ASSESSMENT INSTRUCTION

BSBINN801 Lead innovative thinking and practice

Assessment Information

The assessment tasks for BSBINN801 Lead innovative thinking and practice are included in this Student Assessment Tasks booklet and outlined in the assessment plan below.

To be assessed as competent for this unit, you must complete all of the assessment tasks satisfactorily. 

Assessment Plan

Assessment Preparation

Please read through this assessment thoroughly before beginning any tasks. Ask your assessor for clarification if you have any questions at all.

When you have read and understood this unit’s assessment tasks, print out the Student Assessment Agreement. Fill it out, sign it, and hand it to your assessor, who will countersign it and then keep it on file.

Keep a copy of all of your work, as the work submitted to your assessor will not be returned to you.

Assessment appeals

If you do not agree with an assessment decision, you can make an assessment appeal as per your SMC’s assessment appeals process.

You have the right to appeal the outcome of assessment decisions if they feel they have been dealt with unfairly or have other appropriate grounds for an appeal.

Naming electronic documents

It is important that you name the documents that you create for this Assessment Task in a logical manner.

Each should include:

• Course identification code
• Assessment Task number
• Document title (if appropriate)
• Student name
• Date it was created

For example, BSBINN801 AT2.1 Innovation Review Joan Smith 20/10/19

Additional Resources

You will be provided with the following resources before you begin each Assessment Task.

Assessment Task 2.

• Innovation Review Template
• Innovation Strategy Template
• Innovation Leadership Report Template
• Business Plan
• Staff Survey Results 2019

Assessment Task 3.

• Innovative and Creative Thinking Techniques Training Outline Template

Assessment Task 4.

• Innovation Strategy Review Template
• Staff Survey Results 2019
• Staff Survey Results 2020

Assessment Instructions

Each assessment task in this booklet consists of the following:

Assessment Task Cover Sheet

This must be filled out, signed and submitted together with your assessment responses.

If you are submitting hardcopy, the Cover Sheet should be the first page of each task’s submission.

If you are submitting electronically, print out the cover sheet, fill it out and sign it, then scan this and submit the file.

The Assessment Task Cover Sheet will be returned to you with the outcome of the assessment, which will be satisfactory (S) or unsatisfactory (U). If your work has been assessed as being not satisfactory, your assessor will include written feedback in the Assessment Task Cover Sheet giving reasons why. Your assessor will also discuss this verbally with you and provide advice on re-assessment opportunities as per

your SMC’s re-assessment policy.

Depending on the task, this may include

• resubmitting incorrect answers to questions (such as short answer questions and case studies)
• resubmitting part or all of a project, depending on how the error impacts on the total outcome of the task
• redoing a role play after being provided with appropriate feedback about your performance
• being observed a second (or third time) undertaking any tasks/activities that were not satisfactorily completed the first time, after being provided with appropriate feedback.

Assessment Task Information

This gives you:

• a summary of the assessment task
• information on the resources to be used
• submission requirements
• re-submission opportunities if required

Assessment Task Instructions

These give questions to answer or tasks which are to be completed.

Your answers need to be typed up using software as indicated in the Assessment Task Instructions.

Copy and paste each task’s instructions into a new document and use this as the basis for your assessment task submission. Include this document’s header and footer.

If you are submitting electronically, give the document a file name that includes the unit identification number, the task number, your name and the date.

Checklist

This will be used by your assessor to mark your assessment. Read through this as part of your preparation before beginning the assessment task. It will give you a good idea of what your assessor will be looking for when marking your responses.

Assessment Task 1: Written Questions

Task summary

You need to answer all of the written questions correctly.

Your answers must be word processed and sent to the assessor as an email attachment. 

Required

• Access to textbooks and other learning materials
• Computer with Microsoft Office and internet access

Timing

Your assessor will advise you of the due date of this assessment.

Submit

• Answers to all questions

Assessment criteria

All questions must be answered correctly in order for you to be assessed as having completed the task satisfactorily.

