Leadership is a complex social phenomenon, cross-cutting in nature and inescapable. In a leadership process, behavior is but a simplified manifestation of the interaction between multiple drivers (e.g., emotional and cognitive) and different actors (leader and followers) in a specific context (e.g., the organization). This course is based on the premise that only a broad knowledge, which contrasts and integrates theoretical perspectives and levels of analysis, allows for the development of the necessary skills to critically analyze situations in a real context.

The organizational context is of particular interest for the study of leadership since it forces the integration of the "emergent" nature of the phenomenon with the formalization of roles. With the view to developing knowledge and competencies that allow for the design of strategies for the participation and conduction of leadership processes, the following objectives are identified:

To understand the nature of the leadership process, identify and distinguish overlapping from conceptual confusions
To understand the different perspectives/approaches to the study of leadership
To understand and describe the nature and dynamics of the leadership process through the identification of the actors involved and the analysis of their role
To identify and develop effective leadership strategies in the organizational context
To analyze real situations and develop critical thinking on current issues in organizational leadership