You have recently joined a Multinational as the “Head of People, Leadership & Strategy”. The multinational has been facing similar challenges as outlined by the World Economic Forum and the reason of your appointment is to steer
Developing Leadership and Management
(Module Code: 6HR510)
2026 Academic Year
For Derby Business School BA Business Management
(and bracketed pathways)
Assessment Brief
6HR510 Developing Leadership and Management
Key dates and details
|
Assessment Detail |
Assessment Information |
|
Assessment Type: |
Individual Report |
|
Assessment Weighting: |
100% |
|
Word count/Length: |
3000 words, +/- 10% |
|
Learning Outcomes (reminder): |
1. Critically evaluate the definition, roles and responsibilities of leadership and management in modern contexts. |
|
Assessment Detail |
Assessment Information |
|
Submission Method: |
Turnitin |
|
Submission Date |
12:00 Noon Time, 15th May 2026 |
|
Provisional Feedback Release Date: |
30th May 2026 |
Description of the assessment
The assessment comprises a scenario placed within a real business context and challenges pointed out by the World Economic Forum’s report in early 2026. This report forms the basis for the tasks that are required to be completed as part of the assignment. The assignment will be presented in an executive report format worthy of a professional working in a real business context.
Relationship to Programme Assessment Strategy
This module aligns with the programme assessment strategy. You can view its relationship to the programme learning outcomes at level 6 in the validated programme specification. You can find a copy of this in the programme information section for N200 (Bachelor or Arts (Honours) in Business Management with internal pathways) on blackboard.
This assignment is also aligned with the Derby International Business School’s vision of Digital Learning, also encouraging students to use of Generative AI, a must-have skill, in an informative and ethical manner to explore topics of interest while applying critical analysis and developing logical thinking rather than consuming AI texts descriptively. We expect that this assignment will not only help you finetune your understanding and application of leadership models but to also integrate the use of Generative AI in a more informative and ethical way in your studies and your future workplace and life.
Attributes and Skills
The table below highlights attributes and skills which will be required and/or developed through the module and its assessment. Also included is a link to Develop@Derby where you can gain support with regard to these.
|
|
Skills |
Links to useful resources |
|
☐ |
Critical thinking |
https://libguides.derby.ac.uk/critical-reading |
|
☐ |
Communication |
https://libguides.derby.ac.uk/writing-at-university |
|
☐ |
Self-direction & planning |
https://libguides.derby.ac.uk/preparing-for-study |
|
☐ |
Resilience |
https://libguides.derby.ac.uk/academic-wellbeing |
|
☐ |
Adaptability |
https://libguides.derby.ac.uk/skills |
|
☐ |
Leadership & future thinking |
https://libguides.derby.ac.uk/your-future |
Assessment Content
This assignment will enable you to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes for this module. You are required to choose any multinational, that will form the subject of your executive report.
Individual report can be used to assess the student’s knowledge and understanding of the theories, contemporary business issues facing the successful formulation and implementation of organisational strategies within real business environment. In addition, this assignment will explore the extent to which the student has a critical grasp of relevant research literature and knowledge of leadership and strategic implementation in an organisation within current worldly issues while making practical and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence.
Assignment case study scenario
Background and context
The scenario is inspired from the World Economic Forum report about the challenges leadership is currently facing in a world of transformation 2026 onwards.
World Economic Forum (2026) states that “Leadership models once built on stability and hierarchy can no longer sustain themselves in a world marked by constant transformation, accelerating change, and complex interdependencies. The widespread erosion of trust in leaders and institutions worldwide is not the cause; it is a symptom of a more profound crisis. Leadership practices have failed to evolve at the pace of reality, of crises unfolding. The structures and institutions, the assumptions and traits that have long shaped how leadership is defined and exerted, are under unprecedented pressure. Leadership models that were once built on stability and hierarchy can no longer sustain themselves in a world marked by constant transformation, increasing acceleration and complex interdependencies.”
The role
You have recently joined a Multinational as the “Head of People, Leadership & Strategy”. The multinational has been facing similar challenges as outlined by the World Economic Forum and the reason of your appointment is to steer the company in the right direction to overcome these challenges.
Your task
Now that you have joined the new Multinational, undergone necessary induction sessions and relevant training about the core values and mission of the multinational, you wish to start on your first assignment.
You are specifically asked to create an Executive Report to understand the nature of leadership within, identify the most appropriate leadership style and its relevant strategies. This Executive Report should include the following:
- An assessment of different definitions and approaches to leadership and a proposal of the best suited definition applicable to this Multinational and its challenging context as described by the World Economic Forum.
- An analysis of different leadership models can be adopted to the case of this Multinational
- A specific leadership development plan with relevant strategies applicable to this multinational
- Using a Generative AI tool of your choice (Gemini, ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing Chat, Google’s Bard) provide a ‘prompt’ request or inquiry for a 300-word AI generated summary of one of the Leadership style.
This prompt and the accompanying 300-word AI generated summary response should then be screen printed into your report. Provide your own critical review and reflection as to the strengths and limitations and any inaccuracies that may be contained within the AI generated summary of your selected academic theory, concept or framework. This review should include your comparison and contrast of the AI generated response with the theorist’s original work.
Assessment Rubric
The assignment will be marked against criteria within a marking rubric. This rubric will be explained during the introduction of the assignment. For reference purposes the rubric is available from page 7 onwards.
Anonymous Marking
Submissions in Turnitin and Blackboard
You must submit your work using your student number to identify yourself, not your name. You must not use your name in the text of the work at any point. When you submit your work in Turnitin you must submit your student number within the assignment document and in the Submission title field in Turnitin. Guidance is available showing how to do this.
Assessment Regulations
The University’s regulations, policies and procedures for students define the framework within which teaching and assessment are conducted. Please make sure you are familiar with these regulations, policies and procedures.
Formative Feedback
Assignment planning for the coursework will be covered in the 1 hour lecture and seminar sessions (practically week 4). This will include the provision of a planning document for you to develop to help you structure your work. You will have the option to show your seminar leader your planning document for formative feedback during the seminar in the following weeks.
|
|
Outstanding 90-100% |
Excellent 70-89% |
Very Good 60-69% |
Good 50-59% |
Satisfactory 40-49% |
Unsatisfactory <40% |
|
|
Knowledge Evidence that the student has:
Understood the topic area
Supported their work with relevant research and reading
|
· Detailed understanding of topic area backed up with relevant references · Research beyond scope of module materials · Draws links to other modules · No further development of answer required
|
· Wide topic knowledge from the module · Draws different concepts together effectively · Strong use of relevant theoretical models and/or research · Fully referenced with wide range of sources · Strong evidence of independent research |
· Draws together some of the key topics from the module · Some use of theoretical models and/or research to support answer · Evidence of some independent research but largely guided by references provided in the module |
· Adequate use of module topics · Some gaps in knowledge or misunderstanding of concepts · Some evidence of research and reading but may be overreliance on core textbooks/overuse of direct quotes etc. |
· Limited use of topic knowledge from the module/lack of detail · Some significant gaps in knowledge or misunderstanding · Limited or poor evidence of research and reading · Overreliance on lecture slides and notes |
· No/ very limited use of topics from the module to answer the question · No/very limited supporting literature
|
|
|
Critical Thinking Evidence that the student has:
Questioned their sources, arguments and solutions |
· Extensive critical evaluation of arguments and cited literature · Fully balanced argument |
· Researched and answered from different angles. · Questions some of the research sources used · Well balanced argument |
· Explores some alternative arguments, advantages/disadvantages, pros and cons etc. · Some evidence different approaches to answering the question are understood |
· Acknowledges a few alternative arguments to the answer e.g. advantages and disadvantages, pros and cons |
· Very limited identification of alternative arguments · Accepts reference sources at face value |
· A one sided answer with no consideration of alternative arguments |
|
|
Application Evidence that the student has:
Pulled ideas together effectively to answer the question
Provided appropriate examples where necessary/helpful
|
· Thoughtful and thorough application of knowledge, theory and research to case study/question throughout |
· Tailors information to answer the question fully/explore the case study · Illustrates answer with range of organisational examples · Links in relevant personal examples/experiences |
· Uses some appropriate organisational examples discussed during the module · Uses personal examples but may not always link this back to theory/literature · Integration of theory/research may still be disjointed |
· Examples are limited or lack relevance · Case study is mentioned but poorly integrated into the answer
|
· Lacks examples · Very limited reference to case study organisation |
· No or inappropriate use of examples · No links to case study organisation |
|
|
Evaluation Evidence that the student has:
Identified strong and relevant information to answer the question
Left out weak or unnecessary information |
· All concepts and material fully relevant to the analysis and recommendations including materials sourced from independent research
|
· All chosen ideas are relevant to the answer · Answers the question fully covering all key concepts · No evidence of ‘padding’ with irrelevant information
|
· Uses some relevant ideas · Chooses appropriate concepts and makes an attempt to answer the question · Information is mostly relevant to the question · Only minor missing elements · Minimal ‘padding’ with irrelevant information
|
· Some effort to answer the question · Some missing, weak or irrelevant elements · Links to answer are unclear in places · May ‘pad’ with irrelevant information |
· Key elements of the question remain unanswered/underdeveloped · Confused choice of concepts to answer the question · Important concepts may be difficult to pick out |
· Largely irrelevant ideas · Does not answer the que |
|