Week 2: Evolution of the Meetings & Events Industry and Leadership Theories
Week 2 Learning Objectives
By the end of this week, students will be able to:Trace the historical evolution of the meetings and events industry and its impact on modern practices.
Compare and contrast major leadership theories and their relevance to event leadership.
Analyze how leadership theories apply to the unique demands of meeting and event planning.
Evaluate the shift from traditional management to transformational leadership in the events industry.
Required Readings & ResourcesGoldblatt, J. (2022). Special Events: A New Generation and the Next Frontier (8th ed.), Chapter 2: “The Evolution of Event Management”
Rutherford Silvers, J. (2021). Professional Event Coordination (3rd ed.), Chapter 3 excerpts on leadership roles
Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and Practice (9th ed.) – Chapters 2 & 3 (Trait Theory, Skills Approach, and Style Approach)
PCMA Convene Magazine or MPI (Meeting Professionals International) articles on industry transformation
Video: “Leadership Theories in the Events Industry” (15 min)
Week 2 Assignments1. Main Discussion Board: Leadership Theories in Event Planning
Due: Initial Post: Wednesday, 11:59 PM
Minimum of 2 Peer Responses: Sunday, 11:59 PM
Points: 25 points Discussion Prompt:
The meetings and events industry has evolved significantly from traditional conferences to complex, experience-driven, hybrid, and sustainable events. Effective leadership is essential to navigate this evolution.After completing the Week 2 readings:Briefly describe one major historical milestone in the evolution of the meetings and events industry and its lasting impact.
Select one leadership theory from the readings (e.g., Trait Theory, Behavioral/Skills Approach, Situational Leadership, or Transformational Leadership).
Explain the core concepts of the chosen theory in your own words.
Analyze how this leadership theory can be applied to a real-world meeting or event scenario (e.g., planning a large corporate conference, a destination wedding, or a sustainability-focused festival). Provide a specific example of how an event leader would demonstrate this theory in action.
Reflect: Why is understanding leadership theories important for success in the dynamic meetings and events field?
Your initial post must be 300–350 words minimum. Support your discussion with at least two scholarly or industry sources (textbook counts as one). Use APA 7th edition for citations and references.Response Requirements:
Reply substantively to at least two classmates who selected different leadership theories. In each response (100–150 words), compare or contrast their theory with yours and suggest one way both theories could be combined in event leadership.Grading Rubric (25 points): Accurate description of industry milestone (6 pts)
Clear explanation of the selected leadership theory (7 pts)
Strong application to an event scenario (8 pts)
Scholarly support, APA, and quality of peer responses (4 pts)
2. Leadership Theory Application Paper
Due: Sunday, 11:59 PM
Points: 30 points
Length: 3–4 pages (not including title page and reference page), double-spaced, APA 7th edition format.Assignment Instructions:Choose one leadership theory from Week 2 readings (different from the one you used in the discussion if possible). Write a paper that demonstrates its application to meeting and event leadership.Paper Structure (use these headings):Introduction (½ page) Introduce the leadership theory and its relevance to the meetings and events industry.
Overview of the Theory (1 page) Summarize the main principles and key proponents of the theory.
Explain its strengths and limitations in general.
Application to Event Leadership (1–1.5 pages) Describe a realistic event scenario (e.g., planning a 500-person hybrid corporate conference, a high-profile gala, or a destination incentive event).
Provide two specific examples of how an event leader would apply this theory during the planning, execution, or post-event phase.
Discuss expected outcomes of using this leadership approach.
Conclusion and Personal Reflection (½ page) Summarize the value of this theory for event professionals.
Reflect on how this theory aligns (or does not align) with your personal leadership style identified in Week 1.
Requirements: Minimum of three scholarly or credible industry sources (course textbooks + one additional peer-reviewed or MPI/PCMA source).
Use proper APA 7th edition formatting.
Submission: Upload as a Microsoft Word document (.docx) to the assignment dropbox.Grading Criteria (30 points): Accurate and clear explanation of the leadership theory (10 pts)
Depth and realism of application to event leadership (12 pts)
Quality of reflection and conclusion (5 pts)
APA formatting, organization, and source quality (3 pts)
Tips for Success: Choose a scenario that reflects current industry trends (hybrid events, sustainability, attendee experience, etc.).
Be specific — show exactly how the leader would behave or make decisions using the theory.
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