COMPLEX LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES 

ENLP 3100  
 
 
MWF 9:00-9:50 A.M. ECCR 1B08 
 
Instructor:​ Angela Thieman Dino, Ph.D. <​thiemana@colorado.edu​> 
 
Office:​ Kittredge Central (North building) Room N218 
 
Office hours: ​Beginning in September, drop-in office hours are Mondays 10:00-11:00 A.M. Each week 
4-8 hours are set aside for one-on-one student meetings; make appointments at 
www.calendly.com/thiemana​. 
 
Class Mentor:   Jenna Zwanstra  <Jenna.Zwaanstra@colorado.edu> 
 
  
 
COURSE PURPOSE 
 
Welcome to Complex Leadership Challenges! This course not only aims to teach leadership but to 
model leadership, purposefully exemplifying intentional leadership choices and actions. For instance, it 
“practices what it preaches” by grounding its design in an understanding of a particular need: ​ our 
communities need leaders with the knowledge, skills and virtues required to grapple with especially 
complex challenges.​ Toward this end, Complex Leadership Challenges is designed to cultivate skills 
leaders need to understand, communicate about, and generate innovative approaches to complex 
issues​. I​ t emphasizes ​leadership as a rigorous process​, encouraging students to fully invest in 
scrutinizing their chosen issue topics through multiple lenses and conducting extensive, principled 
research before drawing conclusions and advocating solutions. Progress toward course objectives 
requires an intensive iterative process where each assignment is revised multiple times in response to 
peer, Class Mentor and instructor feedback.   
 
WEEKLY COURSE STRUCTURE 
 
COEN 3050’s week consists of three 50-minute meetings: 
 
LECTURES on Mondays​ are designed to present new information about a lens of analysis that 
aids students’ understandings of their particular research topics and is also more broadly relevant to 
leadership.   
As homework following Monday’s class, students conduct broad exploratory research to discover 
various dimensions of their topic that are relevant to the week’s lens. This breadth of exposure is 
documented in an ongoing “Mindmeister” map.  
  
RESEARCH WORKSHOPS on Wednesdays​ provide guided work time for students to vet their 
choice for how they will narrow their own approach to the weekly assignment, and for students to 
begin to dive more deeply into this more focused research.   
As homework following Wednesday’s class, students continue their research a complete a first 
draft of the weekly assignment.  
 
PEER REVIEW WORKSHOPS on Fridays​ are designed to facilitate constructive group 
collaboration that improves the clarity, validity, significance and originality of each student’s weekly 
assignment and builds mindsets and communication skills vital to leadership. On Fridays, students 
work with drafts of the weekly assignment so that they can improve these before the next iteration is 
due on the following Monday. 
 
THE ITERATIVE PROCESS 
 
Complex Leadership Challenges is designed to steepen learning curves by facilitating extensive 
iterative processes. Each assignment is assigned on a Monday, with students producing a f​ irst iteration 
in time to review collaboratively during Workshop on Friday. Based on peer feedback gleaned in Friday 
Workshop, students produce a ​second iteration​ that they submit by the following Monday’s class time 
for feedback from a Guest Evaluator (an “extreme user” according to our design-thinking approach). 
Based on Guest Evaluator feedback, students produce a ​third iteration t​ hat they will submit to Ang by 
the next “bundle” deadline (dates when two third-iteration drafts are due at once). This draft will receive 
qualitative feedback along with a grade (points that count toward the final grade in the course). Based 
on Ang’s feedback, students have the option of revising again before the ​final iteration​ is submitted for a 
final grade as part of the ePortfolio produced at the end of the semester.     
 
THE LIFE CYCLE OF A TYPICAL ASSIGNMENT:  
 
Monday Week 1:  New Lens introduced and new Assignment assigned 
 
Friday Week 1:  1st Iteration due for peer workshop 
 
Monday Week 2:  2nd Iteration due for Guest Evaluator feedback 
 
Monday Week 3:  Feedback from Guest Evaluator received 
 
Bundle Deadline:  3rd Iteration due to Ang 
 
Final Exam time:  Final iteration due to ePortfolio 
 
  
  MONDAY  WEDNESDA FRIDAY 
Y 

WEEK 1  Assignment 1 assigned     Assignment 1 receives peer feedback in 

workshops (1st iteration) 

WEEK 2  Assignment 1 submitted    Assignment 2 receives peer feedback 

for Guest Evaluator  in Workshops (1st iteration) 
feedback (2nd iteration)   
   
Assignment 2 assigned 

WEEK 3  Assignment 3 assigned    Assignment 3 receives peer feedback 

  in workshops. (1st iteration)... 
Assignment 2 submitted   
for Guest Evaluator   
feedback (2nd iteration)... 
  