Re-submission opportunities

You will be provided feedback on their performance by the Assessor. The feedback will indicate if you have satisfactorily addressed the requirements of each part of this task.

If any parts of the task are not satisfactorily completed, the assessor will explain why, and provide you written feedback along with guidance on what you must undertake to demonstrate satisfactory performance. Re-assessment attempt(s) will be arranged at a later time and date.

You have the right to appeal the outcome of assessment decisions if you feel that you have been dealt with unfairly or have other appropriate grounds for an appeal.

You are encouraged to consult with the assessor prior to attempting this task if you do not understand any part of this task or if you have any learning issues or needs that may hinder you when attempting any part of the assessment.

Written answer question guidance

The following written questions use a range of “instructional words” such as “identify” or “explain”, which tell you how you should answer the question. Use the definitions below to assist you to provide the type of response expected.

Note that the following guidance is the minimum level of response required.

Analyse – when a question asks you to analyse something, you should do so in detail, and identify important points and key features. Generally, you are expected to write a response one or two paragraphs long.

Compare – when a question asks you to compare something, you will need to show how two or more things are similar, ensuring that you also indicate the relevance of the consequences. Generally, you are expected to write a response one or two paragraphs long.

Contrast – when a question asks you to contrast something, you will need to show how two or more things are different, ensuring you indicate the relevance or the consequences. Generally, you are expected to write a response one or two paragraphs long.

Discuss – when a question asks you to discuss something, you are required to point out important issues or features and express some form of critical judgement. Generally, you are expected to write a response one or two paragraphs long.

Describe – when a question asks you to describe something, you should state the most noticeable qualities or features. Generally, you are expected to write a response two or three sentences long.

Evaluate – when a question asks you to evaluate something, you should put forward arguments for and against something. Generally, you are expected to write a response one or two paragraphs long.

Examine – when a question asks you to examine something, this is similar to “analyse”, where you should provide a detailed response with key points and features and provide critical analysis. Generally, you are expected to write a response one or two paragraphs long.

Explain – when a question asks you to explain something, you should make clear how or why something happened or the way it is. Generally, you are expected to write a response two or three sentences long.

Identify – when a question asks you to identify something, this means that you are asked to briefly describe the required information. Generally, you are expected to write a response two or three sentences long.

List – when a question asks you to list something, this means that you are asked to briefly state information in a list format.

Outline – when a question asks you to outline something, this means giving only the main points, Generally, you are expected to write a response a few sentences long.

Summarise – when a question asks you to summarise something, this means (like “outline”) only giving the main points. Generally, you are expected to write a response a few sentences long.

Assessment Task 1 Instructions

Provide answers to all of the questions below:

1. There are many theories and schools of thought on innovation. Choose at least one past and one current theory. Compare and contrast these theories and the associated thinking behind these theories.

2. Choose one of the theories of innovation and associated thinking you wrote about in the previous question and explain its practical application in a workplace setting.

3. Identify and describe a creativity theory and associated thinking. Explain its practical application in a workplace setting.

4. Identify three examples of leadership styles and discuss the impact on innovation, specifically whether the style of innovation encourages or inhibits innovation within an organisation.

5. Identify and describe two types of organisational structure and explain each structure’s impact on innovation within the company.

6. Explain how the industry within which a company is situated can impact on innovation.

7. Analyse the impact of organisational culture and attitude to risk on innovation.

8. Analyse the impact of competition and government regulation on innovation.

9. Outline two risks associated with innovation and strategies that can be used to identify, assess and manage each of these risks.

10. Explain the difference between an innovation driver and an innovation enabler and provide two examples of each.

11. Describe three mechanisms within an organisation that support innovative practices. The mechanisms you describe should include examples relevant to the organisational system as a whole and specific procedure.

12. Identify three typical challenges and barriers to innovation that an organisation can experience. Discuss each challenge and barrier and for each a strategy that can be used to overcome them.

