Format: Professional presentation

Length: 15-20 minutes each

Weight : 30 marks in total

Due date: For on campus and online students - On-campus students are to present in class week beginning Monday 20th August, 2018. Both on-campus and online students - must upload their presentation which consists of the PowerPoint slides, an executive summary of approximately 1000 words and a reference list to the Moodle site by Friday 24th August, 2018.

On campus students and online students will be allocated into groups during the introductory session.The size and composition of groups will be determined by the class facilitator and will normally not be negotiable.

Task: The facilitator will nominate a specific task or analysis. The presentation will provide an opportunity for groups to examine leadership practice using accepted leadership models and perspectives and assess the impact on followers.

This is a pass-fail activity and students must be in a group; students cannot undertake this task individually.

Late submissions will incur a penalty of 5% per day after the due date.

Research Prequirements:

As Masters students you are required to engage in research as per the Australia Quality Framework (AQF) guidelines. Two specific requirements need to be considered.

1. Students need to demonstrate “a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice, and

2. Students must demonstrate "knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning”.

Each Masters unit has a number of required weekly readings in terms of academic texts, journals and business publications that represent the appropriate body of knowledge and recent developments referred to by the AQF. In order to demonstrate the ability to engage in appropriate research, students should read and utilise these texts and journals and publications. As Masters students you are expected to research beyond this minimum standard through additional texts, journals and studies to demonstrate an ability to engage in independent research.

Your attention is drawn to the University’s stated position on plagiarism. THE WORK OF OTHERS, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE ASSIGNMENT MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO ITS SOURCE (a full list of references must be submitted as part of the assessment).

Quality of research  – Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of relevant concepts/materials through use of appropriate body of quality sources (including a minimal of five relevant peer reviewed academic journal articles).

Application of theory  – Ability to incorporate relevant key leadership terms, theories, models, and concepts.

Findings and recommendations  - Ability to present key findings and recommendations in a business presentation to expected professional standards.

Presentation structure  - Concise and structured presentation with introduction, main presentation and conclusion.

Delivery – Ability to effectively use audio visuals and verbal communication delivered within the time allocation.

Team work - Ability to work in a collaborative and effective manner as a team.

Format: Professional written report

Length: 2,500 +/- 10% words

Weight: 40% of marks

Submission format: Word document; submitted electronically via Moodle

Due date: Friday, 5th October, 2018.

Task: The purpose of this assignment is to allow participants to explore their own leadership practice by focusing on one critical leadership competency that they believe will enhance their ability to effectively lead others.

The assignment must focus on one of the following:

• Visibility/Credibility OR
• Power and Influence OR
• Self-confidence

Diagnostic tools and mini-simulation activities will be completed under each topic which will serve as the experiential basis for individual reflection about current leadership practice. These are compulsory activities for students enrolled in this unit. Online students are provided with alternative experiential activities.

There are three sections to this report:

1. A self-analysis/-reflection
2. A literature review, and
3. A conclusion that outlines an action plan for development

1. Self-analysis/-reflection (800 - 1,000 words)

Students must utilise a minimum of three (3) of the diagnostic tools undertaken during the term (such as the Quinn Management Questionnaire, the ESCI (Emotional Intelligence) Situational Leadership Questionnaires). A minimum of two diagnostic tools must be specific to the chosen competency, being either self-confidence, power and influence or visibility/credibility. Please note that diagnostic tools used in other units, such as the Johari Window, Conflict or Team questionnaires, will not be accepted as relevant to the nominated leadership competencies.

Students are to contrast the results of the diagnostics tools and reflect on their own practice by identifying two incidences from their recent past (i.e. within the last 12 months) in which the chosen capabilities were or were not being used. Students are then to analyse the incidents to determine whether the results of the self-diagnosis are evidenced in practice.

The objective is for students are then to identify two areas for improvement that will enhance the chosen area (i.e. visibility/credibility OR use of power and influence OR self-confidence).

(Students should recognise that the use of three tools is seen as the minimum requirement and meeting this minimum will result in the minimum score being awarded for this section of the assignment).

2. Literature Review (approx. 1,000 words)

The second section should comprise a literature review about the chosen topic that defines the key terms and outlines key theories or models and application. Students are expected to use the specific concepts and terms of the leadership and competency models examined during the term.

Students are to start with a broad overview of the topic (i.e. Visibility/Credibility, Power and Influence, or Self-confidence) and how this relates to leadership practice. Please note the expectation is that students must refer to the competency as advocated by Goleman et al. (2013); Boyatzis (1982); Pedler et al. (2013), etc., and the specific behavioural characteristics exhibited by leaders who have developed these competencies.

3. Action Plan and Conclusion (500 - 800 words)

Develop an action plan which includes key events and activities that can be undertake over the next 6 months to acquire the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the ares that need improved (identified based on diagnostic tools).

This can include undertaking specific short courses, to develop skills (must be actual courses), a reading plan to acquire conceptual knowledge, maintaining of personal journals reflecting on communication interactions, etc.

This section must include actionable items with timelines and an indication of how you will measure successful completion.

A rubric and audio file are available on the Moodle site that provides further details and expectations regarding standards expected of Masters students.

Late penalties of 5% per day after the due date will be applied.

Research Requirements:

As Masters students you are required to engage in research as per the Australia Quality Framework (AQF) guidelines. Two specific requirements need to be considered.

1. Students need to demonstrate “a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice, and

2. Students must demonstrate "knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning”.

Each Masters unit has a number of required weekly readings in terms of academic texts, journals and business publications that represent the appropriate body of knowledge and recent developments referred to by the AQF. In order to demonstrate the ability to engage in appropriate research, students should read and utilise these texts and journals and publications. As Masters students you are expected to research beyond this minimum standard through additional texts, journals and studies to demonstrate an ability to engage in independent research.

Your attention is drawn to the University’s stated position on plagiarism. THE WORK OF OTHERS, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE ASSIGNMENT MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO ITS SOURCE (a full list of references must be submitted as part of the assessment).

Literature review  - Understanding of key terms, theories, capabilities and concepts presented with a specific focus on competency.

Diagnostic tools  - Inclusion and understanding of the diagnostic tools completed in class.

Reflection - Demonstration of self-analysis, including reflection on personal results directly linked to examples of own behaviour and relevant literature.

Development plan - Presentation of a development plan that identifies specific activities and appropriate time frames for implementation.

Research - Breadth and quality of research, using a minimum of 12 peer reviewed journal articles.

Presentation – Present in business report format  with a clear introduction, literature review, diagnostic tools, analysis of results/reflection, developmental plan, and conclusion, followed by the list of references. Correct use of APA referencing system to correctly citing academic sources.