This course introduces you to leadership and organisational change theories and frameworks, and provides opportunities to develop skills and practices for effectively achieving personal, interpersonal, and organisational goals.  In leading people, you will explore ethical and values-based leadership, and develop skills to motivate others, negotiate, and make decisions.  In leading change, you will develop skills for setting and communicating a compelling vision, gaining support, and leading yourself and others through transformational change processes. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. distinguish between various leadership and change models and frameworks, their relevant foundations, and their strengths and weaknesses (Ask & Understand)
2. choose appropriate models and approaches for addressing specific leadership and change challenges (Acquire & Apply)
3. summarise relevant contextual information and factors influencing effective leadership and change management practice (Aggregate & Analyse)
4. critique the factors and events contributing to failures in leadership and change implementation using applicable models and frameworks (Appraise & Evaluate)
5. reflect on feedback provided during cases and exercises to improve leadership and change skills (Assess & Evaluate)
6. integrate evidence from real-world leadership and change problems to find solutions (Aggregate & Create)
7. generate a plan for implementing a solution to leadership and change challenges in one’s life and work roles (Apply & Create).

Research-Led Teaching

This course is informed by the convenor and teams research and practical experience. As one of the top 2% cited scholars, journal editor, firm founder and practitioner we draw upon this broad base of knowledge to inform course content. Research-Led Teaching includes:

• Critical discussion of contemporary research in Leading People and Change;
• In-class activities and in class group work to help students apply Leading People and Change concepts to personal and organisational change;
• The assessment in the course requires students to do independent research on a chosen topic of leadership and personal change;
• The assessment requires students to reflect on contemporary research articles and apply leadership theory.

Field Trips

There are no field trips.

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional class costs.

Examination Material or equipment

There will be no examination for this course.

Required Resources

Articles as provided through the reading list or on Canvas; all of which are accessible through the ANU Library. Additional articles, podcasts, and videos posted on Canvas.

Recommended Resources

Academic articles from leading journals in management, organisation and leadership as per the list in the weekly class overview.

The journals listed below are available on the ANU library database.

Leadership Specialist Journals - Leadership, Leadership and Organisational Development, The Leadership Quarterly;

Organisational Change Specialist Journals - Journal of Change Management, International Journal of Organisational Change Management;

Management Journals - The following journals cover a range of topics in Leadership and Change: Academy of Management Review (conceptual articles only),

Academy of Management Journal (empirical articles only), Journal of Management Studies, Journal of Management, International Journal of Management Reviews (literature reviews of topics in management). 

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Support for Students: The University offers a number of support services for students. Information on these is available online from http://students.anu.edu.au/studentlife/

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lecture No 1: Leading Personal ChangeContent:Models Reflecting on leadership Critical Thinking Authentic leadership
2	Lecture No 2: Self-leadershipContent: Understanding self Motivation Theories Crucibles	Assessment 1: Quiz: W1 Content - due in class
3	Lecture No 3: ChangeContent: Change Models Personal Change Advocacy and Inquiry	Assessment 1: Quiz: W2 Content - due in class
4	Lecture No 4: Leading Interpersonal ChangeContent:Teamwork Teams Power Servant Leadership	Assessment 1: Quiz: W3 Content - due in class
5	Lecture No 5: ConflictContent: Psychological Safety Conflict Followership	Assessment 1: Quiz: W4 Content - due in classAssessment 2: Reflection- due 23:59 on Thursday
6	Lecture No 6: Supporting ChangeContent: Influence Coaching Mentoring	Assessment 1: Quiz: W5 Content - due in class
7	Lecture No 7: Leading Organisational ChangeContent:Change Type Understanding Change Planning Change Implementing Change	Assessment 1: Quiz: W6 Content - due in class
8	Lecture No 8: CommunicationContent: Change Communication Models of Change Communication Communication in Leadership	Assessment 1: Quiz: W7 Content - due in class
9	Lecture No 9: Change & AIContent: Understanding and managing AI Collaborating and co-creating with AI AI implementation	Assessment 1: Quiz: W8 Content - due in class
10	Lecture No 10: Leading change in societyContent: Managing change ethically Understanding Ethics Ethical Perspectives Leading Ethically	Assessment 1: Quiz: W9 Content - due in class
11	Lecture No 11: StakeholdersContent: Understanding Stakeholder Theory Identifying and Understanding Stakeholders Communicating and Engaging with Stakeholders	Assessment 1: Quiz: W10 Content - due in class
12	Course ReviewContent: All topics review and discussion
13	NO TEACHING / End of Semester Examination Period	Assessment 3: Plan- due 23:59 on the first Thursday of the examination period

