January 9, 2015

PPS 290: Authentic Leadership in Private, Public, &

Not-for-Profit Organizations
Spring 2015
PPS 290-01 (7724)
Class on WF: 11:45 AM-1:00 PM
Sanford 03
Instructor: Bill Eacho
Office: Sanford 221
Telephone: 240-481-6100 (cell)
Email: bill.eacho@duke.edu
Office Hours:
Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 pm;
Thursdays, 10:30 am-12:30 pm; 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
If urgent, please text me for an appointment on other days.
FYI, my dog (a German Shepherd, very nice) will typically be with me on Thursdays
(in case you are allergic!)
Course Synopsis
The primary goal of Authentic Leadership is to provide students with an
understanding of the attributes of leadership, why some leaders fail and other
succeed, as well as an exploration of the core values that each student possesses
which will resonate and bring success to organizations throughout their lives.
Leadership is not simply a specific position that one aspires to achieve later in life.
Leadership is a state of mind that allows individuals from the beginning of their
careers to take charge of situations and be agents of progress in their personal,
professional, and public lives.
We will explore the fundamentals of leadership across private sector, public sector,
and not-for-profit organizations. Each student will map out a personal perspective
on leadership, learn from successful leaders, and team with others to study a
contemporary leader in depth. We will examine effective leadership attributes, look
at the ethical challenges facing leaders today, look at tools leaders use to support
successful organizational cultures, enhance self-awareness, and prepare students to
become effective leaders. We will use a case study approach with emphasis on class
participation. Most cases will be from Harvard Business School; supplemented by
readings.
Guest speakers will likely include a US senator and/or former governor; a senior SEC
lawyer; a top executive of a global oil field services firm; other leaders from not-forprofit, business and government sectors.
Educational Outcomes
This class is modeled in part on the Authentic Leadership Development class at
Harvard Business School, the most popular elective in that schools program. While
much of it was designed for graduate students, it is equally applicable to
undergraduates. Students will enhance their knowledge of leadership attributes;
enhance critical thinking capacities; develop a more sophisticated perspective on

ethics and personal morality, and develop a clearer and stronger self-identity. The
experience of participating in case discussions will be formative in helping each
student to become effective leaders and agents of progress in their personal and
professional lives.
Specific outcomes:
1) Knowledge and analysis skills. Increase the understanding of leadership
attributes. Why some leaders fail and others succeed.
2) Understand the tools leaders use to reinforce successful cultures in
organizations.
3) Contribute to the development of personal leadership qualities.
4) Better understand personal values & goals.
5) Enhance personal effectiveness in communication and influencing others.
6) Build skills in teamwork and in presentations.
Course Design, Assignments, and Administration
Class Participation
Class participation is critical to the learning experience. In the case study method,
one learns from the discussion with ones peers rather than primarily from lectures.
As a member of the class community, each student is responsible for contributing to
the educational experience of the whole class. The class participation grade will
reflect the quality and quantity of contributions to class discussions as well as
participation in activities outside the classroom that enhance the course experience
for everyone. Quality of class contributions will be judged based on relevance,
clarity of thought, and insight. As to quantity, I would expect to see your hand
raised several times in each class with substantive participation in every class.
Due to the nature of the case study approach, it is essential that all students be
prepared for class. If you are unable to prepare for any reason, please tell me before
class. If you are clearly unprepared and I call on you, your grade will reflect such.
Leadership Essay: A Personal Vision Statement
The Leadership Essay is personal look at of the past, present and future. Students
will write a brief paper analyzing themselves as leaders after a series of classes on a
number of specific leadership topics. The objectives for this assignment include: (1)
enhancing students understanding of the meaning of leadership and various
attributes that define their personal approach to it; (2) providing students with an
opportunity to clarify and synthesize their understanding of their values, attributes,
development needs, and goals as they pertain to leadership, and (3) providing
students with a personal development plan to execute their vision of a successful
life.
In Depth Analysis of a Contemporary Leader
Students will be assigned to a team to research a contemporary leader with the
professors approval. Research will typically include reading a biography or
autobiography. The analysis will look at the leader from the perspective of the
attributes studied in class. Teams will be randomly assigned and present to the
class.

