Discussion – Module 5

Discussion – Module 5
Leaders and Stakeholders’ Perspectives

As you progress through your program, you will be exposed to many problems related to the field of education as well as many stakeholders and leaders who influence and who are influenced by those problems. No research study is done in isolation, and all studies need to consider and identify the key stakeholders and their roles. Stakeholders form a system of checks and balances in an organization. While each stakeholder has the right to an opinion, the influence of that opinion may relate to the position or role that the stakeholder holds in an organization. In addition, the characteristics and actions of a leader looking address these problems need to be effective in order to affect positive social change.

Note: This discussion has two parts. Be sure to address each part in your response.
To prepare for Part 1 of the Discussion, consider educational leaders in your field that you know. Think about how the educational leaders you know exemplify or do not exemplify the concepts related to leading positive social change. What did the leaders do well or not do well, especially as they relate to initiating change? In addition, identify one scholarly resource on change leadership related to your post to share with your colleagues in the Discussion.
For Part 1 of the Discussion, post a description of the characteristics of an effective leader of change, providing specific examples from your own experience with leaders. Explain why leaders need to have these particular characteristics to be effective in initiating change. Be sure to include a reference to the scholarly resource you identified on change leadership, and explain how the reference relates to your post.
Be careful not to identify anyone by name. The emphasis in the assignment is not the individuals themselves, only in how you perceive their leadership skills and approaches.

To prepare for Part 2 of the Discussion, reflect on the problem statements you discussed in the Module 4 Discussion and select one problem statement to address for this part of the Discussion. Think about the key stakeholders in relation to your problem statement and consider why these stakeholders are relevant to the problem. What questions, related to the problem, might you ask these key stakeholders?
In determining key stakeholders, you might ask yourself:

· Who will I need to obtain approval from in order to explore this problem?
· As it pertains to stakeholders, what are the risks and benefits of exploring this problem?
· Who will I need to involve as participants in exploring this problem?
· How will the possible outcomes of exploring this problem impact the stakeholders positively and/or negatively?
For Part 2 of the Discussion, post the key stakeholders related to your selected problem statement with an explanation as to why these stakeholders are relevant to the problem. Then, identify at least four questions about the problem to which you would like stakeholders to respond. Finally, explain why the responses may be important to understanding and/or addressing the problem.
Post by Day 4 (of Week 8) your responses to Part 1 and Part 2 of the Discussion.
Respond to and discuss your colleagues’ initial posts through Day 7 of Week 9. Spend 2-3 hours a week engaging in conversations in the Discussion area.
Responses to your colleagues may include:
· Offering additional examples of leadership that relate to your colleague’s post.
· Suggesting additional resources about leadership that relate to your colleague’s post.
· Identifying additional stakeholders and explain why they are important.
· Proposing additional questions that may be addressed to learn more about the problem.
· Explaining why particular questions are especially relevant to particular stakeholders.

Assignment: Planning for Change
Reflect on the skills you have practiced thus far in the course. You have identified current issues in education. After determining some of the problems related to these issues, you searched for and critically analyzed literature related to those problems. Informed by scholarly research, you narrowed the focus of a topic to a problem and determined possible problem statements for scholarly inquiry.
In this module, you have revisited those problem statements, identified key stakeholders related to a specific problem, and determined essential questions that you will ask stakeholders in order to inform a positive change. You have considered that you must identify, inform, and involve many stakeholders in any plan to effect a positive change. Although many individuals have the ability to identify problems, leaders in education are those who take action to improve situations or solve problems.
For this Assignment, you will apply these skills to address a problem related to the case study you have been exploring throughout the course. What problems have you and your colleagues identified as you have explored the case study together?
Select one of those problems that you would like investigate further in order to effect a positive change. Assume the role of the leader in the planning for positive change related to the problem you identify and consider the steps you might take to effect change, and how they might inform an action plan for change. Then, download the Action Plan Template located in the Learning Resources section. Use the template as a guide to assist and organize the different items that you need to investigate in order to move the plan for change in a positive direction.
By Day 7 of Week 9

Submit a 2- to 3-page paper in which you identify the change you would like to implement and explain the plan you would use to bring about the change. Be sure to address all the topics outlined in the template: goals, actions, time frame, stakeholders, and an evaluation strategy. Also include relevant resources that you have located in the library. Note the strategies you, as a leader in education, would take to facilitate change related to the problem you identified. Explain your rationale for the strategy you are proposing.

Learning Resources
Note: To access this module’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in theCourse Materials section of your Syllabus.
Required Readings

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.
· Chapter 1 “Writing for the Behavioral and Social Sciences” (pp. 9–20)
Braxton, J. M., & Bray, N. J. (2012, Winter). Introduction: The importance of codes of conduct for academia. New Directions for Higher Education, 160, 1–4.
Claudet, J. (2011). Leaders who make a big difference: Envisioning educational initiatives for positive social change. National Forum of Educational Administration & Supervision Journal, 28(2), 79–87.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Document: Action Plan Template (Word document)

Required Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014). Module 5: Leading change in education [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Note: To view this media piece on this page, refer to this module’s introduction.
Optional Resources
Fullan, M., & Boyle, A. (2010, May 3). Reflections on the change leadership landscape. Retrieved from http://www.michaelfullan.ca/media/13435860580.html

Gardner, S. K., & Mendoza, P. (2010). On becoming a scholar: Socialization and development in doctoral education. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.
Li, K., & Sinn, M. (2010). Teacher as the change agent: Implementation and impact of a learner-centered approach in testing argumentative essays to senior secondary ESL learners in Hong Kong. International Journal of Learning, 17(4), 595–612.
Rylatt, A. (2013, July). Three qualities of highly successful change agents. T & D, 67(7), 72–74.
Swing, R. L. (2009). Institutional researchers as change agents. New Directions for Institutional Research, 2009(143), 5–16. doi:10.1002/ir.301.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Bottom of Form