Assignment 1: Leadership practicum project
The Leadership Practicum Project is a culminating activity that requires that students incorporate the tools and strategies learned from previous DHA courses to solve a problem that is unique to the student.
This organizational problem needs to be changed and needs to be addressed within a 6-week period. The problem chosen is: Address low staff morale in my place of employment.
The above organizational problem identified: The student will use Kotter’s 8-Step Process for Leading Change along with other resources from previous DHA courses to determine a course of action that would lead to the desired outcome.
Over the next 5-7 weeks, the student will implement the recommended steps, document their process, and analyze the effectiveness of the implemented practices.
Students will submit an 8–10-page Leadership Practicum Project Final Paper (follow APA format).
The final paper will include the following sections. Each section has several guiding questions to assist in developing a well-derived plan of action.
- Problem: This section should include a description of the problem that needs to be changed, the data/observations that were used to identify the problem, why the problem has an impact on the organization, and why solving the problem can make a significant difference to the organization. After describing the problem, describe how you will (did) Establish a Sense of Urgency (step 1) concerning the problem. What research supports your course of action?
- Vision & Desired Outcome: This section should describe the strategic vision and desired outcome. The section should also describe the process for selecting the people who will lead the implementation of the vision. What steps are needed to achieve the vision? Who you will (did) invite and engage to be part of the team that frames the problem and solution(s)? Why would (did) you select these members to be part of the Guiding Coalition (step 2)? How will (did) your team Develop the Strategic Vision (step 3) for this work and subsequently Enlist an Army (step 4) to support and enact the vision? What research supports your course of action?
- Barriers to Success: This section should describe any barriers that would inhibit the successful attainment of the desired outcome. The barriers may be in the form of financial resources, time, talent, organizational processes, status quo concerns, and/or habits, attitudes, and mindsets. What did you identify as Barriers (step 5) that needed to be addressed and removed? Are there any inherent risks or conflicts that contribute to these barriers? What resources and/or professional training are needed to address some of the barriers? How will (did) you remove those barriers? What research supports your course of action?
- Recommendations: Short-Term: This section should describe the ongoing and short-term measures of success. Immediate wins are critical when leading a change initiative. What recommendations and Short-Term Wins (step 6) will (did) you identify to address the problem? How do you know you achieved your short-term wins? Describe your process for implementation, data collection, and analyses. What research supports your course of action?
- Recommendations: Long-Term & Sustainability: This section should describe the success of the change initiative and how success can be sustained over the long term. What effect will or did these changes have on the organization and on organizational performance? How will (did) you Sustain this Acceleration (step 7) and Institute and Anchor Change (step 8) as a part of the culture? What evaluation tool will you use later (year 2 or 3) to measure the ongoing success of your change initiative? What can be learned from the success of other companies or countries that have faced similar challenges? What research supports your course of action?
Assignment 2: Reflection Paper (This is a reflection paper to talk about challenges and experiences faced while implementing the 7 steps of Kotter to address Low staff Morale in my place of employment).
Student will submit a 2–3-page reflection paper. The reflection should include the following sections:
- Part I: Reflect on the successes and challenges you experienced while implementing your leadership project over the 5–7-week period. What learning (from previous coursework) did you use while completing your project? What went well as expected? What was a challenge? Now that the project is completed, what would you do differently? What advice would you give to the next cohort who will take this course?
- Part II: Reflect on the feedback you received from your accountability partners this course. What did you find helpful? What challenged your thinking?
- Part III: Reflect on the feedback you provided to your accountability partners during this course. How has the experience of giving and receiving feedback shaped your leadership?
