Introduction

The course is developed for "first-level leaders." The "first level" pertains to a person's first management role in a company.

The term "leadership" is meant to reflect a change in roles for people in the position. The traditional role was regarded as a supervisor, engaged to plan and monitor work, handle budgeting, manage small projects, and administer policies - now, managers are responsible for "releasing employee energy and talent in pursuit of sustained competitive advantage."

It also mentions that the nature of business has changed from a static operation in which employees performed the same tasks the same way for many years with little change into a dynamic organization in which there is constant change.

The author suggests that first-level leadership is of strategic importance in accomplishing the business objectives: higher-level leaders generally take a broader view and are more concerned with the future of the company (the higher up, the further out their plans and visions), whereas the first-level leaders are on the front lines of the battle, and work directly with the employees who are doing the near-term work.