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By University HQ Staff Writers
Edited by Evelyn Keener
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What is Organizational Leadership?

Delaware is one of the smallest states in the US. Its mid-Atlantic location, however, does it great favors when it comes to economic growth and development. Its laws, especially regarding taxation, also help make Delaware a very important player on the national stage. In fact, many businesses rely on Delaware for their success.

Chief among those businesses are those in the finance and insurance sector. That industry is Delaware's top economic driver and is the 22nd largest in the nation. Given that most of Delaware's industries trail behind most larger states, it's clear that Delaware is a key player when it comes to financial matters. Most readers will note that their credit cards are based in Delaware, as are many of their favorite corporations.

Coming in at the #2 spot is Delaware's real estate sector which is 41st nationally. The remaining industries in Delaware's top five are professional and business services, social services including healthcare, and manufacturing. Delaware is also building strength in the travel and tourism areas, as their oceanfront is attracting attention. The state is showing strong growth in the commercial fishing sector, which may, in turn, be contributing to Delaware's manufacturing industry.

One thing shared among all of these industries is a need for leadership. This approach to corporate guidance is becoming more important and provides a way for even smaller companies to compete against larger firms. It differs from traditional management in meaningful ways and so requires special courses to master.

An organizational leader is a business professional who seeks to lead their organization as a whole entity. Leaders look at the bigger picture of their firm or department more than at the individuals who are involved. They are more concerned with leadership itself than any specific task or business function. One analogy might be that an organizational leader is the conductor, while management is composed of musicians. These leaders keep a constant eye on the larger, macroeconomic picture and then ensure that their firm is rising to meet any challenges. They may work with managers to ensure that the prevailing corporate vision is supported.

Where managers are directly concerned with the day-to-day tasks of their departments or branches, the organizational leader is looking out to the wider economy. Organizational leaders must understand the capabilities and limitations of their teams and how each can help support the firm's short and long-term objectives.

Organizational leaders can thus have a career path that includes many different industries and types of business. They are masters of leadership rather than operations or marketing. However, they are sure to have a strong working knowledge of both.

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Online Leadership Education in Delaware

To maintain and further develop Delaware's economy, its political leaders ensure that the state's colleges and universities have fully funded business degree programs that include either concentrations in or full organizational leadership degrees. When Delaware thus bolsters its leadership degree programs, each and every industry benefits. Students can then help the state to continue its leading role in finance, while also boosting other sectors.

Business colleges and departments help build the state's economy by educating younger generations so that they can become business leaders. They seek to recruit the best academic minds in the field of leadership to achieve this goal. They also look for business leaders in the community who can bring a more practical view of organizational leadership to the classroom. These instructors can help students recognize and utilize Delaware's unique characteristics. Thus, tomorrow's business leaders can steer their companies in a way that may one day make Delaware the center of East Coast industry.

Online Associates (AS)

Students who start their academic careers with an associate organizational leadership degree may start out on the right foot, but it’s important to recognize that the highest levels of leadership won’t be accessible to anyone without at least a bachelor’s degree in most cases. Even so, this two-year degree will provide a strong foundation of knowledge in business while requiring that they complete the core college curriculum of general education courses, which can be applied to a bachelor’s degree if you transfer credits. These courses help them develop the key critical thinking skills that will inform their career in organizational leadership. They can also use their two-year leadership degree to land an entry-level position and start gaining experience while their peers are still taking courses.

An associate organizational leadership degree from a Delaware community college is a great choice for other reasons, too. Business minded students will like the fact that community college credit hours are far more affordable than those at four-year colleges and universities. And those who complete their four-year bachelor’s degree will find that their financial health is far better than their peers who spent all four years in a university.

Online Bachelors (BS)

Most businesses look to hire professionals who hold at least a bachelor’s degree in leadership. Since organizational leaders must have a more comprehensive view of business and the economy, a four-year degree helps them learn and grow in a way that helps with this broader, big-picture view. Students will study business administration for organizations, as well as organizational behavior and innovation through a variety of classes. Graduates may find themselves working as leaders of organizations or as community leaders.

A bachelor’s organizational leadership degree is also desired because it opens opportunities for students to gain experience in the field. This is because most four-year college degree programs support internship programs. Thus, Delaware students can take temporary positions with local businesses where they can observe the realities of the business world.

Bachelor’s business programs in larger four-year institutions also provide more opportunities for a well-rounded education. In the case of an organizational leadership degree, students might add a minor concentration in economics or finance. Other good options may include management, marketing, or even sociology. Since organizational leadership requires a broad view of the business world, students are encouraged to earn at least a bachelor’s degree.

Online Masters (MS)

To truly excel as an organizational leader, students will want to earn a master’s organizational leadership degree from a Delaware college or university. While they might choose an MS in organizational leadership, which focuses solely on organizational leadership for two years, many will choose an MBA with a concentration in leadership.

An MBA is a master’s business administration degree that spans two years of intensive study. The first year is spent in general business courses and the second year focuses on a concentration area, which could be organizational leadership.

