Write an essay which displays evidence of analytical and critical skills in the area of Management Development.
Topic:‘Much of the literature provides a misleading perspective on ‘management’ and ‘managing’ so much corporate MD must be irrelevant’. How do you react to this view?
Don’t forget to include a short self- learning audit for the both assignments (see below)
The Self Learning Audit
Given the self learning ethos of this module, it is appropriate that part of the assessment should test your skills as a reflective practitioner. This should be the ‘end piece’ to both assignments. It might address issues such as:
• What skills and insights have you developed from carrying out the exercise?
• If you were doing the assignment with the benefit of hindsight, how would you do things differently?
Here we are obviously looking for honesty and depth of self insight.
The self -learning audit should not be more than one side (or 250 words) for EACH assignment. The learning audit is included in the overall word limit. The learning audit accounts for 10% of the marks.
The essay should be 1,500 words in length. This is inclusive of the self -learning audit of 250 words but excludes references, appendicesalthough these should be ‘appropriate’ and ‘selective’. You should include in the appendices only additional information that the reader needs to know.
MARKING CRITERIA FOR ESSAY
The following criteria are used for marking your essay assignment.
Literature Reviews
Although this may not be a separate section of your essay, ie: literature may be referenced throughout the script, we will be looking for evidence of :
• Good breadth of sources ( eg: perhaps some classic texts, professional tests, practitioner texts, depending on the topic)
• Wider reading beyond the textbook
• Reading from contemporary articles/seminal or ground breaking articles as well as books
• A bibliography that is focused on the topic ( but which may still include some ‘off beat’ or allusive material)
Analysis
• Depth and quality of analysis which closely addresses the question
• Use of concepts, models, ideas as a framework of analysis
• Critical argumentation
• Synthesis of description and analysis
• Insightful interpretation; sensitive inferences
• Use of evidence to support observations
Content
• Relevance and appropriateness of content
• Led by the needs of the question (nothing extraneous/ irrelevant)
• Conceptualisation
• Clear, coherent and logical line of argument
• Argument supported with referencing and with appropriate evidence ( facts, figures or examples etc)
• Description eg some contextualisation; perhaps some short anecdotes/ stories for illustration
• Evidence of broad comprehension eg: theories, concepts applied to the your interpretive structure
• Key themes identified and explored- which progress naturally
• Conclusion which is a summation of what has gone before ( no new data introduced at this stage) and ends with a clear message to the reader
Structure and Presentation
• Logical sequencing and flow eg: introduction, main body, conclusion
• Clarity of structure so that points lead on in a natural and cumulative way
• Clear organisation, perhaps with sub-headings
• May involve some discussion of definitions; identification of issues/ problems etc
• Well written; clarity of expression; good standard of English language/ grammar
• Points on themes clustered in terms of their relevance/ not scattered
• Paragraphs are linked together in a chain/ not fragmented; each paragraph adds to the meaning of the one before
• Written in the third person tense
• Use a recognised referencing system – consistently
• Proof read, spell check, grammar check; re-read your work for sense before submission (put yourself in the role of the reader)
• Include a bibliography
• Stay within the word count; declare number of words in the piece
Originality
• Provide an unusual focus to the topic, but don’t be ‘modish’ for its own sake
• Try to take a different point of view to orthodox thought (as long as you have the evidence)
• Take an unusual line, perhaps even contrarian line of argument where the material justifies it
• Reference to contemporary events; use analogies/ use personal data where appropriate
• Try to find and express a personal voice/ style
In the end writing something which is vital, expressive, coherent, concise, insightful etc is a craft skill which requires practice. It is worth really mastering this activity because it is part of what makes a manager persuasive.
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