MANHATTANVILLE COLLEGE - Fall, 2003

IDS 3065/WREL3065/SOCJ3065 – Honors Seminar - 3 credits

POWER, AUTHORITY, LEADERSHIP & ETHICS

Instructor: James E. Jones, D.Min. Chair/Associate Professor, World Religions

Prerequisites: Honors - Approval by Dean of Studies

Class Meeting: Tue, 8:30-10:30am Location: Brownson 8

Course web page: http://blackboard.mville.edu under “World Religions” Courses

Assignment submission: class, email Word attachment, digital drop box, Instructor’s office

Office: Reid 410		email:jonesj@mville.edu
Office #: (914) 323-5134		Home#: (203) 865-5805
Office Hours: Mon, 1-5pm		Fax #:(203) 787-1423
	Tue, 9am-Noon & by appointment

A. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides an opportunity for students to understand the impact of covert dynamics on the exercise of ethical authority in group and organizational settings. Through the use of both an ongoing human relations group and discussion seminar format, students focus on how leadership can help or hinder the development of positive stable, communities and organizations. This course includes an analytical reflection on the college’s mission to educate “ ethically and socially responsible leaders.” Using religious, political and social movements as examples, the overall intent is to familiarize students with both the facilitating and hindering forces which impact effective organizational leadership.

B. METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
Approximately one half of the class will be conducted in an experiential group format. Drawing on theories developed extensively by the National Training Laboratories (NTL) Institute and the A.K. Rice Institute, the instructor/group leader will encourage students to explore and understand covert group processes. What is learned from this process will be applied to the other component of the course, a discussion seminar. In the seminar, students will: review what they have learned from the experiential group; lead discussions on relevant theoretical readings; analyze case studies of leadership in a variety of settings and be required to construct their own models of “ ethically and socially responsible” leadership.

C. COURSE OBJECTIVES

Compare and contrast the National Training Laboratories (NTL) model and the A.K. Rice Institute Tavistock model for understanding covert processes in groups.
Explain and summarize the process of effective ethical leadership development as envisioned by Warren Bennis.
Analyze and assess the use of power, authority, leadership and ethics in at least one religious, political or social movement.
Describe and analyze the impact that the course’s small group had on the student’s own exercise of power authority, leadership and ethics.
Design and recommend a practical model of “ethically and socially responsible leadership” for a specific setting.

D. READING MATERIALS: (In order of use)

Porter, Lawrence, ed., Reading Book for Human Relations Training. 7^th

ed. Arlington VA: NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science

(Selected readings at Library ERES link at course web site)

Coleman Arthur D. and, Marvin H. Geller, eds. Group Relations

Reader 2. Washington DC: A.K. Rice Institute, 1985. (Selected

readings at Library ERES link at course web site)

Solomon, Robert C., Ethics: A Short Introduction. Dubuque IA: William

C. Brown, 1993. (Selected readings at Library ERES link at course web

site)

Bennis, Warren G., On Becoming A Leader. 2^nd ed. Cambridge MA:

Perseus Publishing, 2003.

Nouwen, Henri J. M. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian

Leadership. New York: Crossroad, 1989.

Armstrong, Karen, Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet. San

Francisco: Harper, 1992.

Wallach, Janet, Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell:

Adventurer, Advisor to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia. New York :

Anchor, 1996.

Day, Dorothy, Loaves and Fishes. Maryknoll NY: Orbis, 1963.

Cone, James H. Martin & Malcolm & America: A Dream or a

Nightmare. Maryknoll NY: Orbis, 1992.

Giuliani, Rudolph, Leadership. New York: Miramax, 2002.

D. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING

- Attendance/Participation/Quizzes/In-class writing/web discussions/Journal 20% of grade

- In‑class presentations(2) –One based on assigned book or case study and the other based on students’ own models of “ ethically and socially responsible” leadership. Second presentation must be accompanied by a 5-10 page essay with copies for entire class

40% of grade

- Open Notes Midterm Exam - Oct 14- Students must submit 2 essay questions via email by 10/9 20% of grade

- Big Quiz on Dec 9 -Fact based – no essays 20% of grade

E. YOUR FEEDBACK/CONCERNS/ADDITIONAL HELP

Your ideas, comments, suggestions, questions, grade challenges, feedback and/or concerns are welcome. You are encouraged to take advantage of instructor office hours or to make an appointment for help with coursework or anything else connected with the course and your progress

F. COURSE TOPICS, READINGS AND DATES (subject to revision)

9/2 Course overview/ T-group and Tavistock Methodology / Group Formation

Reading – Porter’s NTL Reading Book (8 short articles) and Coleman’s Group Relations Reader (3 articles) on Line at ERES link on Course website

9/9 – Group/Ethics

Reading –Solomon’s Ethics: A Short Introduction on Line at ERES link on Course website - 9/12 - Add/Drop Deadline

9/16 – Group/Leadership

Reading – All of Bennis/Journal Due

9/23 – Group/ Jesus

Reading – All of Nouwen –Ted /Presentation #2 Topic Due w/ Thesis Statement

9/30 – Group/Muhammad

Reading – All of Armstrong

10/7 – Group/Gertrude Bell

Reading – All of Wallach- Katie & Helene/ Journal Due

Email 2 proposed midterm essay questions to jonesj@mville.edu by 10/9.

10/14 – Mid term - Open Notes – no books or hand-outs/ Presentation #2 Proposal Due w/ Thesis Paragraph and working bibliography.

10/21 – “Ethically and socially responsible” leadership –Pres R. Berman

Reading - Manhattanville Student Handbook -Course Withdrawal Deadline

10/28 – Group/Dorothy Day

Reading – All of Day;FDR-Stacy – David & Jancy

11/4 – Group/Martin Luther King

Reading –All of Cone Jasmine /Journal Due

11/11 – Group/Malcolm X

Reading – All of Cone; Mandela-Ashley

11/18 - Group/Rudolph Guiliani

Reading – All of Guiliani - josh

11/25 - Group/Case Studies/Student Presentations of models

Reading – TBA

12/2 - Group/Case Studies/ Student Presentations of models

Reading – TBA /Journal Due

12/9 - Last Group/Big Quiz

G. ISSUES TO COVER IN BOOK/CASE STUDY PRESENTATIONS

1. In this situation, what is power and how is it exercised?

2. What is the nature of authority in this instance and how was it endorsed and implemented?

3. What implicit/explicit value systems inform or support the leader’s ethics?

4. Summarize the leader’s ethical system in a one-page format of your choosing.

5. Would cultural and historical contexts change the nature of this person’s leadership? If so, how? If not, why not?

6. Can this type of leadership be taught? If so, how? If not, why not?

7. In this instance, what does “Leadership” mean?

8. What is the relationship between power and authority in this situation?

9. What role does gender play in this leader’s effectiveness? Would organizations be different if there were more women in senior leadership roles?

10. After reading this material, what questions do you still have?