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 714: Personal and Professional Development for Strategic Leaders.  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 714 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 714 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.

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.

Being equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to manage and lead in a variety of organisational settings is essential if an individual and their organisation are to succeed.  

Assessment brief CMI 714 has been designed to enable learners to enhance their understanding of how their personal and professional development can influence their management and leadership practice. They will reflect on the skillset and mindset to develop as a strategic leader. Vitally, they will reflect on their own personal, interpersonal and professional competencies and behaviours to lead strategically.

Assessment brief CMI 714 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.

Understanding approaches for personal and professional development can have a marked impact on the practice of strategic leaders.

The aim of Task 1 is for leaders to critically reflect on the interrelationship between the skillset and mindset to develop as a strategic leader. Leaders will critically examine the personal values and behaviours required for strategic leadership practice, and appraise the role of personal and professional development in supporting them to achieve strategic aims.

You are required to write a report entitled:

‘Approaches for personal and professional development’

The report must be presented in THREE (3) sections:

i.   The interrelationship between the skillset and mindset to develop as a strategic leader

You are required to critically reflect on the interrelationship between the skillset and mindset to develop as a strategic leader (AC1.1)

ii.   Personal values and behaviours required for strategic leadership practice

You are required to critically examine the personal values and behaviours required for strategic leadership practice (AC1.2)

iii. The impact of personal and professional development on strategic leadership

You are required to critically appraise how engagement with personal and professional development impacts on strategic leadership (AC1.3)

Self-reflection (an honest appraisal of self) is the key to identifying competencies which require ongoing personal and professional development.

The aim of Task 2 is for leaders to critically reflect on personal, interpersonal and professional competencies to lead strategically. Using this information, leaders will produce a personal and professional development plan to improve the way they lead strategically.

You are required to write a reflective account based on your own capabilities to lead strategically entitled:

‘A reflection of my personal, interpersonal and professional competencies to lead strategically’

In order to critically reflect on personal, interpersonal and professional competencies to lead strategically you must:

·       Undertake a self-audit against a professional standard or framework of your choice

·       Reflect on evidence drawn from TWO (2) or more sources of feedback on behaviours, competencies and performance (e.g. 360 review, peer review, appraisal, self-generated, reflection/self-review activities, learning diary/log, completion of an online or paper-based audit, psychometrics, self-assessed tests) (AC2.1)

You are required to produce a:

Personal and professional development plan to improve strategic leadership

The personal and professional development plan will be informed by the outcomes of Task 2A. The plan will cover a period of not less than nine (9) months but no longer than eighteen (18) months. The development plan must include:

·       Aims and objectives

·       Success criteria

·       Selected development activities/rationale for their choice

·       Timescales for completion and review of the development activity/activities

·     Reflection and review of development activity/activities (AC2.2)