Reading Assignments
The reading assignments consist of three books:
Required books:
True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership by Bill George
Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee
The Shaping of an Effective Leader by Gayle D. Beebe
In addition, we will read several essays from:
The Quest for Moral Leaders: Essays on Leadership Ethics, edited by Joanne B
Ciulla, Terry L. Price and Susan E. Murphy
Excerpts from additional books:
OToole, James. Creating the Good Life: Applying Aristotles Wisdom to Find
Meaning and Happiness
Gardner, John. On Leadership
Readings and cases will be assigned for specific classes in the Specific Schedule and
Assignments section of this syllabus. These include a number of important (often
classic) leadership articles published in the Harvard Business Review and other
sources.1
Papers Assigned
1. Case memos.
For several cases I will request a one page memo which summarizes the
case, the issues at stake, and your recommended course of action. Not to
exceed one page.
2. Written assignments
Exercises as assigned (not graded as to content, but required)
3. Personal Leadership Essay:
This is what matters to me. Who I am, what I want to achieve, why.
a. What are my core values?
b. What experiences have helped shape these values?
c. How I would like to execute this plan; what I want to do with my life.
d. How I will continue to develop my leadership abilities.
Team Project:
In depth look at a contemporary leader to be presented in class.
A project which examines a leader from the perspectives learned in class
i. What did/do they do well? Poorly?
ii. Which attributes made them successful or unsuccessful?
iii. How might he or she have been (or be) more successful?
Teams will present their research in class in a 15 minute presentation.
Examinations & tests
No examinations or tests are planned, as of now. There may be occasional quizzes
on the reading.
1 The Harvard Business Review articles are available in Duke Librarys E-Journals. Search for Harvard
Business Review and use Business Source Complete to find the specific article. Other articles will be
posted on External Links or distributed in class.

Activities Outside the Classroom

I hope to schedule occasional activities outside of the classroom intended to
enhance students educational experiences and to have some fun. These may
include dinners, a brunch, a movie, etc. Participation in these activities is requested
unless there is an important schedule conflict, but I recognize that students have
demanding schedules so participation is not mandatory in each.
Sakai and Class Preparation
The syllabus is a guidebook for the course. Additional information or revisions may
be posted on Sakai, including the assignment, assignment comments and
discussion questions, exercises, and external links. The assignment in Sakai will
always override the assignment in the PPS290 Syllabus. Normally, any changes for
the coming week will be posted by noon on Sunday.
Given the breadth of the subject matter covered in the course, class discussions will
necessarily focus on basic principles, and I will assume that students will have read
and thought about the discussion questions on the topic and any assigned books,
cases, or readings. It is important to review the class notes in Sakai before every
class.
Course Fees
There will be charges for cases used in the course. You will purchase case
downloads directly from HBS Publishing and Darden Publishing. You should always
bring the case to class, either in print or electronic form.
Feedback, Evaluation, and Grades
The final grade for the course will be based on the following:
Class participation:
Case presentation(s)
Quality of contributions to class discussion
Questions for Guest Speakers

15%
25%
5%

Written material:
Personal Leadership Essay
Case memos & quizzes

25%
10%

Team Project:
Research on a Contemporary Leader

20%

I will give you feedback regarding your status at mid-semester.

While the class will not be graded on a curve, the standards and final grades will
take into consideration the normal distribution for a class of this type. Hopefully, the
contribution to, and benefit of this course will be more important than reported
grades.
Clearly, attendance is critical, given the importance of class participation. Please be
sure to speak to me if you must miss a class for any reason. If you must miss a

class, do the readings, prepare the material, and get notes from a classmate.
Missing more than one or two classes will have a negative impact on your class
participation grade. The extent of such will depend on your participation when
present. When in class, stay focused on the discussion. Cell phones should be
silenced. Laptops should only be used for class work.
Feedback is a two-way street. I would appreciate & will request evaluations and
suggestions from students during the semester with the idea of enhancing the
course.
Expectations re working with your peers: Every student is expected to do the class
readings and read the cases before class. You are welcome to discuss the readings
and cases with your classmates before class, but written case memos, exercises,
and papers should be your own work.

Schedule and Assignments

Please submit a current, brief resume to me by email
(bill.eacho@duke.edu).
Please include a photo so I can learn to associate names and faces.

