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BMA6115-20 / OMO6101-20 ASSESSMENT ONE

(60% of total mark for the module; Assessment Two is the remaining 40%)

Assessment one for Leadership and Management is an individual written report outlining the key
issues that should be considered in understanding leadership. This includes explaining what is
involved in being an effective leader, and some personal reflection on the process of leading.

As a way to help you structure this these are the four specific questions for you to answer:

● What is involved in being a successful leader?

● Can good leadership be developed, and if so, how?

● What distinguishes leadership from management?

● What have you learnt about leadership from your own experiences on this module and/or
elsewhere?

You do not need to allocate equal space to each of these questions but you should provide answers
to all of them. You may decide on the exact report structure and presentation style but you must
clearly inform the reader about critical considerations in developing and practicing good leadership.

We are looking for your assignments to meet the assessment criteria (see pages 4 - 6).

In particular, please look carefully at how the assessment criterion “REFLECTION” is graded. When
providing personal reflections, you should not simply describe experiences, but try to critically reflect
on your interpretation of events and what you have learnt about leadership as a result. This is not
restricted to experiences of your own leadership, but also extends to reflection on the leadership of
others (you can use theory). Advice for structuring reflection will be provided during the module.

Please submit your report to Turnitin by 2pm (GMT) on 15th April, 2022 in either a Word or pdf file.
The Turnitin link will be under the “ASSESSMENT” tab in Moodle. You will receive your feedback
electronically. It is our policy that students will be informed of marks within 20 working days from
the deadline dates.

You have been given this time frame so that you have the opportunity to use concepts which have
been taught in the first six lectures and seminars alongside your own expected independent study.
You have also been given this time frame so that you can gradually build your assignment each week
in a way that does not clash with other Level 6 work such as a dissertation. All students are expected
to manage their own time around these commitments, and extensions will not be given when the
sole ground for the extension request is that this time has been poorly managed.

If you do have questions then you can ask the module leader.
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WORD LENGTH
3,000 Words

WORD LIMIT
10% above 3,000 words (so 3,300 words). It is the policy of the business school to not mark any work
over the +10% limit. You must indicate your word count in your work, preferably on a title page.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE WORD COUNT

The word count includes all work EXCEPT FOR the title page, contents page and reference list. You
don’t need an executive summary or abstract. Tables written by you in the body of the report are
included in the word count though.

USING CHARTS, DIAGRAMS, PICTURES, OR FIGURES

Charts, diagrams and figures may all be used wherever appropriate to the points being made. You
are not required to use them, but if you do then you are expected to reference them correctly.

REFERENCING

In-text citations and references should only be provided using the Harvard style.

SUBMISSION METHOD
You will submit your assignments electronically through Turnitin in either Word (Doc) or Pdf format.
The submission link will be created under the tab on Moodle labelled “Assessment”.

Your submission due date is Noon (Greenwich Mean Time) on Friday 15 th April 2022.
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ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
There are seven assessment criteria which the (written) assignments will be marked to. They are:

Knowledge Analysis Research

Structure and Written

Referencing
Appearance Communication

Reflection

KNOWLEDGE - Ability to explain key leadership and management concepts

ANALYSIS - Ability to critically evaluate key leadership and management concepts

RESEARCH - Amount of research and range of sources used

REFERENCING – Accuracy of Harvard referencing in the text of the report and in the reference list

STRUCTURE AND APPEARANCE – How well the report has been structured and its visual
presentation

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION - Spelling, punctuation, grammar and paragraphing.

REFLECTION - Ability to reflect on effectiveness of personal leadership/management

On the next and final two pages of this document you will find a table which explains how to achieve
the different grade brackets for each of these criteria.

