Rerport on a Leader - descr.prov. ASAP12/04/26 time 14:00 GMT

Assignment Instructions (Rewritten Version)

Students are required to prepare a report analysing a leader or leaders of their choice. The report must address the following key themes:
1. The communication strategies used by the leader and how these demonstrate personal effectiveness.
2. The application of critical thinking and creativity in managing change within the organisation.
3. The ways in which the leader has fostered teamwork.
4. How the leader has promoted and maintained ethical standards.
5. The key factors contributing to the leader’s success.
6. The organisational culture under the leadership of this individual.

Where there is limited information available on a particular leader, students may choose to analyse more than one leader. However, for well-known leaders and organisations, sufficient material should typically be accessible.

Students are encouraged to select leaders from organisations that have undergone significant change. This may include transformations in organisational culture, new product development, mergers or acquisitions, restructuring, or cost-reduction initiatives. The focus should be on how leadership contributed to adapting to external challenges and ensuring organisational survival and growth.

The scope of this assignment is broad. Students may select any organisation of interest, including those from sectors such as business, sport, politics, or pharmaceuticals. The key requirement is the ability to critically analyse the selected leader using the themes outlined above, supported by relevant theory and independent research.

It is essential that the chosen leader demonstrates a clear and impactful role within the organisation. To enhance engagement, students are advised to select a leader or organisation they are genuinely interested in.

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Research Requirements

Students should utilise resources such as the Yeats Library to identify relevant academic and industry sources. Recommended materials include publications such as Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fortune, Business Week, Business Today, Inc., Business & Finance, Wired, McKinsey Quarterly, and The Economist. Industry-specific journals, business newspapers, and relevant podcasts may also be used.

A minimum of ten references must be included in the report.

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Report Structure

The report must follow a formal structure:
• Title Page: Include student name(s), ID number(s), module title, lecturer name, and submission date.
• Table of Contents: Include page numbers.
• Executive Summary (5 marks): A concise overview of the report. Although placed at the beginning, it should be written last.
• Introduction (10 marks): Provide context, including the leader chosen, organisation background, and purpose of the report.

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Main Body (60 marks)

The main body must include six clearly defined sections (headings in bold, larger font):
1. Communication strategies
2. Change management (critical thinking and creativity)
3. Teamwork
4. Ethical standards
5. Key success factors
6. Organisational culture

Each section should combine theory with real-world examples and critical analysis.

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Conclusion (10 marks)
Summarise key findings and provide an overall evaluation of the leader’s effectiveness.

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Appendices
Include any additional supporting material, such as extended data, charts, reports, or speech extracts referenced in the main body. Appendices are supplementary and not included in the word count.

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Referencing
• References: Include all sources cited within the report.
• Bibliography: Include all sources consulted during research, even if not directly cited.

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Formatting Guidelines
• Font: Times New Roman
• Size: 12 (main text), 14 bold (headings)
• Spacing: 1.5 lines
• Word count: 2500–3000 words (excluding contents, references, bibliography, and appendices)

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Presentation Requirements
• Total presentation time: 20 minutes
• Speaking time: approximately 7 minutes
• Use PowerPoint slides
• Slides should be clear and concise (avoid excessive text)
• Incorporate visuals such as videos where appropriate

The objective of the presentation is to generate interest in the report. It should act as a summary or “preview,” encouraging the audience to engage further with the full report.

Students are not required to cover all report sections in the presentation. It is acceptable to focus on one key area of interest, provided this is clearly stated at the beginning.

By this stage, students should have a strong understanding of their topic, making the presentation a straightforward task.