Assessment Task 2: Innovation promotion project

Task summary

You are required to write an innovation review for a case study organisation and then develop an innovation strategy. You are also required to meet with staff to discuss their innovation strategy and use relevant tools and techniques to generate ideas and creative thinking relevant to the innovation strategy. 

This assessment is to be completed in the simulated work environment in the SMC.

Required

• Access to textbooks and other learning materials
• Computer with Microsoft Office and internet access
• Whiteboard
• Business Plan
• Staff Survey Results 2019
• Innovation Review Template
• Innovation Strategy Template
• Innovation Leadership Report Template
• Meeting space and participants
• Whiteboard and markers to write up ideas

Timing

Your assessor will advise you of the due date of these submissions.

Submit

• Email with Innovation Review attached
• Email with Innovation Strategy and Innovation Strategy Presentation attached.
• Email with Updated Innovation Strategy attached.
• Email with Innovation Leadership Report attached.

Assessment criteria

For your performance to be deemed satisfactory in this assessment task, you must satisfactorily address all of the assessment criteria. If part of this task is not satisfactorily completed, you will be asked to complete further assessment to demonstrate competence.

Re-submission opportunities

You will be provided feedback on their performance by the Assessor. The feedback will indicate if you have satisfactorily addressed the requirements of each part of this task.

If any parts of the task are not satisfactorily completed, the assessor will explain why, and provide you written feedback along with guidance on what you must undertake to demonstrate satisfactory performance. Re-assessment attempt(s) will be arranged at a later time and date.

You have the right to appeal the outcome of assessment decisions if you feel that you have been dealt with unfairly or have other appropriate grounds for an appeal.

You are encouraged to consult with the assessor prior to attempting this task if you do not understand any part of this task or if you have any learning issues or needs that may hinder you when attempting any part of the assessment.

Assessment Task 2 Instructions

Carefully read the following:

King Edward VII College has been operating since 2010. The College is based in Melbourne CBD and has an additional campus in Sydney. The College offers a range of courses in management, marketing, human resources and international business. It currently has 195 students enrolled across all of its courses and both campuses. Courses are offered at all levels, from Certificate II to Graduate Diploma.

King Edward VII College is very popular due to its competitive pricing structure, innovative teaching methods and state of the art facilities.

The College currently employs 25 staff members that include the CEO, a Sales and Marketing Manager and Sales and Marketing Assistant, Promotions Officer, Human Resources Manager, Operations Manager, Administration Manager, Office Assistant, Receptionist, Academic Manager, Student Services Officer and approximately 14 trainers and assessors. There is also a Board of Directors consisting of the four owners of the company.

You are the Operations Manager at the College and, following a recent short course on workplace innovation, you spoke to the Management Team about encouraging innovation within the College. They have given their full support to your efforts.

The CEO has asked you to write a commence a process of encouraging and implementing innovation within the organisation by completing an innovation review. Despite the College’s healthy enrolment levels, management is aware that they must be prepared to adapt to new trends and ideas. Supporting and encouraging innovation is accepted as being integral to this.

Complete the following activities:

1. Develop an innovation review.

You are required to conduct research and then develop an Innovation Review report as part of the first steps towards introducing innovative thinking and practice at King Edward VII College. You are required to carefully review the case study information, Business Plan and the results of a recent staff survey for 2019 before you commence. Your report will be 4 to 5 pages long approximately.

Your review report should address:

• Analysis of the current trends that shape the company’s current and future thinking and practice regarding innovation. This should include both internal and external environment trends.
• An evaluation of the culture of the organisation and its ability to foster individual and organisation innovative thinking and creativity. This should also include an evaluation of the current resources that are available to ensure innovation occurs.
• The range of techniques and tools that can be used to generate new ideas and creative thinking and that promote both personal and team innovation. You should identify and describe at least four.
• Identification and evaluation of barriers and risks associated with introducing and maintaining innovation in an organisation and strategies that could be used to address these.
• Analysis of specific conditions in workplaces that facilitate innovation. Assess how these conditions impact on individual and organisation-wide innovative thinking and creativity.
• Review of innovation drivers and enablers in a workplace.
• An assessment of the requirements that you consider necessary in order to make innovation an integral and sustainable part of King Edward VII College activities.
• An outline of processes that could be established in the College that would ensure that knowledge, ideas and practices are shared with staff and that all staff have the opportunity to contribute to innovative thinking and practices.
• Outline potential innovative processes and practices and products/services that could be adopted. These should also include strategies to foster a workplace culture of innovation.
• Assessment of the most effective leadership style that will contribute to positive innovative thinking and practice. Include a reflection of how you could develop your own leadership style to model this.

Use the Innovation Review Template to guide your work.

2. Send an email to the CEO (your assessor).

The text of the email should be in grammatically correct English, written in an appropriate (polite, business-like) style.

It should introduce and summarise the contents of the attachment and seek their feedback.

Attach your Innovation Review to the email.

3. Develop an innovation strategy

As per the communication from the CEO, you are now required to develop an innovation strategy to be brainstormed at a meeting with the staff as part of implementing innovation within the organisation and fostering a culture of innovation.

It will also be an opportunity to use the tools and techniques you researched in Assessment Task 1 to generate new ideas and thinking, as well as to promote innovation within the organisation.

At the meeting, you will also be expected to use inclusive and collaborative techniques to communicate, negotiate and consult effectively with the staff. Therefore, you should also research such techniques that you will then demonstrate at the meeting. Bear in mind that staff at the meeting may not agree with all of your actions so you will need to negotiate these.

Develop your innovation strategy using the Innovation Strategy Template. 

Your strategy should include:

• Overall vision and objectives for innovation, including ensuring innovation is an integral part of the organisation’s activities.
• Recommended innovative practices, processes and products/services for the College
• Mechanisms at both the organisation system and processes level that can be implemented to achieve innovation, including resource requirements, timelines and responsibilities.
• Communication and consultation processes that can be used to foster innovation, including knowledge transfer and ongoing awareness in relation to innovation and capturing information.
• Key performance indicators to measure adoption of innovation.

Make sure you have identified techniques and tools that you will use to generate new ideas and thinking relating to showcasing the innovation strategy to staff.

Prepare any supporting resources you will use.

4. Create a presentation.

Using PowerPoint (or another presentation program), create a presentation that will support the meeting that you will be conducting.

The presentation you develop should include all of the content that you have planned in your innovation strategy, including its key points and activities.

You should include notes in the slides to support you when you are delivering the session.

Save this file as Innovation Strategy Presentation.

5. Send an email to the CEO (your assessor).

The text of the email should be in grammatically correct English, written in an appropriate (polite, business-like) style.

It should introduce and summarise the contents of the attachment and seek their feedback and approval to proceed to the meeting.

The email text should also describe the tools and techniques that the you intend to use at the meeting to discuss the innovation strategy.

Attach your Innovation Strategy and Innovation Strategy Presentation to the email.

6. Conduct a meeting to discuss your Innovation Strategy.

You are required to conduct a meeting with the company’s Management Team about the Innovation Strategy that you have developed.

Your assessor will organise 2 students in the role of staff to attend the presentation.

Conduct the meeting using the presentation you have developed, discussing each issue fully with the meeting participants.

Prior to delivering the presentation, make sure that you practice your delivery, so you are well prepared. You will be assessed on your presentation technique as well as the content of your presentation.

Use the whiteboard to record the contributions from all of the meeting’s participants.

When the meeting has concluded, take a photo of what is on the whiteboard to use in the next activity.

During the meeting, you are required to use the tools and techniques to generate ideas and thinking, as well as demonstrate effective communication skills including:

• Speaking clearly and concisely using language and vocabulary that your audience can easily understand
• Using non-verbal communication to assist with understanding
• Asking questions to identify required information
• Responding to questions as required
• Using active listening techniques to confirm understanding

You are also required to conduct the meeting using a personal leadership style that models positive innovative thinking and practice as you set out in your Innovation Review Report.