FULL ASSESSMENT CRITERIA TABLE (on these next two pages)
Assessment Criteria Fail 0 - 39%
Poor Quality
KNOWLEDGE Key concepts are
misunderstood.
Ability to explain key Explanations are confusing.
leadership and The work does not meet the
management concepts assignment brief.
ANALYSIS No critical evaluation – for
example, all authors’ ideas and
Ability to critically opinions are taken at face value
evaluate key leadership and are simply described.
and management There may be some attempt at
concepts analysis, but it displays major
misunderstandings of key
concepts.
RESEARCH No or little evidence of reading.
Inappropriate sources used.
Amount of research and
range of sources used
D 40 - 49%
Pass Quality
Mostly adequate
explanations and coverage
of the key questions. Some
minor misunderstandings or
confusing explanations.
Some attempts at critical
evaluation although the
arguments may be unclear.
Some of the critical
evaluation in the work is
derived from other sources
– it is not the student’s own
thinking.
The work appears as a
collection of separate pieces
– obvious connections are
missed.
Evidence of reading from
the articles provided.
Some additional reading,
but there may be some
limitations in ability to
select appropriate material.
Little evidence of using real
life examples to illustrate
concepts.
C 50 – 59%
Fair Quality
Demonstrates a sound
grasp of all themes implied
by the key questions.
Fair understanding of the
literature read.
Evidence of critical
judgement in selecting,
ordering and analysing
content and tries to
construct a sound
argument.
The work attempts to
integrate all the key
questions as part of a
whole piece
Clear evidence of reading
from the articles provided,
and it is appropriately
used.
Additional reading is also
appropriately used.
Some evidence of using
real life examples to
illustrate concepts.
B 60 – 69%
Good Quality
Clearly explains the
concepts implied by the
key questions.
Very good understanding
of the literature read.
Clear evidence of critical
judgement in selecting,
ordering and analysing
content to construct a
sound argument which
reveals occasional insight
and/or originality.
There is a flow to the work
and discussion of all the
key questions fits together.
Clear evidence of thorough
reading from articles
provided, appropriately
used. Very good breadth
and depth of reading from
outside those sources
provided. Uses real life
examples to illustrate
concepts.
A 70 - 84%
Excellent Quality
Authoritative grasp of all the
concepts implied by the key
questions.
Excellent understanding of the
literature read; ability to digest
complex ideas and arguments.
There is clear evidence of originality
and insight and an ability to sustain
an argument based on critical
analysis and/or evaluation.
The ability to synthesise material
effectively and the potential for
skilled innovation in thinking and
practice will be evident.
As for B, but total range of research is
more extensive - from Leadership
Forums, trade press, work, TV and
newspapers.
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A+ 85 – 100%
Outstanding Quality
As of A, but authoritative
comprehension of leadership
and management concepts is
used to develop original insights.
As of A, but every argument has
been developed to an
exceptional level using a range of
appropriate materials.
As of A, but reading (which is
relevant to the assessment) far
surpasses what was
recommended to an almost
publishable quality.
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REFERENCING Major errors in referencing. A number of errors in Referencing is mostly Referencing is accurate Referencing is accurate and is skilfully Flawless referencing, used in a
referencing. accurate, assists and supports text well. and appropriately used. way which does not interfere
arguments. with the flow and appearance of
writing.

STRUCTURE AND The work is poorly organised. The structure is fairly clear. The structure is fairly clear. The structure is clear. Care The structure is very clear. The work As of A, but the assignment has
APPEARANCE The structure is confusing. The There are some problems The work is fairly well and thought has gone into is beautifully presented - real care been structured and presented
visual appearance is poor. with the visual appearance. presented. visual presentation of the and thought has gone into it. to a professional quality.
work.

WRITTEN Major improvement needed in Major improvement needed There is a number of minor There is a small number of There are barely any errors in As of A, but spelling,
COMMUNICATION more than one of the following: to be made to one of these errors in spelling, errors in spelling, spelling, grammar, punctuation and punctuation, grammar, and
spelling, grammar, punctuation 4 areas: spelling, grammar, grammar, punctuation and grammar, punctuation and paragraphing. paragraphing are flawless and
Spelling, punctuation, & paragraphing. High number of punctuation or paragraphing. paragraphing. carefully executed.
grammar and errors. paragraphing.
paragraphing

REFLECTION There is no or only a very limited The student shows very
amount of reflective writing. limited attempts to analyse
Ability to reflect on some experiences and to
effectiveness of personal consider some of: ‘What
leadership/management happened?’ ‘Why did it
happen?’ ‘What did it do to
me?’ Reflective writing may
lack depth and any
academic engagement.
The student has made fair
attempts to analyse their
experiences and has
considered much of the
following: ‘What
happened?’ ‘Why did it
happen?’ ‘What did it do
to me?’ ‘What does it
mean for me?’ The student
shows evidence of
applying module
knowledge to this.
The student has analysed As for B, AND the quality of reflection As of A, but reflection is also
their experiences and has is particularly thoughtful and structured in a way which clearly
thoughtfully considered: informed by module knowledge. The shows engagement and
‘What happened?’ ‘Why writing is convincingly authentic. authoritative consideration of
did it happen?’ ‘What did reflective theory.
it do to me?’ ‘What does it
mean for me?’ The student
has shown good evidence
of applying module
knowledge to this.