Sunderland Business School

PGBM68 Developing Skills for Business Leadership

Module: Developing Skills for Business Leadership

Code: PGB M68 2016/17

Module: Developing Skills for Business Leadership

Mode: Individual

Code: PGB M68

Level: Masters

Assignment 1 (50%):

Group task

Individual Task: ‘Winning Hearts and Minds’ Ethical/philanthropic practice or initiative

Formative:- Slides and presentation in the class

2,500 words +/- 10% (not including appendices or references)

Assignment 2 (50%): Personal and Professional Development Plan Reflection on your personal and professional development

Formative: Develop your PDP- grid you must show this to your tutor in class.

2,000 words+/- 10% (not including appendices or references)

Title: Assignment 1: Report – ‘Winning hearts and minds’ (50% of module mark)

THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL PIECE: WORD LIMIT 2500WORDS +/-10% (NOT INCLUDING APPENDICES OR REFERENCES)

SUBMISSION: YOUR ASSIGNMENT 1 REPORT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY VIA TURN IT IN. YOU ARE ALSO TO SUPPLY 2 TYPED HARD COPIES TO ST. PETER’S LIBRARY.

This assignment covers the following skills learning outcomes, taken from the Module

K1. Their understanding of contemporary practice in the effective leading, managing and influencing of others

K2. Their reflective understanding of appropriate techniques and practices.

K3. That they are aware of the importance of relevant techniques in inter-personal relationships processes.

K4. That they understand techniques related to the practice of making sound and justifiable decision making and problem solving.

Team Ethics & Competetive Advantage

 Skills

S1. How to critically evaluate themselves and the business leadership role.

Note: In preparation for this assignment you are required to work on a group task and present your group’s findings during w/c 23rd January 2017

Title: Assignment 1: ‘Winning hearts and minds’ (50% of module mark)

Expanded title: Assignment 1: Winning hearts and minds: promoting a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative within an organisation which is operating in 2 countries.

Assignment Aims:

The aims of this assignment are to help you learn the skills, competencies and knowledge used within the module to contextualise and apply to practice. You are initially to work in a group of 4 – 6 people which will address the task below. Your group will then present a summary of its findings to other class member’s w/c 23rd January 2017 when there will be the opportunity for informal feedback from class members and tutors. You will develop your skills by doing this; no marks are given for this but it is mandatory for all students to take part. Next using your group’s findings and your own further research you are to write an individual report according to the attached criteria to then critically analyse your groups work (project) to demonstrate your own justifiable decision making. This equates to 50% of your overall mark.

Scenario

You are to imagine that you and your group have been asked as Management of Change Consultants to help them to introduce a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) endeavour in an organisation that operates in 2 different countries. Corporate Social Responsibility covers a number of areas – you are asked to focus your initiative on the higher aspects – ie ethical or philanthropic, though you need to be aware that this will have implications for the other aspects (legal and economic) . See Carroll (1991) below:

 

After attending a CSR conference and seeing a presentation given by a rival company, the Managing Director of the company is now determined that her company needs to change. She has already identified a particular ethical/ philanthropic initiative. However, she is aware that making this idea a reality is not going to be easy in her company. She has her shareholders to consider, her managers and staff in both countries – how will they accept the changes? How influential are the views of external stakeholders? As consultants you will need to devise plans that enable the change champions to win the ‘hearts and minds’ of staff working in this multi-national company (you may choose from any type of company as long as they are global/international). You must include relevant orientation to your particular specialist master’s programme e.g. HR, Marketing, etc. – you can discuss your ideas with your tutor in your seminar.

English for Academic Purpose

To reiterate – your task as a group of consultants is to devise a strategy to promote awareness for your chosen initiative and to win support amongst staff in your chosen organisation. The nature of this endeavour – what sorts of activities it will comprise and the method and timing of its implementation- is up to your group to decide!

Your group is then to present a summary of its campaign to class members and your tutor (w/c 23^rd January 2017) where informal feedback will be given from the audience. This marks the end of your group collaboration. The individual tasks must then be completed and submitted:

Tips and Advice on how to go about your group task

1. Choose 2 countries
2. Choose a type of business
3. Select an issue related to ethics or philanthropy/ charity
4. Carry out some journal research to get more ideas on CSR
5. Research different companies and see what they are doing in terms of CSR
6. Create a fictional company structure – give it a name – create an organisational chart which shows key managers/ departments for each of your 2 counties. Include the following departments: Operations; HR ; Finance; Marketing plus others you think are relevant.
7. Give key characters a ‘personality’ with their views on CSR.
8. Create a stakeholder diagram
9. Use various theories/ models to analyse barriers to change and how to overcome them
10. Create your ‘Changing minds and hearts’ campaign for the organisation to overcome any internal barriers and to promote the new CSR values.
11. Include timings (Gantt Chart) and costings.

Essay on HRM

Your Group presentation (in week commencing 23rd January 2017)

The presentation should be 15 minutes in length and all students in the group must participate.

Your slide show should consist of the following:

• The nature of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practice or initiative
• What is the purpose of your organisation?
• Why does the change need to take place?
• Indicate the extent, to which the staff in varied locations can make high level decisions,
  • How much power and influence do you advocate each countries operation has and how much at head-office?
• What type of development will be necessary to achieve results?
  • Will staff need to trained to an acceptable standard?
• Indicate the method and timing of the implementation,
  • This may help determine success or failure of the venture
• What cultural difference to you foresee?
  • How can you alleviate possible conflict or cultural miss-understanding
• Financial and economic considerations
  • This is an important consideration as it will have relevant baring on the company’s decision making

Referencing Guide

These aspects are all up to your group to decide upon and link directly to your individual assignment.

ASSESSED Individual Task: Report ( You will get your assignment 1 marks for this report)

As an individual you are to write a 2500 words report which does the following:

1. briefly outlines the organization which your group considered, and you should then show the various elements of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practice or initiative.
2. explains why your group included the elements and how you’re your group’s research, reading and references from module-related topics have influenced its decisions (you have the option to add to or disagree with your group’s findings but should make this clear).
3. evaluates from your own viewpoint, the strengths and weaknesses of the initiative. You should include both operational and behavioural aspects in your new practice or initiative and include relevant specialist orientation e.g. Marketing, HR, etc.

You will be assessed against the following criteria:

• The company background-based research relevant rationale of the issues and choices
• How you have linked your new strategy in your example to:

1. theoretical issues from the module and
2. practical issues relating to the organization.

• Ability to critically analyse own decision-making relating directly to the management of change campaign.
• Your ability to show relevant orientation to your chosen master’s subject, e.g. Marketing, HR, etc.
• Use of references and report structure

References:

Carroll, A.B. (1991) ‘The pyramid of corporate social responsibility: towards the moral management of organizational stakeholders ‘Business Horizons, July-August 1991.

Jonker, J and De Witte, M. (2006)’The Challenge of Organising and Implementing Corporate Social Responsibility’ Palgrave Macmillan, United Kingdom.

Kakabadse, A and Kakabadse, N (2007) ‘CSR in Practice: Delving Deep’ Palgrace Macmillan, United Kingdom. [Online} Available at: http://www.infusedlearning.org.uk/media/files/Journal%20article%20CSR%20and%20Moral%20Management.pdf (Accessed 3 Nov 2016).

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