OTHM LEVEL 7 DIPLOMA IN STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP | ASSIGNMENT BRIEFS

Assignment Briefs
OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic
Management and Leadership
Qualification Number: 603/2181/7 | September 2021

Revised and Reviewed – May 2023

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
Unit Reference Number R/617/5012
Unit Title Strategic Leadership
Unit Level 7
Number of Credits 20
Total Qualification Time 200 Hours
Guided Learning Hours (GLH) 100 Hours
Mandatory / Optional Mandatory
Unit Grading Structure Pass / Fail

Unit Aims

This unit provides an in-depth understanding of the key principles and practice of leadership This
will enhance the individuals’ knowledge, skills and attributes to effectively engage in the role and
responsibilities required of an effective team player and leader of a team; being proactive in
innovation and improvement to inform strategy and business planning within the organisation.

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Learning Outcomes – the Assessment Criteria – the

learner will:
1. Understand the principles,
concepts, differences, and
approaches to contemporary
leadership.
2. Understand how leadership
influences individuals, teams
and the organisation.
3. Understand the impact of
leadership on organisational
performance.
learner can:
1.1 Explain the meaning and importance of leadership.
1.2 Contrast the main approaches to the study of
leadership.
1.3 Critically evaluate the role of leadership in strategic
management.
2.1 Critically compare the relationships between leaders
of work groups, and leaders of teams.
2.2 Distinguish between the influence of leadership on
groups and teams, and on formal and informal
groups.
2.3 Critically evaluate the characteristics of an effective
work group and team.
3.1 Assess the nature of organisation effectiveness and
performance.
3.2 Critically explore the main features and
requirements of leadership development.
3.3 Provide criteria for assessing an organisations
strategic effectiveness from a leadership
perspective.
4. Understand ethical decision
making and organisational
value.
4.1 Critically explore the exercise of leadership power
and influence.
4.2 Critically review the importance of ethics,
values and corporate social responsibilities to
an organisations value.
4.3 Critically evaluate leadership and sustainability
concepts and trends.

Guidance
There is no scenario for this assignment.
You will need to prepare a case study, an essay and presentation with speaker notes to show
your understanding of strategic leadership.

Task 1 of 3 – Case Study (AC 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 4.1, 4.2 & 4.3)

Instructions:
You are required to prepare a case study about a business leader of your choice. Examples
of business leaders might include Jack Welch, Ricardo Semler, Richard Branson, Steve
Jobs, Bill Gates, Jack Ma, Dhirubhai Ambani, and Elon Musk to name but a few of many
examples.
You are advised to check with your tutor that your choice is appropriate.

You have been informed that your case study will be used for training purposes and
you should discuss theoretical perspectives supported by examples about your chosen
leader contribution to their organisation.
To develop this case study report you must apply relevant theoretical fundamentals. Relate with
real-world examples of your chosen leader and their organizational context and critically
analyze your argument.

The structure of the case study should include the following:

• Background to the organisation and the business leader with a justification of your choice.
• Explain the meaning of strategic leadership and importance to the selected organisation.
• Contrast the main approaches to the study of leadership and the approach relevant
to the organisation.
• Critically evaluate the role of the leader in developing strategy.
• Critically explore the exercise of leadership power and influence.
• Critically review the importance of ethics, values and corporate social responsibilities to
an organisations value.
• Critically evaluate leadership and sustainability concepts and trends.

Delivery and submission:

• 1x Case Study (2000 words) excluding TOC, diagrams, references and appendices
Task 2 of 3 – Essay (AC 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1)

Instructions:
Following your case study, Apply relevant theoretical fundamental, relate with real world
example of your chosen leader and their organizational context and critically analyze your
argument. You should now prepare an essay evaluating the impact of the business leader
identified in task 1, on the organisation’s performance by addressing the following:

• Assess the role of the business leader in driving organisational performance.

• Critically explore the exercise of leadership power and influence.
• Critically explore the main feature and requirements of leadership development
for competitive advantage.
• Provide the criteria for measuring for assessing an organisations strategic effectiveness
from a leadership perspective.

Delivery and submission:

• 1x Essay (2000 words) excluding TOC, diagrams, references and appendices

Task 3 of 3 – Business Presentation (AC 2.1, 2.2, 2.3)

Instructions:
You are required to prepare a presentation about teams and leadership.
The presentation should address the following:
• Critically discuss the importance of teams and team leadership in organisational
performance.
• Distinguish between workgroups and teams and the leadership thereof.
• Critically compare and contrast formal and informal groups within organisations and
within wider society.
• Critically discuss the stages of group and team development and the role of
leadership in maximising group and team performance.

Delivery and Submission:

• 1x Presentation file (including references)
• 1x Speaker notes (500 words)

Referencing:
• Each section must reflect any supporting Harvard style citations.
• A comprehensive Harvard style reference list must be included at the end of the work.

Evidence to be submitted:
• Case Study 2000 words
• Essay – 2000 words
Presentation file with speaker notes – 500 words