UNDERSTANDING CONTEMPORARY LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
ASSIGNMENT 2
ESSAY

Your assignment is in the form of an essay, of not more than 3,500 words.

Critically evaluate the necessary knowledge and skills required by leaders within contemporary organisations.

Draw upon leadership theory and practice, to include an understanding of self and others, and the internal environments within which leaders operate, as well as your own practice.

Your assignment should also include a reflective account (not included in the wordcount) which shows how you have reflected upon your learning on the module and how you are going to apply this learning to your working environment.

Please see below for marking criteria. You must include an assignment front cover sheet (also attached) with your essay.

ESSAY MARKING CRITERIA/FEEDBACK
Presentation – including structure, visual impact, logical development, referencing, clarity of explanation 15%
Reflective learning – to support on-going personal development (separate section at end of essay – NOT included in wordcount)
10%
Content – demonstration of knowledge and understanding of theories and concepts
25%
Application of theory to practice 20%
Quality of analysis of key concepts, models and theories 30%
Conclusion, recommendations

TOTAL %
Date

Signature
Mark CONTENT Quality of analysis & Key Concepts Application of theory to practice Reflective Learning Presentation
70%- 100%

Mid point 85%
Demonstrates a breadth of reading incorporating the key texts and evidence of some independent research. Shows a clear understanding of the theory and its relevance to the topic under consideration. Possesses an authoritative grasp of subject and context having a clear appreciation of relevant knowledge in their own field. Can evaluate and comment upon the practical merits of a number of theoretical models. Comments perceptively, with supporting evidence, on the limitations of theories and models in relation to both specific situations and general organisational contexts. At the higher end of this band, may demonstrate some originality of thought. Is able to apply theories/models and new knowledge to increase understanding of the workplace, analyse the issues and (where appropriate) solve problems. Uses a number of relevant examples from working practice to demonstrate and support understanding of theories and models discussed. Shows a good understanding of own personal development needs. Uses theory and models critically, honestly and constructively to reflect upon own personal effectiveness and behaviours with the working environment. Overall presentation, layout, grammar, organisation and referencing all excellent; Concise, with clear structure. Accurate, perceptive and illuminating. Diagrams with examples used. Has answered the assignment brief in depth.

60% – 69% Demonstrates familiarity with key texts and other relevant reading. Theory is clearly explained, highly contextualized and supported by illuminating specific practical examples from the working environment. Can evaluate and comment upon the practical merits of theoretical models. Able to give a clear analysis of where the theory has limitations in depth or areas of application. Can use theories/models to analyse workplace issues and propose solutions. Gives clear examples from working practice to demonstrate and support understanding of theories and models discussed. Some evaluation of tools and concepts and why they have worked or not worked for them. Has been able to identify areas for improvement both for self and the working environment. Overall presentation, layout, grammar, organisation and referencing all done to a very good standard. Concise, with clear structure. Appropriate and interesting language. Some diagrams with examples used. Has clearly answered the assignment brief.
50% – 59% Theoretical models clearly understood. Demonstrates a familiarity with the key texts. Can see where some theories have obvious limitations, or are inappropriate to organisational context and is able to support their critique with appropriate evidence.
Can make links between theories/models and workplace issues at an obvious level. Provides some examples from practice to demonstrate understanding. Clear analysis of learning from assignment. Some evaluation of tools and concepts and why they have worked or not worked for them. Overall presentation, layout, grammar, organisation and referencing are good. Well structured though may lack conciseness. Limited diagrams or not adequately annotated. Has answered the assignment brief.
Mark CONTENT Quality of analysis & Key Concepts Application of theory to practice Reflective Learning Presentation
40% – 49% Has an adequate grasp of course materials and concepts to enable a basic response to the task required in the assignment. Limited evidence of reading of key (or other) texts Some evidence of critical analysis of key concepts and theories but not supported by evidence and very limited. Basic use of theories/models with only limited examples from the workplace to support understanding. Some evidence of learning from assignment. Limited evaluation of tools and concepts and why they have worked or not worked for them.
Overall presentation, layout, grammar, organisation and referencing are adequate but contains some inaccuracies. Structure needs improvement and diagrams are limited or not adequately annotated. Some aspects of the assignment brief not covered.
35% – 39%
Has a very limited grasp of course materials and concepts to enable a basic response to the task required in the assignment. No evidence of reading of key (or other) texts Theory is referred to appropriately but without consideration of strengths and weaknesses. Any links between theory and practice lack depth. Does not reflect on reality of workplace and does not provide examples. An attempt has been made at reflecting on the assignment and areas for future learning. Little consideration of personal development or evaluation of tools and concepts. Aspects of presentation, layout, grammar, organisation and referencing are inadequate or contain inaccuracies. Structure unclear. Some aspects of the assignment brief not covered.
20% – 34% Theory/concepts incompletely understood, absent or applied inappropriately. Applies theory inappropriately. Descriptive writing lacking critical analysis. Does not connect theory with own practice or applies inappropriately. Largely descriptive with no link between theory and workplace. Very limited attempt at reflecting on the assignment and areas for future learning. Aspects of presentation, layout, grammar, organisation and referencing are poor. Lacks a coherent structure unclear. Assignment brief not adequately covered.
0% – 19% No reference to course materials or recommended texts. No attempt to use theory or critical evaluation. Descriptive writing lacking critical analysis. Descriptive writing lacking any critical analysis. No attempt has been made to reflect on the learning from the assignment. Incoherent, poorly presented and not related to the assignment brief.