Laureate Education Inc Page 1 Of 2 Final Project Overview

2015 Laureate Education Inc Page 1 Of 2final Project Overviewfina

Final Project—Bridging Theory and Practice Leadership Paper In order to assess understanding and critical application of the language of leadership, thus bridging theory into practice, you will be completing a summative paper for this course. The paper should be at least 15 pages and not more than 18 pages of developed content and include, at a minimum, the following Level 1 section headings. The Final Project is due by Day 7 of Week 10. To complete the Final Project, you will select a contemporary leader in the government or nonprofit sector and write a paper that addresses the following:

Introduction and Background (½–1 page)

The introduction should provide the reader with an overview of your chosen government or nonprofit sector leader, as well as informational background to introduce the setting and the context of the leader’s environment.

Leader Biography (1 page)

This leadership biography should provide historical context, which serves as background to their rise to a government or nonprofit leadership position. Inclusion of education, leadership experiences, and civic engagement is useful information to describe the setting for their leadership contributions.

Contributions to Society/Organization (at least 2 pages)

With sufficient depth and breadth of content, describe your selected leader’s leadership contributions to their respective organization and, where applicable, to society as a whole. Be specific, and provide examples to support your description. Describe how these contributions made a difference to their organization or to a specific social movement. Have these contributions resulted in sustainable social change?

Leadership Analysis (at least 3 pages):

Analysis of their leadership behaviors and how they use the language of leadership to motivate and persuade others

Describe interpersonal and public leadership behaviors demonstrated by your selected leader. Your description should incorporate a variety of perspectives. These behaviors may range from private- or small-group interactions (if the leader is known to you personally) to behaviors exhibited to broad public audiences, particularly where you may have selected a government leader. Apply leadership principles based on scholarly content from the assigned readings, as well as content obtained through your developed reference list.

Leadership Recommendations (at least 5 pages):

Specific recommendations, supported with academic references to improve their leadership

Imagine yourself as the immediate supervisor for your selected leader armed with specific examples of leadership behaviors described in the paper’s previous section. In this context, develop specific, theory-based recommendations for leadership improvements. Describe how positive behaviors should be supported, and incorporate specific tools to reverse or minimize leadership behaviors that are viewed as non-beneficial or counterproductive. Be certain to incorporate a brief discussion on how needed behavior changes will be measured and evaluated for sustainability.

Summary and Conclusions (½–1 page)

Summarize key points made throughout the paper. Include any personal insights gained regarding your selected leader, their leadership behaviors, and their impact on social change at an individual, group, or society level. Submit by Week 10, Day 7.

Paper For Above instruction

This leadership paper aims to critically analyze a contemporary leader from the government or nonprofit sector, emphasizing the integration of leadership theory into practical application. Selecting an influential leader allows for a comprehensive understanding of their background, contributions, leadership behaviors, and potential areas for growth. The project emphasizes depth of analysis, clarity of communication, and scholarly support to bridge academic concepts with real-world leadership practices.

Introduction and Background

The opening section provides an overview of the chosen leader, situating them within their organizational, societal, and environmental context. This background offers insights into the sector's unique challenges and opportunities, framing the subsequent analysis. Understanding the setting helps to contextualize the leader’s strategic choices and leadership style, whether they operate in a governmental, non-profit, or social movement domain. For example, selecting a leader such as Malala Yousafzai, an advocate for girls’ education, would require contextualizing her in the socio-political environment of Pakistan. Alternatively, choosing a city mayor would entail an overview of urban governance challenges and civic issues typical of metropolitan regions. The introduction sets the tone for the entire paper, highlighting the importance of leadership within complex societal systems.

Leader Biography

This section provides a detailed account of the leader’s personal and professional journey. Critical elements include educational background, pivotal leadership experiences, civic engagement, and formative influences that shaped their leadership philosophy. For instance, a biography might detail how their early activism, educational pursuits, or career milestones led them to a prominent leadership role. Analyzing their rise to leadership also reveals the contextual factors—such as socio-economic conditions, institutional opportunities, or personal motivation—that facilitated their ascent. The biography not only humanizes the leader but also illustrates how their past experiences inform their leadership style and vision.

Contributions to Society/Organization

This comprehensive section evaluates the tangible impacts the leader has had on their organization and broader society. Specific accomplishments, policy changes, social movements, or initiatives driven by the leader should be highlighted with concrete examples. For example, if analyzing Barack Obama’s presidency, one could explore healthcare reform, economic recovery measures, or efforts toward social justice. The focus is on how these contributions fostered social change, sustainability, and organizational transformation. Discussing whether the leader’s actions resulted in enduring societal benefits involves assessing their legacy, ongoing influence, and the extent to which their initiatives created systemic change. This section demonstrates how leadership directly correlates with societal progress.

Leadership Analysis

Here, the paper dissects the leader's behaviors, attitudes, and communication strategies employed to motivate followers and persuade stakeholders. Incorporating various perspectives—including psychological, sociological, and communication theories—provides a well-rounded understanding of their leadership style. For example, one might analyze transformational leadership traits, ethical considerations, or emotional intelligence. Analyzing their interpersonal skills in one-on-one contexts and their public speaking charisma offers insights into their influence tactics. Applying scholarly frameworks from leadership theories—such as Burns’ transformational leadership or Kouzes and Posner’s leadership practices—grounds the analysis in academic rigor. This section reveals how language and behavior serve as tools for strategic influence and social mobilization.

Leadership Recommendations

Acting as the leader’s immediate supervisor, this section proposes targeted improvements aligned with scholarly research. Recommendations may include enhancing emotional intelligence, fostering ethical decision-making, or developing strategic communication skills. Supporting each suggestion with academic literature ensures the recommendations are evidence-based. For example, if the leader displays indecisiveness, recommendations could focus on decision-making models such as Vroom-Yetton’s framework. The section also discusses methods for measuring and evaluating behavioral changes—for instance, through feedback mechanisms, performance metrics, and long-term impact assessments. These recommendations aim to optimize leadership effectiveness and ensure sustainable social influence.

Summary and Conclusions

This final paragraph summarizes the key insights, emphasizing the leader’s impact and the importance of continual growth and adaptation. Reflecting personally, the paper discusses how examining this leader’s behaviors deepened understanding of effective leadership qualities within societal contexts. The conclusion ties together the theoretical and practical implications, advocating for evidence-based leadership practice as a catalyst for meaningful societal change.

References

  • Bennis, W. (2009). On becoming a leader. Basic Books.
  • Burns, J. M. (1978). Leadership. Harper & Row.
  • Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2017). The leadership challenge: How to make extraordinary things happen in organizations. Jossey-Bass.
  • Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.
  • Yukl, G. (2012). Leadership in organizations. Pearson.
  • Antonakis, J., & Day, D. V. (2017). The nature of leadership. Sage Publications.
  • Goleman, D. (1998). Working with emotional intelligence. Bantam Books.
  • Avolio, B. J., & Bass, B. M. (2004). Improving organizational effectiveness through transformational leadership. Sage.
  • Heifetz, R. A., & Laurie, D. L. (1997). The work of leadership. Harvard Business Review, 75(1), 124-134.
  • Kotter, J. P. (1996). Leading change. Harvard Business Press.

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