Responsible Organizational Leadership (ROL) is about leading a business organization responsibly in society. ROL addresses new leadership challenges in a multi-stakeholder society such as corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, sustainability, stakeholder engagement - topics which have not only entered corporate boardrooms but have become important topics in management research. Indicators for the latter are the growing number of articles in this domain published in top management journals (such as the Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly) and on the other hand guiding titles of management conferences (e.g. "Dare to Care" is the main title of the upcoming meeting of the Academy of Management in Montréal).
Against this backdrop this course will make you familiar with the concept of responsible leadership from an organizational perspective. We will discuss and systematically analyze some of the most important articles in this domain of management science. This will allow you to acquire new knowledge on a current topic and get familiar with how to structure and write publishable articles in top tier journals. On the other hand you get the practical opportunity to write a case based paper in the area of responsible organizational leadership which – if excellent – will be considered for publication in a book project.
 

• To become familiar with the concept of Responsible Organizational Leadership (ROL). Research on ROL develops knowledge on how to lead enterprises responsibly in a global stakeholder environment. It responds to the current challenges that leaders face in a global and interconnected stakeholder environment and takes human values and ethical principles as a starting point for research.

• To be able to distinguish different understandings of responsible organizational leadership and to reflect on the different underlying assumptions and the practical implications.

• To learn how to structure an academic article and how to build a convincing line of reasoning from discussing and analyzing influential articles in leading management journals (e.g. Administrative Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Review, Human Relations).
 

Session 1: Responsible Leadership & the Role of Business in Society
In this session we introduce the topic of Responsible Organizational Leadership and discuss the role of the firm and the responsibility of management in society. We start the discussion with the question “What’s a Business For?” and draw on the work of Milton Friedman and Charles Handy to illuminate different positions. We then pick up on the intensively discussed topic of Corporate Responsibility (CR), which is a core dimension of responsible leadership. CR poses a new challenge for business organizations and illustrates the diverse demands and expectations on organizational leadership in a global stakeholder society.

Session 2: Stakeholder Theory
In this session we will look more deeply into stakeholder theory, discuss some of the most influential authors and texts. We will also unveil the normative underpinnings of different stakeholder cultures. This will help us to understand an important dimension of the responsibility character of an organization (degree of other regard), which forms the basis of the Character Matrix introduced in session 4.

Session 3: Responsible Leadership: Rethinking CR initiatives by business
In this session we will critically discuss prevailing approaches towards CR and dismantle seldom questioned underlying mindsets as they affect responsible leadership. We will also present new perspectives on ROL.

Session 4: Responsible Leadership: Introducing the Character Matrix
Drawing on the literature discussed in the first three sessions we will introduce and discuss a character framework that distinguishes different organizational approaches towards CR. Specific attention is given towards an integrative position.

Session 5: Working with the Matrix
The practical case analysis that students have to conduct during the course will draw on the character matrix. In this session we will practice the use of this framework based on a number of case studies. We will also determine the organizations to be analyzed in the practical case analysis.

Session 6: Analyzing the Character of Organizations in Light of ROL
In this session we will discuss the results of the practical character analysis conducted by the students. Questions we tackle are:
• What character prototype does the analyzed organization represent & why?
• What are the challenges that each of the character prototypes face?
• Which prototype is most likely to create the most sustainable solution approaches for social change?

Session 7: Character Change and Development towards Responsible Business Leadership
By reflecting back on the practical case analyses and on the assumptions underlying the different character prototypes we will discuss possibilities and challenges of organizational change (evolution / revolution).

Session 8: Responsible Leadership and Social Innovation
It can be observed that organizations with different understandings about their responsibilities in society pursue and practice different approaches to CR. We will discuss to which extent this has implications for the quality of solution approaches created by organizations to tackle certain social and environmental problems.
 

The course is based on a variety of teaching methods. Firstly, there are theoretical inputs on the course content which are followed by group discussions. For this purpose a reading list with regard to the subjects discussed and anthologies of photocopied texts will be distributed. Secondly, video sequences and case studies are used to exemplify theoretical positions with regard to responsible leadership mindsets. Last but not least, there is an action learning module integrated into this course. This means that students will analyze the character of an organization (case analysis guided by a questionnaire) and assess its corporate responsibility approach. Results are presented, discussed and compared in the larger group to determine the positioning of the different organizations in the character matrix and to evaluate the organization's social impact. The case analysis will form the basis for the final report, which will be a case based paper on the organization. Active participation in the discussions is important to facilitate learning among participants and to draw reflective conclusions.
 

A serious commitment to class attendance is necessary to participate in the class. Contributions in class discussions (quantity and quality) as well as the quality of the presentation of a case analysis during the course will be considered. Every participant is also expected to present a summary of at least one text in one of the sessions.
The final assessment is based on a written paper. The purpose of the paper is to summarize and substantiate the case analysis theoretically drawing a.o. on the discussed literature in the course and on the input of the professor. It builds a consistent line of reasoning. The specific focus of the paper and the time available to complete the project will be agreed in the session with the professor. Authors of excellent case papers may be invited to submit revised versions to a book project.
 

These are some examples of texts that we are going to discuss:

• Hatch, M.J. & Schultz, M. (2002) The Dynamics of Organizational Identity. Human Relations, 55,8: 998-1013.
• Jones, T.M., Felps, W. & Bigley, G.A. (2007) Ethical Theory and Stakeholder-Related Decisions: The Role of Stakeholder Culture. Academy of Management Review, 32, 1:137-155.
• Maak, T. (2008) Undivided Corporate Responsibility. Towards a Theory of Corporate Integrity. Journal of Business Ethics, 82: 353-368.
• Margolis, J.D. & Walsh, J.P. (2003) Misery Loves Companies: Rethinking Social Initiatives by Business. Administrative Science Quarterly, 48, 2: 268-305.
• Mitchell, R.K., Bradley, R.A. & Wood, D.J. (1997) Toward a Theory of Stakeholder Identification and Salience. Academy of Management Review, 22, 4: 853-886.
• Scherer, A.G. & Palazzo, G. (2007) Toward a Political Conception of Corporate Responsibility: Business and Society Seen from a Habermasian Perspective. Academy of Management Review, 32, 4: 1096-1120.
• Starkey, K. & Crane, A. (2003) Toward Green Narrative: Management and the Evolutionary Epic. Academy of Management Review, 28, 2: 220-237.
• Zadek, S. (2004). Path to Corporate Responsibility. Harvard Business Review, 82, 12.
 

Monday 19/04/10
From 09:00 h. to 13:00 h.
Tuesday 20/04/10
From 09:00 h. to 13:00 h.
Monday 10/05/10
From 09:00 h. to 13:00 h.
Tuesday 11/05/10
From 09:00 h. to 13:00 h.
Monday 07/06/10
From 09:00 h. to 13:00 h.
Tuesday 08/06/10
From 09:00 h. to 13:00 h.