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Teamwork Quizzes (Individual - 40%)	40 %	*	*	1,2,3,4,6
Reflections on Leadership (Individual - 30%)	30 %	26/03/2026	13/04/2026	2,3,5,6,7
Final Assignment (Group - Report 15% + Presentation 15% = 30%)	30 %	04/06/2026	02/07/2026	1,2,3,4,5,6,7

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Attendance at seminars, lectures, and tutorials, while not compulsory, is expected in line with "Code of Practice for Teaching and Learning," Clause 2 paragraph (b). Where students will not be able to attend a seminar, lecture and tutorial, they should advise the Convenor and discuss how to otherwise address the learning materials.

The teaching mode will be on campus. Seminars may be recorded to be made available on Canvas. Students are encouraged to read at least one of the weekly readings and participate in discussion during the weekly seminars. Knowledge gained through seminar discussion, in class activities, and in class group work, will assist students to prepare for the formative and summative assessment items.

Examination(s)

There is no formal examination for this course.

Assessment Task 1

Teamwork Quizzes (Individual - 40%)

Description: A series of 10, closed-book quizzes will be held Online (via Canvas) during Weeks 2-11. These quizzes will cover all material up to and including Week 10.

Type: Individual Assessment

Submission: The quizzes will be held in class during the seminar time for each week. The quizzes will only be open during the seminar times that you are registered and must be conducted in class. A password will be required to access a quiz, and this password will be provided in the relevant seminars. Quizzes are conducted closed-book, with no materials being available in class.

Further information: More information will be provided on Canvas two weeks before Week 1 of the semester.

Marking: The top 8 of the 10 quizzes will be used to calculate the final grade for this assessment, with each individual quiz of the 8 contributing 5% of the overall mark for this assessment task.

Late submission: Late submission is not accepted.

Feedback: Each set of quiz marks will be made available before the next quiz. (for example, the Week 2 quiz marks will be available before the Week 3 quiz is available). Results from quizzes held in Weeks 2, 3, 4 and 5 will be provided by 31 March.

Assessment Task 2

Reflections on Leadership (Individual - 30%)

Description: Each class participant will write a paper of no more than three pages totalling 1000 words (references excluded) summarising the following:

1. Reflect upon your personal leadership style as it compares to leadership styles and frameworks discussed in class and in the readings. How would you describe your current leadership style to a friend? Be specific when talking about your leadership, referring to a specific type or theory of leadership. Talk about a particular experience that illustrates your leadership/personality in action. Use this to identify and reflect on your strengths and areas for development.
2. Select one of the areas that you feel is an opportunity for improvement for you. Be specific and focus on your particular goals and developmental needs. For example, do you want to say learn about managing conflict? Understanding how, for example, your conflict-handling style might help you in certain situations but also undermine you in others.
3. Having identified a particular area, develop a personal development plan for how you will practice new behaviours and improve this skill/trait. Please focus on 1-2 areas, e.g. a strength or an area for development. Identify and describe in detail a well-constructed action plan with particular actions, options and different ways to enhance this developmental area.

You do not need to be a leader, but rather describe what will help you, whether in current or future roles, working with people and leading them. The paper should reflect ideas shared in lectures and in reading materials during the first 4 weeks of the course, as well as additional sources as appropriate.

Type: Individual

Weighting: 30%

Size: 1000 words only. Submissions with more than 1000 words will be marked up to 1000 words; any further work submitted will not be read or marked.

