Course Title: Power and Influence

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Power and Influence

Credit Points: 12

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
BUSM1168	City Campus	Postgraduate	630H Management	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2008

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Carlene Boucher

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 99255914

Course Coordinator Email:carlene.boucher@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 108.16.24

Course Coordinator Availability: Wed 3.30-5.15, Thurs 3.30-5.15,for other times please email for an appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Admission into Master of Business Leadership or Graduate Diploma in Business (Human Resource Management & Industrial Relations) or equivalent

Course Description

This course aims to develop ’power and influence’ competencies by engaging the student in a variety of learning activities on an individual and team learning basis. It focuses on the role of the manager/leader and provides students with some insights into power and influence dynamics at an individual, group and organizational level.
The course also explores the origins and bases of legitimate power and the techniques adopted by effective managers in the workplace.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The study of power and influence in a business leadership context contributes to the development and exploration of :
- insight into powerful and powerless behaviours in a range of contexts;
- observation, analysis and evaluation skills specifically concerning individual characteristic behaviour related to power and influence;
- enhanced understanding of the use of power and influence;
- understanding the differences and relationship between power and influence and authority;
- awareness of the political power dimensions of organizations.

Overview of Learning Activities

This course focuses on the management competencies relevant to authority, control and influence in the workplace. It is underpinned by the philosophies and methodologies of self - directed learning, emphasising the key supportive roles of Professional Development Teams (PDTs) and contract learning in management development.

Four (4) workshop days provide the opportunity for students to explore a range of competency frameworks for managing in relation to power and influence, to undertake preliminary diagnostic assessments and to practice techniques particularly related to exercising effective power and influence in organizations.
The course/subject incorporates all aspects of Kolb’s Learning Cycle, (Experience, Reflection, Theory and Experimentation).

In addition to the 2 two day workshops, there will be regular scheduled meetings of professional development teams assisted by team consultants. In addition to the contract learning process, the aim of these meetings is to assist students in sharing theoretical resources, to seek feedback on their performance within the team, to assist with analysing critical incidents in the workplace and to apply new approaches for improvement in performance.

Overview of Learning Resources

Workshop sessions are supplemented by handout/Learning Hub material. The practical experience of lecturers and of other participants, shared during interactive group discussions, will provide a rich source of real life examples of applications of power and influence in complex situations. The student’s individual research skills are also a crucial aspect of their own learning and a significant contribution to the learning of their team members. In keeping with the principles of self - directed learning, students are required to read widely, that is, beyond the materials provided during the workshops.

There is no prescribed text for this course but an introductory reading list will be provided. Students are also required to access journals and databases (both research and practitioner based) for research and discussion and reflection purposes. Students are expected to use their past and present working experience as a learning resource for themselves and their fellow course participants. Students are encouraged to keep a reflection and data gathering journal
Workshop slides will be posted on the BUSM1168 –Power & Influence Learning Hub site, as too will useful web-links, and imaterial relevant to ssues arising in the workshops and PDT meetings.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment may be based on the following two tasks:
- Contract learning proposal
- Contract learning report

To help you to meet the assessment requirements you will receive feedback from staff and be expected to give feedback to and receive feedback from your peers.

No higher grading than a pass is awarded to assessment tasks in the subject.
All assessment tasks must be passed in order to obtain an overall pass for the course.