Strategic Leadership (MHR102)

Leadership is fundamentally about creating change - whether motivated by a desire to seize new opportunities or driven by the need to adapt to internal or external conditions. In this course, we adopt a pragmatic approach to leadership and management: the roles of leader and manager are often intertwined, and leaders have finite professional and personal capacities. This means they must make careful choices and prioritize in a business environment rich with challenges and opportunities.

The course is divided into two parts, a) leadership and management theories and roles, and b) leading strategic processes.

The first part, "Leadership and management theories and roles", examines how leadership and management have been understood both historically and in contemporary research, and how cultural differences influence leaders' thoughts and actions. Special emphasis is placed on theories and tactics of influence, leadership styles, leadership communication, and ethics.

The second part, "Leading strategic processes", explores how leaders can drive strategic processes in different ways based on situational understanding.


Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

MHR102

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

English

Content

Leadership and management theories and roles:

  • Leadership research in a historical perspective
  • Current theoretical approaches to leadership, with a focus on power and influence, change management and different leadership styles
  • Leadership communication
  • Ethical theories in leadership

Leading strategic processes:

  • Strategic research in a historical perspective
  • Key perspectives on strategic analysis
  • Different modes of strategic processes
  • Leaders’ roles and capacity in strategy
  • Strategic leadership: challenges, and obstacles
  • Decision-making in strategic contexts

Learning outcome

A candidate who has completed the course should achieve the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

Upon completing this course the student will have:

  • Advanced knowledge of past and present theories and research leadership, management, and strategic business processes
  • In-depth knowledge of the evolution of core theories and scientific methods in leadership and management, as well as frameworks for addressing service leadership challenges
  • Insight into leadership communication theories, with a focus on principles of rhetoric
  • Compehensive knowledge of alternative strategic processes and leadership influence tactics, considering ethical implications
  • Exposure to various approaches in service leadership and strategic business development acroos international and cultural settings, with a critical view of businesses’ social, economic, and environmental roles in society
  • Solid professional knowledge that fosters new perspectives on leadership and strategic processes within a contemporary international context

Skills

Upon completing this course, the student will be able to:

  • Independently analyze existing theories, methods, and interpretations related to leadership and strategic processes
  • Apply theoretical and methodological knowledge to lead small task teams and contribute to strategic planning within organizations
  • Critically analyze and evaluate international service business contexts and make recommendations for alternative strategic leadership approaches
  • Identify and analyze leadership styles, roles, and ethical considerations based on literature and research in the field
  • Apply rhetorical principles in both oral and written presentations

General competence

Upon completing this course, the student will be able to:

  • Analyze and develop problem statements related to leadership, management and strategy work, including ethical considerations
  • Contribute to teamwork that may lead to new ideas and drive innovation processes
  • Approach complex decision-making situations in service leadership with a constructive and strategic mindset
  • Communicate and defend independent work such as analyses, methodologies, and conclusions, based on rhetorical principles, to diverse audiences, including specialists, managers, and the general public
  • Apply knowledge and skills to new contexts order to carry out advanced assignments and projects effectively

Required prerequisite knowledge

None

Recommended prerequisites

A university level course in leadership and strategic management

Exam

Written submitted thesis and oral examination

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Written submitted thesis individually or in group 2/5 4 Weeks Letter grades All
Oral examination 3/5 20 Minutes Letter grades None permitted

Coursework requirements

Assignment (individually or in a group), One oral group presentation

Each student must complete two mandatory assignments:

  1. One written assignment (either individually or in a group)
  2. One oral group presentation.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Tone Therese Linge

Method of work

Active student-centered learning through case-based teaching, lectures, dialogue, group work, and oral presentations.

This is a 10 ECTS course, and the total expected workload is 275 hours, distributed as follows: Organized learning activities (such as lectures and supervised guidance): 50 hours; exams and exam preparations for students: 80.5 hours; self-study: 145 hours. Spread over 16 weeks = 17 hours per week.

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
Leadership and strategy (MHR190_1) 10

Open for

Master students in the Master of Service leadership in International Business program. Master students on incoming exchange and other master students from UiS if there is vacant places.

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital course evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto