Master of Business Research

COURSE:      Master of Business Administration  Master of Business Research
Unit:	Organisational Behaviour and Leadership
Unit Code:	BUS 501
Type of Assessment:	Assessment 4 – Major OB Assignment
Unit Learning Outcomes addressed:	Learning outcomes – (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) (a)  Demonstrate a critical understanding of organisational behaviour. (b)  Demonstrate an ability to synthesise and apply knowledge and understanding of contemporary theories and research on organisational behaviour to the analysis of case study and research data. (c)   Demonstrate an ability to research in depth an element of organisational behaviour, and present a coherent argument in essay form. (d)  Integrate biblical frameworks into a contemporary understanding of leadership and organisational behaviour. (e)   Apply knowledge in a critical evaluation of the organisation in light of a specific element of organisational behaviour, within an overview of organisational behaviour theory.
Criteria for Assessment:	·         Criterion 1 - Description of the organisation – (5/50) ·         Criterion 2 - Understanding of organisational behaviour concepts or theories – (10/50) ·         Criterion 3 – Organisational behaviour/leadership issue analysis – (10/50)  ·         Criterion 4 - Recommendations (20/50) ·         Criterion 5 – References and structure – (5/50)
Assessment Task:	The purpose of this assessment is to allow students take on a management perspective to analyse organisational behaviour and leadership and propose recommendations with the aim of improving the situation. This project seeks to create a case study of an organization that requires a change intervention. Students will be required to choose an organisation that they are familiar with and analyse it using relevant organisational behaviour and leadership theories or frameworks to identify areas where improvements need to be made. The organisational change project covers the following: 1.    An introduction to the organisation. 2.    Description and analysis of the organisational behaviour or leadership issue 3.    Literature review – overview of application theories to the identified issue 4.    Evaluation of possible alternative solutions required to improve the situation. 5.    Recommendations of the most suitable strategies. 6.    Conclusion
Submission Date:	Week 14 (online submission via Turnitin)
Total Mark & Weighting:	50 marks (50%)
Students are advised that any submissions past the due date without an approved extension or without approved extenuating circumstances incurs a 5% penalty per calendar day, calculated from the total mark e.g. a task marked out of 35 will incur a 1.75-mark penalty per calendar day.

General notes for assignment

Assignments should usually incorporate a formal introduction, main points and conclusion, and will be fully referenced including a reference list. 

The word count for the assessment is 3000 words (+/- 10%)

Marks will be deducted for failure to adhere to the word count

General Notes for Referencing

References are assessed for their quality. You should draw on quality academic sources, such as books, chapters from edited books, journals etc. Your textbook can be used as a reference, but not the lecturer notes. We want to see evidence that you can conduct your own research. Also, in order to help markers, determine students’ understanding of the work they cite, all in-text references (not just direct quotes) must include the specific page number/s if shown in the original.

Work that includes sources that are not properly referenced according to the “Harvard Referencing Workbook” will be penalized.

Marking Guide (Rubric):

Your assessment would be marked based on the following marking guideline.

Total marks – 50

Criteria	Mark	Fail	Pass	Credit	Distinction	High Distinction
Criterion 1 Description of the organisation	5	Below 5.0	5.0 – 6.0	6.5 – 7.0	7.5 – 8.0	8.5 and above
		Limited and incomplete description, missing many elements	Adequate description of, missing a few elements	Good and thorough description, includes all elements	Very good and thorough description, includes all elements	Exceptional and thorough description, includes all elements
Criterion 2 Understanding of organisational behaviour and leadership theories or concepts	10	Below 5.0	5.0 – 6.0	6.5 – 7.0	7.5 – 8.0	8.5 and above
		Understanding of the individual concepts or theories not demonstrated	Understanding of the individual concepts or theories is satisfactory	Understanding of the individual concepts or theories is sound	Understanding of the individual concepts or theories is detailed	Understanding of the individual concepts or theories is highly integrated
Criterion 3 Organisational behaviour/leadership issue analysis	10	Below 5.0	5.0 – 6.0	6.5 – 7.0	7.5 – 8.0	8.5 and above
		Lack of critical analysis of the organisational behaviour/leadership issue Relevant theories or concepts not applied in the analysis	Limited critical analysis of the organisational behaviour/leadership issue Limited application of the relevant theories or concepts in the analysis	Some critical analysis of the organisational behaviour/leadership issue Relevant theories or concepts have been applied in the analysis	Competent level of critical analysis of the organisational behaviour/leadership issue Relevant theories or concepts have been correctly applied in the analysis	Clear and thorough critical analysis of the organisational behaviour/leadership issue Relevant theories or concepts been adequately applied in the analysis
Criterion 4 Recommendations	20	Below 10.0	10.0 – 12.0	12.5 – 14.0	14.5 – 16.0	16.5 and above
		Limited, insufficient analysis of strategies with few and unclear recommendations	Analysis of strategies with fairly established recommendations for implementation.	Good analysis of strategies with established recommendations for implementation.	Very good analysis of strategies with established recommendations for implementation.	Exceptionally thorough analysis of strategies with clearly established recommendations for implementation.
Criterion 5 Structure and mechanics -       Coherence and organization -       APA format	5	Below 2.5	2.5 – 3.0	3.5 – 3.8	3.9 – 4.4	4.5 and above
		An unfocussed, incoherent essay, characterized by disorganization and/or missing required sections. References are inconsistent with required format; a notable number of errors present.	A somewhat focused, slightly incoherent essay, characterized by some disorganization and/or missing required sections. References are inconsistent with required format; a number of errors present.	A somewhat coherent and organized essay and including most required sections. Referencing format is adhered to throughout the essay, with some errors present.	A clear and coherent essay, organized and including all required sections. Referencing format is rigorously adhered to throughout the essay, with very few errors present.	An exceptionally clear, concise and coherent essay, critically organized and including all required sections. Referencing format is rigorously adhered to throughout the essay, with no errors present.

Solution