Reference no: EM133033804

SITXHRM003 Lead and Manage People

Assessment Task: Collaborative Leadership Team Project: Change Management Project Plan

Description:

In an Australian Institute of Management (AIM) Survey of Australian Business Leadership, it was found that Australian executives use all aspects of transformational leadership - particularly individualised consideration and inspirational motivation. Active and passive management by exception are much less frequently used. Australian executives also generally rate their leadership styles more highly than their counterparts overseas.

In this leadership project, prefer to work in a small team of two - four members (in a role play). Running over the whole academic term, the project will provide you with opportunity to evaluate your own leadership style and capabilities in the process. You and the team will be observed over the duration in the designated classroom team project/assessment sessions.

This task will be based on collaborative leadership principles and all the team members will assume responsibility for their assigned tasks. All the decision within the team will be made by consensus. Individual behaviour and work style will be evaluated through a leadership survey at the end of the project.

Project background and scenario are given below.

Profile and Background:

The Wall Street Journal reported in 2009 that Blockbuster Video, whose shares were trading below $1, was seeking advice on how to file for bankruptcy. Blockbuster, at the time, countered that it was only trying to get help to restructure company's debts. Finally, on Sept 23, 2010, Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy.

In Australia, Paul Uniacke, who owns and operates the Franchise Entertainment Group, which includes the Blockbuster, Video Ezy and EzyDVD chains, said the Australian Blockbuster chain was separate from the US Company and said that there was no threat to the local business. While in the US, the Blockbuster group was taken over by Dish Network, taking the brand into home entertainment through its cable network, Blockbuster continues to operate in Australia as a traditional video rental store chain. Uniacke also said the Australian Blockbuster business remains better protected against online offerings, such as Quickflix, backed by entrepreneur Simon Backer, and BigPond DVD Rentals, saying the bricks-and-mortar stores offer better returns (Stafford, 2010: Smart Company).

As the market continues to evolve in many different directions with Google, Logitech, Intel and Sony entering the market with Google's open source Google TV software, Apple TV, and a gradually increasing uptake of Telstra's T-Box and Foxtel's Movies on Demand - not to mention the new entrant Red Room DVD that offers cheap DVD rentals through kiosks, the competitive environment for entertainment is becoming increasingly challenging for conventional video rental stores such as Blockbuster and Video Ezy in Australia.

Scenario:
In this assessment task, you and your tram will assume the role of a Change Management Project Team working at the headquarters of the Franchise Entertainment Group. After a month-long deliberation, FEG's board has decided to revamp the company and introduce two new services in a forward-looking strategy to tackle a growing threat of domestic competition;

- Shopping centre Kiosks for DVD rentals
- Downloadable movies through its website that expire after 48 hours

Based on the information provided, complete all the parts of the task as below.

Task: Part A

If you are working in a team, your team has been given the responsibility to develop a Change Management plan that should include;
• Identify and explain the need for change
• Explain the likely impact of proposed changes on the company and its operations
• Identify change requirements and develop specific and measurable objectives for the project
• An analysis of trends in the external environment using an appropriate tool/technique (e.g. Consumer
• preferences, technology etc.)
• Competitor analysis (at least two comparable competitors)
• Specify major change requirements in company's operations due to planned changes
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Risk analysis and risk mitigation strategies
• A communication or an education plan to promote the benefits of the change to the organisation
• Perceived barriers to change and strategies to overcome the barriers
• Need for staff training, coaching and learning to implement the new initiative
• Strategies for implementing or actioning the change at the company and its stores
• Resources required for implementation of the project (project resources)

You project plan should also include, specific to the project;

• A brief description of roles and responsibilities of the team members
• Team protocols and rules (including measure to deal with non-attendance and non-performance of
• team members)
• Team dynamics and delegation of tasks
• How team members contributed to decision-making and problem solving in the team

The project should be written in a formal style consistent with common project management practices and expectations. You would have had an opportunity to review sample project plans prior to completing this project and can draw ideas on plan structures from them. The plan must include an executive summary and final recommendations along with all the required parts as mentioned above.

Once you have finished the project, present the key project highlights and features to the class. The class audience will act as a group of internal and external stakeholders of the organisation. Ensure that you present within the roleplay and project, a positive image of the company to the audience. Use persuasive techniques to convey your message and obtain audience feedback. Analyse and include the feedback analysis in the project plan.

All team members must present their parts.

Part B:

Team Leadership Performance

With a view to have an opportunity and demonstrate team leadership by each member of the team, the teams will be required to divide the task into same numbers as the team members (e.g. 4 members, 4 tasks) and sequenced as project tasks. Each of the team member will, accordingly, perform a leadership role for rest of the team at each stage.

In the team leadership role, the members in task leadership role will individually;

• Develop and communicate project objectives (project phase) to the team members
• Develop and allocate tasks and responsibilities
• Set key performance indicators for each task (for each member separately)
• Provide guidance, direction and motivation to the team and manage project tasks, including any
• mentoring or coaching required
• Ensure that all the tasks are completed in the designated timeframe
• Take note of team member performances and evaluation against the KPIs
• Take note of any issues/barriers and actions taken to deal with them
• At the end of the task/phase/stage, collect feedback from other team members and record in the
• team portfolio
• Suggest rewards for good performance and innovative approaches among the team members -
• emulating a real-life situation - in form of recommendations to the management

Accordingly, the project documentation will need to be maintained as per the completed stages. All team interactions, correspondences, and feedback will be kept in the team folder.

Part C:

Leadership Survey: Professional Development

Leadership Development Needs Assessment (LEADNA) is developed by volunteers of the US Department of Energy (DOE) Carlsbad Area Office (CAO) and WEC. LEADNA (provided as a separate Word template) will be used to conduct the leadership survey.

Instructions to use the survey and guide to survey results are contained within the instrument. A key to successful completion of this tool is to read each behavioural scale closely and then go with your first impression. If you encounter a scale covering behaviour that you have not had the opportunity to observe, simply skip that scale.

Each group member will conduct the survey for themselves. In effect, all the team members will provide feedback on each other's leadership style and characteristics. Identify the need and discuss how you willcontinue to develop your leadership skills.

Attachment:- Lead and Manage People.rar