Peer Review

Principles of Leadership & Management

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Reviewed:: Jan 29, 2026 by Business

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Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

The open-access textbook "Leadership and Management in Learning Organizations," authored by Clayton Smith, Carson Babich, and Mark Lubrick, is published by eCampusOntario. It connects business management concepts to the needs of educational institutions, covering topics ranging from classic management theories to modern leadership styles, ethics, and motivation. Key features include interactive H5P activities like leadership concept maps and self-assessment tools such as the Johari Window. It also offers case studies and reflection sections to help readers apply theories to teamwork, decision-making, and organizational culture. Intended for students in educational administration and organizational behavior, the book serves as a professional development resource for educators and administrators looking to enhance their leadership skills. It is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Type of Material:

Open (Access) Textbook

Recommended Uses:

The e-book is ideal for self-study, featuring interactive H5P modules for students to assess their leadership traits before lectures.
It supports a flipped classroom model where students engage with content at home.
Assign "Case in Point" readings for homework, using case study questions for in-class discussions.
Chapters 10 and 11 focus on group activities.
Students can use templates for projects like a "Personal Balanced Scorecard" or "Team Charter."
The book acts as a presentation tool, allowing real-time problem-solving and decision-making in class.
It can be integrated into LMS platforms for tracking participation.

Technical Requirements:

To get the most out of this book's interactive features, such as self-assessments and concept maps, please use the latest version of a major web browser, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, or Microsoft Edge.For offline use, you can access the book in different file formats, including EPUB, Digital PDF, and MOBI. To read these formats, you will need standard e-reader software, such as Apple Books or Adobe Digital Editions, or a compatible device, like a Kindle. The web version of the book is compatible with assistive technologies, such as screen readers. It also meets WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards, making it easy to use with standard keyboard navigation and built-in browser accessibility features.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The student will be able to classify the fundamental characteristics of a "learning organization" and explain how these traits distinguish it from traditional corporate management structures.
The student will be able to describe the core tenets of classical management theories (Scientific, Bureaucratic, and Administrative) and their historical evolution into modern behavioral science.
The student will be able to apply psychological frameworks, such as the Johari Window, to interpret their own interpersonal dynamics and illustrate areas for personal leadership growth.
The student will be able to analyze the relationship between learning theories (Cognitivism, Constructivism, and Connectivism) and their practical influence on organizational knowledge sharing.
The student will be able to differentiate between strategic, tactical, and contingency planning models to determine the most effective approach for various organizational challenges.
The student will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of different leadership styles (e.g., Transformational vs. Transactional) in fostering diversity and inclusion within a multicultural learning environment.
The student will be able to critique current organizational decision-making processes based on ethical standards and Indigenous pedagogical perspectives.
The student will be able to design an integrated team-building strategy that incorporates experiential education and inquiry-based learning to improve collaborative outcomes in an interdisciplinary setting.

Target Student Population:

College Lower Division, College Upper Division
Business Administration, M.Ed., and Educational Leadership.
Organizational Behavior, Management Principles, Leadership Theory, and Human Resources in Education.
Also targets emerging managers, HR professionals, and organizational development specialists involved in training and development.
Appeals to lifelong learners interested in enhancing their emotional intelligence and decision-making skills.The content addresses Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and includes topics on global leadership and Indigenous pedagogy, catering to a multicultural audience.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

"Leadership and Management in Learning Organizations" is an introductory to intermediate resource, requiring some understanding of sociology or psychology for key chapters (Personality and Leadership, Motivation).
Exposure to courses like "Business 101" or "Introduction to Education" can enhance comprehension.
The book encourages analysis and synthesis over rote memorization, aligning with higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy.
Students should be able to analyze case studies to identify theoretical conflicts.
A basic level of digital proficiency is needed to navigate the open-access e-book's interactive features.
Engagement in metacognition is assumed for readers, reflecting the book's focus on "Learning Organizations."

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

Concepts, models and content are comprehensive.
Content is academically inclined but appropriate.
The content approach/format is appropriate to the type of item.
Contemporary pedagogical design and the incorporation of H5P technology, which allows for real-time self-assessment and conceptual mapping.
Fosters engagement through Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles, integrating Indigenous pedagogy and global leadership concepts with traditional Western theories.
The clear "Gauge-Discover-Reflect" structure guides learners from basic recall to advanced critical thinking.
Its Open Educational Resource (OER) licensing makes it adaptable for various learning environments, from professional workshops to graduate seminars.

