Assessment

The assessment for this module is designed to support your learning and help you develop a deeper understanding of the topics covered in your module.

CHOOSEN LEADER - NELSON MANDELA

Formative assessments provide an opportunity to learn and do not contribute to your grade.
Summative assessment contributes to your overall mark and grades. Your portfolio submission addresses the following core elements of the module and their associated learning outcomes

Leadership theory: the first part of this module is focussed on exploring leadership theory and leadership in practice. It will examine core theory such as Trait theory, Skills, Style and will explore the difference between transactional and transformational leadership styles. The use of real world, current case studies will support this exploration and students' critical understanding of leadership in practice. In addition, the relevance of leadership in practice in the digital age will be explored.

Power, Influence and Ethics - students will be introduced to these core concepts e.g. types and sources of power; What is influence? How do leaders develop it; What are Business Ethics? and How are they demonstrated through leadership? Students will be required to demonstrate their understanding of the role, importance and influence of these on modern leadership practices. Students will be required to examine the importance of understanding ethical considerations in leading in the digital era and real-world cases will be used to do this.

Understanding and identifying students' own leadership traits, style, skills e.g. negotiation, communication, behaviours and ethics is a core part of the module. Using practical leadership development instruments students will be required to reflect on their own leadership skills. They will demonstrate their new self-understanding and how this can be developed further to support them in their careers as they move into leadership roles with a view to developing themselves as ethical leaders.

This portfolio is designed in this way to demonstrate students' academic, professional and personal development and to enhance students learning.

PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT

Part 1: Individual Video and power point presentation.

The first part is an individual presentation where students can demonstrate their understanding of leadership theory and how the combination of several theories can help to provide a deeper understanding of organisational leadership. They will choose a leader and apply the theory they have learned to assess their leader's style and behaviour. Having completed self-administered questionnaires on their leadership styles and preferences students will also evaluate their style against theory via a brief self-reflection at the end of the individual presentation.

Part 2: A critical review of Power and modern leadership practices using practical examples from business (1,500 words, excluding appendices) & self- reflective piece (500 words).

The second part of the portfolio is an individual critique of Power, Politics and/or Conflict using examples, students will show their understanding of power, politics and conflict in relation to organisations, and will also consider solutions.
Whilst examining core theoretical areas examples will be used to examine how theory can be applied to help resolve an organisational issue or conflict.

Self-reflective piece to achieve

This part of the portfolio is an opportunity for students to put themselves centre stage and explore their learning on the module. They will reflect on what they have learned and evaluate how theory/ models/ questionnaires can support their professional, academic and personal development. Using examples, they will consider what has specifically challenged and broadened their thinking. It is an opportunity for creative, individual expression. The use of a reflective model is expected.

Portfolio Part 1: BRIEF

Individual Leadership Presentation (5 Minutes) and brief PowerPoint

Portfolio: Part 1 - Individual Leadership Presentation: Academic analysis and application of leadership theory, including self-assessment of leadership traits, skills, style

LO1: Analyse current leadership theories and models and demonstrate how these are applied in practice

The purpose of the presentation is to demonstrate an understanding of Leadership and to critique and apply leadership theory to your chosen leader.

You should also present an analysis of your own self-assessment of your leadership traits/ skills briefly here and then expand it in your Portfolio Self-reflection section (Part 2)

Your Individual presentation is a 5-minute video on Leadership. You should put the link on the first page of your PowerPoint which should include maximum 7 slides to support your video. The purpose of the presentation is to demonstrate an understanding of Leadership and to critique and apply leadership theory to your chosen leader.

This first part of your portfolio is an individual presentation where you must demonstrate your understanding of leadership theory. For your presentation you must select a leader and critically apply at least 2 types of leadership theory you have studied on the module e.g., Trait and Transformational Theory. You must use academic referencing, using the module materials e.g., Northouse, Kotter. You must show how the leader demonstrates (or not) the theory and provide some critique on the theory. For example, what is Trait Theory? How do the traits, behaviors, style of your leader relate to the 4I's of Transformational Theory? You could for example critique whether it is always good to be ‘charismatic in business. What about ethical leadership? What does the theory say and how can you apply it to your leader?
Having completed self-administered questionnaires on leadership styles and preferences, this presentation will expect you to briefly evaluate your style against the

leadership theory you have studied as well as developing your self-reflection in more depth in your Portfolio Part 2: Self-reflective Piece.

Key Points
Choose a leader from one of the following categories:
Politics
Fashion
Retail
Sport
Technology
Media

You should analyse and critically apply 2 appropriate leadership theories/ models or theories that have been discussed during the first semester.

Make sure you use the academic journal articles and books recommended on weblearn and in the reading list in your presentation and you must reference correctly according to the Harvard Reference system - see library website for guidance.
Your Presentation must include 7 references from at least 3 of the academic journal articles we have studied and your wider academic reading e.g. Northouse/ Academic Journal Articles and Business quality references e.g. FT/ Economist/ Forbes.
Here are some of aspects you could use to develop your argumentation in your presentation...
Using academic references e.g., Kotter/ Northouse - use Harvard Referencing
Your leader - What makes her/him a leader? Use academic references to support this - use Harvard referencing
What specific leadership models and theories could help to describe or explain
their approach to leadership in their field of expertise? Select 1 or 2 and discuss using Harvard academic referencing
What is their leadership style? Reference this e.g., media quotes
What traits / characteristics do they demonstrate? How / why? Reference
What area of leadership does this person best demonstrate? (Use module theory e.g., Skills/ behavior/ situational/ transformational)
Briefly outline how are they portrayed in the media? - how does this relate to their leadership style / internal leadership? Use Quality business references e.g., FT/ Economist/ Forbes/ Trade press.
What are their successes and failures?
What can business learn from your chosen leader?
You also need to ensure you include a range of media e.g., radio/TV interview clip/ twitter feed/ newspaper etc.
What have you learned so far on the module about your own leadership traits and skills? What do you want to develop going forward?

