Reference no: EM132409251
Leadership Assignment -
Assessment item 1 - Essay
Task - Critically analyse the relationship between traits, motives and effectiveness of leaders; provide examples from the public domain of how these are applied in practice and assess how the relationship between theory and practice is demonstrated.
Use material covered in weeks 1 -3 (text, topics and relevant readings) and at least 2 other current academic journals. The articles should have been published between 2005 and 2015. A minimum of 5 references should be used.
Rationale - This task has been designed to allow you to demonstrate your critical understanding of some theoretical perspectives of leadership. This assessment is an analytical account of what has been published on the topic by accredited scholars and researchers.
The task has been designed as orientation to the theoretical underpinnings of leadership reflections and recommendations you will make in later assessments. It assesses the first two learning outcomes:
- be able to provide a comprehensive explanation of the role of leadership;
- be able to critically analyse, in the context of the framework of relevant theories and research, current and projected issues which impact on organisational leadership and organisational success;
Length: 1500 words.
Assessment item 2 - Learning Journal
Task - Complete four? learning journal entries by responding to the questions stated below.
Upon completion of a variety of self - assessment instruments, you are encouraged to develop a deeper understanding of the importance of self-awareness in relation to leadership. Your learning journal is based on your insights and provides you with an opportunity to reflect on the ways in which the issues and concepts raised in the course affect you personally in your role as a manager and leader.
Learning Journal Requirements:
Based on the self-assessment instruments used in the course respond to the following questions:
1. Choose four areas in Leadership for your self-analysis and justify your choice. ?Length 400 words.
2. Summarize the results of the relevant self-assessments in your learning journal. ?Length 700 words.
3. Share your results, insights and conclusions with someone you trust and respect. Ask them for their reactions and comments. ?Length 700 words.
4. Discuss in the journal:
What you learned about yourself.
How your perceptions of yourself are similar and different from the perceptions of the person with whom you discussed your assessments.
How your style could affect your relationship with others, particularly your work relationships. Consider its influence on how you see and relate to others, how others react toward you, and implications for the kind of work you prefer.
Given this information, what can you do to take advantage of your strengths and minimize your weaknesses as a manager/leader? What barriers and opportunities exist for the implementation of your personal leadership plan in your student/professional life?? Length 1200 words.
Rationale - Management research indicates that developing self-awareness has several advantages: personal growth, career development, and an enhanced ability to understand and have empathy with others. In their studies of managerial and executive derailment, the Center for Creative Leadership found that successful managers: (1) understand their values, personal styles, and strengths and weaknesses; (2) know the impact of these values, styles, strengths and weaknesses, on their ability to effectively work with others and achieve their goals; and (3) are quick to reflect upon and learn from their own experiences.
Despite these advantages, we often resist opportunities to increase our self-awareness. We try to protect our self-esteem. We fear that learning something new about ourselves will be painful or may require us to change. We may think that we already know ourselves well enough. Or we may not want to take the time out of our busy schedules to engage in self-reflection. In short, developing a willingness and ability to engage in self-reflection, is a critical leadership skill that is not easily learned yet reaps many rewards.
Keeping a learning journal is a structured way to develop this skill. This journal is a confidential, written record of your personal development through the class. The learning journal helps you to reflect on how your personal styles influence your interpersonal relationships, particularly in your role as a manager and leader.
The completed assignment should be about 3000 words in all and double spaced. Your learning journal is a confidential document. Only your course facilitator will read it. You are required to identify your learning journal by your name and student number.
The assessment assesses the last learning outcome in relation to leadership self-development: be able to develop a leadership plan and implementation strategies.
Length: 3000 words.
Assessment item 3 - Critical Analysis of Leadership
Task - You will need to complete the following project on leadership that assesses leaders in a work-related environment.
This project focuses on critical analysis of leaders' approaches to their leadership in a work-related environment and provides recommendations on how to sustain or improve leadership effectiveness.
Identify three 'interviews' or biographical accounts of Australian CEOs, business or third sector leaders from the Australian news media, a professional management journal or management-related magazine. Justify your selection.
Analyse these cases, and from a critical perspective, compare and contrast:
a) the ways in which each leader is constructed as a leader by the accounts;
b) how the leaders describe their conceptualisation of leadership;
c) how each leader conceptualises success through their leadership.
Critically evaluate how each leader's practice of leadership impacts the success of their organisation, using relevant theoretical perspectives you have covered during your study of MGT536.
Identify organisational issues one of these three leaders is facing. Drawing on current leadership research (from the last five years) what advice would you offer this leader to assist them in addressing these issues?
Finally, draw conclusions from your entire critical analysis, and make recommendations about how relevant theories and research can assist leaders to fulfil their role.
Rationale - This task has been designed to allow you to demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed to undertake an analysis of leadership in order to determine the effectiveness of leadership in a specific context. You are also expected to provide specific recommendations and strategies to improve leadership effectiveness.
This assessment builds in practical way on Assessments 1 and 2 where the foundations were laid for the theoretical and personal understanding of leadership.
The task assesses the following learning outcomes:
- be able to critically analyse, in the context of the framework of relevant theories and research, current and projected issues which impact on organisational leadership and organisational success;
- be able to synthesise issues for organisational leaders and evaluate plausible impacts requiring leadership decisions;
- be able to explain the relationship of effective leadership and the success of organisations;
- be able to develop a leadership plan and implementation strategies.
Length: 3000-3500 words.