LO1 Critically evaluate the argument that supposes that management and leadership practices may be similar functions in organisations.

 Critical Perspectives in Strategic Management and Leadership

7SG500 

7SG500 Assessment Brief

Critical Perspectives in Strategic Management and Leadership – 7SG500

Contents

Module Leader 3

Key dates and details 3

Description of the assessment 3

Assessment Content 4

Assessment Rubric 5

Anonymous Marking 9

Assessment Regulations 9

This section is where you must include the module leaders contact information.

Key dates and details

Please note that time will be put aside in one of the lectures (week to be confirmed) to discuss the assignment in detail, as well as online synchronous session week commencing the 6th January 2025 (more information to be provided closer to the time)  

Description of the assessment

Component 1: COURSEWORK

Summary of Assessment Method: Written report, 4000 words

Individual report can be used to assess the student’s knowledge and understanding of the theories, contemporary business issues facing the successful formulation and implementation of organisational strategies. In addition, the assignment will explore the extent to which the student has a critical grasp of relevant research literature and knowledge of the strategic implementation in an organisation with a specific emphasis on management and leadership practices     

Weighting:  100%

Assesses Learning Outcomes: 1, 2 and 3

The task

This is an individual case study-based report of 4,000 words where you explore the following three themes, anchoring on your chosen organisation and basing your writing primarily on content studied in the module but also upon your own research from relevant academic sources.

1. Critically evaluate the argument that supposes that management and leadership practices may be similar functions in organisations.

1. If national cultures are different between nations and regions as asserted in the GLOBE leadership research and Hofstede’s five cultural dimensions, critically evaluate how the dominant culture or cultures of a nation might affect the knowledge, skills and behaviour exhibited by managers. Further analyse how national culture might also shape or influence the leadership approaches they adopt.

1. Critically evaluate three contemporary factors within the business and political world that might disrupt the successful formulation and implementation of competitive advantage strategies in your chosen organisation in the 21^st century.

Assessment Content

Individual written REPORT (4000 words)

 You will select a case study organization from the list below, that will form the subject of your report (you may, with prior approval of the module leader, choose a different organization, if there is a compelling reason to do so, in exceptional circumstances)

Based on your chosen case study (above), you will undertake a 4000 word report that addresses the following 6 key aspects of the above task.

1. Undertake a critical evaluation of the leadership and management styles exhibited by the dominant senior personnel within the organization (i.e.; CEO, President, Chairman, Managing Director etc), and how, and to what extent, his or her approach fits within the leadership/management similarity, disparity and other debates as expressed in recent literature on leadership and management scholarship (circa 1,200 words – weighting 30%)

1. Critically explore the cultural specificity of the home country of your chosen organisation relative to relevant models on leadership and national culture and evaluate the extent to which leadership practice as applied by a dominant leader in the organisation may be influenced by the national culture/cultures of the home country in terms of propensity to globalize, growth ambition and mission and values of the organization at present.  Your evaluation needs to be analysed through the critical application of a range of academic theories, concepts and frameworks (Circa 1,200 words – weighting 30%)

1. Critically evaluate two key strategic (rather than ‘operational’) management challenges that the organization is either currently presented with, or, is likely to encounter in the near future that might disrupt its ability to implement management concepts that enable or create sustainable competitive advantage strategies. These challenges may be either external or internal to the organization and one should be political and the other a business environment challenge. Ensure the critical application of a range of academic theories, concepts and frameworks. (circa 1,200 words – weighting 30%).

1. Your introduction should succinctly capture the essence of the task, justify why the work to be accomplished is important and provide clues about some of relevance of the issues and concepts to be developed in more detail in the body of the report. Also, add a brief structure or road map to guide the development and assembly of your report (circa 200 words).

1. Your conclusion should capture the key points or power arguments raised within each of three themes of your report, reflect on learning gained in the process of accomplishing the task and suggest areas for future focus (Circa 200 words).
2. It is imperative that your report showcases high quality, contemporary research, on your chosen organization, that is synthesized appropriately with a range of academic tools, frameworks, theories and concepts, drawn from the academic leadership and strategic management literature. Many of these will be introduced to you within the lectures and it is for you to decide upon, and then select, those tools that are most relevant to the organization and the challenges that you have identified.

Assessment Rubric

Please see next page.