Marking criteria: Submissions will be assessed against the Learning Outcomes shown in the ASSESSMENT SUMMARY table. Further details will be provided on Canvas two weeks before Week 1 of the semester.

Style: Harvard Referencing, more information provided on Canvas.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI use is rapidly growing across all sectors, particularly the use of Large Language Models, many of which are proprietary brands. In this course, students may choose to use or not use AI tools. In any case where AI tools are used, the student must do so in a way consistent with the ANU Academic Integrity principles for the use of GenAI, as well as accurately cite and reference what tools were used, and advise in an appendix how they used the tool. Guidance on how to do this appropriately is provided in the assessment requirements on the course Canvas page, and the ANU provides further broad guidance in the ANU Gen AI LibGuide. As part of handling a potential breach of academic integrity, students are reminded that they may be requested to meet with the Convenor to discuss any assessment submission, including responding to questions on the content of submissions and their understanding of the course concepts assessed by the submission.

Each submission will be read carefully to ensure that there is an authentic human voice within the written submission. Any submissions identified as having an inappropriate level of AI use will be investigated for a potential breach of academic integrity. Please refer to the Canvas course site for further guidance about the acceptable use of AI.

Due date: 23:59 on Thursday of Week 5

Submission: via Canvas

Return of Assessment: within 10 working days of submission.

Assessment Task 3

Final Assignment (Group - Report 15% + Presentation 15% = 30%)

Description: This group report of no more than 2500 words will present your examination of a current topic in change management and leadership. Your report will be well-grounded in the concepts discussed in the course and academic literature. You must demonstrate an effective use of relevant and good-quality academic literature. As part of this submission, teams will record a 10-minute video (maximum) featuring each member of the team.

Type: Group

Weighting: 30% - the two outputs i.e. the report and video, are equally weighted.

Size/Length:

• Report - 2500 words only. Submissions with more than 2500 words will be marked up to 2500 words; any further work submitted will not be read or marked.
• Video presentation - 10 minutes maximum. Videos of more than 10 minutes duration will be marked up to 10 minutes; any further video content submitted will not be watched or marked.

Marking criteria: Submissions will be assessed against the Learning Outcomes shown in the ASSESSMENT SUMMARY table. Further details will be provided on Canvas two weeks before Week 1 of the semester.

Style: Harvard Referencing, more information provided on Canvas.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI use is rapidly growing across all sectors, particularly the use of Large Language Models, many of which are proprietary brands. In this course, students may choose to use or not use AI tools. In any case where AI tools are used, the student must do so in a way consistent with the ANU Academic Integrity principles for use of GenAI, as well as accurately cite and reference what tools were used, and advise in an appendix how they used the tool. Guidance on how to do this appropriately is provided in the assessment requirements on the course Canvas page, and the ANU provides further broad guidance in the ANU Gen AI LibGuide. As part of handling a potential breach of academic integrity, students are reminded that they may be requested to meet with the Convenor to discuss any assessment submission, including responding to questions on the content of submissions and their understanding of the course concepts assessed by the submission.

Each submission will be read carefully to ensure that there is an authentic human voice within the written and video submissions. Any submissions identified as having an inappropriate level of AI use will be investigated for a potential breach of academic integrity. Please refer to the Canvas course site for further guidance about the acceptable use of AI.

Due date: 23:59 on the first Thursday of the examination period.

Submission: via Canvas.

Feedback: With the release of final grades.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Refer to the details for each assessment item. Policy regarding late submission (where applicable) is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an approved extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

All requests for Assessment Adjustment (including Requests for Extension and for Consideration of Extenuating Circumstances) should be submitted via ANUHub .

Referencing Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Canvas’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Returning Assignments

All assignments will be graded and feedback will be provided either:

• Via the course Canvas site,
• and where appropriate in person by appointment with the course lecturer.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Unless specified otherwise in the assignment requirements, resubmissions are permitted up until the due date and time, but not allowed afterwards.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students