Module: Personal and Ethical Leadership A

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Personal and Ethical Leadership A
Module Code	MNA1165 (ITS: HR5139A)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	0

Description

The Personal and Ethical Leadership module extends for the full duration of EMBA. It focuses on the demonstrable personal development of the student in terms of self-awareness leadership and ethical behaviour. Reflection in practice and writing as well as peer coaching are key to achievement of learning outcomes. The module workshops support this journey as well as addressing important skills including team development, critical thinking, coaching, negotiation and presenting with impact. It also brings to life the AoL competencies that DCU Business School aspires to for its graduates and relies partly on a 360 personal leadership evaluation.

Learning Outcomes

1. Build an awareness of self to develop a personal leadership style that can be adapted to have positive impact in a range of contexts
2. Explain what is meant by business ethics and reflect on the relationship between character and actions at an individual and organizational level
3. Apply critical thinking skills to support responsible and ethical decision making, at the individual and collective level
4. Assess their career goals in the context of their personal leadership journey up to and including the MBA

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Seminars	27	Interactive classes with content, cases, exercises and discussion
Online activity	8	Online interactive and reflective classes
Online activity	2	Online asynchronous class on critical reflection
Assignment Completion	60	Ethics Case Analysis PDP
Independent Study	28	Class prep, case material, reading
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11648	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	PASS/FAIL	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	John Mcmackin	Module Teacher	Marta Rocchi, Yseult Freeney

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Individual reflective essay on personal ethics and implications for personal leadership (2000 words)	80%	n/a
Assignment	Personal Development Plan. Students must identify one professional challenge they are experiencing and set out a plan for how they will tackle it, setting out personal goals for achievement. They must also identify two competencies, from the AoL competency wheel, which they believe they need to strengthen over the course of the programme. They must set out a realistic development plan for the development of these competencies.	20%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Team building, induction
Preparing students to work in teams with a team exercise and inducting them to the MBA more generally.

Understanding the self as a leader
The importance of critical reflection

Ethics
Analysis is Ethical frameworks

Ethical Decision Making

The value of the 360 in personal development
Introduction to 360 and the importance of personal agility

Leveraging the 360
Guided reflection on results and setting up the GROW PDP

The MBA journey: Transforming yourself

Individual and group decision making
Understanding biases, critical thinking and avoidance of group think

Cross Cultural Communication and Global Sensitivity
Hofstede Cultural Norms and Role Play Exercise

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None