Assessment Task 1 –
Report
ASSESSMENT
Length: 3500 words ± 10% (including executive summary, table of contents,
tables, figures, and appendixes, but excluding title page and reference list)
Weighting: 30% 1 Reference Style: CQU Harvard Style
http://www.cqu.edu.au/?a=14032 Document type: MS Word document only
Objectives
This assessment item
relates to course learning outcomes numbers 1, 2, 5 and 6 as stated in the
course profile.
Purpose
This assessment is to
assist students in developing skills in analysing organisational management
practices and issues employing principles, theories, and models in relation to
leadership and governance. It provides students with the opportunity to
practice and improve skills related to research, analysis, critical thinking,
problem solving, and academic and business writing. Before starting this
assessment, please read the marking criteria (at the end of this document) and
refer to the university’s guide for writing reports (available on the Moodle
course site). You should always check the course website for course-specific
instructions, which may be updated continuously.
Description
Assessment task 1 requires the writing of a report. The
report should be designed as a management document that can be used to
implement recommended changes. It should include a comprehensive analysis of
the current situation using theories, models and frameworks related to
leadership and governance. Students are expected to engage in extensive
research within the academic literature relating to leadership and governance.
It also requires students to suggest practical solutions/recommendations based
on research and analysis.
Details
The assessment item
is based on the case study titled “Blake Mycoskie and TOMS” (pp. 59-60) of the textbook:
Leadership: theory, application & skill development (6th Ed.) by Lussier
& Achua, Cengage Learning. You should read, and carefully analyse, the case
and respond to the issues presented in, and hidden behind, the case scenario
within the context of a professionally developed report. You are required to
support your arguments with appropriate theoretical discussion and references.
This assignment MUST be a properly constructed report. It MUST contain headings
and sub-headings. The introduction should introduce the report, thesis
statement (main objectives of the assignment) and include your argument. The
main body of the assignment should present the evidence you have collected to
support your arguments for the questions you are required to research. The
conclusion section should restate your arguments, summarise the evidence and
make a conclusion from all previous discussions. The assignment should contain
a coherent, but necessarily restricted review of the academic literature on HRM
topics in question. The literature review should be integrated into the
assignment and not be a separate section. A reference list formatted in the
prescribed Harvard style is compulsory. Further information regarding
formatting of assignments and other information is available at
http://www.cqu.edu.au/student-life/services-and-facilites/referencing/cquniversity-referencing-guides
This assessment item involves researching your assigned topic to enhance your
understanding of and utilisation of academic literature. Whilst you should
AVOID using only textbook, the prescribed textbook for the course should be
cited in regard to broad leadership principles. You will be expected to present
information and evidence from, and cite, at least twelve (12) relevant peer
reviewed journal articles (absolute minimum requirement). These do not include
other academic references such as books, conference papers, and book chapters
and so on. Although you can cite these other academic references in your
report, they will not be counted as part of the 12 journal articles. It is
expected that you find twelve (12) peer reviewed journal articles not listed in
the course materials. The quality and number of citations will demonstrate the
breadth and depth of the literature used to support your arguments. Your marker
is interested in the analysis that how you have developed from YOUR review of
the literature and how well you use the literature to discuss the topic. AVOID
presenting a descriptive account ONLY of your readings. What is required in
this assessment is a critical evaluation of the academic literature as it
relates to the specific details of the case study. Your marker is also
interested in the conclusions that you reach by evaluating the literature and
the case scenario.
Tasks
Case Study: Blake Mycoskie and TOMS (Pages 59-60 of the textbook:
Leadership: theory, application & skill development (6th Ed.) by Lussier
& Achua, Cengage Learning.) Based on the case scenario, answer the
following questions in a business format (see the Moodle course website for the
university’s guide regarding writing reports).
NOTE: You MUST address the questions below. Some of these questions are
not the same as that listed in your textbook:
1. On the basis of
evidence in the case, what would you assess Blake Mycoskie’s personality traits
are along each of the Big Five dimensions?
2. Which of these traits of effective leaders would you say
has had the greatest impact on Blake Mycoskie success at TOMS?
3. Which motivation
would McClelland say was the major need driving Blake Mycoskie to continue to
work so hard despite being worth millions of dollars?
4. Does Blake Mycoskie have an LMP?
5. What type of
self-concept does Blake Mycoskie have, and how does it affect his success?
6. Which leadership managerial role(s) played by Blake
Mycoskie have an important part in the success of TOMS?
7. Is Blake Mycoskie
ethical in business? Which level of moral development is he on?
8. How may Blake Mycoskie’s ethical and/or unethical
behaviours have affected TOMS’ corporate social responsibility?
9. How may Blake Mycoskie’s leadership traits and behaviours
have contributed to effective governance in TOMS?
