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PCS-40038 - Module Specification
School of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 15 December 2025

PCS-40038 - MPH - Leadership and Complexity in Global Healthcare
Coordinator: Ross Wilkie Room: MSPC1.74 Tel: +44 1782 7 34845
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733928

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

Leading and managing in today’s business environment is complex. This module addresses the needs of leaders in today’s dynamic environment and so focuses on strategic leadership in the context of complexity and change. This module reviews the origins and history of leadership
thinking in order to provide a foundation to understanding contemporary leadership theory. The pivotal role of the leader in the process of understanding and shaping of organisational culture is supported by key leadership tools and skills including: the identification of different types of leadership problems and approaches to solving them; understanding and making sense of change; and the leader's role in power, politics, ethics, diversity and sustainability.

Aims
This module aims to develop knowledge and critical understanding of strategic leadership in contemporary organizations. It aims to enable students to integrate knowledge both from experience of work and theoretical insights, to explore managing change and reflect on the relationship between leadership, diversity and ethics.

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically evaluate context sensitive approaches to strategic leadership and change: 2
critically discuss different sources of power for leaders and the implications for delegation and leader authority: 1
critically reflect on the nature of organizational culture and how this impacts on leadership and the leader’s role in shaping culture: 2
appraise the ethical dimensions of leadership and the leader’s role in contemporary issues such as equality, diversity and sustainability: 1

Study hours

Lectures/workshops 36 hours; these will include practical sessions, lectures, workshops, small group work, case based discussions, critical appraisal sessions on scientific literature.
114 hours of independent self-study broken down as follows:
60 hours - background reading, reviewing given material, private study, preparation for online and in-person activities (this includes the materials provided for asynchronous study)

54 hours – completion of summative and formative assessments.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Presentation weighted 50%
Leadership in Global Health: Individual presentation of a Wicked Problem Challenge
Students will deliver a 15-minute presentation applying Soft Systems Methodology and 2-3 leadership tools to address a wicked global health problem. Presentation is equivalent to 1750 words.

2: Viva weighted 50%
Leadership in Global Health: Viva
Following assessment 1, there will be a 15 minute viva on leadership tools that can be used to address a wicked global health problem. The viva is equivalent to 1750 words.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 15 December 2025