Assessment Guidelines for Leadership and Change Management

Learning outcomes applied in this assessment

However, it is important to note that resit students must take into consideration the feedback they received from the previous submission/s of this assessment point, in order to enhance their work, which will enable them to get a passing grade.

Learning outcomes applied in this assessment
LO1: analyse and critically evaluate major ideas and practices in the field of people management.
LO2: evaluate major contemporary theoretical and managerial perspectives on people management.
LO5: engage critically and analytically with literature relating to major developments in the field of people management.
LO6: appreciate how research into effective people management underpins thinking in the other, more specialised fields of HRM and HRD practice that you will be studying.
LO8: effectively apply HR theories and models to situations and various scenarios.
LO 12: develop and express strong, original and well-justified arguments to support your views.

Assessment guidelines
Produce a 3000-word Individual Coursework (+/- 10%) (excluding the list of references) which offers students the ability to demonstrate their developing knowledge and application of the teaching and learning material covered in weeks 1 to 5. It also
encourages students to develop their thoughts and perspectives on contemporary business issues, and be intellectually creative (underpinned by credible resources).

Students are required to produce a reflective report (LO2/8) on varied leadership approaches taken by different leaders in managing the changes arising from a contemporary issue (i.e. COVID 19). In order to achieve this, the main body of your report must include the following:
1) A brief introduction to the conceptual approaches of leadership and change management (LO1/2).
2) Exploration of the role of flexible leadership and individual perspectives in relation to leaders managing change of the pandemic (discussed through relevant literature, tools and techniques) (LO2/5/8).
3) Critical analysis of why the issue has strategic importance in understanding leadership approaches and their impact on its stakeholders whilst proffering some recommendations (discussed through relevant literature and supported by other contemporary examples) (LO2/6/12).

The reflective report requires you to use the relevant module material (ideas, concepts, theories, frameworks and research findings) to inform your evaluation. The assignment encourages you to take a strategic view of what good leadership entails and an
evaluation of today’s global leaders in embracing flexibility to managing change whilst dealing with current and emerging global trends. Well established media (e.g. BBC, Financial Times, New York Times, etc) may be used to develop the context of the
discussion, but the material used to underpin the research and analysis should be from academic books and/or updated peer-reviewed academic journals.

A report is written for a clear purpose and to a particular audience. Specific information and evidence are presented, analysed and applied to a particular problem or issue. The information is presented in a clearly structured format making use of sections and headings so that the information is easy to locate and follow. When you are asked to write a report, you will usually be given a report brief which provides you with instructions and guidelines. The report brief may outline the p rpose, audience and problem or issue that your report must address, together with any specific requirements for format or structure. This guide offers a general
introduction to report writing.

What makes a good report?
Two of the reasons why reports are used as forms of written assessment are:
• to find out what you have learned from your reading, research or experience;
• to give you experience of an important skill that is widely used in the work place. An effective report presents and analyses facts and evidence that are relevant to the specific problem or issue of the report brief. All sources used should be acknowledged and referenced throughout, in accordance with the preferred method of your department.

The style of writing in a report is usually less discursive than in an essay, with a more direct and economic use of language. A well written report will demonstrate your ability to:
• understand the purpose of the report brief and adhere to its specifications;
• gather, evaluate and analyse relevant information;
• structure material in a logical and coherent order;
• present your report in a consistent manner according to the instructions of the report brief;
• make appropriate conclusions that are supported by the evidence and analysis of the report;
• make thoughtful and practical recommendations where required.