Master’s organizational leadership students have yet another option, a dual MBA. These programs combine a second master’s degree program with an MBA curriculum. Many choose to pair law with their MBA, but other options include engineering, information technology, data science, or economics, among a near infinity of options. Organizational leaders will benefit from a dual-MBA if they need to augment their leadership with more technical knowledge.

Online Doctorate (PhD)

Though the business community doesn't typically seek out employees who hold a doctorate, organizational leadership may be an exception. This is because organizational leaders may need to have an interdisciplinary approach to how they lead. Thus, a PhD in economics, for example, may help an organizational leader guide their firm through a recession. A PhD in organizational leadership itself may be useful when combined with experience in the role.

One field where an organizational leadership doctorate can lead to employment is in academia. Business colleges and degree programs look for PhDs who have completed and published cutting edge research into organizational leadership for their faculties. While it is possible to teach at the undergraduate level with only a master’s organizational leadership degree, it's unlikely to have that teaching convert into a full-time, tenured position. PhDs can become tenured teaching professors, but they could also join a university as a research faculty member.

Become a Leadership Professional in Delaware

Most students who dream of a career in business also seek to attain a leadership role in a dynamite organization. While business leadership can take many forms, with each having unique ways to approach them, there are also clear-cut ways to help ensure the best success in the pursuit of that goal. Delaware students often wonder how they might one day lead from the C-suites.

One of the first things they can do is to seek out leadership opportunities while they are still in school. High school students can get started in leadership by running for student council or taking leadership roles in other student clubs. Even the leader of the A/V club needs to organize events, delegate responsibilities, and oversee a budget. When students take these roles, they begin a path that is sure to have great success.

In the final two years of high school future business leaders should start looking for the best Delaware business school for them. Students who want to become leaders should look for Delaware business degree programs that focus on management and organizational leadership. They need to scrutinize each program's course offerings and even see if the faculty has any special credentials that make them stand out. It's also vital to investigate the program's accreditation status.

Most Delaware colleges and universities will hold at least a regional accreditation from a CHEA-approved agency. Some business departments and business colleges will also have program specific credentials from an agency such as AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE. These specialized credentials are reserved for business programs and those that hold them are considered exceptional. These accreditation agencies focus only on business degree programs, so they are able to scrutinize the faculty, curriculum, and resources in a very particular way that focuses on business specific outcomes. They accredit business degree programs at the PhD, master’s, bachelor’s, and even associate degree levels. Students should seek these programs to see if they fit with their long-term business goals.

During their college education, students who are drawn to organizational leadership should investigate augmenting their studies with a minor in economics or even sociology. They should also enroll in any and all internship opportunities their business program provides. Further, bachelor’s graduates may want to prioritize an MBA with a concentration in organizational leadership. A good time to start looking at MBA programs is in the third year of your undergraduate degree.

When students make the most of their education, they are sure to have a successful career as business leaders.

Careers for Leadership Graduates

  • Management Analyst
    These business professionals focus on how individuals and organizations manage their employees. Analysts may work as consultants who are called in to evaluate the state of a firm's management and then to make suggestions for improvement. Analysts often have a master’s management degree or an MBA with a concentration in management.
  • Chief Information Officer
    This top-level corporate position is often filled with a professional who holds an advanced degree on top of many years of experience. The CIO of a firm has often risen through the ranks of the company's information technology department to become the head of all information systems.
  • Non-Profit Executive Director
    This leadership role is much like those in a for-profit organization. Non-profit executive directors will typically hold an MBA that serves as a capstone to years of experience working in the non-profit sector. Non-profit executives will have a strong sense of how to raise funds by way of grants and donations, while also being adept at leading their staff in a way that best supports the mission of their organization.
  • Compensation Benefits and Job Analysis Manager
    This position is a key part of many human resources departments. While it can be reached with a bachelor’s human resources degree, an MBA with a HR concentration is also highly valued. Those who focus on an organizational management style will ensure that their firm's staff is compensated in ways that best suit the long-term objectives of the organization.
  • Information Systems Managers
    Firms of any significant size tend to have information systems departments full of technology workers. The managers of those departments need to have a strong working knowledge of the technology while also having leadership abilities. Some go so far as to earn a dual-MBA that combines an MS in Information Technology with an MBA that concentrates on Organizational Leadership.
  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
    This is the very top position in most organizations. The CEO often requires a strong organizational leadership stance that seeks to lead the whole organization as a unit rather than focusing on individual parts of that firm. In order to become a CEO, an MBA is almost certainly required, though those who start their own firm can appoint themselves into the role regardless of their educational level.
  • Facilities Manager
    These management professionals oversee the functions of a specific facility. This can include properties such as an apartment building, skyscraper, or a sprawling office park. Facilities managers must be able to lead their team of maintenance workers while coordinating with property managers and property owners.
  • Healthcare Administrator
    This is a management position that requires special knowledge of the healthcare industry. These administration positions often go to those who have completed a degree in hospital administration, including a Master of Healthcare Administration. Healthcare administrators can specialize in areas including healthcare finance, healthcare informatics, or communications.
  • General Manager and Operations Manager
    These management professionals need to have a minimum of a bachelor’s management degree. Those who have special training in organizational leadership may be highly sought for this position.

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