Assignment Task:
Ethical Leadership: Term Paper Instructions
Overview: Students are to write an original research paper studying an important and unique aspect of leadership. In this assignment, your task is to select a specific leadership concept or question that intrigues you, thoroughly explore its real-world applications, and connect it with academic theory. You must clearly define what you're studying, explain its importance, and explore the outcomes.
Purpose: This assignment challenges students to develop critical thinking skills and expertise in understanding complex leadership dynamics. By writing a 3,000-word research paper, grounded in a minimum of 10 external sources, students will explore specific leadership concepts and analyze their real-world applications. Additionally, students are expected to demonstrate their understanding by integrating at least three relevant leadership theories and models into their analysis. This exercise bridges theoretical knowledge with practical scenarios, preparing students to navigate intricate leadership challenges and emerge as discerning leaders in diverse professional environments.
Requirements:
Students must apply their leadership topic in their research article and demonstrate critical thinking. This goes beyond a mere compilation of facts about their topic. Based on this paper, students will demonstrate an understanding of the leadership topic, apply theoretical knowledge, exhibit critical thinking skills, synthesize information, and provide unique insights and recommendations.
Students must provide background, outcomes, and real-world relevance of the leadership scenario.
The research paper must be written in APA format. This includes Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced lines, and 1-inch margins. Students must use proper in-text citations and use quotations when citing a direct quote.
Students must write a minimum of 3,000 words (this excludes the title page and references).
Students must cite and utilize at least 10 references, excluding the textbook. At least 2 references must come from respected journals or books.
Topics: Students should pick a topic that goes beyond "the importance of leadership". Find a unique topic that has real-world relevance. Students can ask the instructor for approval if they are worried about their topic of choice. Students are free to research any topic they would like. Below are a few examples:
Example Topics:
- The Dark Side of Leadership: Abusive leadership, narcissistic leaders, Machiavellian leaders, leaders with psychopathy traits. Examine the negative AND positive aspects of these leadership behaviors.
- Leadership and Organizational Culture: Explore the relationship between leadership styles and the development and maintenance of positive organizational cultures, focusing on the impact on employee morale and productivity.
- Leadership in Sports Contexts: Examine how leadership exists in the competitive realm of athletics. Address competitiveness, followers, and the goal of the leader.
- Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility: Analyze the role of ethical leadership in promoting corporate social responsibility initiatives within organizations and assess its impact on public perception and brand reputation.
- Leadership and Diversity: Investigate the challenges and opportunities faced by leaders in diverse workplaces, examining strategies for promoting inclusivity, addressing biases, and leveraging diversity for organizational success.
- Leadership Development Programs: Evaluate the effectiveness of leadership development programs in different sectors (corporate, non-profit, government) and analyze the long-term impact on organizational growth and leadership succession planning.
- Leadership in Crisis Management: Study the leadership strategies employed by organizations and leaders during crises (natural disasters, pandemics, economic downturns) and assess their effectiveness in managing and mitigating the impact of such events.
- Cross-Cultural Leadership: Explore the complexities of leadership in a globalized world, focusing on the skills and attributes necessary for leaders to navigate diverse cultural contexts and lead multicultural teams effectively.
- Leadership and Innovation: Investigate how different leadership styles foster or hinder innovation within organizations and analyze case studies to understand the relationship between leadership approaches and successful innovation initiatives.
- Leadership in Non-Profit Organizations: Examine the unique challenges faced by leaders in non-profit sectors, including fundraising, stakeholder engagement, and social impact assessment, and propose effective leadership strategies tailored to these contexts.