Students receive 
Assignment 1 feedback 
from Guest Evaluator 
(students begin revising 
for submission to Ang)... 
 
 
 
 
 
ASSIGNMENTS 
 
Complex Leadership Challenges assignments are designed to move students through the 
curriculum at a challenging, productive pace. Prompts and guidelines for each 
assignment are found on the course Google Drive. General descriptions of assignments 
are as follows: 
 
W
​ EEKLY ASSIGNMENTS:​ There are 9 weekly assignments​.​ Every assignment is 
grounded in research and revised according to our rigorous iterative process. 
Assignments provide the opportunity to practice communicating in a variety of written 
and graphic modes. 
 
PRESENTATIONS:​ 3 of the weekly assignments are oral presentations (with outlines 
prepared in advance). Presentations are filmed so that students can review and set 
concrete goals for improvement. Additionally, students “pitch” their topic choices early 
in the semester and deliver final presentations about their Synthesis Projects at the end 
of the semester. 
 
FIELD RESEARCH, INTERVIEWS and PROFESSIONAL OUTREACH:​ Each student is 
required to conduct at least one interview with an individual with expertise or personal 
experience regarding their research topic. Ideally the interview should take place “on 
location” (e.g. at interviewee’s workplace or organization). Students are especially 
encouraged to connect with Engineering Leadership Program and Presidents Leadership 
Class alumni. 
 
FINAL SYNTHESIS PROJECT and PRESENTATION​: Each student will synthesize the 
insights gained throughout the semester by completing a challenging creative project of 
their own design. Students will meet one-on-one with Jenna, the Class Mentor, to vet 
their project ideas and, during the final week of class, will provide brief presentations to 
showcase their projects. 
 
FINAL ePORTFOLIO:​ At the end of the course, students will create a web-based 
ePortfolio. This ePortfolio presents a collection of all weekly assignments in final form, 
along with a bibliography, reflection on professional outreach and field research, and 
self-assessments. 
 
PRESENCE, COLLABORATION and PROFESSIONALISM:​ Every aspect of this course 
is an opportunity to practice leadership skills and virtues. Students attend every class 
 and engage thoughtfully (following one “freebie” absence, students lose 2 points for each 
class-time missed). Students do not receive credit for attending class if they are not 
truly present and engaged for the entire duration (e.g. if they are doing work for other 
courses or distracted by other media). Especially in workshops, students practice social 
adaptability, emotional intelligence and intellectual empathy in providing and receiving 
weekly assistance and feedback from peers. Students’ final grades will reflect the 
usefulness of their input and their contribution to a productive and caring community. 
 
 
GRADE BREAKDOWN 
 
  First Graded Iteration  Final Graded Iteration   

Preparation, Presence, Collaboration   

and Professionalism (includes    90 
Wednesday Mindmeisters) 

Topic “Pitch” Presentation    10 

Lens Analyses     

Individual  15  15 

Interpersonal  15  15 

Organizational     20 

Cross-Cultural    20 

Human Differences  15  15 

Institutional  15  15 

System  15   15 

Written Student Choice  15  15 

Visual Student Choice    20 

 
   

Final Synthesis Project and  40 

10 (abstract) 
Presentation  

Bibliography    30 

ePortfolio      30 

Site visit/interview    50 

   
  500 
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE = 500 
 
 
The course is graded on an A to F scale (A = 93% - 100%, A- = 90% - 92%, B+ = 88% - 89%...) 
 
SCHEDULE 
 
Week 1   

Monday  THE MYTH OF MAGICAL OF LEADERSHIP 

August 26  PURPOSE OF ENLP 3100 COMPLEX LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES 
BRIEF COURSE OVERVIEW AND INTRO TO SYLLABUS  
 
Assignment due Wednesday, August 28​: Review Syllabus in Google Drive and 
listen to  
HTTPS://WWW.THISAMERICANLIFE.ORG/596/BECOMING-A-BADGER/ACT-ONE-3​ (​ Just listen to Act 
1 of the full episode, J​E SUIS ICI TOUTE LA SEMAINE​; 28 minutes​) 
 

Wednesday  DISCUSS & REFLECT ON​ ​JE​ SUIS ICI TOUTE LA SEMAINE​ PODCAST  
August 28   
   Assignments due Friday, August 30 R
​ ecord a “podcast” for Ang and Jenna (see 
“Introduction Podcast” Prompt) 
 
DUE TODAY​: Come with questions about syllabus and prepared to discuss ​Je Suis 
Ici Toute La Semaine​ podcast 

Friday  WHAT IS A “COMPLEX PROBLEM”? 