Concerns:

Academic essentially - needs comprehensive understanding and requires thorough reading.
Some chapters go into more detail than others. For example, the sections on personality and communication are thorough, including interactive assessments, whereas the section on complex global leadership frameworks is shorter. This may leave learners needing to seek additional peer-reviewed sources to gain a deeper understanding of international policy.
Use of H5P interactive features. These may not work well for users with slow internet connections or older devices. When these features don’t load or display properly, it can lead to a disjointed learning experience, missing important teaching elements.
Since this book adapts a text from 2010, some references in the foundational management sections are outdated. While the theories remain relevant, incorporating more recent research from after 2020 would enhance the book's credibility in today's rapidly evolving organizational environment following the pandemic.
Because the content has been adapted from several earlier versions, you might notice formatting inconsistencies or broken links that can interrupt your individual study experience.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The teaching-learning goals and consequent uses are easy to identify.
The item increases the potential for student learning and promotes conceptual understanding.
The item can be used in a variety of ways to achieve teaching and learning goals.
Through the “Gauge-Discover-Reflect” cycle, it connects theoretical concepts to personal experiences, following Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory.
A standout feature is the instant-feedback H5P modules, which allow students to address misunderstandings in real-time, crucial for developing metacognitive skills.
Its modular design makes it easy for students to access impactful “Case in Point” sections, which clarify complex leadership challenges with real-world examples.
The book emphasizes inclusive teaching, valuing diverse perspectives, including Indigenous and global views, and fostering a comprehensive understanding of modern organizational leadership.

Concerns:

Academic text material require full student participation - reading, comprehending, relating, discussing etc.
Academic guidance is also needed.
Risk of cognitive overload and the "fragmentation effect" that occurs when dense theoretical content is combined with interactive elements.
While H5P modules aim to engage students, those without strong self-regulated learning (SRL) skills may view them as mere games, resulting in superficial engagement with essential management theories.
The digital divide poses significant challenges, as students with limited access to high-speed internet or outdated devices may encounter "technical friction," preventing them from accessing interactive assessments crucial for their learning.
Critiques of open educational resource (OER) adaptations highlight the issue of lacking a unified authorial voice, resulting in disjointed chapter transitions. This makes it harder for students to build a cohesive understanding of topics such as "Indigenous Pedagogy" and "Scientific Management" within a single leadership framework.
Without instructor-led scaffolding, advanced students may encounter a "rigor gap," lacking the depth required for complex, high-stakes organizational issues, prompting them to seek supplemental academic resources to address the intellectual challenge they need. Addressing these challenges is crucial for fostering a practical learning experience.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Clear and accurate instructions for use.
The pdf teaxt has a clear and consistent layout and is easy to navigate.
The text/pdf is freely accessible and downloadable.
Meets WCAG 2.0 Level AA accessibility standards, which means it supports screen readers, offers high-contrast text, and allows keyboard-only navigation, making it accessible for all students.
The content is organized using the Pressbooks interface, which provides a user-friendly navigation system. This allows users to easily move between theoretical material and interactive H5P modules with a linked Table of Contents.
One can also download the content in various formats, such as digital PDF and EPUB. This option helps students in areas with slow internet access while keeping the original layout and clarity.

Concerns:

Text must be accompanied with active academic engagement and participation in order to optimize the learning process.
The H5P interactive elements are engaging, but exporting them to static formats, such as PDF, limits accessibility, which can disconnect users who are offline. The web interface could also be better for non-linear learners.
Adding a strong internal search feature would help users find specific management theories more easily. Issues with metadata and formatting from “cloned” OER content can cause broken links, which need to be fixed.
For users who aren’t very tech-savvy, more precise instructions for complex H5P activities, such as drag-and-drop concept maps, could help minimize frustration.

Other Issues and Comments:: To maintain the quality and effectiveness of this learning material over time, it is essential to follow a clear plan for updating and managing different versions of the content. While the current interactive format is strong, establishing a peer-review process every six months can help identify and address broken links found in other studies, as well as incorporate new research on resilience and remote leadership following the pandemic. Additionally, adding a basic tutorial module or a “How to Use This Book” video at the start would help students who struggle with technology, ensuring that the interactive elements support learning rather than confusing them. Lastly, to enhance the “Creating” and “Evaluating” levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, the authors could introduce a section for “Open Pedagogy.” This section would enable students to add their own case studies or reflections, transforming the text from a static resource into a dynamic document that evolves with the learning organization.
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