REAL 720: Real Estate Leadership and Project Management Master Syllabus
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Course Description
Focuses on the differences, similarities, and applications of both Leadership and Management in the context of the real estate industry. Students will study characteristics of industry leaders, both historical and contemporary, to asses different leadership styles and how to effectively manage organizations. Emphasis, will be placed on different organization structures and organizational management theories including their applications, risks, effectiveness, and best practices.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between Leadership and Management
- Apply different Leadership/Management techniques and best practices
- Evaluate successful Leadership lessons from iconic figures in the real estate industry
- Analyze Leadership challenges from the Fight for Fairfax case study
- Identify their own individual leadership and/or management style
Approach to Learning
This course involves an interactive, discussion-based lecture format as well as activities organized around group work to encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing among students. Discussions and questions are highly encouraged. In group projects, each student is responsible for their individual contribution as well as collectively for the overall analysis, presentation, and written assignment.
Topics Covered:
- Leadership versus Management
- Responsibilities of Leaders and Managers
- Community Leadership
- Managing a development company
- Managing a development team
- Managing clients and client expectations
- Best practices, effective strategies
- Managing and Leading different personalities
- Historical leaders in the real estate industry: Charles Fraser, James Graaskamp, Gerald Hines, James Rouse
- Current leaders in the real estate industry
- Case study: the Fight for Fairfax
Representative Text and Learning Materials
The following are examples of the types of books that may be used as required or supplementary material for the class:
- Leadership Legacies: Lessons Learned from Ten Real Estate Legends, Trisha Riggs, Desiree French and Mike Sheridan, (Urban Land Institute, Washington DC, 2004) ISBN: 0-87420-9323 2.
- The Fight for Fairfax: A Struggle for a Great American County, Russ Banham, (GMU Press, Fairfax, VA 2009) ISBN: 978-0-9818779-5-2
Student Responsibilities
Students are expected to attend all classes and are responsible for keeping themselves updated on any changes on the course website. In case of absence, it is the student’s responsibility to catch up with the material covered. Without advance notice and approval, no extensions or options to retake are provided if for any missed quizzes, exams, or assignments due to absence.
Methods of Student Evaluation
Exams, quizzes, class participation, homework assignments, discussion of assigned readings, and group project reports and presentations.
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