for an extreme circumstance).

Readings:
Any additional readings will be handed out prior to beginning of class

Individual Research Assignment
It is highly recommended that students treat this as a pre-assignment, and begin as soon as possible. This assignment is due June 11th.

Objective:
To explore the phenomenon of informal leadership within an organizational system. 

Identify a minimum of 3 individuals within an organization (business, school. nonprofit, government, etc..) who demonstrate the characteristics and play the role of an informal leader.          Please ensure to get signed permission from the individual.

Key Criteria for selection:
o Recognized as a leader amongst their peers.
o Have a wealth of process/expertise/technical information gained from experience.
o Have influence on the productivity and outcomes of their organization.
o Do not have a formal leadership title as defined by the management of the company. For example: manager, supervisor, etc…

Consider the following as a guide for doing your research:
1. Who are these informal leaders? (description and demographics)
2. What roles are they playing?
3. What strategies and tactics do they to be successful?
4. What about the consequences of the negative use of power and influence?
5. What makes them unique amongst their peers?
6. What personal and organizational challenges are they faced with?
7. What drives them to exercise informal leadership? Why?
8. How are they viewed by their peers?
9. How are they viewed by their managers? The organization?
10. How can organizations fully harness the contributions of these informal leaders?
11. Are there links between the organizational system and environment and informal leadership?
 
Research Report Framework

Your paper must include the following elements:

1. Chapter I:

• Set the Stage: Introduction and Background
• Create a problem statement, define a Purpose statement, and a description of organization in the study

2. Chapter II

• Literature Review for your study
• • Define leadership based on your readings and experience
  • Other pertinent theories, definitions, etc.
• Each paragraph should have a maximum of 3 discussion points with accompanying references

3. Chapter III

• A description of the type of methodology (ex: quantitative – correlational or comparative; qualitative – ethnography or phenomenology)
• Description of the sample population, any issues of permission; address any issues of validity and reliability, and bias. Describe data gathering  and data analysis techniques

4. Chapter IV

• Research Findings

5. Chapter V

• Recommendations

6. References

7. Appendices: Interview Guide;

* This is a scholarly paper with references
* 20 – 25 full pages double-spaced
* APA Format

Small Group Report and Presentation
Incorporate and synthesize fundamental themes, issues and findings from individual reports. Conclude with recommendations to organizations. Include the following:

1. Identification of Informal Leaders
2. Their value and Contribution
3. Their Power and Influence; Impact on the organization
4. Management and Retention
5. Reward and Recognition
6. Brainstorm and provide a framework of an organizational structure, culture, and climate that would best sustain informal leadership
7. Provide insights into ways managers and leaders of organization can harness the potential of informal leaders

Reporting
Class Presentation and for submission: MS PowerPoint
Report for submission: MS Word due June 18th

* This is a scholarly paper with references
* 15-20 full pages double-spaced
* APA Format

Assessment and Grading

Course work will be assessed as follows:

• Attendance, participation, in-class work, assignments – 10 points
• Individual Research Assignment: - 50 points
• Small Group Report & Presentation – 40 points

Doctoral level work should be of high quality in both content and presentation.

Final course grades will be based on the following:

A   95 - 100
A-  92 – 94
B+ 90 – 91
B   87 – 89
B-  85 – 86
C+ 83 – 84
C   80 – 82
C-  77 - 79