Service Leadership, Organizational Development and TeamworkLaajuus (5 ECTS)

Objective

A new service-oriented and knowledge-based business mode requires a set of new organizational and leadership skills. A growing knowledge part, which is visible across all jobs, calls for a new, agile type of learner, with effective problem solving skills, ability to process an increasing flow of information, and handle complex multitasks in teams. Need for innovation, collaboration and cooperation drives the organization to change into communities of creation and focus on development of effective learning practices – from sharing knowledge and innovating service team work, to leading Generation Y in the workplace. Companies coach and enhance these skills by encouraging learning, self-motivation, and creativity through continuous organizational and personal development.

The objective of the course is to gain an overview of service leadership on levels of teams, organizations and services and reflect upon leadership behaviors from points of view of brain research, work psychology and knowledge work.

The student gains knowledge of mainstreams of brainwork, work psychology and organizational theory, and gets acquainted with the current practices of recognizing and developing the human factor in the service business. The student develops and analyses general understanding of leadership utilizing selected theories of leadership, brain theory, systems thinking and value based leadership. In practical terms, the student learns to use a tool for analyzing whether organizations can be assessed as learning organizations and capabilities for developing solutions for becoming one.

Content

Sessions of the course include:

09. Team leadership and competences • Trends in leadership; leadership challenges • Values in leadership and leading values • Understanding and leading systems (Systems thinking) • Leadership vs. management: differences between management and leadership in ICT and service business • Practical training in the course: self-assessment as a leader; practicing elements of good leadership; choices when to manage and when to lead; revolutionizing leadership.

08. Learning organizations • Leading organizations: leading a learning organization • Leading people and leading teams • Developing your own organization into a learning organization • Leading innovativeness: understanding how people think and create • Understanding benefits of social media and collaborative tools: finding best partners • Leading networks: networking structures – a great opportunity and a challenge • Leading collaboration and ability to collaborate across borders.

10. Competence strategy and development • Knowledge work and a growing knowledge part in all jobs • Leading collaboration, competence development and knowledge sharing • Leading cognitive resources • Emotional intelligence and social skills • Presence and awareness as a leader´s assets • Learning from the case study • Coaching.

11. Service leadership; cases in education services • Leading change (Change management) • Talent leadership/management • Diversity leadership • Leading a virtual organization.

14. Leading your team toward success • Community building: leading communities and networks • Success factors for ICT business • Communication • Leading self • A communicating leader • Service delivery teamwork and collaboration; cases in knowledge-intensive business services.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The following criteria are used for assessing the IM Master’s coursework (lecture involvement, discussion, written assignments and discussion leaders).

The coursework meets with many of the above criteria. The assignment meets more than three of the above criteria in a satisfactory manner.

1. The student shows an understanding of the relevant course content in relation to the contents of the articles, lectures and discussion.
2. The student's texts/presentations demonstrate an understanding of the article/lecture content and an ability to select, interpret and justify key messages in a grounded manner.
3. The student shows interconnections between the proposed concepts and current business practice, showing abilities of reflection, evaluation and discussion.
4. The student shows professional initiative, active participation and responsibility in both individual and team work.
5. Student assignment is written in line with academic writing practice and instructions for Master’s Thesis, using the Harvard Referencing system, with references both in the text as well as reference list. The texts are written in coherent, fluent English.
6. The student shows the ability to collect valid knowledge for his/her topic from outside the course sources by using scholarly search tools, by questioning current business practice and by practicing source critique.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The coursework meets with most of the above criteria. Additionally the assignment shows good quality performance in three or more of the criteria or otherwise good interpretation.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The coursework meets with all the above six criteria. Additionally the assignment shows excellence in three or more of the above criteria or otherwise deviating excellence.