BIRMINGHAM CITY BUSINESS SCHOOL

POSTGRADUATE DEGREES

COURSEWORK FRONT SHEET

MODULE TITLE: Leadership Development – January start

First attempt

MODULE CODE: HRM7052

LECTURER: David A. Smith

ISSUE DATE: Monday 23rd January 2023

SUBMISSION DATE: Friday 5th May 2023 at 12:00pm (noon / midday)

HAND BACK DATE: Friday 2nd June 2023

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria specific to this

assignment:
1. Identify a range of leadership skills and suggest areas for development, underpinned by
contemporary theory, models or concepts.
2. Critically evaluate and apply different aspects of leadership and management practice to
demonstrate how these can contribute to organisational effectiveness within a global
context.
3. Critically examine and assess the contribution of leadership and management theory to
develop effective leaders.
4. Operate technology to aid management decision making from a practical perspective.

Please see detailed marking scheme on pages 5 - 6.

HRM7052 Leadership Development – January start assignment – Page 1 of 6

 Postgraduate Certificate MSc Programme
HRM7052 Leadership Development
Assessment and Guidelines

Overview
This module will provide you with an opportunity to engage and consider contemporary issues
in leadership from both UK and international perspectives and how leaders address these
within organisations. The module will enable you to develop a critical insight and outlook to
explore relevant solutions for organisational effectiveness and success. Focusing on
challenges faced by leaders and how to address these challenges is a key component of this
module. Overall, the module will enable you to develop your leadership potential, best practice
and through peer assessment gain an insight into a range of business issues that impact on
employees.

During the module, contemporary issues will be explored relative to business, leadership and
management such as power, leadership styles and tools to aid decision-making. These may
include the functions and roles of leaders, and aspects to gain more effective decision making
of managers. These areas are examined within a global framework.

The module supports the programme learning and teaching strategy by supporting the
practical development of leadership skills and reflective practice and supports you in the
achievement of the CMI professional qualification to which this module is linked.

Assessment
There are two forms of assessment that will be used during the module.
1. On a frequent basis, you will gain verbal ‘formative feedback’ from your lecturer and
peers through the teamwork tasks, which will be derived to aid your learning. This
feedback is not recorded against your student record but is to be used by you to
improve your work further.
2. Feedback for the final or ‘summative’ assessment will be the grade and feedback
gained from your individual work that you will submit at the end of the module.

Individual Summative Assessment outline

As an individual, you will electronically submit a two-section portfolio, comprising:

Section 1 (maximum word count: 1,000 words) a personal SWOT Analysis with a PDP
(Personal Development Plan) that will plan and identify your potential future leadership
development. In addition, you will include an Appendices in your Portfolio your Potential.ly
Personality report, the SMART goals you have set and the Gap Analysis you have performed
to inform your PDP. The steps to perform to support you are:

SWOT Analysis
- The Strengths and Weaknesses part of this section should be an open-minded
appraisal of your own capabilities. You may use Potential.ly or any other technique
to appraise yourself. The basic idea is that we are more effective leaders if we know
something about ourselves in different situations.
- The Opportunities and Threats part of this section be an appraisal of the leadership
environment you believe you are likely to encounter in your careers. For example,
the position of women in management, or the responsibilities of organisations in
terms of ecological issues or the responsibilities of leaders in terms of ethical
behaviour… ideally choose issues of your own. Consider where you are from, are
there cultural issues? You are encouraged to be as imaginative as possible in this
section and briefly justify the future important issues you have selected.

HRM7052 Leadership Development – January start assignment – Page 2 of 6

There is no limit for the number of words you have used in your Personal SWOT Analysis
model or your Personal Development Plan (PDP). Ensure there are extensive referenced
sentences in each of the above, as basic bullet points will not gain any marks.

From the Potential.ly Personality report you have created, derive your Personal SWOT
analysis outlined above. Once done, identify SMART goals for 2 – 3 elements you have
identified in your Personal SWOT. Finally, construct a Gap Analysis to inform and create
your Personal Development Plan. Your Potential.ly Personality report, SMART goals
and Gap Analysis should be included in an Appendix at the end of the Portfolio, as these
are assessed.

Section 2 (maximum 2,000 words): This is an individual reflection on your future individual
leadership development with reference to how contemporary challenges will impact on your
leadership style and approaches. This reflection needs to be underpinned by contemporary
literature.
- This section is essentially an essay and again the emphasis is on the quality of your
work and the extent to which you engage with literature as you consider your own
development as a leader.
- You may wish to consider the impact of globalisation on leadership today,
contemporary issues such as Climate change, Diversity and Inclusion, Artificial
Intelligence.
- This section requires you to consider your own views as well as the views of
contemporary literature and how these issues will impact on you as a leader.

- It is suggested you focus on 2 or 3 main future areas in this Section.

