Leading in the Real World: Operationalizing a Power-Based Model of Collaboration for Leadership Experiential Learning

Abstract

ABSTRACTUsing a power-based conceptual framework, we present a collaboration model to guide faculty and student affairs (SA) staff in working together to develop experiential learning assignments that help students apply leadership concepts to on-campus organizational problems. The Power-Based Student-Centered Collaboration Model (PSCM) consists of four stages through which faculty, SA staff, leadership course students, and student organization leaders operationalize their legitimate, coercive, expert, reward, and informational power in sharing resources for mutually beneficial student-centered learning experiences. Power structures provide coordinating mechanisms for information-exchange, decision-making, and role clarification in team-based collaborations. Using the PSCM, we developed a 6-week assignment Leading in the Real World for an organizational leadership course. By assessing leadership challenges, leadership course students helped student organization leaders improve performance. We outline how ...