During the meeting you should use inclusive and collaborative techniques to communicate, negotiate and consult effectively with the staff. 

At the conclusion of the meeting, you are to hold a short discussion with the other meeting participants. You should ask them about the way that you led the meeting, and whether that style that you used displayed positive modelling and was supportive of innovation.

Take notes on their feedback to use in the next activity.

7. Update the innovation strategy

Following the meeting, update your innovation strategy to reflect ideas raised at the meeting.

Save this version of the document as Updated Innovation Strategy.

8. Write an innovation leadership report.

Following the meeting, you are required to write a report (between 1 and 2 pages) on your personal leadership style.

Your report should include:

• A review of your leadership style and practice during the meeting in relation to modelling and supporting innovation. This should include the feedback you were given, as well as your own reflections on this.
• An evaluation of how you will refine your leadership approach based on feedback and your own reflections on this.

Use the Innovation Leadership Report Template to guide your work.

9. Send an email to the CEO (your assessor).

The text of the email should be in grammatically correct English, written in an appropriate (polite, business-like) style.

It should introduce and summarise the contents of the attachment and seek their feedback and authorisation.

Attach your Updated Innovation Strategy and Innovation Leadership Report to the email.

Assessment Task 3: Innovation training project

Task summary

Students are required to develop and conduct training for staff to foster innovation.

This assessment is to be completed in the simulated work environment in the SMC.

Required

• Access to textbooks and other learning materials
• Computer with Microsoft Office and internet access
• Innovative Thinking and Creative Techniques Training Outline Template
• Meeting space and participants
• Projector

Timing

Your assessor will advise you of the due date of these submissions.

Submit

• Email with the following attached:
• Innovative and Creative Thinking Training Outline
• Innovation Training Presentation

Assessment criteria

For your performance to be deemed satisfactory in this assessment task, you must satisfactorily address all of the assessment criteria. If part of this task is not satisfactorily completed, you will be asked to complete further assessment to demonstrate competence.

Re-submission opportunities

You will be provided feedback on their performance by the Assessor. The feedback will indicate if you have satisfactorily addressed the requirements of each part of this task.

If any parts of the task are not satisfactorily completed, the assessor will explain why, and provide you written feedback along with guidance on what you must undertake to demonstrate satisfactory performance. Re-assessment attempt(s) will be arranged at a later time and date.

You have the right to appeal the outcome of assessment decisions if you feel that you have been dealt with unfairly or have other appropriate grounds for an appeal.

You are encouraged to consult with the assessor prior to attempting this task if you do not understand any part of this task or if you have any learning issues or needs that may hinder you when attempting any part of the assessment.

Assessment Task 3 Instructions

Carefully read the following:

The Senior Management Team of King Edward VII College has analysed and discussed your Innovation Strategy and decided to prioritise training for staff on developing innovative and creative thinking techniques.

They would like you to design, develop and deliver a training session for staff on developing and using innovative and creative thinking techniques.

If the training is successful, this will also be rolled out to students as a cutting-edge service to assist students in their studies and future career.

Complete the following activities:

1. Develop a training session on developing and using innovative and creative thinking techniques.

One of the organisational learning strategies that has been adopted and prioritised by the company is teaching staff about innovative and creativity thinking techniques. It is considered to be an important part of fostering a workplace culture of innovation and managing risks associated with innovation.

It is felt that by helping employees develop these skills, it will be possible to stimulate greater innovation within the organisation.

You are required to research and then design a training session (of approximately 2 hours) for staff on innovative and creative thinking techniques.

Use your own innovation and creative thinking skills to their full to design and develop this training session for staff. You will need to provide staff with information about innovative and creative thinking techniques, as well as coordinating activities that give them some practice in applying them.

Use the Innovative and Creative Thinking Training Outline Template to provide an outline of the session.