Friday, Jan 9 Principles of Authentic Leadership, Introduction

Goals for the class (mine and yours)
Assignments
Read and prepare for class discussion:
True North (TN), Intro & Ch. 1
Jack and Suzy Welch, Get Real, Get Ahead (BloombergBusinessweek)
Case:
Wendy Kopp, Teach for America (A)

Jan 14

Authenticity: Know Yourself

Assignments
Resonant Leadership (RL), Ch. 1, 2
Prepare:
Cases: Schultz: Starbucks (A) & (B)
Turn In:
Case memo (Starbucks B)

Jan 16

Character & Core Values

Topics
Meanings of character and moral courage
Do core values exist?
Assignments
Read:
Beebe, Ch 1
Ciula: Temes, "Dirty Hands, necessary sin, & the ethics of leaders"
The Parable of the Sadhu (HBR)
Sports-Ethics case at Dartmouth

Jan. 21

How Leaders Lose Their Way

Topics
How leaders lose their way
Dissonance; sacrifice syndrome
Compensation practices
Assignments
Read:
TN, Ch. 2
RL Ch.3
Ciulla: Conger, "Oh Lord Won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?"
Case:
Grasso & NYSE (A)

Jan 23

Ethical Failure
Topic:
Why some leaders fail & others succeed
Read:
Kramer, The Harder they Fall (HBR)

Case:
Following Lance Armstrong: Excellence Corrupted

Jan 28

Ethics & Leadership

Assignments
Read:
Quest for Moral Leaders: Tyler, Fairness as effectiveness
Ethics Research Center survey
HBR, 4/07: Ralph Hasson, Why We Didnt Know
Case: Table Tennis for a Cause (Darden E0399)
Guest speaker: John Zinsser

Jan. 30

Crucibles
Topics
How life experiences ground us & form us
Assignments:
Read:
TN, Ch. 3
Bennis, HBR 9/02, Crucibles of Leadership
NYT: The Importance of Straight Talk, 12/6/14, Interview with Anne
Williams-Isom
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/business/corner-office-theimportance-of-straight-talk.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcoreipad-share&_r=0
Cases:
Martin Luther King
Oprah!

Feb. 4

Self Awareness
Topics:
Resonance & renewal
Know yourself
Assignments
Read:

TN, Ch. 4, exercises

RL, Ch. 4
Personal assessment exercises, RL, pg 83
Guest speaker: Steve Picarde, President, PI Midlantic

Feb. 6

Self Discovery
Topics:
Emotional intelligence
Importance of Humility
Honoring your core values
Assignments:
Read:
TN, Ch. 5
Beebe, Ch. 5
Goleman, Leadership that Gets Results (HBR)
Case:
Leadership Styles: Vignettes

Feb. 11

Values, Principles, Ethics

Topics:
Life Goals; Purpose
Motivations
Assignments
Read:
TN, Ch 6
Creating the Good Life, Ch 3
Wrzesniewski, A. & Schwartz, B.: The Secret of Effective Motivation
7/4/14 NYT Sunday Review
Prepare:
Exercises, TN, Ch. 5
Case:
Murthy & Compassionate Capitalism

Feb. 13

Follow Your Own Path

Topics
Discovering the Right Fit
Leading with Conviction
Compatibility & Coherence

Assignments
Read:
Kaplan: Reaching Your Potential (HBR)
Beebe, Ch. 5, 6
Prepare:
True North, Ch 6 exercises
Case:
David Neelman, Jet Blue crisis
Feb 18

Build Your Support Team

Topics
Importance of support teams
Intentional change
Assignments
Read:
TN, Ch 7
RL, Ch 5
Prepare:
Case:
Tad Piper & Piper Jaffray

Feb 20

Integrating Your Life

Topics
Life balance
Assignment
Read:
TN, Ch 8
Groysberg & Abrahams: Manage Your Work, Manage Your Life (HBR

3/14)
Hammonds: Balance is Bunk! (Fast Company, 10/4)
Prepare:
Case:
Martha Goldberg Aronson: Leadership Decisions at Mid Career

Feb 25

Life Balance
Topics
Life Balance Challenges
Assignment
Read:
Nash & Stevenson: Success that Lasts (HBR)
RL, Ch 6
Prepare Case Memo:

Case: McCrea: Once an Entrepreneur

Feb 27

Hope, Resilience, Inspiration

Assignment:
Read:
RL, Ch 7
Watch: How great leaders inspire action

http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action
Research: Sen. Mark Warner; bring questions
Invited Guest Speaker: Senator Mark R. Warner, (D. Va)