Presentation skills
This is an academic presentation. You are expected to and will be graded on;
demonstrating a high level of scholarship by drawing from a broad range of recognised sources, accurately referenced, and competently applying them
demonstrating complete professionalism in the way you present yourself and your work
demonstrating the professional delivery of the presentation

Portfolio Part 2: BRIEF

Part 2: A critical review of Power and Modern Leadership Practices using practical examples from business (1,500 words, excluding appendices) & including your self-reflective piece (500 words)

LO2: Demonstrate an understanding of the role of Power, Influence and Ethics on modern leadership practices

For this assessment you are required to explore the role of Power, Politics and Conflict in relation to what happens in real organizations. This is an individual piece of 1,500 words (excluding appendices) in which you will demonstrate your understanding and application of the concepts of Power, Politics, ethics, and Conflict. Using relevant academic theory studied on the module you must critique how power, politics, ethics, and conflict are used in business and how theory can help shed light on solutions.

You should reference some of the core texts studied on the module including Machiavelli's - The Prince, as well as the other academic articles studied on the module e.g., Cairns (2017), Lingo & McGinn (2020). You can include your own research and further reading.
Critical review (1,500-words, excluding appendices):
You can either write your review as an essay, which should be clearly structured, or else divide it into sections, with titles, headings, and subheadings as appropriate - shown below: You must use a specific case study or several business examples as well as academic referencing for the material studied on the module to develop your critical review. The main aim is to demonstrate your understanding of the theory how you link Theory to Practice - How can you use your real-life organizational examples or a case study to demonstrate how the theory on Power, Politics and Conflict is reflected in real business life? Ensure business case or examples used clearly has manifestations of power, politics, and conflict.

Introduction (approx. 250 words). You need to state the aims and objectives of your critical review. Introduce the key concepts, ideas, theories, and theorists you will use in relation to power, politics, and conflict. Identify which real-life examples you will use from industry to apply the theory to.

Academic Analysis (approx. 1000 words), where you briefly evaluate all of the three concepts (see below) we have studied in relation to practical business cases and examples e.g. Apple/ Samsung

Power - Discuss the concept of Power in leadership and business. Drawing on texts/ case examples used in the module apply the key concepts to show your understanding e.g. Machiavelli, French and Raven's 5 Bases of Power, power in negotiation
Politics - what is meant by organizational politics? How could you reference the theory? and what role does organizational politics play in the real-life organizational example(s) you have chosen?
Conflict - What is the nature of the conflict? How was it created and what impact does it have on the outcome for the organization?

Use relevant Harvard Business Referencing
Linking Theory to Practice - How can you use your real-life organizational examples to demonstrate how the theory on Power, Politics and Conflict is reflected in real business life?
Conclusion (approx. 250 words)
Bring together the ideas and theories you discuss in relation to the real-life business examples. State how you have achieved the aims and objectives of your review. You should identify the core the issues in relation to Power, Politics and Conflict. Write how the assignment has helped you understand the theory and how this is applied in a business setting.

AND INCLUDE

A self-reflective piece (500 words)

LO3: Identify their own leadership traits, style, skills e.g., negotiation, communication, and behaviors and create a leadership self-reflective piece to demonstrate their new understanding and evidence how they might apply this in their future career leadership roles.

This part of your portfolio is an opportunity for you to put yourself Centre stage and explore your learning on the module. You will reflect on what you have learned and evaluate how your engagement with the theory/ models/ questionnaires can support your professional, academic, and personal development. Using actual examples, you will consider what has specifically challenged and broadened your thinking. It is an opportunity for creative, individual expression and to evidence how you will use this new learning to support you in your future career and job roles.

To conduct your self-reflection, use a model such as Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle, Gibbs reflective cycle, Schon's model etc. to ask and answer:

What have I learned - specifically?
How has that impacted or influenced me?
How have I changed - my Thinking? my skills? my approach? my behavior?
How can I use this new self-awareness and new knowledge to develop my leadership skills and approaches in the workplace?
What is my learning style? How can I use it in my career - what do I need to develop?

Self-Reflective Statement (approximately 500 words)

Academic - what specific areas of academic learning have impacted you most? How and why? What do you now know about your leadership traits and skills - and what will you do differently? - how will this help you in the workplace? How do you view your use of power in your job/ potential job? What articles, cases or YouTube clips developed or challenged your thinking and learning?
Practice - what new skills, tools and techniques have you learned? e. g. critical analysis? Academic writing skills? Presentation skills? Research? Collaboration? Negotiation? How will this help you in your career?
Personal - what have you learned about you in relation to what you have studied on the module? e.g., knowledge, skills, abilities, increased confidence, type of leader, understanding power? Your negotiation skills? How could you use your learning to support you in your job/ career better or get a promotion
e.g. how might you use ‘power' in your job and career differently now? How are you developing into an ethical leader?