capstone class of leadership

Signature Assignment #1: A Leadership Project and Report (30%) choose one of three possible approaches

The capstone assignment requires a choice between three approaches to the project: 1) Leadership in Action, or a 2) Consulting Case Study, or 3) an Experiential Network (XN) project. By the end of the capstone you will complete a paper reporting on your leadership project and the overall capstone experience; assignment details are below. These projects have key components due throughout the length of the course, and weekly discussions and other instructor specified assignments.

The traditional (first) option, an action learning project, often provides the best opportunity of the three options for meaningful leadership interactions and practice and the most productive leadership practice.

You will be utilizing knowledge and skills learned over the entire Leadership program in your Capstone Project. Each of the Project options provide an opportunity for the Master’s Degree candidate to demonstrate and increase their leadership capability by applying theory and practice to a real-world (actual) project.

All of the project choices are designed to meet the course objectives:

ANALYZE Leadership Practices (ANALYZE)

· Analyze leadership theories and determine the best application to the capstone project.

· Modify the use of selected leadership theories to apply to capstone project.

· Synthesize the leadership knowledge and experience gained through the MSL program to develop a personal model of leadership.

DEVELOP as a Leader (IMPLEMENT)

· Develop insights about your own capacity to relate with others in a leadership capacity.

· Through completion of an approved project, students will demonstrate mastery of program level competencies.

Project Option 1 – Leadership in Action Project

A Leadership in Action Project is one in which the MSL candidate assumes direct responsibility and recruits and leads others to respond to a need or issue by achieving a specific goal or outcome. Examples of Leadership in Action projects will be provided. You will summarize the project and your results in a final report that strictly follows APA formatting requirements, 15-page maximum (not including addenda). The final report must include the following information, along with sections marked as headers within the report:

1. Project Goals and Impact: Provide the initial goals for your project as outlined in your original project plan. Explain what you accomplished -- the results and impact of your project. Be specific. Discuss why any initial goals were modified or not achieved.

2. Leadership Development: In this section, please provide the details of the actions you took each week to complete the project. What did you do? What leadership approaches did you use? What happened? What leadership and other skills did you practice, learn about and develop throughout this project? What noteworthy successes or issues occurred in certain leadership interactions? What new questions and new ideas about leadership in general, and about your own capacity as a leader, have you identified? What developmental goals are important for you now?

· Research: What literature was relevant to understanding the leadership and management that was necessary? What models and strategies did you use from those studied in the MSL program and independent research?

· Project Stakeholders: Although you are responsible for the project, you should recruit and engage other stakeholders. Engagement with any and all stakeholders from the organization, and those you recruited (such as your Learning Group) should be explained. Provide information about your efforts to give and receive advice and support; this information should represent your actual communications with your project stakeholders and Learning Group colleagues.

· Final Reflections: How has this project either challenged or supported your previous views of leadership? What has been your key learning?

· Bibliography: The report must conclude with a reference page listing all sources relied on in preparing your report, with APA formatting.

· Addenda: examples of important project-related communications such as agendas, slides, flyers, correspondence, surveys, advertising and public relations, or other digital or hard-copy items may be included. (You may also refer to materials of a sensitive or proprietary nature but not include them if necessary.)

Project Option 2 – Consulting Case Study: Analyze a Problem from a Leader’s Perspective

A Consulting Case (Study) Project is one in which the MSL candidate identifies an issue or challenge that an organization is currently experiencing, examines the roles of different leaders and stakeholders, researches the factors that contribute to the issue, and examines possible solutions and strategies for successful change management. You should document the case study you develop along with the case analysis in a paper that strictly follows APA formatting requirements, 12-15 pages, not including addenda. Please note you must have approval from the organization to conduct the case study and to obtain the information necessary to write the case study, conduct the analysis, and write the recommendations. The case report must include the following information:

Project Option 2, Part 1. The Consulting Case Study: The case study is a short description of a current situation facing an organization, and managers (or administrators) and employees within an organization. It explains why the case study was conducted. It must be based on field research, depict real life events, and clearly describe why leadership action and intervention is necessary. The case study section focuses on how the key stakeholders perceive the case. The case study portion of the report will include the following elements:

Title: a brief title and subtitle will indicate what the project focus is. (One page, APA format.)

Abstract: this brief summary of the project will explain the organization’s situation, why change is necessary, and what research approaches were used. (250-300 words.)

Contents: subtitles with page numbers will provide information about the structure of the case report. Background/Context: background information about the organization and issue that helps the reader see the complexity of the situation, how it developed, available options for leaders to implement change, and pros and cons (risks and rewards) of those options. Perspectives from a decision maker’s point of view will be explained.

Supporting evidence: references to information sources will be included in the Background/ Context section (interviews, organizational documents, research about similar cases and issues, etc.)

Project Option 2, Part 2. The Consulting Case Analysis is the intellectual contribution that explains the key issues in the case through the use of theory and research from your MSL studies. It then identifies alternative scenarios that may lead to reasonable solutions and provides the conceptual justification for your recommendation, using relevant reference material from CPS leadership courses and new research. The case analysis section will focus on how you, the researcher, understands the case. It will demonstrate your understanding of specific topics related to leadership and management that apply to your specific consulting case (such as leadership capability and approach, change management, strategic leadership, organizational culture, ethics, as appropriate). The case analysis will include the following elements:

Key Issues: A brief synopsis of the case, usually not exceeding one page, refocuses the reader’s attention on the key issues of the case and clearly specifies the need for change.

Methodology of the Case Study: This part of the case analysis provides justification and validation of the data used in the study; it explains why your supporting evidence is appropriate for your case.

Analysis: This outlines your conclusions about the issue(s) and explains how your research supports the way you interpret the facts of the case. It includes critical analysis that integrates field research with literature research, to inform the decision-making and recommendations that follow. The supporting evidence will be identified, APA format.

Recommendations: This evaluates the solutions that organizational leaders have discussed, and any additional solutions and strategies that you believe should be considered.

References: The analysis must include a bibliography (in APA format) of publications and documents and other sources that you used to compile your information and to analyze and prepare the case.

Appendixes – supporting documents such as interview transcripts, communications with sources within the organization, etc.

Also, a brief business-style communication addressed to your primary stakeholder or sponsor within the organization, summarizing your findings and recommendations, is required and should be included in your appendix.

Project Option 2, Part 3. Final Reflections:

How was your understanding of leadership and related subjects used in your consulting case research and analysis?

How has your consulting case research and analysis expanded your leadership knowledge and skill? (What skills did you practice? What concepts or theories did you apply? What did you learn? What would you do differently in the future, based on this project experience?)

Project Option 3 – XN Project

The Experiential Network (XN) is an initiative by Northeastern University in which graduate students work with sponsoring businesses on short-term, virtual (online) projects. XN Projects allow students to apply classroom theory to practice and grow their professional networks while contributing to a real-world business’s ability to make progress toward a specific goal. Projects are completed mostly online over a 6-12 week period, and students and sponsors work closely in an actual professional environment. Students focus on critical business decisions and work to produce desired results and solutions for their sponsors. There is an application process at (https://www.experientialnetwork.org/apply), through which the XN team can get to know you more as a student and professional, which is crucial in pairing you with a project and organization sponsor. You will receive information about applying for a possible XN Project four weeks before the semester starts. You may also email XN and inquire about available projects at [email protected].

For the XN project option, you should summarize the project and your results in a final report that follows APA formatting requirements, 15-page maximum, not including addenda. The report must include the following information, along with sections marked as headers within your report:

1. Project Goals and Impact: Explain the initial goals for your project from the project plan. How did these goals develop and change during your interactions with your sponsor? Explain the expected and the actual results and impact of your project. Be specific. Discuss why any initial goals were not achieved.

2. Leadership Development: In this section, please provide the details of the actions you took in completing the project for each week. What leadership and other skills did you practice, observe in others, learn about and develop throughout this project? How did you try to develop a successful relationship with the sponsor? What noteworthy successes or issues occurred in certain leadership interactions you conducted or participated in? What new questions and new ideas about leadership in general, and your own capacity as a leader, have you identified? What developmental goals are important for you now?

· Research: What literature was relevant to understanding the needs of the organization and your choice of intervention strategies? What model(s) did you use from assigned readings in the degree program and from your own additional research for your project?

· Project Stakeholders: Although you are responsible for the project, working with others in the organization, you may recruit additional stakeholders. Engagement with members of your Learning Group, and perhaps other trusted advisors, should be explained in your report. Provide information about your efforts to give and receive advice and support; this information should be consistent with the frequency and quality of your actual communications over the 12 weeks with your Learning Group via Group communications tools.

· Final Reflections: Reflect on your learning and leadership development through this project. How has this project either challenged or supported your previous views of leadership? What has been your key learning?

· Bibliography: The report must conclude with a reference page listing all sources, using APA format.

· Addenda: copies of important project-related communications such as agendas, slides, flyers, correspondence, surveys, advertising and public relations, or other digital or hard-copy items. (You may make reference to, but not include, materials of a sensitive or proprietary nature as necessary.)

Project Components

The following are the major components of the Capstone project and help you plan your project and move forward with instructor and peer feedback. You will find the assignment links in Blackboard Course Material.

Project Proposal (Statement) (2.5%) (due by April 12 or earlier, with grading after any recommended revisions )

You will propose one or several possible projects and evaluate them with the instructor and your Learning Group, and you will then select the best one for instructor approval. Your project statement will include the following elements: a working project title, a project description, the context for your project, your “breakthrough” goal (results that may result beyond expectations), leadership development opportunities, the research you believe will be necessary and a basic plan for action. You may use the Word template (provided) to submit your proposal.

Project Plan (5%) (due April 21 or before)

Your project plan should answer in sufficient detail the questions of who, what, when, where, how, and why concerning the project that is being attempted. Your major task is to provide a cohesive plan to guide the project’s development and to ensure that the project is well thought out to the point where any potential flaws in the project’s development are corrected or managed. You may use the Word template provided in the Course Materials section to submit your project statement. The project plan will include the following elements:

1. Summary: A introductory summary of the project and its purpose.

2. Leadership development: The opportunities this project will provide to develop and demonstrate your development as a leader. Which leadership models, concepts or tools will you practice? Observe?

3. Goals: The project goals and key milestones. Describe what will a successful result be.

4. Barriers: The barriers that you may encounter in the project and how you will overcome those barriers.

5. Project Stakeholders: In addition to internal (organization) representatives, and your learning partners, who may provide you with feedback throughout your project to ensure success? Include individuals who can directly observe your actions and give you critical feedback.

6. Research: What research will need to complete to facilitate the success of your project? What literature will you need to research to understand the needs of the organization and your choice of intervention strategies? What research will you conduct on relevant leadership models, concepts, and tools? Include at least 3-5 research sources.

7. Weekly Activities for Weeks 3-11: You MUST identify what actions you plan to take for your project each week. These activities may change (it’s likely) but an effective plan should identify weekly steps. The essence of this project is the action plan and its execution; pay particular attention to this section.

Project Status Report (5%) (due May 10)

Using a template that will be provided on BB, prepare a (1-2 page) written response about the following items and upload to the Assignments link and also post on your Learning Group discussion board to initiate dialogue:

· Period covered (Date when your work started, through the date of the status report)

· Tasks completed (What have you accomplished and achieved?)

· Issues encountered (What problems or obstacles have emerged?)

· Variance analysis (How are you managing or solving differences between planned and actual activity?)

· Future tasks /next steps (Update your Project Plan for the remainder of the semester/project)

Peer Critique (5%)

You will share a rough draft of your final Report with an assigned partner and fellow Master’s candidate about 10 days prior to the Report due date. It will not be a completed paper, but it should at least outline all the important content areas to enable useful feedback by your partner. You will share your critical feedback about the classmate’s draft within 4 days so that it can be considered by your partner and benefit his/her final report. (Draft due June 16; critique of your assigned classmate’s draft due June 20.)

Project Presentations (7.5% total)

You will discuss your project in a 5-minute presentation at the final class meeting (2.5%) and with a 5-minute video due several days earlier (5%). Use slides only as necessary to enhance the presentation and add important information. Summarize your experiences, provide information and evidence about leadership approaches used, and present your conclusions about effective leadership.

3.22.20 update

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