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 709: Strategic Management of Data and Information.  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 709 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 709 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.

The use of strategic data and information supports leaders to make complex decisions and judgements which will ultimately enable an organisation to achieve its objectives. Given the complexities of this topic, understanding how data and information can be applied strategically is an essential leadership attribute.

Assessment brief CMI 709 has been designed to enable leaders to consider the strategic management of data and information as an opportunity rather than a challenge. They will understand the strategic value and use of data and information and will evaluate strategies for its effective management. The unit culminates in the opportunity to develop a strategy to improve the use of data and information in a strategic organisational context.

Assessment brief CMI 709 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 3000 - 3500 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.

Strategic management of data and information supports leaders to make complex decisions and judgements which will ultimately enable an organisation to achieve its objectives.

The aim of Task 1a and 1b is for leaders to evidence their understanding of the strategic management of data and information and to recommend a strategy to improve the management of data and information in a strategic organisational context.

You are required to write a report entitled:

‘The strategic management of data and information’

The report must be presented in TWO (2) sections:

i.   The strategic use and value of data and information

You are required to critically discuss the strategic use and value of data and information (AC1.1)  

ii.   Responding to the challenges of managing data and information in strategic contexts

To meet the requirements of this section, you are required to:

·           Critically appraise the challenges of managing data and information in strategic contexts in relation to:

-     Approaches to how data and information is acquired, created, stored, used, shared and managed

-     Financial cost to acquiring, developing, maintaining and managing data and information

-     The risks of managing data and information

-     Governance of managing data and information (AC1.2)

·         Evaluate approaches to the effective strategic management of data and information (AC1.3)

With the amount of data and information available, it is often difficult for leaders to identify ‘good’ data.

With reference to an organisation you know well or have researched, you are required to develop a proposal entitled:

‘Strategy to improve the management of data and information in an organisational context’

You are required to recommend a strategy to improve the management of data and information in an organisational context. The strategy must include:

·           well-considered improvements to the way data is acquired, created, used, stored, managed and shared

·           the rationale for recommendations made (AC1.4)