Assessment on Leadership Approaches and Learning Plan Development

Learning Outcomes Covered by this assessment.

LO2 Demonstrate a critical understanding of approaches to leadership in context

LO3 Critically evaluate how leadership approaches for employee retention and success, can be  employed to respond to workplace challenges

LO4 Identify and design appropriate development plans in response to a learning intervention e.g.  coaching and mentoring

Assessment Task

1:  Drawing on your own personal experiences or observations, identify a workplace challenge (e.g.: company merger, restructure, technology) and critically evaluate (using academic theory where appropriate), the leadership approach/es and intervention/s that the leader/line manager has taken to ensure employees remain motivated, engaged and committed to the organisation.

2:  Reflecting on your answer in task 1, design and justify a personal learning plan which will further build on and develop the personal learning in relation to your development as a manager and/or leader and the effective management of others.

Your personal learning plan should include SMART objectives so that you are able to measure the effectiveness of your learning in 12 months’ time.

Specific Criteria / Guidance

There is no one correct way to approach this assessment.  However, please take account of the following guidance.

Your work will be marked according to the following criteria (please see the marking rubric below  for details of what each element covers in relation to the task):

·Demonstrate a critical understanding of approaches to leadership (20%)

·Critically evaluate how leadership approaches for employee retention and  success, can be employed to respond to people management challenges (40%)

·Identify and design appropriate development plans in response to a learning intervention (20%)

·Critical reflection: Personal &/or Professional application and evaluation (20%)

2. Task 1 - Report structure

·Generally speaking, this reflective report should contain an introduction, a conclusion and the main body.

·Use sub-headings and you must include numbering for your sections. You should also have a title page, executive summary (not included in the word count), the main report, a full references list and appendix (if necessary).

·Write in full sentences and construct paragraphs around the issues you discuss. You can use bullet-point format, but try not to rely on this too much as it can restrict your ability to analyse and may end up in a descriptive report.

·It is recommended that a minimum of 30 sources are referenced. Try to use credible academic sources where possible, e.g. textbooks and journal articles.

3. Your report should refer to and be informed by relevant academic theory, models and literature throughout.

4.A key element of task 2 is to be able to demonstrate reflective learning.  

This means not simply describing an experience or observation and what you learned but to deeply and critically reflect on the experience or observation.  

In particular, you should focus on how you gained the learning, or the processes of learning:

What happened at the time?  What did you feel?  What did you think?  What assumptions were you making?  What “mental models” were you using?

In what ways, and why, did the experience generate learning at the time?

In what ways, and why, has further reflection helped you to develop deeper learning from the experience?  

Did others contribute to your learning – either at the time or afterwards?

In what ways has your knowledge of relevant management theories and practices helped you to make sense of your experience, and develop and deepen your learning and personal/professional practice?

Do not just focus on how you have learned to improve your management practice, but consider ways in which your understanding of yourself, and the practice of management and being a manager has changed or developed.

5.When designing a personal learning plan for task 2, make sure that you include specific  actions you will take, and when, and consider any resources or support you will need –  think SMART.  

·It is recommended that you include a summary of your plan in a table form.

·You should provide a clear and academically informed justification for your choice of learning and development activities including:

·How you will extend and develop the learning you have identified from your reflective account and analysis

·Reference to personal learning preferences

·Consideration of practical resources and constraints

·How you will define and measure the success of your planned learning