Reflective Essay

Assessment 2 is based on material primarily covered in TB2 and consists of:
1) 800 word report (80/100 marks)
2) 200 word reflective essay to be included as an appendix to the report (20/100 marks)
Choose ONE of the following three topics for both your report and reflective essay:
A) Encouraging creativity and innovation in teams
Report Brief and Criteria

Imagine you have been appointed as a consultant to an organisation which needs to adapt to the 21st Century VUCA environment.
To assist the organisation, and focussing on your chosen topic, write a report which:
a) Includes a cover page, executive summary and table of contents.
b) Introduces the importance of organisations adapting to the VUCA environment (in the area of your chosen topic only).
c) Critically analyses how effective leadership may support organisational success (in the area of your chosen topic only).
d) Concludes by proposing a generic action plan for organisations to adapt to the VUCA environment (in the area of your chosen topic only).
e) Cites academic sources in the body of the text and lists them in the reference list at the end of the report.

Reflective Essay Brief and Criteria

In the 21st Century, organisations need to adapt to the VUCA environment. Reflect on your capability as a new graduate employee to demonstrate effective leadership to support your employer as it adapts to the VUCA environment.
Write a reflective essay which:
a) Clearly draws on and refers to your current leadership capabilities (both strengths and areas for development) as reflected on during activities from throughout the academic year.
b) Clearly sets your capabilities against organisational requirements for success (in the area of your chosen topic only).
c) Proposes feasible actions you can take now to develop your leadership capability to support organisational adaptation to the VUCA environment (in the area of your chosen topic only).
d) Cites academic sources in the body of the appendix and lists them in the reference list at the end of the report.

Assessment 2 Further Guidance

Report
? The cover page, executive summary and table of contents are NOT included in the word count, but MUST be included in the report.
? It is recommended that your report include a short introductory paragraph which introduces the topic and outlines the report structure.
? It is recommended that you critically discuss ONE opportunity and ONE challenge in relation to your chosen topic. (n.b., you will have developed an understanding of the opportunities and challenges through participation in class time during the ?leaders and teams? activity).
? It is REQUIRED that you refer to TWO theoretical approaches to leadership, at least ONE of which MUST be drawn from the four topics covered in TB2 TW2 & TW3. The OTHER approach may be chosen from among ALL leadership topics covered throughout the academic year.
? It is recommended that you briefly integrate and cite ideas appropriately from the guest change and decision making lectures (TB2 TW1 & TW4).
? It is recommended that the conclusion (i.e., the action plan) proposes TWO distinct and feasible actions which clearly derive from your discussion and which are discussed in detail.
? It is recommended that you cite a minimum of EIGHT appropriate and different academic sources in the body of the text (n.b., cited references should be listed in a reference list at the end of the report).
? The reference list is NOT included in the word count, but the in-text citations ARE included in the word count.
? There should be ONE joint reference list for the report and reflective essay combined.
? It is recommended that you use headings appropriately to structure the work and guide the reader. Headings ARE included in the word count.

Reflective Essay

? There is no need for a separate cover page, executive summary and table of contents. The reflective essay is to be included as an appendix to the report.
? It is recommended that you discuss in detail ONE area of strength and ONE area for development. It is recommended that you briefly note others.
? It is REQUIRED that you limit your discussion to the area of your chosen topic only. The choice of topics, noted in the brief above, is, once again:
i. Encourage creativity and innovation in a team you belong to; OR
ii. Support new strategic imperatives such as equality, diversity and inclusion or sustainability; OR
iii. Rework organisational design for VUCA environments.
? It is recommended that you cite a minimum of TWO appropriate and different academic sources in the body of the text (n.b., cited references should be listed in a reference list at the end of the report).
? Label the reflective essay ?Appendix 1?. Further headings are NOT required, nor are they useful in this instance.
? The reference list is NOT included in the word count, but the in-text citations ARE included in the word count.
? There should be ONE joint reference list for the report and reflective essay combined.