This module provides a unique opportunity to learn about leadership in the current world, characterised by precarious times and new opportunities to develop positive leadership. You'll discover what type of leadership is needed in a world of disruptive technological change and turbulent contexts, how to be influential in this era of social networking, and utilise your leadership skills for positive impact on the world around you, as well as your career development. You'll gain an appreciation of how leadership is increasingly mediated through social networks, and you'll practice leadership within social media by working on a leadership challenge.
This module is divided into the following three blocks. Each block will develop a particular key skill: critical thinking; problem-solving; and storytelling.
Block 1: Leadership in turbulent times
You'll focus on the turbulent contexts for contemporary leadership, analysing real-life examples related to the future of work (e.g. short-term contracts, zero-hours contracts, and the rise of the “precariat”) and discuss issues around the future of democratic global governance (e.g. Brexit, populism). You'll reflect on globalisation and multiculturalism, exploring also non-Western views of leadership.
Block 2: Developing leadership opportunities
In this block, you'll focus on the opportunities to develop positive leadership in a changing world and on your leadership identity by examining the challenges of leading across boundaries and of bringing people together. You'll learn how collaboration, or in some cases, conflict and constructive dissent, can support positive leadership.
Block 3: Dealing with a collective leadership challenge
You'll focus on what you need to do to feed a practice of leadership. You'll look at practices of resistance, radical and place-based leadership for social change. You'll reflect on how responses to leadership challenges might be co-created and have the opportunity to work in a group focusing on the societal challenge you choose to work on.
This module is an OU level 3 module, so some concepts will require previous experience of studying at an undergraduate level.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
You might start looking at case examples of successful leadership against complex societal challenges.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying B329 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
Leadership in a changing world starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2028.
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