People & Organizations                                                                    

For this assignment you are required to produce an individual report (of 2,000 words max).

You will need to select one industry to research (i.e. organizations that share common characteristics, for example, energy, events, health care, technology, telecommunications and tourism) and make particular reference to two organizations within that industry.

You should make reference to relevant literature and research within your report.

Your Report will demonstrate your ability to (learning objectives):

1. Describe key aspects of individual attributes and behaviour, and their impact on team and/or organizational performance.
2. Explain the process of team formation, factors affecting team performance and cohesion, and types of teams that exist in organizations.
3. Analyze the key challenges in managing and leading sustainable businesses in a complex and global economy.
4. Assess the impact of organizational structure, culture and conflict on cohesion and performance
5. Reflect on your learning throughout this Module.
6. Apply report writing and referencing conventions.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The five assessment criteria (see A to E below) seek to measure your ability to meet the above learning objectives:

1. External Environment (word count c500 words – excluding those which feature in your Appendix):

1. Conduct a SWOT analysis of the industry that you have selected. This will be presented as an APPENDIX to the Report (a sample template will be provided) 
2. Identify at least 4 factors, one from each of the four SWOT dimensions, and discuss the potential impact that each factor may have on the industry and with reference to at least two organizations within the industry.
3. Support your discussion with examples and reference to academic literature and research.

Total marks available for A: 20

1. Management and Leadership (word count c500 words):

1. With reference to the industry selected, comment on characteristics required of managers and leaders of the future to ensure sustainability within that industry. Provide examples and make reference to academic literature and research
2. Briefly outline other variables that may influence leadership style(s) and assess their impact

 

Total marks available for B: 20

1. Organizational Structure, Culture and Conflict (word count c750 words):

1. With reference to relevant theory and models, analyze the culture of two selected organizations, from that industry.
2. Assess the impact of leadership style on communication, and also the ways in which conflict may be perceived, and resolved, within one of the selected organizations.
3. Consider how the structure of the one of the organizations is likely to impact on communication and briefly explain why?

 

Total marks available for C: 20

1. Reflection and Learning (word count c.250 words):

1. Produce a reflective statement which explores how you worked with your Seminar study group. The statement should reflect on learning from this experience and how  it has supported academic and professional development
2. This section also related to the content of the very brief Introduction and the brief Conclusion.

 

Total marks available for D: 20

1. Presentation, research and referencing:

• Evidence of research
• Considered analysis using relevant sources and theory
• Effective presentation style (e.g. format and layout) and structure (See Report Structure guidelines below)
• Appropriate use of Harvard Referencing

Total marks available for E: 20

Term:	You will need to:
Conduct	Organize and carry out
Identify	Indicate or recognize
Discuss	Identify significant features – give reasons for and against each and their implications
Comment	Give your view, supported by examples and evidence
Outline	Identify the main features only
Assess	Identify strengths and weaknesses – make a judgement based on these strengths and weaknesses.
Analyse	Examine in detail  (in order to explain and interpret it)
Explore	Examine in detail (in order to explain) – and evaluate (in this case discuss the effectiveness of way you worked as a group)
Consider	Form an opinion by looking at/assessing evidence
Demonstrate	Show (supported by reference to examples)…
Apply	Use frameworks/models for reflection to explore learning from this experience
All of the above will need to be supported by reference to theory/literature/research

Report Structure:

TITLE PAGE	Title of Report, who the report is for (Tutor), the date. NB DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME, AS YOUR WORK WILL BE MARKED ANONYMOUSLY
LIST OF CONTENTS	List all main headings and their page numbers.
INTRODUCTION	A very brief introduction – which industry has been chosen (and why), and one thing that the Student has learnt from the assignment
FINDINGS and ANALYSIS	This will include a section for each of the topic areas under investigation which addresses the points listed A) to D) above.
CONCLUSIONS (and RECOMMENDATIONS)	The brief conclusion should summarize key findings from the investigation.  Recommendations may be made based on the conclusions.
REFERENCES	Listed in alphabetical order according to author/website. Use Harvard Referencing.  As a guide, you should aim to make reference to at least 10 academic sources for this assignment.
APPENDICES	Label appendices (e.g. SWOT analysis) and ensure everything included here is mentioned in your Findings and Analysis.