Faculty of Business: Leisure, Sport and Tourism
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Undergraduate

Result Type: Grade and marks

Handbook description

This subject provides the leadership fundamentals for today's middle managers and for advancement to higher management levels in the leisure, sport and tourism industries. It focuses on leadership development and specifically on the skills, principles and practices that are the key components of effective organisational, personal and small group activity leadership. A range of leadership issues are explored in settings such as community-based programs and commercial enterprises.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Discuss the various contexts of leadership in leisure, sport and tourism settings.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of selected of leadership theories and styles.
3. Apply leadership skills and processes, such as group dynamics, conflict management and conducting meetings.
4. Identify appropriate management responses to leadership issues such as ethics, diversity and organisational politics.

Contribution to graduate profile

This is a core subject in the Bachelor of Management in Leisure program and introduces students to leadership theory and practice based on contemporary recreational leadership models. Students will develop the ability to articulate their concept of leadership to advocate for and effect meaningful change, and to demonstrate their skills as leaders. Leadership will be discussed as the ability to exercise informed social responsibility, within organisational and community frameworks.

Teaching and learning strategies

A variety of teaching strategies will be implemented including formal lectures, workshops, activity sessions and field trips. Content for this subject will be supported by UTS Online.

Content

• Leadership theory and models - a range of leadership models and the variations by situation, organisation, profession, culture and gender will be presented
• Skills and perspectives for effective leadership - focuses on the development of fundamental leadership skills, such as self-awareness, communication, strategic thinking, creating a motivating environment, empowerment and delegation, managing change and team processing
• Face-to-face leadership - practical skills on leading a diverse range of groups eg across age, gender, ability, and ethnicity
• Assessing leadership potential - leadership assessment tools and how these are relevant to leisure settings.

Assessment

Leadership Essay (Individual)	30%
This addresses objectives 1 and 2.
Leadership Practical Session (Individual)	20%
This addresses objectives 2 and 3.
Leadership audit and action plan (Individual)	50%
This addresses objectives 1, 2 and 4.

The leadership essay is highly individualised, requires an extensive bibliography and has topics changed annually, therefore, the possibility of plagiarism is reduced. During the practical session, students are assessed by the instructor based on content, relevance and control, therefore, plagiarism is not possible. Topics for the audit and action plan are revised annually, a statement of independent work is required on the cover sheet and a marking procedure aimed at detecting plagiarism will be implemented.

Recommended text(s)

Russell, R. V. (1996). Leadership in Recreation, St Louis, MO: Mosby Publishing.

Indicative references

Ballantyne, R., Weiler, B., Crabtree, A., Ham, S. and Hughes, K. (2000). Tour Guiding: Developing Effective Communication and Interpretation Techniques (76-minute video and 82-page workbook). Queensland University of Technology, Australia.

Beck, L. and Cable, T. T. (1998). Interpretation for the 21st Century: Fifteen guiding principles for interpreting nature and culture. Champaign, Ill.: Sagamore.

Edginton, C., Hudson, S. and Ford, P. (1999). Leadership for Recreation and Leisure Programs and Settings. Champaign, Ill.: Sagamore.

Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R. and McKee, A. (2002). Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.

Henderson, K. (ed) (2000). Introduction to Recreation and Leisure Services. State College, PA: Venture Publishing.