In the next activity you will be required to develop a supporting PowerPoint presentation to deliver the training, so include that in your outline.

2. Create a presentation.

Using PowerPoint (or another presentation program), create a presentation that will support the staff training that you will be giving.

The presentation you develop should include all of the content that you have planned in your Training Outline, including key points and activities.

You should include notes in the slides to support you when you are delivering the session.

Save this file as Innovation Training Presentation.

3. Send an email to your assessor.

The text of the email should be in grammatically correct English, written in an appropriate (polite, business-like) style.

It should introduce and summarise the contents of the attachment and seek their feedback.

The text should ask for the place, date and time that you can conduct the staff training.

Attach your Innovative and Creative Thinking Training Outline and Innovation Training Presentation to the email.

4. Deliver training on innovative and creative thinking techniques

You are required to deliver your session on innovative and creative thinking techniques to the staff.

Your assessor will organise 2 students who will roleplay staff attending the presentation.

Deliver the training using the session outline you have developed, as well as the training aids.

Prior to delivering the presentation, make sure that you practice your delivery, so you are well prepared. You will be assessed on your presentation technique as well as the content of your presentation.

During the training session, you are required to demonstrate effective communication skills including:

• Speaking clearly and concisely using language and vocabulary that your audience can easily understand
• Using non-verbal communication to assist with understanding
• Asking questions to identify required information
• Responding to questions as required
• Using active listening techniques to confirm understanding

During the session, you will also be required to demonstrate your personal leadership approach to foster innovation that you demonstrated during the meeting in Assessment Task 2.

Assessment Task 4: Innovation performance evaluation

Task summary

Students are required to reflect on innovation performance for the case study organisation.

This assessment is to be completed in the simulated work environment in the SMC.

Required

• Access to textbooks and other learning materials
• Computer with Microsoft Office and internet access
• Innovation Strategy Review Template
• Staff Survey Results 2019 (also reviewed in Assessment Task 2)
• Staff Survey Results 2020

Timing

Your assessor will advise you of the due date of these submissions.

Submit

• Email with Innovation Strategy Review attached.

Assessment criteria

For your performance to be deemed satisfactory in this assessment task, you must satisfactorily address all of the assessment criteria. If part of this task is not satisfactorily completed, you will be asked to complete further assessment to demonstrate competence.

Re-submission opportunities

You will be provided feedback on their performance by the Assessor. The feedback will indicate if you have satisfactorily addressed the requirements of each part of this task.

If any parts of the task are not satisfactorily completed, the assessor will explain why, and provide you written feedback along with guidance on what you must undertake to demonstrate satisfactory performance. Re-assessment attempt(s) will be arranged at a later time and date.

You have the right to appeal the outcome of assessment decisions if you feel that you have been dealt with unfairly or have other appropriate grounds for an appeal.

You are encouraged to consult with the assessor prior to attempting this task if you do not understand any part of this task or if you have any learning issues or needs that may hinder you when attempting any part of the assessment.

Assessment Task 4 Instructions

Carefully read the following:

It is just over a year since King Edward VII adopted your Innovation Strategy and changes to the practices, processes and services.

All staff have been given an annual questionnaire to help assess whether innovation targets are being met.

You are required to use these documents to assess the success of the Innovation Strategy that you have implemented.

Complete the following activities:

1. Review the Innovation Strategy implementation.

Read through the following company documents:

• Staff Survey Results 2019
• Staff Survey Results 2020

Your review should include an analysis of the innovation performance as set out in these documents. You should identify improvements between 2019 and 2020 according to the staff survey results.

The review should also include your recommendations for strategies for improvement based on your review.

Use the Innovation Strategy Review Template to guide your work.

2. Send an email to your assessor.

The text of the email should be in grammatically correct English, written in an appropriate (polite, business-like) style.

It should introduce and summarise the contents of the attachment and seek their feedback.

Attach your Innovation Strategy Review to the email.