Leadership in

Organisations
Lecture 4.1: Assessments – Comp 1
Assessment Submission dates - update

Component 1 - Submission by 3rd May 23.59 in Turnitin

Component 2 - Submission by 26th June 23.59 in Turnitin

Assessment Component 1 (50%)
In his book Leadership in Organizations, Yukl (2013) conceptualises leadership by organisational
level. These levels can be viewed as a hierarchy as depicted below:

General Managerial Work Level (Yukl, 2013)

Functions Provide some
Chair, Board Director, Chief Organization examples of
Executive Officer
‘environmental
Senior Manager Group turbulence?
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Supervisor/Team Leader/Line Dyadic
Manager

With reference to each of these leadership levels, consider an organisation you have knowledge of and
analyse how the leadership has responded to today’s turbulent environments.
In your answers, please provide a brief overview of the organisation you have chosen to provide context.
Submission by 23.59 3rd May in Turnitin
 Marking grid
DISTINCTION
Presentation Effective style, neat legible
presentation; correct spelling;
grammar and punctuation
10% accurate; meaning clear and
fluid with an articulate
academic writing style.
Referencing Inclusion of appropriate and
current literature which is
accurately integrated into the
text; all citations
10% acknowledged; APA citation
method used consistently
Knowledge & Exceptionally good grasp of
understanding/ related learning outcomes;
application of evidence of learning very good
subject knowledge with clear; thorough and
original critique of case study
findings; demonstrates
knowledge of an extensive
range of literature with the
40% ability to draw on sources of
the subject and go beyond
these to new knowledge and
understanding
Analysis Evidence of an outstanding
level of critical reflection and
analysis relevant to
40% professional practice
PASS
Effective layout; neat legible
presentation; occasional
spelling errors; grammar and
punctuation are mainly
accurate; meaning coherent
and mainly fluent writing style.
Evidence of appropriate
literature, which is accurately
integrated into the text; most
sources acknowledged; APA
citation method used
consistently.
Demonstrates good knowledge
and understanding of related
learning outcomes; evidence of
learning is good; case study
findings are clearly stated and
demonstrates some ability to
link together knowledge from a
range of subject areas; some
evidence of knowledge in
leading edge developments.
Evidence of some critical
reflection and analysis relevant critical
to professional practice.
FAIL
Poor layout; untidy and difficult
to read; much incorrect
spelling; poor grammar and
punctuation; meaning unclear;
language lacks fluency.
Literature either not consulted
or is irrelevant to the case
study analysis; APA citation
method very poorly and/or not
used.
Evidence that knowledge and
understanding is incomplete or
superficial; lack of ability to link
and integrate knowledge from a
range of areas into a holistic
view of leadership; poorly
developed critique of case
study.
Insufficient level of evidence of
reflection and analysis relevant
to professional practice.
To score well: (Study Guide pps 7-10)
Presentation:
• The Presentation of the essay is worth 10% of the total mark. Please note the guidance
below to score well.
• Begin with a table of contents to provide a clear high-level overview of the essay
structure.
• Use the introduction to provide a summary of the question(s) you have been asked to
consider and provide a succinct summary of the forthcoming structure.
• Avoid long paragraphs with multiple arguments and discussions. Keep your writing
simple so that you can be understood by the reader and clearly label different sections
of your essay
• Finish with a conclusion that captures a summary of the main point within your essay
and directly answers the question(s) asked. There should be nothing new in the
conclusion.
• Check your spelling and basic grammar are correct. If in doubt ask a friend to read
your essay.
• Ensure you write no more than 2,200 words and no fewer than 1800 words.
To score well: (Study Guide pps 7-10)
Referencing:
• The referencing within your essay is worth 10% of the total mark.
• This is an academic essay and you must consult academic text books to
support your explanations and discussions of key terms and concepts. E.g.
If you state that leadership has been researched for over one hundred
years’ then you must provide evidence that backs up this claim, using
intext citations (e.g. Northouse 2019).
• Please use the APA7th referencing style that is clearly described in the
guide that you can find on moodle.
• There is no maximum number of academic sources you can use for your
essay, but if you use none, then you will be failed.
To score well: (Study Guide pps 7-10)
Knowledge and understanding: This area is worth 40% of the total essay mark,
so please take note of the following:
• Please consult academic textbooks to define and explain all the key terms in the
essay.
• Use intext citations to identify the source of your explanations, definitions,
assertions, discussions, arguments etc
• The important academic concepts for this essay are listed below and need
careful explaining and discussing using academic literature to demonstrate
your knowledge:

1. Yukl’s leadership matrix (e.g. what is it? What is its purpose? What are the advantages
and disadvantages of having a leadership matrix? Are there any limitations to its application
and use? Has any other academic considered a leadership matrix to analyse different levels of
leadership in an organisation? (see Howieson and Northouse e.g) If so, what similarities and
differences does it have?)

2. Environmental turbulence What is it? How is it defined? What explanations can you find
in the literature?
To score well: (Study Guide pps 7-10)
Analysis -This area is worth 40% of the total essay mark,and assesses how well you have
answered the question.
The question asks you to consider an organisation you have knowledge of and consider how
leadership at the different levels has responded to environmental turbulence.

• Provide no more than a paragraph to provide context on the organisation you have chosen
• Describe the environmental turbulence. There are many examples you can consider e.g.
you might refer to rising inflation: Covid 19 or new environmental regulations – It’s
completely up to you
• You must have a paragraph on each of the three leadership levels in the question
(organisation; group and dyadic) and discuss how those three levels of leadership
responded to the environmental turbulence. It’s helpful to use each of the three leadership
levels as individual sub-section headings in your essay
• Finally, consider how effective/helpful the leadership matrix itself is when you apply it to
a real organisation responding to turbulence. You may like to list some of the weaknesses
and strengths of the theory. What do you think? Is it good / helpful or does it have
limitations? If so what are they?
• End with a succinct conclusion that summaries the main points in the essay and directly
A model answer might look like this:
Introduction (10% - 200 words). This is what I am going to tell you…
e.g. In this essay, I was asked to consider an organisation and analyse how leadership at different levels has
responded to today’s turbulent environments. The essay will be divided into the following sections:
An explanation of Yukl’s (2013) leadership matrix
An explanation of what is understood by environmental turbulence
A brief overview of the organisation selected for analysis & some context highlighting the turbulence the company
experienced.
The impact on the organisation
An analysis of the response at each of the three levels
Body of Work (80% - 1600 words). This is what I am telling you…
Explain / define the leadership matrix & what is understood by market turbulence (400 words)
Describe the organisation (sector, overview etc), the turbulence experienced and the impact it had (400 words).
An analysis of the response at each level & in summary how well Yukl’s model of leadership levels worked in
practice (800 words)
Conclusion (10% - 200 words). This is what I have told you….
In summary… (nothing new).
Acid test: Should be able to understand fully from Introduction and Conclusion.
In Summary to score well:
1. Presentation is important - clear structure, start, middle and an end. Headings,
introductions, summaries and conclusions.

2. Referencing is vital. It's an academic essay so must be grounded in academic and

practitioner literature. Don’t make claims without backing them up. Students who do not
consult the literature will be penalised. Use of APA7th Style required. Consistently.

3. Knowledge and understanding is demonstrated by providing evidence of reading. All key

terms and concepts should be defined, considered and explained clearly using the
literature. Examples where appropriate help to demonstrate the student's understanding

4. Problem solving / Analysis - Just answer the question - Can the student connect the
concepts and theories (i.e. leadership at different levels in an organisation) to practice and
and draw out a critical analysis?
m.mcgregor2@napier.ac.uk

Any Questions?
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