Assessment Brief Newcastle Business School Module Code LD973 ✓ Solved

Assessment Brief Newcastle Business Schoolmodule Code Ld9737hr9737

Module Title: Leadership and Management

The module will be assessed by one summative assessment of 3500 words which comprises the following three components:

Part A – academic essay (1500 words) 40% of overall mark

Using a range of relevant literature (both academic and professional sources), you are required to identify and critically evaluate contemporary issues and challenges facing your target profession/industry/sector. You must:

• Provide a clear introduction to your target profession/industry/sector (e.g., a graduate development scheme, self-employment, working for your family’s business, a promotion with your current employer, etc). You should highlight if this will be in the UK, your home country or elsewhere.
• Provide an overview of the context and key characteristics of your target profession/industry/sector (e.g. labour market characteristics, opportunities for graduates, professional bodies).
• Identify key challenges and issues relating to your chosen profession/industry/sector. This may include professional body viewpoints, recent organisation case studies and published academic studies.
• You may also include a combination of challenges and issues facing the wider profession/industry/sector as well as those facing postgraduates.
• You are not required to identify a specific number of issues and challenges, these will differ depending on the profession/industry/sector in question. We are looking for evidence of critical evaluation of these issues and challenges, supported with credible academic and professional sources.
• Provide a succinct conclusion, indicating the impact of these challenges and difficulties for your target profession/industry/sector moving forward.

Part B – reflective essay (1500 words) 40% of overall mark

Drawing on the results of the toolkits you have completed throughout this module, along with other appropriate evidence, you are required to conduct a self-analysis identifying your strengths and weaknesses across a range of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills relevant to your target profession/industry/sector.

You must:

• Using the template provided – please download this from the Assessment Folder on the BB site – provide a summary of your strengths and weaknesses supported with evidence from the toolkits and other psychometric test results/other diagnostics provided to you, or that you have identified from previous work or assessment centre experience, or researched online.
• Critically evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and reflect on any patterns of behaviour you have identified. Referring back to your Section A, consider the implications of your skills, attributes and patterns of behaviour in relation to your target profession/industry/sector and the challenges they face. How ‘ready’ are you to enter into the career of your choice?

Part C – Areas for Development (500 words) 10% of overall mark

Based on your self-analysis in Section B identify three areas for development and outline briefly the specific steps that you will take to address these.

Presentation: 10% of overall mark

You must present all component parts in one document. You must use the template provided on the Blackboard site to set out your strengths and weaknesses in Part B. You must present your work to the academic standard commensurate with Level 7 and that you use APA referencing throughout.

Paper For Above Instructions

Title: Critical Evaluation of Contemporary Issues in Strategic Management

In the contemporary business environment, leadership and management play pivotal roles in delivering exceptional outcomes in varied sectors. As a budding professional aiming to make an impact in the strategic management sector, it is essential to explore the contemporary challenges we face today. The strategic management sector is primarily geared towards generating competitive advantages and facilitating operational efficiencies for organizations of different sizes. This essay critically evaluates the challenges and issues prevalent in the strategic management sector, particularly emphasizing the impact of globalization, technological advancements, and human resource management practices.

Overview of the Strategic Management Sector

The strategic management sector is defined by the comprehensive analysis and planning of organizational strategies to enhance competitiveness and profitability. In recent years, the UK labor market has reflected substantial growth in strategic management roles, primarily due to the heightened complexity of the business environment and an increasing need for firms to innovate and adapt. As organizations strive to attain competitive advantages in their respective industries, there has also been a noticeable emergence of professional bodies, such as the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), which advocate for professional development and standards in managerial practices.

Contemporary Issues and Challenges in Strategic Management

As organizations navigate through a fast-paced global marketplace, several contemporary challenges have emerged in the strategic management sector. The first significant challenge is the impact of globalization. Globalization has led to intensified competition among organizations, wherein firms are required to adopt foreign market strategies to ensure growth and sustainability. According to Porter (1986), companies that fail to adapt their strategies may experience adverse consequences, including loss of market share and declining profitability. Thus, strategic managers must develop robust global strategic frameworks that account for diverse market contexts.

The second challenge revolves around technology and innovation. The rapid advancement of technology has revolutionized operational processes, yet organizations must keep pace with technological trends to survive. Firms like Amazon and Google have illustrated extraordinary capabilities in leveraging technology to drive efficiency in operations, product development, and customer relationship management (Brynjolfsson & McAfee, 2014). Despite these opportunities, other firms struggle to incorporate technological innovations into their operational frameworks due to resource constraints, inadequate training, or lack of necessary skills among personnel (Kane et al., 2015).

Moreover, effective human resource management has emerged as a vital consideration within strategic management. Leaders are increasingly recognizing that human capital is a cornerstone of operational success (Becker & Huselid, 2006). This recognition has triggered shifts in recruitment practices, training programs, and employee engagement strategies. However, many organizations continue to face significant issues regarding talent acquisition and retention, which have been exacerbated by shifts in employee expectations and the emergence of remote working models (Gallup, 2020).

Future Implications for the Strategic Management Sector

Moving forward, the strategic management sector must recognize and address these challenges proactively to thrive in the competitive landscape. Globalization necessitates organizations to conduct thorough market research and develop responsive strategies that are tailored to specific market conditions. Furthermore, firms must prioritize innovation while maintaining agility in their operational frameworks, allowing them to remain competitive as technology evolves. Organizations should also focus on nurturing a positive organizational culture that promotes employee engagement and aligns with the strategic direction of the company.

Reflective Analysis of Personal Strengths and Weaknesses

Throughout the module, I have engaged with various self-assessment toolkits that have illuminated my areas of strengths and weaknesses in interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. Self-analysis reveals that my foremost strength lies in effective communication and collaboration, crucial traits in any strategic management context. Additionally, my analytical skills enable me to critically assess information and make data-driven decisions. However, I recognize weaknesses in public speaking and the need to enhance my networking capabilities, particularly in engaging with diverse stakeholders.

To address these weaknesses, I plan to actively participate in workshops and public speaking courses while leveraging networks facilitated by professional organizations such as the CMI. Engaging in real-world networking opportunities will enable me to practice and improve my interaction skills, fostering connections within the industry.

Areas for Development

Given my self-analysis, I have identified three primary areas for development: enhancing public speaking abilities, refining my networking skills, and improving my digital literacy. To improve my public speaking skills, I will enroll in public speaking courses that focus on presentation techniques and audience engagement strategies. Additionally, I will establish a plan to attend industry conferences and networking events, thus broadening my professional connections. Lastly, to enhance my digital literacy, I will engage in online courses focused on emerging technologies relevant to strategic management, ensuring that I remain informed about innovations and trends that impact the sector.

References

• Becker, B. E., & Huselid, M. A. (2006). High-performance work systems and firm performance: A synthesis of empirical research. Industrial Relations Research Association.
• Brynjolfsson, E., & McAfee, A. (2014). The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Gallup, Inc. (2020). State of the Global Workplace: 2020 Report.
• Kane, G. C., Palmer, D., Phillips, A. N., & Kiron, D. (2015). Strategy, not Technology, Drives Digital Transformation. MIT Sloan Management Review.
• Porter, M. E. (1986). Competition in Global Industries. Harvard Business Review Press.