OTHM Level 7 Diploma Unit Strategic Leadership (R/617/5012) Assignment Brief 2026

Unit Aims

This unit provides an in-depth understanding of the key principles and practice of leadership This will enhance the individuals’ knowledge, skills and attributes to effectively engage in the role and responsibilities required of an effective team player and leader of a team; being proactive in innovation and improvement to inform strategy and business planning within the organisation.

Learning Outcomes, Assessment Criteria and Indicative Content

Assessment

To achieve a pass for this unit, learners must provide evidence to demonstrate that they have fulfilled all the learning outcomes and meet the standards specified by all assessment criteria.

Guidance

There is no scenario for this assignment.

You will need to prepare a case study, an essay and presentation with speaker notes to show your understanding of strategic leadership.

Task 1 of 3 – Case Study (AC 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 4.1, 4.2 & 4.3)

Instructions:

You are required to prepare  a  case  study  about  a  business  leader  of  your  choice.  Examples  of  business leaders might  include  Jack Welch,  Ricardo  Semler,  Richard  Branson,  Steve  Jobs,  Bill  Gates,  Jack Ma, Dhirubhai Ambani, and Elon Musk to name but a few of many examples.

You are advised to check with your tutor that your choice is appropriate.

You  have  been  informed  that  your  case  study  will  be  used  for  training  purposes  and  you  should discuss  theoretical  perspectives  supported  by  examples  about  your  chosen  leader  contribution  to their organisation.

To develop this case study report you must apply relevant theoretical fundamentals. Relate with real-world examples of your chosen leader and their organizational context and  critically analyze your argument.

The structure of the case study should include the following:

• Background to the organisation and the business leader with a justification of your choice.
• Explain the meaning of strategic leadership and importance to the selected organisation.
• Contrast the  main  approaches  to  the study of  leadership  and  the approach  relevant  to  the organisation.
• Critically evaluate the role of the leader in developing strategy.
• Critically explore the exercise of leadership power and influence.
• Critically review the importance of ethics, values and corporate social responsibilities to an organisations value.
• Critically evaluate leadership and sustainability concepts and trends.

Delivery and submission:

• 1x Case Study (2000 words) excluding TOC, diagrams, references and appendices

Task 2 of 3 – Essay (AC 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1)

Instructions:

Following your case study, Apply relevant theoretical fundamental, relate with real world example of your chosen leader and their organizational context and  critically analyze your argument. You should now prepare an essay evaluating the impact of the business leader identified in task 1, on the organisation’s performance by addressing the following:

• Assess the role of the business leader in driving organisational performance.
• Critically explore the exercise of leadership power and influence.
• Critically explore   the   main   feature   and   requirements   of   leadership   development   for competitive advantage.
• Provide the criteria for measuring for assessing an organisations strategic effectiveness from a leadership perspective.

Delivery and submission:

• 1x Essay (2000 words) excluding TOC, diagrams, references and appendices

Task 3 of 3 – Business Presentation (AC 2.1, 2.2, 2.3)

Instructions:

You are required to prepare a presentation about teams and leadership. The presentation should address the following:

• Critically discuss the importance of teams and team leadership in organisational performance.
• Distinguish between workgroups and teams and the leadership thereof.
• Critically compare  and  contrast  formal  and  informal  groups  within  organisations  and  within wider society.
• Critically discuss  the  stages  of  group  and  team  development  and  the  role  of  leadership  in maximising group and team performance.

Delivery and Submission:

• 1x Presentation file (including references) 1x Speaker notes (500 words)

Referencing:

• Each section must reflect any supporting Harvard style citations.
• A comprehensive Harvard style reference list must be included at the end of the work.

Evidence to be submitted:

• Case Study 2000 words
• Essay – 2000 words
• Presentation file with speaker notes – 500 words