Format: Professional presentation and Executive Report.

Length: 15-20 minutes each

Weight : 30 marks in total

Due date: Students are to prepare a presentation addressing specific aspect of leadership practice. 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 the due date.

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.

• Quality of research  – Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of relevant concepts/materials through use of a minimum of 12 academic quality sources (including a minimum 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.

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 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).

The written assignment is an exploration of two (2) competencies that students can self-select from the  "Leadership" competencies examined in this unit. Students should select the competencies that they wish to develop based on self analysis and reflection, which they believe will enhance their ability to effectively lead others.

1. Visibility/Credibility
2. Power and Influence
3. Positive Outlook
4. Self-confidence
5. Ethics/Integrity 

It is important to note that the exploration is not just a review of the topics. Rather students need to identify the conceptual, behavioural and attitudinal aspects that typify leaders who have developed these competencies. The key authors associated with the input based competency movement such as Goleman, McKee, Hielregal, Salovey and Mayer, Boyatzis etc., describe the behaviours that managers who have developed this competency exhibit. This is an important aspect of the report. Students need to not only summarise the conceptual knowledge associated with the competency, but identify the specific behaviours that leaders with this competency exhibit. Furthermore students need to identify evidence that their chosen competency leads to superior performance. This information then becomes the analytical frame that is the basis for the reflective assignment and action plan.

This section should be between 2000-2500 words in length and cite a minimum of 12 quality academic sources. 

1. Clear definition and overview of the chosen leadership competencies, using the key authors such as Goleman, Boyatizis, Pedler, etc
2. A concise summary of the conceptual knowledge of the chosen competencies
3. A discussion of the behaviours exhibited by leaders who have developed these competencies
4. Identification of at least two (2) sources of evidence that leaders with these competencies are more effective or demonstrate superior performance
5. Breadth and quality of research, using a minimum of 12 academic sources
6. Correctly using the APA in text referencing system to cite academic sources

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 topic in this 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, and as Masters students, indicate a willingness to research beyond this minimum standard through additional texts, journals and studies that demonstrate an ability to engage in independent research.

A detailed rubric and audio file is available in the Assessment Folder of the Unit Moodle Site provides further information regarding this assessment.

The purpose of the assignment is to increase the student’s self-awareness by reflecting on their level of leadership capability. Students are to select ONE of the two competencies explored in the conceptual review assignment for further examination. Students are to complete at least five diagnostic tools specifically related to the chosen competency of which at least three must be specifically related to that competency and the other two being general personality tools such as the MBTI or Big 5 etc. Students must reflect on their level of competence by analysing at least one specific work-related event from within the past 12 months, using the conceptual knowledge and behaviours identified in conceptual assignment (being those exhibited by leaders who have developed this competency) as the basis of the analysis, contrasting these with the results of the diagnostic tools.

Based on the results of the self-analysis, students are to identify one learning or developmental need that will enhance their competence, and devise an action-learning contract that will address the issue. This means identifying a range of tasks, activities or learnings, that must be actionable and related to conceptual, behavioural or attitudinal competent of the chosen competency. Examples can include identifying further units at CQUniversity, short courses offered by other providers and professional bodies, reflective journals and or industry training. This section can be presented in either descriptive or in table form.

This section should be between 1500-2000 words in length and cite a minimum of 12 quality academic sources. critical leadership competency that they believe will enhance their ability to effectively lead others. 

Please note these are the minimum requirements for this assignment. Students who only submit the minimum should not expect more than a minimum grade.

To assist students indicative rubrics and audio files for the assignment are available on the Moodle site

1. Inclusion and understanding of a minimum of five relevant diagnostic tools. (Results sheet only attached as appendicies)
2. Demonstration of self-analysis, including reflection on diagnostic results directly linked to examples of own behaviour and relevant conceptual and behavioural competency literature
3. Presentation of a development plan that identifies specific activities and appropriate time-frames for implementation.
4. Breadth and quality of research, using a minimum of 12 academic sources
5. Correctly using the APA in text referencing system to cite academic sources.

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).