Details for Responsible Leadership

This unit places contemporary approaches to governance and risk management in the context of Biblical and theological principles, providing students with practical skills for effective and responsible leadership in values-driven contexts. 

The unit Responsible Leadership is part of the subject area Leadership and is offered as a part of the following Awards: Master of Arts (Christian Studies) (Alphacrucis College (NSW Dept. of Education)).

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

Student should be able to: 

1. Demonstrate thorough awareness of the laws and practices that rule organisational governance
2. Demonstrate extensive understanding of the nature of risk and risk management (operational and financial) as it relates to the long term effectiveness and sustainability of an organisation and its responsibility to all stakeholders
3. Build and sustain a learning organisation
4. Minimize the organisation’s impact on the natural environment;
Maximise organisational efficiency through process management and design. 

Subject Content

1. Governance principles and models: laws, expectations and ethics
2. Biblical principles concerning responsible (accountable) leadership
3. Operational Risk Management: Identification, assessment and management of operational risk (people, process, systems & external)
4. Financial Risk Management: Beyond ‘Directors’ Duties’ to responsible financial leadership
5. Creating a learning organisation
6. Change, continuous innovation and improvement processes
7. Measuring and managing the organisation’s impact on the environment
8. Process management and design 

Assessment Methods

Case studies, minor essay, major essay.

Representative References

Kiel, G. and G. Nicholson. Boards that Work. Sydney: McGraw-Hill, 2002.

Kotter, J.P. Leading Change. Boston: HBS Press, 2002.

Lyons, Mark,Third sector: the contribution of nonprofit and cooperative enterprise in Australia, St Leonards, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin, 2001

Maak, Th. and N.M. Pless. Responsible Leadership in Business. New York: Routledge, 2006.

Malphurs, A. Leading Leaders: Empowering church boards for ministry excellence. Boston: Baker Books, 2005.

Marshall, D. and McCartney, (eds.). Accounting: What the numbers mean. Australia: McGraw-Hill, 2005.

Picker, Ruth, Australian accounting standards, Milton, Qld.: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd, 2009

Puccio, G.J., M.C. Murdock, and M. Mance. Creative leadership: Skills that drive change. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE Publications, 2007.

Robinson, G. (ed.). Australian Risk Roundtable. Melbourne: Brolga Publishing, 2008.

Rothwell, W.J. Effective succession planning: Ensuring leadership continuity and building talent from within. New York: AMACOM, 2005.