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INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP CASE STUDY (25 Points)
This assignment asks you to validate the Kouzes/Posner leadership framework by doing your own
research, in the form of a case study. Select an accomplished individual (BARACK OBAMA ) you feel has made a difference,
a person you admire as a leader. Interview this person about his or her personal best leadership
experience. Write up this case study, using the Kouzes & Posner leadership framework, including areas
of agreement, and disagreement, between your evidence and that predicted by the model. Use examples
and quotations to illustrate your point and remember that your presentation should be written as an
essay and not as an interview. Conclude with comments about (a) the efficiency of the leadership
framework, and (b) personal lessons and insights learned about leadership based on your case study. Student:
Selected Leader: Barack Obama I. Short Biography: (1/2 page; ) II. Brief rationale for selection of individual: (1/2 page;
III.Presentation and Analysis of Exemplary Leadership Practices: ) In this section, you must present findings from your research/interview that provides
substantive evidence of the selected lead

er’s experiences in each of the five areas as noted
below. To this end, your research/interview instrument should be developed accordingly. To
successfully complete the assignment, you should not only ask the right questions, but probe
where necessary to bring both substance and clarity to your understanding.
Remember that you are not a passive participant in the information gathering process; rather,
you must be critical and analytical in order to document your areas of agreement or
disagreement between your evidence/findings from interview and what you anticipated from the
model, that is, the five practices of exemplary leadership. To state the obvious, it would be
possible to complete this assignment without having a working knowledge of each of the five
areas.
A. Model the Way – B. Inspire a Shared Vision – C. Challenge the Process –
D. Enable Others to Act – E. Encourage the Heart – IV.Conclusion: A. Efficiency and Validation of Model (did it hold up) B. Personal Lessons Learned C. Reflection: Impact on Personal Leadership DevelopmentThis assignment will be based on the book The Leadership Challenge 6th edition. By James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner