The Assessment Task (Provisional, subject to external examiner’s approval)
Please answer only ONE of the following questions:
1. It is now widely acknowledged that leading development is about empowering others to do
what they do best, and about making sure that all the people who are involved in the
development process are aware of the bigger picture and their roles and responsibilities within
this picture. Critically evaluate this statement in the light of the changing contexts of
leadership and discuss how these shifts are influencing contemporary understandings of
leadership theory and practice in global development.
2. Leaders who know how to create inclusive organisations that optimise the diversity of their
organisations, who accept that they do not have all the answers and are open to sharing their
concerns are in great demand. Drawing on what you have learned in this course unit and from
your independent study, provide a critical discussion on the types of leadership that could
help societies to tackle emerging wicked/complex policy issues more meaningfully, and
briefly discuss the roles that HRD practitioners can play in accelerating socio-economic and
human development in developing contexts. Your answer should be framed within a specific
regional, country, or national context.
3. The intersectional realities of ethics and emerging views of global responsibility are shaping
new paradigms for understanding leadership in the development sector. Explain critically how
ethics principles are reshaping contemporary leadership practices in development
organizations globally and explain its potential outcomes. Your analysis should draw on key
contemporary leadership theories and concepts.
4. The dynamics of the global political economy and the increasing interconnectedness of
societies pose common problems for leadership and leadership development around the world.
Explore critically the concept of ‘global leadership’ and discuss HRD strategies that could help
develop the competencies necessary to be a successful ‘global’ leader in an increasingly
changing and complex world.
5. Globalisation, transformations in information technologies and the pluralization of service
provision have transformed conventional thinking about public leadership. Drawing on what
you have learned in this course and from your independent study, explore critically the meaning
of public leadership, the challenges of public leadership and HRD capabilities needed for
effective public leadership in contemporary contexts.
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About this assignment
The subject areas and themes covered in the questions reflect the knowledge territories
underpinning HRD and Leadership in contemporary contexts, including leadership history
and context, ethics, leading change and reforms, leading self, public leadership, and emerging
trends in leading development work.
In addressing any of the essay questions, you are required to draw on a range of theoretical
models/concepts and key academic debates relevant to HRD and leadership and social
transformation in diverse geo-political contexts. It is expected that you should demonstrate
critical contemporary knowledge of the HRD, leadership and development fields in your
assignment by drawing on a wide range of academic resources, including peer-reviewed
journal articles, books, and reports published by international and regional development
intuitions such as the ILO, UN, World Bank, African Development Bank, as well as INGOs
and government agencies.
Please use contemporary academic sources, especially peer-reviewed journal articles
and avoid outdated books/articles, blogs, Wikipedia, and other unreliable internet
sources.
Where relevant, draw on case examples and make clear you are referring to a specific region/
sector as they present different leadership challenges and opportunities. You are also
encouraged where appropriate, to utilise specialist Area Journals that provide detailed
contextual critiques of a specific region/state, to enable you challenge contemporary critiques
of leadership that are often premised in western knowledge and logic.
There will be an Assignment Support Workshop organised by the Module Convenor in
March 2023 (Date TBC), details of this will be communicated nearer to the time. The
Workshop is intended to help students to refine and clarify their essay ideas. Study fellows
are highly encouraged and are expected to bring along outline and/or drafts of their individual
written essay to the Workshop.
General instructions
The paper should be written in proper narrative form. It should include an
introduction, a supporting body of information and a conclusion. The paper should be
written in your own original words and properly referenced.
Your response should be supported by examples, relevant secondary data, and
research.
Please DO NOT include your name on the coversheet or anywhere else.
The paper should include a list of references of all works cited, not a bibliography.
Sources and referencing
If you use any outside sources, please cite them using the Harvard referencing format. Please
only include works that were cited in your essay in the reference list. If you are unsure about
how to use Harvard format to cite your sources, please see the following resources provided
by the John Rylands Library which can be found here.
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Presentation and structure
Your essay must have a clear structure and presented in a professional manner, using good
standard academic English. Your work should include a title page that clearly states your
student ID, the module title and code as well as the question you have answered.
You are also expected to provide a table of contents, but abstracts are neither required nor
necessary.
You should also provide page numbers and clear sub-headings to guide your reader. All
works cited must be listed in the reference section. Please do not include works that were not
cited in your main text in the reference list.
Formatting
Assignments must be word processed: 12pt font size, with at least 1.5 line spacing in a font
type which ensures readability such as Times, Times New Roman, Palatino, Garamond,
Arial, Verdana, Calibri, Tahoma and Trebuchet. Single spacing may be used for quotations
and references.
Word limit
The essay should not exceed 3,000 words (excluding cover page, table of contents, and
references). There is +/-10% leeway either side of the word-count total. This total includes,
tables, footnotes/endnotes but not the list of references at the end of your essay.
Grading criteria1
The assessment of your assignment for this module is based on the quality of four key criteria:
research, analysis, ability to link theory and practice and structure. These marking criteria reflect the
Global Development Institute’s grading standards and students’ overall score will be consistent with
the Institute’s grade descriptor outlined in the rubric shown below:
Mark Grade Descriptor
80 % + Outstanding work in every respect. A comprehensive and complete answer that
clearly demonstrates a deep understanding of the subject and high intellectual
quality.
75-79 % Excellent work in every respect. Comprehensive and clearly demonstrates a
thorough understanding of the subject and clear intellectual quality. Indications
of originality and comprehensiveness.
70-74% Excellent work. Demonstrates a thorough and critical understanding of the
subject and clear intellectual quality.
1 Please refer to your Programme Handbook for pass criteria
