INTRODUCTION TO LEADERSHIP

Course Sheet:

SUMMARY, OBJECTIVES, METHODOLOGY, OUTLINE, AND REFERENCES

Faculty: Dr. Paul K. Fokam

Assistant Faculty: Samuel Dimitè Bang

Course Schedule: Monday (5pm – 7pm)

Office Hours: On schedule

Contact Telephone: (+237) 654 27 81 12

Email: [email protected]

Course Summary

This course is designed to serve as an introduction to the dynamic and growing field
of study in leadership. Because successful leadership is underpinned by appropriate
self-knowledge or self-awareness, this introductory course focuses on engaging
students to consciously explore who they truly are, what their purpose is and how to
meaningfully connect to their environment considering that this is the starting point
of self-leadership without which it is impossible to inspire and motivate others. The
path to leadership excellence is challenging and rewarding, requiring a deep
understanding of oneself and the impact one has on others. The essence of
leadership profoundly resonates with the concept of self-awareness. It's about
refining our ability to understand how we affect those around us, achieving a
transparent view of our strengths and shortcomings, and adeptly recognizing and
controlling our emotional responses. This insight not only shapes our self-perception
but also guides how we navigate interpersonal dynamics in leadership roles because
to be able to lead others, we must first know how to lead ourselves. The first step
to becoming a great leader is self-knowledge. Through discussions, lectures,
research, readings and activities students will access their character, values,
convictions, beliefs, emotions, and relationships for the purpose of developing the
self-leadership they need to become successful leaders.

Course Objectives:

At the end of this course the student shall:

1. Develop appropriate self-knowledge

2. Lead themselves

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 INTRODUCTION TO LEADERSHIP

Course Sheet:

SUMMARY, OBJECTIVES, METHODOLOGY, OUTLINE, AND REFERENCES

3. Commit to leading others

Methodology:

The essential methodology of this course is the case method. Cases are “slices” of
life that are drawn from a variety of life situations. Cases serve as teaching methods
in class and offer you an opportunity to practice your skills of analytical and strategic
thinking. Good cases analysis is a skill you will build up during the semester through
reading cases, writing up assignments and participating in class discussions. The
skills you will acquire will be useful in every context, especially in your career.

In general, there is no single correct answer to a case. The key to a good case
analysis is to analyze the context, apply the conceptual material, and evaluate
possible courses of action. Do not merely restate the facts of the case.

Requirements:

1. You are expected to read the assigned materials prior to the beginning of the class
on the specified date. Familiarity with the materials will make class discussions both
more effective and more interesting for you. Be sure to check the syllabus so that
you know which readings are assigned for each class.

2. You are expected to attend all sessions. Attendance will be taken regularly during
the semester. Remember that much of the learning in this course takes place during
class discussions, and that 20% of your grade is based on your participation.
Participation means showing up, and being able to make informed, relevant
comments based on your knowledge of the material. Missing more than two classes
without good reason can lower this grade. To encourage you to speak up in class,
misinformed comments will not hurt your grade.

3. You will form teams of three people to work on a group project. You will choose, in
consultation with the instructor, an industry and at least two major competitors on
which to conduct research and write up an extended analysis. This should be an
industry that we have not studied in class. The analysis must use all of the core
concepts from this course, such as industry and company analysis, core
competencies, and implementation, as well as other concepts where relevant, such
as international or innovation strategy. The report must not be adapted from another
course. The papers are due Friday May 22, 2013.

4. You will prepare individually written analyses of each assignment. The case will be
discussed on the day corrected papers are handed back after correction. Papers
shall be not less than 3 pages (typed and one and a half spaces)

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Course Sheet:

SUMMARY, OBJECTIVES, METHODOLOGY, OUTLINE, AND REFERENCES

Grading: % of total grade:

Continuous Assessment 50%

Semester End Exam 40%

Final project report 10%

Notes:

1. Reports should be written in prose, not in summary points. I do not directly

2. Copying from classmates during tests and exams, and plagiarism of materials for
papers will not be tolerated. Plagiarism means copying sentences from other
sources, whether on the internet, the newspapers, or a journal, without attributing the
citation. If you want to cite a phrase or occasional sentence to emphasize a point,
put it in “quotation” marks and cite the source. Note that it is unacceptable to copy
large chunks of text in your papers, even if you cite a source. It is also unacceptable
to copy large sections and make minor editing changes. In other words, the paper
needs to be your own work, and written in your own words. Use sources to reference
facts, ideas, and specific quotes taken from elsewhere. Depending on the severity of
the case, plagiarism can lead to penalties ranging from failing the assignment, failing
the course, or even suspension from the university. I am very good at detecting
academic dishonesty and deal with it harshly.

3. Grading will take into account progress in the course, i.e. a more sophisticated
understanding will be expected of cases later in the course.

4. The final project report should be 13-15 pages long, typed and double spaced, not
including exhibits such as tables and graphs. Organize the paper well, and make sure
it reads like one report rather than 3 sections with different styles stapled together.
The paper should be based on a minimum of 12 sources, including newspapers,
internet sites, popular business journals such as Businessweek, and at least some
academic articles.

4. Everyone in the group will receive the same grade, so be sure that you can work
effectively together. If one person is not able to contribute adequately, please be

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Course Sheet:

SUMMARY, OBJECTIVES, METHODOLOGY, OUTLINE, AND REFERENCES

sure to give a warning as early as possible, then, after consulting with me, the person
can be “fired” from the group. The person will have to work on a separate project

Course Outline

Week I: Education

Week 2: Personal Objective

Week 3: Work

Week 4: Humility

Week 5: Responsibility

Week 6: Personal Values and Integrity

Week 7: Motivation

Week 8: Liberty

Week 9: Positive Thinking and Attitude

Week 10: Perseverance

Week 11: Communication

Week I2: Revision

Week 13: Semester End Examination

Textbooks:

1. Fokam, Paul K: Education, An Infinite Source of Wealth, Afredit, Yaounde, 2024

2. Maxwell, John C.: The Self-Aware Leader: Play to Your Strengths, Unleash
Your Team, HarperCollins, USA, 2021

Additional reading:

Gallagher, Daniel P., Costal, Joseph: The Self-Aware Leader: A Proven Model for
Reinventing Yourself , ASTD Press, Virgina, 2012

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Course Sheet:

SUMMARY, OBJECTIVES, METHODOLOGY, OUTLINE, AND REFERENCES