August 30  CHOOSING “COMPLEX PROBLEM” TOPICS  
PREPARING YOUR TOPIC PITCH 
 
Assignment due Friday, September 6:​ Topic Pitch (see “Topic ‘Elevator Pitch’ 
Presentation” Prompt) 
 
DUE TODAY by 11:59pm:​: Record a podcast for Ang and Jenna (see “Intro Podcast” 
Prompt) 
 
Week 2   

Monday  LABOR DAY-- No Class!   

September 2   
“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be 
undertaken with painstaking excellence.”--​Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Wednesday  RESEARCH & REFLECT ON POSSIBLE TOPICS; INTRODUCTION TO ZOTERO; INTRO TO 
September 4  INTERVIEWS/SITE VISITS 
  (BRING LAPTOPS/DEVICES FOR ONLINE RESEARCH) 
 

Friday  TOPIC ‘PITCH’ PRESENTATIONS 

September 6   
DUE TODAY​: Topic “pitch” presentation 
 
 
  
Week 3   

Monday  Lens: ​ Individual   

September 9  Assignment: Outline of Literature Review 
 

Wednesday   Research Workshop (​ BRING LAPTOPS/DEVICES FOR ONLINE RESEARCH) 

September 11   
September 11 is final day to withdraw from class without tuition charge and 
receiving a “W” on transcript 

Friday  Peer Review Workshop  

September 13   
DUE TODAY:​ Individual Lens Assignment 1​st​ Iteration for Peers​. U
​ pload to 
Google Drive by 7:00am or bring your own printed hard-copy to class. 
 
Week 4   

Monday  Lens: ​ Interpersonal   

September 16  Assignment: Research Analysis Paper 
 
Hexagon Assessment 
 
DUE TODAY:​ Individual Lens 2​nd​ Iteration for Guest Evaluator 

Wednesday  Research Workshop ​(BRING LAPTOPS/DEVICES FOR ONLINE RESEARCH) 

September 18   
 

Friday  Writing Workshop 

September 20   
DUE TODAY:​ ​ Interpersonal Lens 1​st​ Iteration for Peers.Upload to Google Drive 
by 7:00am or bring your own printed hard-copy to class. 
 
Week 5   

Monday  Lens: ​Organizational 

September 23  Assignment: Informative Oral Presentation 
 
DUE TODAY:​ Interpersonal Lens 2​nd​ Iteration for Guest Evaluator 

Wednesday  Research Workshop (​ BRING LAPTOPS/DEVICES FOR ONLINE RESEARCH) 

September 25 
 

Friday  Presentation Workshop 

September 27   
 Due today:​ Presentation Outline 
 
Week 6   

Monday  Presentations 
September 
30 

Wednesday  Presentations 
October 2 
 

Friday  Presentations 
October 4   
 
 
Week 7   

Monday  Lens: ​Human Differences 

October 7  Assignment: Comparative Analysis Paper with data graphic 
 
DUE TODAY by Class Time:​ First “bundle”--Individual and Interpersonal 3rd 
Iterations for Ang 

Wednesday  Research Workshop​ (​ BRING LAPTOPS/DEVICES FOR ONLINE RESEARCH) 

October 9 

Friday  Writing Workshop 

October 11   
DUE TODAY:​ Human Differences Lens 1​st​ Iteration for Peers 
 
Week 8   

Monday  Lens: ​Institution-level Ethics 

October 14  Assignment: Persuasive Op-Ed 
 
DUE TODAY:​ Human Differences Lens 2​nd​ Iteration for Guest Evaluator 

Wednesday  Research Workshop (​ BRING LAPTOPS/DEVICES FOR ONLINE RESEARCH) 

October 16  

Friday  Writing Workshop  

October 18   
DUE TODAY:​ Institution Ethics Lens 1​st​ Iteration for Peers 
 
Week 9   

Monday  Lens: ​ Cross-Cultural  

October 21  Assignment: “Piquing” Oral Presentation 
  
 
DUE TODAY:​ Institution Ethics Lens 2​nd​ Iteration for Guest Evaluator 

Wednesday  Research Workshop (​ BRING LAPTOPS/DEVICES FOR ONLINE RESEARCH) 

October 23    

Friday  Presentation Workshop 

October 25   
Due today:​ Presentation Outline 
 
 
Week 10   

Monday  Class Cancelled (snow) 

October 28 
 

Wednesday  Class Cancelled (snow) 

October 30    

Friday  Presentations 
November 1   
 
 
Week 11   

Monday  Presentations 
November 4 

Wednesday   
November 6  Lens: S
​ ystem 
Assignment: Visual Causal Model  
 
DUE TODAY by Class Time:​ Second “bundle”--Human Differences and 
Institutional Ethics 3rd Iterations for Ang 

