Overview of assessment tasks

Each task in this assessment brief has been developed to enable you to evidence achievement of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for CMI 707: Organisational Design and Development.  Each of the assessment criteria must gain a pass outcome for you to successfully achieve the unit.

Preparation for the assessment

·         Before you begin the assessment brief please read the CMI 707 unit specifications thoroughly as only the content related to the achievement of the assessment criteria will be assessed.

·         Research the topics being assessed. Suggested reading/web resources are provided on the CMI 707 unit specification. Your tutor may signpost you to relevant resources. Additionally, you may access excellent online resources at ManagementDirect https://members.md.cmi.org.uk/.

·         If you are enrolled on the Trailblazer Apprenticeship programme you are encouraged to review the Senior Leader Master’s Degree Apprenticeship standard.

Completing the assessment brief

·         The assessment brief contains a series of tasks which are clearly referenced to the relevant assessment criteria and indicative content.

·         Refer to the Assessment Guidance Table at the end of the assessment brief which outlines the requirements for a Pass or Refer.

·         Evidence must be provided in the evidence booklet. Additional work-based evidence such as plans or documentation (which has been referred to within the main text) should be included at the end of the booklet marked ‘Work Based Evidence’. Appendices are not a requirement of this assessment brief. If appendices are included these will not be marked or moderated by the CMI.

·         Work based evidence must be accompanied by a supporting statement in the learner evidence box, to explain the link to the assessment criteria. Work based evidence (where required by the task) must not exceed SIX (6) pages. Files embedded in the booklet must not exceed 10MB.

·         The evidence booklet must be completed in a professional manner (e.g. applying business conventions for writing formal reports) and by using Microsoft Word, Rich Text Format or another compatible software programme.

·         An appropriate referencing system (such as Harvard Referencing) must be used to ensure the original source(s) of quotations or models can be verified.

·         Finally, you must sign the Learner Authenticity statement (an electronic signature is accepted).

Learner support

For information regarding policies and procedures for assessment (e.g. special assessment arrangements, learner support, appeals, complaints, certification, confidentiality, plagiarism) you should contact your tutor or Centre manager and refer to the CMI Level 7 in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice.

Organisational design and development impacts on an organisation’s ability to respond to new and emerging markets, changing work patterns, new technologies and the ability to respond to the needs and expectations of stakeholders. Ultimately, organisational design and development is critical to an organisation’s sustained success.

Assessment brief CMI 707 has been designed to enable leaders to evidence their understanding of the relationship between organisational design and development and the achievement of strategic objectives. They will understand the impact of current and emerging factors which influence the need for agile and adaptive organisations. On successful completion of this unit, leaders will be able to evidence their ability to develop a proposal for sustainable organisational design and development.

Assessment brief CMI 707 features the following assessment tasks. Further detail is provided against each assessment task within the brief.

Guideline word count

The written word, however generated and recorded, is still expected to form the majority of assessable work produced by Learners at Level 7. The amount and volume of work for this unit should be broadly comparable to a word count of 3500 - 4000 words within a margin of +/-10%. The excessive use of word count is not grounds for referral, however the CMI reserve the right to return work to the Centre for editing and resubmission by the Learner.

The following are excluded from inclusion in word count, if used and not required by the assessment brief an introduction to a job role, organisation or department, index or contents pages, headings and sub headings, diagrams, charts and graphs, reference list or bibliography, reflective statement drawn from undertaking the assessment and how this has impacted on the learner’s work.

Please see the CMI Assessment Guidance Policy for further guidance.

The aim of Task 1 is to enable leaders to evidence their understanding of organisational design and development. They will have the opportunity to critically assess the factors which influence organisational design and development and the approaches to delivering it effectively.

You are required to write a report entitled:

‘Organisational design and development’

The report must be presented in TWO (2) sections

i. The factors which influence organisational design and development

Critically assess current and emerging factors which influence organisational design and development. You should include reference to:

·         Organisational context

·         Strategic objectives

·         Legal and organisational frameworks

·         Organisational Assets (AC1.1)

ii. Approaches to organisational design and development

Critically appraise a minimum of TWO (2) approaches to organisational design and development with reference to theory. (AC1.2)

Organisational design and development has become increasingly important to the strategic leader.

The aim of Task 2 is to enable leaders to understand how to apply the principles of organisational design and development within an organisational context. Leaders will have the opportunity to develop a proposal using the principles of organisational design and development to enable the achievement of strategic objectives. In support of the proposal, leaders will consider approaches to ensure the principles of sustainable organisational design and development are embedded into organisational strategy.

For an organisation you know well or have researched, you are required to develop a proposal in a format of your choice entitled:

‘Proposal for Organisational Design and Development’

The proposal must be presented in TWO (2) sections

i. Proposal to enable the achievement of strategic objectives

You must develop a proposal using the principles of organisational design and development to enable the achievement of strategic objectives. (AC2.1)

The proposal must include:

·         Rationale for organisational design and development

·         Analysis of existing circumstances, structure and processes of the organisation

·         Organisation diagnosis

·         Objectives of the proposal

·         Timescales

·         Resource needs

·         Implementation strategy

·         Barriers and challenges, risks and opportunities

·         Stakeholder considerations

·         Communications strategy (AC2.1)

ii. Recommendations to sustain organisational design and development within organisational strategy

You must recommend a minimum of THREE (3) approaches to ensure sustainable organisational design and development are embedded within organisational strategy (AC2.2)