Mar 4

Leadership Purpose
Topics
Personal missions and life choices
Purpose beyond money
Assignment
Read:
TN, Ch 9
Champy, Nohria: The Arc of Ambition, Ch 6
Nick Craig, Scott Snook: From Purpose to Impact (HBR, 5/14)
Prepare:
1st draft of Personal Vision Statement Due (outline, not graded)
Case:
Albina Ruiz and Healthy City (Darden E0384)

Mar. 6

Empowerment
Topics
Purpose & Passion
Connected relationships
Empowering Leaders
Competence, Team Chemistry

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Assignments
Read:
TN, Ch. 10
Beebe, Ch. 2.3
Wash. Post, The Armys next enemy? Peace. By David Barno
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-armys-next-enemypeace/2014/07/10/f02b5180-f0dc-11e3-914c1fbd0614e2d4_story.html
Case:
Anne Mulcahy: Leading Xerox through the Perfect Storm

Spring Break, March 7-15

March 18

Organizational Culture
Topics
Importance of Culture
How to build and maintain a positive culture
Culture clash
Assignments
Read:
Beebe, Ch. 4
Prepare Case memo:
Thiry: Mayor of Davita
Team 1: Class presentation, Profile of a Leader
15 min. max Powerpoint presentation in class
Examine a 20th or 21st century leader.
What attributes made them successful? Why?
Where did they fall short?
Why?

March 20

Culture Challenges in Large Organizations

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Topics
How to maintain values and culture in a large organization
How to respond to a crisis
Read:
Case: Novo Nordisk (A) Global Coordination
Prepare: Team 2 presentation, Profile of a Leader
Guest speaker: Mogens Thorsager Jensen, Corporate V.P., Facilitation,
Novo Nordisk

March 25

When Culture is Challenged

Final Outline Due, Personal Vision Statement
Assignment
Prepare: Team 3 Presentation, Profile of a Leader
Prepare Case memo
Case: IKEA Global Sourcing Challenge

March 27

Cultural Differences: Bribery Around the Globe

Topics
How to address cultural differences around the world & maintain
your values

Assignments
Read:
Blanding, Michael: Corrupting Silence: Companies Must Speak Up
Against Bribes
HBR 11/24/14
Prepare: team 4 Presentation: Profile of a Leader
Case:
Baker Hughes and the FCPA
Guest speaker: Alan Crain, Sr VP, Chief Legal & Governance Officer,
Baker Hughes

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April 1

Empathy & Emotional Intelligence

Assignments
Read:
RL, Ch. 8
Beebe, Ch. 7
Ciulla: Solomon, Emotional leadership & integrity
Goleman, What Makes a Leader (HBR)
Prepare: Team 5 presentation, Profile of a Leader

April 3

Styles of Leadership
Topics
Who would you rather follow?
Team 6 Presentation, Profile of a Leader
Cases:
Coach Knight: The Will to Win
Coach K: A Matter of the Heart

April 8

Everest Simulation
Assignment:
You will be assigned a role on a team which is climbing Mount Everest.
The exercise takes about 90 minutes and must be completed over the
weekend.
In class we will review how each team performed and issues that came
up.

April 10

Everest 1996
Topics
Why teams make flawed decisions in high stakes situations
Leading Teams

Assignments
Read:
Kelly: In Praise of Followers (HBR, 11/88)
NYT: Don Knauss of Clorox, on Putting your Followers First By Adam
Bryant 3/22/14
Team 7 Presentation, Profile of a Leader
Case: Mount Everest 1996

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April 15

Is Greed Inevitable?
Topics
Are greedy leaders still effective?
Is greed inevitable?
Assignments
Read:
Coutu, I Was Greedy Too (HBR)
Kellerman, Leadership, Warts & All (HBR)
RL, Ch. 9 (final chapter)
Team 8 Presentation, Profile of a Leader

April 17

Optimizing Effectiveness
Topics
Putting it All Together
Assignment
Read:
TN, Ch. 11, Epilogue
Gardner, John: On Leadership
Beebe, Ch. 8, Finis
Public/Private Sector leadership Challenges:
http://www.ccl.org/leadership/pdf/research/PublicSectorLeadershipC
hallenges.pdf

Final paper due:

Personal Vision Statement

April 22

Summary
Topics
What did we learn?
Course evaluations: Zoomerang
How can this class be improved?
Assignment
Read:
Ciulla: Bowie, Expanding the Horizons of Leadership

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