SPRT 356: Advanced Leadership & Organizational Behaviour

Case Study on Power and Influence (12.5%)

ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW
The purpose of this assignment is to analyze a case study and apply course content on power
and influence.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Submit your report through Blackboard prior to the deadline. Ensure your report is submitted in
a Word or PDF format (any other format will receive a score of zero).

Due: Monday February 19th by 11:59pm

ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read the document titled, “Case Study on Power and Influence” posted on Blackboard
under Assignments→ Case Study 1 (12.5%).

2. Answer the case study questions below. Make sure to provide clear rationale and reference
class content where applicable.

Case Study Questions:

I. Identify the different bases of power exercised by each of the key organizational
members at GoSports: James Park, Luc Livingston, Michael Sutton, Betty Carson,
Robert Harkin and Sarah Sutton. Note: Individuals may exercise more than one base
of power
II. Who would you identify as the most powerful individual in the case? Explain why.
III. Describe two (2) different examples of influence tactics that you see being exercised
in the case study.
IV. Which influence tactic(s) do you think James Park should use with the following
employees, and why?
a. Luc Livingston?
b. Michael Sutton?
c. Betty Carson?
d. Robert Harkin?
e. Sarah Sutton?

3. Format your report

• Double-space your document
• Use headings to organize your report in a logical manner that is easy to follow
• Add a title page, table of contents, introduction and page numbers to your report (Note:
You do not need to submit a References List for this assignment).
• Proofread your report for typos, spelling and grammatical errors
• Save your report as a Word or PDF file.
• Refer to the report writing guidelines posted on Blackboard for more details
4. Submit your report
• Submit the report through Blackboard prior to the deadline – 11:59pm on February 19th.
• Save your confirmation number from Blackboard as proof of your submission. Technical
errors without proof will not be considered.

Late Penalties
• The minimum penalty for a late submission is a 20% deduction from the grade you
earned on the report. This means that if you scored 80/100 marks on the report, the
minimum penalty for a late submission would be a deduction of 16 marks (20% of 80
marks). Your grade would then be adjusted to 64/100.
• Late penalties are applied in 24-hour cycles, up to a maximum of 72 hours. For every 24
hours that pass after the deadline (including weekends), another 20% is deducted. After
72 hours, the report is no longer eligible for marks.

See next page for assignment rubric…

MARKING SCHEME (RUBRIC)

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT MEETS EXPECTATIONS EXEMPLARY

ANALYSIS Answers to case study Answers to case study Answers to case study
questions are weak or questions are questions are clearly
12.5 marks unclear. Report reasonable but could explained and well-
demonstrates a lack of be improved with reasoned. Report
understanding of more specificity. demonstrates an
course content and an Report demonstrates a accurate understanding
insufficient level of sufficient of course content and a
critical thinking. understanding of high level of critical
course content and a thinking.
moderate level of
critical thinking and
justification for
answers.
0-4 5 – 9.5 10 – 12.5

DEDUCTIONS Report contains 4+ Report contains 2-3 Report contains 0-1

FOR WRITING spelling, grammatical spelling, grammatical spelling, grammatical or
ERRORS or typographical errors. or typographical typographical errors.
errors.
-2 -1 0

DEDUCTIONS Report does NOT Report mostly follows Report consistently

FOR follow the Report the Report Writing follows the Report
PRESENTATION Writing Guidelines. Guidelines. Report Writing Guidelines,
ERRORS Report contains 2+ contains 1 error (e.g., makes use of logical
errors such as: headings, table of headings, and is easy to
• Forgetting a title contents, follow. Report contains
page, table of introduction). 0 errors.
contents or page
numbers or
introduction;
• Missing clear
headings;
• Formatting errors
relating to margins,
line spacing or font.
-2
-1 0

TOTAL OUT OF 12.5 MARKS