27343 Leadership in Leisure Management

Subject level: Undergraduate

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 UTSOnline.

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, e.g. across age, gender, ability and ethnicity
• Assessing leadership potential — leadership assessment tools and how these are relevant to leisure settings.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Leadership essay (individual)

Assessment item 2: Leadership practical session (individual)

Assessment item 3: Leadership audit and action plan (Individual)

Recommended text(s)

Edginton C, Hudson S and Scholl G, 2005, Leadership for Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services, Sagamore Publishing, Champaign: Illinois

Indicative references

This is just a sample of the literature available. There is an extensive array of books and articles on leadership and associated subjects available at the George Muir Library.

Adair J and Allen M, 1999, Time Management and Personal Development Hawksmere, London.

Binney G, Wilke G and Williams C, 2005, Living Leadership: A practical guide for ordinary heroes Prentice Hall, Edinburgh.

Edginton C, Hudson S and Ford P, 1999, Leadership in Recreation and Leisure Service Organizations, Sagamore Publishing, Champaign:Illinois.

Henderson, K (ed) 2000, Introduction to recreation and leisure services, Venture Publishing, State College, PA

Jordan, DJ, 1996, Leadership in leisure services: Making a difference, Venture Publishing, State College, PA

Kolb D, Williams J and Frohlinger C, 2004, Her Place at the Table, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.

Parry K, 1999, Transformational Leadership Business and Professional Publishing, Warriewood.

Priest, S and Gass, M, 1997, Effective leadership in adventure programming Champaign, Ill.: Human Kinetics.

Roberto, MA, 2003, Fatal ascent: leadership lessons from the 1996 Everest tragedy. Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Mass.

Sinclair A, 1999, Doing Leadership Differently: Gender, Power and Sexuality in a Changing Business Culture Melbourne University Press, Carlton South

Tozer J, 1999, Leading Initiatives: Leadership, teamwork and the bottom line Butterworth Heinemann, Australia.