- This Section is an essay so the usual points should be borne in mind.

• Essays have an introduction which identifies why this is important to you and to
organisations in which you may lead in the future at whatever level.
• Essays have a main body which may identify and discuss 2-3 or main points.
• Essays have a conclusion which draws together the main points made and
conclude by making your main point.
• Essays are referenced correctly. (Please access BCU Harvard style format guide
on Moodle).
SEE THE ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR THESE PARTS ON MOODLE – WEEK 1

Final suggestions
- The assignment should be word processed and double line spaced.
- Use Arial size 11 point (this font and size) for your assignments.
- State the word count used in your documents in section 1 and 2 as stated above.
- On each sheet, ensure you have page numbers in the format ‘Page x of y’ – see the footer in
this assignment brief for an example.
- All work (in Section 1, Section 2 and the References pages) should be referenced in BCU
Harvard style format – there are hand-outs available on-line and at the Library website if you
are unsure about this.
- Do not use Wikipedia, Google, Googlebooks or Yahoo – the former is not peer assessed and
the work is unreliable, and the latter are search engines. Do not rely too heavily on Internet
sources.
- Do use contemporary academic textbooks and academic journal articles (newspapers are
not academic articles, but you can refer to contemporary events).

University Regulations
The word limit identified above is for Section 1 and Section 2. A +10% margin of tolerance will
be applied, beyond which nothing further will be marked.

This word count refers to everything in the main body of the text (including headings, citations,
quotes, lists etc.). Everything before (i.e., abstract, acknowledgements, contents, executive
summaries etc.) and after the main text (i.e., references, appendices etc.) is not included in
HRM7052 Leadership Development – January start assignment – Page 3 of 6
the word count limit. Appendices should be kept to a minimum and only contain reference
materials illustrating and supporting arguments made in the main body of the work. Any other
materials included in appendices, except where specifically required in the assessment brief,
will not be marked.

There is no fixed penalty for exceeding the word count, but students should be made aware
that the marker will not consider any work after the +10% word count tolerance has been
reached, within the allocation of marks. Students may therefore be penalised for a failure to be
concise and for failing to conclude their work within the word count specified.

Uploading the Assessment (individual Portfolio)

There are two documents to upload to Moodle for your summative assessment:
(1) An ‘Assessment Coversheet and Feedback Form’ (saved in Word format) and
(2) Your individual portfolio (comprising of the 2 sections) also saved in Word format.

Include a title page on your Individual Portfolio, including:

the name of the assessment (Individual Portfolio), your name, your student id, module name
(Leadership Development), module code (HRM7052), your lecturer, and the submission date.
Following this, you are to include -
Section 1 – Personal SWOT analysis and Personal Development Plan (PDP) plan for future
leadership development
Section 2 – Individual reflection (2,000 words) on your individual leadership development.
Appendices – Potential.ly report, SMART goals, Gap Analysis
References page (references used in Sections 1 and 2, sorted alphabetically by author
surname).

