- An undergraduate course
in
Business and Management.
Practical leadership in construction
- On this page
The construction industry is experiencing times of almost certainly unprecedented turmoil. The housing market slowdown and the credit crunch, combined with changing plans from central government on funding projects, increased pressure for health and safety, welfare, environment, and sustainability, together with an increasingly diverse workforce, mean that management and leadership have never been so much in demand.
In this course we explore how you can develop your skills as a leader to equip you to meet these challenges head on, cope with the complexity and still deliver your projects on time.
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | GB074 |
| Credits | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Register for the course
What you will study
The course has five sections:
- Section 1: Where do you need to lead? explores what leadership means and understanding how the expectations of others may sometimes conflict and that you need to be able to achieve a balance in order to reach your goals.
- Section 2: The choices for leaders includes four frameworks for analysing the choices leaders can make about how they make things happen.
- Section 3: Becoming a transformational leader discusses how to apply a range of techniques to understand and develop your own personal competencies as a transformational leader.
- Section 4: Working across boundaries identifies techniques for leading without authority.
- Section 5: Bringing it all together is a concluding work-based activity.
During the course you will:
- understand the different kinds of functions in providing leadership within a multi-organisational project team and for different occupational groups
- understand the typical leadership challenges of working in the construction industry, for example the need to delegate and draw on the creativity and commitment of others while still taking overall responsibility for performance
- know and build upon or address strengths and weaknesses in your own leadership style and role in order to tackle these challenges more effectively
- make the most of the diversity of colleagues and staff in terms of their skills, backgrounds and working patterns
- choose an appropriate style of leadership to meet specific situations and have a broader repertoire of responses as a leader.
The strong link between course learning and your work practice creates relevant, enduring and transferable outcomes. It requires no more than 30 hours of your time in total, over whatever period suits you. But the learning is far richer than more expensive one- to three-day workshops. Register online today and start tomorrow – no need to wait!
The course features the distinctive strengths of The Open University (OU) from its years of expertise in work-based learning:
- The convenience of accessing its clearly presented and sequenced materials, activities and support whenever suits you and wherever you have access to the dedicated website – if you prefer, you can print key materials to work on them offline.
- The support of an expert learning adviser who can clarify study materials, answer questions and help you relate the course to your specific needs.
- A work-based activity helping you to connect the course to your individual and organisational context and needs. At the end of the course you send this to the learning adviser, who provides personal feedback.
- Certification of completion from the OU for those who complete the course. You can use this to demonstrate your continuing professional development (CPD) activity to your employer and/or professional body. (NB The course does not carry academic credit points.)
Entry
Although there are no formal academic requirements to study any of our CPD courses, you are expected to have some experience in the field and the course assumes a familiarity with the subject.
For each course you can register and begin at any time during the life of the course. You can study at your own pace and submit your work-based activity at any date before the final submission date for the course. Information about the final submission date is available when you register for the course.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The study materials are delivered online. Learners who use screen readers or who cannot use a mouse will not be able to access some materials or some activities without assistance. Written transcripts of the audio interviews are available on the website. If you are a new learner with the OU, make sure that you have our publication Meeting Your Needs.
Study materials
What's included
All learning materials, exercises, study support and the work-based activity are delivered entirely online.
Computing requirements
You will need a computer with internet access to study this course which includes online activities. You can only access these using a web browser with Flash and Java.
- If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer since 2006 you should have no problems completing the online activities.
- If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.
- If you use an Apple Mac you will need OS X 10.5 or later.
You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.
Learner support
Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you direct within 24 hours. Other support is available via the GB074 forum, library, StudentHome website and computing helpdesk.
Work-based activity
The work-based activity for this course has been designed as an integrated ongoing activity that you submit at the end of your study. It will allow you to reflect on your learning and how to use it in your professional work.
Professional recognition
Successful completion of the course enables us to recognise your achievement of the course learning by issuing an OU certificate that you can use to document your commitment to continuing professional development in your personal portfolio, or to provide evidence to employers or professional body.
Distance learning
The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.
For more information about distance learning at the OU read Study explained.
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | GB074 |
| Credits | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Undergraduate
Study explained
- Time
- – find out how much time is required to complete OU study. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Costs
- - find out how much you can expect to pay.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90 +44(0) 845 366 60 35
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