Friday  Visual Modeling Workshop  

November 8   
Hexagon Assessment 
 
 
DUE TODAY: ​No assignment due  
 
  
Week 12   

Monday  Lens: ​Student Choice Written (Underrepresented, Simple-word, 

November 11  Narrative) 
 Assignment: Student Choice 
 
DUE TODAY:​ Visual Causal Model 1​nd​ Iteration for (ungraded) Ang review 

Wednesday  Research Workshop (​ BRING LAPTOPS/DEVICES FOR ONLINE RESEARCH) 

November 13   

Friday  Writing Workshop 

November 15   
DUE TODAY: ​Written Student Choice 1​st​ Iteration for Peers 
 
Week 13   

Monday  Lens: ​ Student Choice Visual Graphic 

November 18  Assignment: Student Choice Visual Graphic Presentation 
 
DUE TODAY:​ Written Student Choice 2​nd​ Iteration for Guest Evaluator 

Wednesday  Research and Graphic Workshop 

November 20    
 

Friday  OPTIONAL workshop day! (bring ​any w

​ ork to class for Ang’s assistance 
November 22  and input) 
 
OPTIONAL! ​ If you submit your third “bundle” (Visual Causal Model and Student 
Choice Written) by end of the day, Ang will provide feedback by Monday, 
December 2 
 
FALL BREAK! --​no classes November 25-29! 
 
Week 14   

Monday  Visual Graphic Presentations 

December 2   

Wednesday  Visual Graphic Presentations 

December 4    

Friday  Visual Graphic Presentations 

December 6   
DUE TODAY:​ Third “bundle”--Student Choice Written and Causal Model 3rd 
Iterations for Ang 
 
Week 15   
 

Monday  Synthesis Project and ePortfolio Workshop 

December 9   
 Hexagon Assessment 
 

Wednesday  Magical Last Day of Class 

December 11    
  
 
  FINAL EXAM TIME: Wednesday, December 18, 1:30-4:00 p.m.  
Synthesis Project Presentations 
Final ePortfolios (consisting of final versions of all assignments) Due by 1:30pm 
 
 
  
 
Familiarity with rights, resources and expectations helps you be a resource to yourself and others!  
UNIVERSITY & PROGRAM PROVISIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

University Provisions and Requirements:

ACCOMMODATION FOR DISABILITIES
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit your accommodation letter from Disability
Services to your faculty member in a timely manner so that your needs can be addressed. Disability Services determines
accommodations based on documented disabilities in the academic environment. Information on requesting
accommodations is located on the ​Disability Services website​. Contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671 or
dsinfo@colorado.edu​ for further assistance. If you have a temporary medical condition or injury, see ​Temporary
Medical Conditions​ under the Students tab on the Disability Services website.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to
adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially
important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability,
creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation or political
philosophy. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to
address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I
may make appropriate changes to my records. For more information, see the policies on ​classroom behavior​ and the
Student Code of Conduct​.

HONOR CODE

All students enrolled in a University of Colorado Boulder course are responsible for knowing and adhering to the Honor
Code. Violations of the policy may include: plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, lying, bribery, threat, unauthorized access
to academic materials, clicker fraud, submitting the same or similar work in more than one course without permission
from all course instructors involved, and aiding academic dishonesty. All incidents of academic misconduct will be
reported to the Honor Code (​honor@colorado.edu​)​; 303-492-5550). Students who are found responsible for violating
the academic integrity policy will be subject to nonacademic sanctions from the Honor Code as well as academic
sanctions from the faculty member. Additional information regarding the Honor Code academic integrity policy can be
found at the ​Honor Code Office website​.

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND/OR RELATED RETALIATION

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) is committed to fostering a positive and welcoming learning, working,
and living environment. CU Boulder will not tolerate acts of sexual misconduct intimate partner abuse (including dating
or domestic violence), stalking, protected-class discrimination or harassment by members of our community. Individuals
who believe they have been subject to misconduct or retaliatory actions for reporting a concern should contact the
Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) at 303-492-2127 or cureport@colorado.edu. Information about the
OIEC, university policies, ​anonymous reporting​, and the campus resources can be found on the ​OIEC website​.

Please know that faculty and instructors have a responsibility to inform OIEC when made aware of incidents of sexual
misconduct, discrimination, harassment and/or related retaliation, to ensure that individuals impacted receive
information about options for reporting and support resources.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with
all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required
attendance. In this class, let Dr. Thieman Dino know at the beginning of the semester if you plan to be absent or need
accommodations due to religious holidays. See the ​campus policy regarding religious observances​ for full details.