HRM7052 Leadership Development – January start assignment – Page 4 of 6


All grades are subject to amendment following internal / external moderation
0 – 39%
Fail
Criterion
1 contemporary theory, models and / or concepts
The student has not
Mark: identified personal skills for
25% development or
improvement. The student
has not demonstrated a
theoretical understanding
of the area or is not critical
or reflective.
Criterion
2 can contribute to organisational effectiveness within a global context
Mark: The student not evaluated
or applied different aspects
25% of leadership and
management practice.
Unclear identification of
how these can contribute
to the effectiveness of
organisations globally. The
student has not
demonstrated a theoretical
understanding of the area
or is not critical or
reflective.
Recommendations are not
included, relevant or
specific. No demonstration
of reflection.
40 – 49%
Fail
Identify a range of personal skills and suggest areas for development or improvement, underpinned by
The student has not
sufficiently identified
personal skills for
development or
improvement. The student
has not clearly
demonstrated a theoretical
understanding of the area
or is not critical or
reflective.
Critically evaluate and apply different aspects of leadership and management practice to demonstrate how these
The student not sufficiently
evaluated or applied
different aspects of
leadership and
management practice.
Limited identification of
how these can contribute
to the effectiveness of
organisations globally. The
student has not clearly
demonstrated a theoretical
understanding of the area
or is not critical or
reflective.
Recommendations are not
included, relevant or
specific. No demonstration
of reflection.
HRM7052 Leadership Development – January start assignment – Page 5 of 6
HRM7052 ‘Leadership Development’
Individual Portfolio – First Attempt
50 – 59%
Pass
The student has
sufficiently identified
personal skills for
development or
improvement.
Demonstrates a
theoretical understanding
of the area that is critical
and reflective.
The student has
sufficiently evaluated and
applied different aspects
of leadership and
management practice. The
student has identified how
these can contribute to the
effectiveness of
organisations globally.
Demonstrates a
theoretical understanding
of the area that is critical
and reflective.
Recommendations are
relevant and specific but
demonstrate some
reflection.
60 – 69%
Commendation
The student has
competently identified
personal skills for
development or
improvement. Clearly
demonstrates a good
theoretical understanding of
the area that is critical and
reflective.
The student has
competently evaluated and
applied different aspects of
leadership and management
practice. The student has
clearly identified how these
can contribute to the
effectiveness of
organisations globally.
Demonstrates a competent
theoretical understanding of
the area that is critical and
reflective.
Recommendations are not
only relevant and specific
but demonstrate critical
reflection.
70 – 79%
Distinction
The student has effectively
identified personal skills for
development or improvement.
There is excellent identification of
personal skills for development or
improvement. The attempt
demonstrates an excellent
theoretical understanding of the
area that is critical and reflective.
The student has made an
excellent attempt to clearly and
critically evaluate and apply
different aspects of leadership and
management practice. The student
has clearly and explicitly identified
how these can contribute to the
effectiveness of organisations
globally. Demonstrates an
excellent theoretical understanding
of the area that is critical and
reflective. Recommendations are
not only relevant and specific but
demonstrate substantial critical
reflection.
80 – 100%
Distinction
The student has made an outstanding
demonstration of clearly and explicitly
identifying personal skills for
development or improvement. Clearly
demonstrates an outstanding
theoretical understanding of the area
that is critical and reflective.
The student has made an outstanding
attempt to explicitly and critically
evaluate and apply different aspects of
leadership and management practice.
The student has clearly and explicitly
identified how these can contribute to
the effectiveness of organisations
globally. Demonstrates an outstanding
theoretical understanding of the area
that is highly critical and reflective.
Recommendations are not only
relevant and specific but demonstrate
substantial critical reflection.
Criterion
3
The student has not
Mark: examined or assessed the
contribution of leadership
25% and management theory to
develop themselves as
effective leaders.
Recommendations are not
included, relevant or
specific. No demonstration
of reflection.
Critically examine and assess the contribution of leadership and management theory to develop effective leaders
The student has not
clearly examined or
assessed the contribution
of leadership and
management theory to
develop themselves as
effective leaders.
Recommendations are not
included, relevant or
specific. No demonstration
of reflection.
The student has examined
and assessed the
contribution of leadership
and management theory
to develop themselves as
effective leaders.
Demonstrates a
theoretical understanding
of the area that is critical
and reflective.
Recommendations are
relevant and specific but
demonstrate some
reflection.
The student has clearly
examined and assessed the
contribution of leadership
and management theory to
develop themselves as
effective leaders.
Demonstrates a good
theoretical understanding of
the area that is critical and
reflective.
Recommendations are not
only relevant and specific
but demonstrate critical
reflection.
The student has clearly and
critically examined and assessed
the contribution of leadership and
management theory to develop
themselves as effective leaders.
Demonstrates an excellent
theoretical understanding of the
area that is critical and reflective.
Recommendations are not only
relevant and specific but
demonstrate substantial critical
reflection.
The student has clearly, explicitly,
critically examined and assessed the
contribution of leadership and
management theory to develop
themselves as effective leaders.
Demonstrates an excellent theoretical
understanding of the area that is
critical and reflective.
Recommendations are not only
relevant and specific but demonstrate
substantial critical reflection.

Criterion
4
The student has not
Mark: demonstrated, identified, or
not used technology to aid
25% management decision
making in the submission
of the work.
No inclusion of the
Potential.ly report, SMART
goals, Gap Analysis and /
or PDP.
From a practical perspective, use technology to aid management decision making
The student has not
sufficiently demonstrated,
identified, or used
technology to aid
management decision
making in the submission
of the work. No inclusion
or minimal use of the
Potential.ly report, SMART
goals, Gap Analysis and /
or PDP.
The student has
sufficiently demonstrated,
identified, and used
technology to aid
management decision
making in the submission
of the work. Very limited
use of the Potential.ly
report, SMART goals, Gap
Analysis and / or PDP.
The student has clearly
demonstrated, identified,
and used technology to aid
management decision
making in the submission of
the work. Limited use of the
Potential.ly report, SMART
goals and / or Gap Analysis
The student has effectively
demonstrated, identified, and used
technology to aid management
decision making in the submission
of the work. Appropriate use of the
Potential.ly report, SMART goals,
Gap Analysis and / or PDP. Some
detail included in each.
The student has made an excellent
demonstration to identify and use
technology to aid management
decision making in the submission of
the work. Extensive detail and
practical use of the Potential.ly report,
SMART goals, Gap Analysis and / or
PDP.

HRM7052 Leadership Development – January start assignment – Page 6 of 6