Western Governors University

D370: IT Leadership Foundations

A study guide to WGU's D370, an introduction to leadership, communication and decision-making for people working in IT.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

D370 is an introductory leadership course in WGU's Bachelor of Science in Cloud and Network Engineering, listed in the eighth term of the 2025 program guide at 3 competency units.

WGU describes it as an overview of organizational structures, communication and leadership styles specific to information technology.

It also introduces the power skills that help IT professionals succeed: time management, problem solving and emotional intelligence, and invites students to explore their own strengths and passions. There are no prerequisites. Technical students often find it unusual because the evidence is reflective and interpersonal rather than technical.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversityWestern Governors University (WGU)
CourseD370 IT Leadership Foundations
ProgramBachelor of Science, Cloud and Network Engineering
Credit3 competency units
PrerequisitesNone listed
Subject areaIT leadership, communication, teamwork
AssessmentCompetency-based; check your course page for the current format

What D370 Covers

The program guide lists four competencies.

Competency (summarized)What it involves
Communicate ideas, opinions and information for professional settingsAdapting message, tone and channel for audience
Recommend strategies for decision-making in team environmentsChoosing how a group reaches and owns decisions
Reflect on emotional reactions of self and others in professional situationsEmotional intelligence and self-awareness
Select influential leadership strategies for workplace situationsMatching leadership style to the situation and people

Key Concepts Explained

Leadership Styles

Common styles include directive, coaching, supportive and delegating. None is best everywhere: a new team member may need clear direction, while an experienced engineer may do better with autonomy.

Example: During an outage, a leader gives short, clear instructions (directive). After the incident, the same leader runs a blameless review asking the team what they learned (coaching and supportive). Explaining why the style changed shows you understand situational choice.

Team Decision-Making

Options range from the leader deciding alone, through consultation and voting, to consensus. The right method depends on time pressure, the importance of buy-in and who holds the expertise.

Emotional Intelligence

Self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy and social skill help leaders handle conflict and stress. In reflective tasks, describe a specific moment, the emotion involved, how it affected behavior and what you would do differently.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

Assignment typeWhat it testsHow to approach it
Self-assessment and goal settingAwareness of strengths and gapsUse the assessment results, then set specific, measurable goals
Communication taskAdapting messages to audiencesIdentify the audience and purpose before writing
Decision-making recommendationTeam process choicesCompare two methods and justify one for the scenario
Reflection on emotions and leadershipEmotional intelligenceUse a concrete example, honestly described

Organizational Structures and Communication in IT

WGU's description also covers organizational structures. IT teams may sit in a central department, be embedded within business units or work in project-based groups, and each shapes how decisions and communication flow.

Communication tasks usually require you to adapt a message to its audience. A technical outage update for engineers differs from the same update for executives or customers. A reliable method is to state the purpose, the key point, what the reader must do and by when, then check that the vocabulary suits them.

Use this kind of comparison in your answers to show you understand that leadership in IT is largely about translating between technical and business perspectives.

Writing Self-Assessments and Development Goals

The course invites you to explore your own strengths and passions, so self-assessment tasks are likely. These are easy to write superficially and hard to write well.

For example, a vague goal like "improve communication" becomes "deliver a five-minute update to my team each week for eight weeks and ask for written feedback on clarity". The second version shows leadership thinking: it is specific, measurable and gives you a chance to learn. Always use your own results and examples.

Where Students Get Stuck

Study Tips for D370

How We Help with D370

Send the instructions and rubric. A writer can explain the leadership concepts, show how to organize a reflection, review your draft or build a custom answer using an invented sample scenario. We never invent experiences for your submission; your examples must be your own.

GradeEssays is independent of WGU. Support is for study and reference; submit your own work under WGU's academic integrity policy. We cannot promise a competent result.

Make Your D370 Reflection Stronger

Share the prompt and your notes. We show how to turn experience into a clear, rubric-ready answer.

Start My D370 Help

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does D370 cover?

Organizational structures, communication, leadership styles, decision-making and emotional intelligence in IT settings.

Which program lists it?

The 2025 guide for the Bachelor of Science in Cloud and Network Engineering lists it in the eighth term.

Is it technical?

No. It focuses on leadership and interpersonal skills.

Are there prerequisites?

The program guide lists none.

Can I use workplace examples?

Yes if the task allows; keep confidential details out.

Will you write my reflection?

No. A reflection must describe your own experience; we can help you organize and review it.