BSBWOR502 Lead And Manage Team Effectiveness Assessment
Assessment Summary
Unit Details BSBWOR502 – Lead and manage team effectiveness
Assessment Type This is a summative assessment, which requires each student to have adequate practice prior to undertaking this assessment
Assessment Methods Assessment 1 Written Questions
Assessment 2 Project 1 – Establish team performance plan
Assessment 3 Project 2 – Develop and facilitate team cohesion
Assessment 4 Project 3 – Facilitate teamwork and liaise with stakeholders
Assessment 1 – Written Questions
Instructions for Students
- This is the first of the four assessment tasks you must complete satisfactorily to be deemed competent in this unit.
- Read the Assessment description carefully.
- In this task, you must answer eight (8) questions that cover the knowledge requirements of this unit.
- You must respond to all questions and submit them to the Trainer/Assessor.You must answer all questions to the required standard (e.g. provide the specified number of points) to be deemed satisfactory in this task.
Assessment may be submitted in Microsoft Word format or may be handwritten. Clearly label your work with your name, unit code, unit title, Assessment Task and respective Question number with the answer to all the documents and sheets that are attached to your submission.
- Read the Plagiarism policy and procedure carefully to understand the consequences that you could face if your work is plagiarized.
- Seek clarification regarding the assessment required to be done, if you do not understand the task.
- Ask for reasonable time from Assessor for preparation of project or Assessment.
- Seek information on additional reading material and reference for completion of the assessments.
- Students with special needs can seek assistance from assessors depending upon the nature of the need.
- Submit this document along with your assessment work.
- Your Trainer/Assessor will provide you feedback and notify you about the results within two weeks of submission.
Applicable conditions
- This is an open book task and you may refer to your learning materials or your research of external resources.
- Assessment may be completed in your own time and is due one week after the module end date.
- You must complete this task independently.
- The Trainer/Assessor may ask you relevant questions on this assessment task to ensure that this is your own work, or to confirm your knowledge to close any gaps they may identify as not evidenced in your written responses.
- No marks or grades are allocated for this assessment task. The outcome of the task will be Satisfactory or Not Satisfactory.
Resources required for assessment
You will need the following materials/ resources for this task:
- Textbook/ Online learning resources o Readings provided to you as part of the unit assessment pack
- Computer with Internet access for research purposes and word processing
- Pen and paper as required
Written Questions
1. Define group dynamics and identify one way each in which positive group dynamics and negative group dynamics can affect team performance. Your response should be in no more than 100 words.
2. Identify three performance. strategies to encourage team cohesion, participation and
3. Explain why it is important to establish a clear team purpose. Why is it important that a team‘s purpose and role be collaboratively developed? Respond in no more than 80 words.
4. Identify at least three implications of role ambiguity within a team framework.
5. How can roles and tasks be clearly allocated to team members so that problems do not arise? Discuss any 3 strategies.
6. Identify four strategies for gaining consensus.
7. Identify five strategies you would use for successfully managing conflict in the team.
8. Outline the steps of a process to resolve issues faced by the team.
Assessment 2 – Project 1 – Establish team performance plan
Instructions for Students
- This is the second of the four assessment tasks you must complete satisfactorily to be deemed competent in this unit.
- This assessment is made up of two (2) tasks.
- Part A – Role play: Establish a common understanding of team purpose, roles, responsibilities and accountabilities
- Part B – Develop a team performance plan
- Read the scenarios given and complete the tasks that follow.
- You must attempt all criteria to the required standard (e.g. fulfil assessment criteria mentioned in the performance checklist) to be deemed satisfactory in this task.
- You must complete this task by following all given instructions, for the trainer/assessor to assess competency in this assessment task.
- Clearly label your work with name, unit code and unit title to all the documents and sheets that are attached to your submission.
- Review the role play observation Checklist so that you are familiar with the behaviours that you are expected to perform during the observation.
- Review other resources, related to the task you are going to perform.
- Seek clarification regarding the assessment required to be done, if you do not understand the task.
- Ask for reasonable time from Assessor for preparation of Assessment.
- Seek information on additional reading material and reference for completion of the assessments.
- Submit this document along with your assessment work.
Applicable conditions
- You will need to complete this project in your own time and submit it as per the Gen’s requirements.
- You must complete the task independently.
- You can refer to the textbook, learning materials or your research of external resources in completing this task.
- The time limit for role plays is 10 minutes, unless otherwise specified.
- The Trainer/Assessor may ask you relevant questions on this assessment task to ensure that this is your own work, or to confirm your knowledge to close any gaps they may identify as not evidenced in your written responses.
- The Trainer /Assessor will assess your practical skills, technique and knowledge as you complete this assessment task.
- All criteria listed in the performance checklists guide must be completed satisfactorily to the standard described.
- No marks or grades are allocated for this assessment task. The outcome of the task will be Competent or Not competent.
- You must express all answers/responses in your own words or acknowledge the sources of reference materials used.
- If you are found to have plagiarised or copied another student’s work, your assessment submission will not be accepted (please refer to the Gen’s Plagiarism Policy).
Resources required for assessment
You will need the following materials/ resources for this task:
- Textbook/ Online learning resources
- Computer with internet access for research and word processing
- Interaction with others for role play
- Flipcharts, butcher’s paper, markers, etc. as required for brainstorming activity
- Access to an online video conferencing program such as Zoom or Skype, in case assessments are conducted remotely
- Appendix A: Team Performance Plan Template
Scenario
The Lollipop Shop is a company which supplies its customers with the best of Australian and overseas lollies, drinks, candy and party goods. The company has several stores throughout Victoria and also has an online store. The company prides itself on a vast range of products as well as their exceptional customer service and product knowledge.
The following are extracts from the Strategic Business Plan of The Lollipop Shop:
Strategic goals
The senior management of the company recently has finalised the business plan for 2020-22. The following is an extract of the business plan:
Over the next 12 months, The Lollipop Shop is aiming to:
- Increase turnover by 30% by:
- introducing new products including a range of “healthy” lollies that have added nutrients or are sugar free
- increasing average purchase value/ customer spend from $8 per person per visit to $12 per person per visit
- increase diversity of customer base by encouraging corporate customers and customers with special dietary needs.
- Increase efficiencies of sales and stock control by:
- purchasing and installing a new computerised till with Point of Sale (POS) software o training staff on the use of the POS
To execute this plan, the General Manager has asked the four Store Managers to develop a performance plan for their respective teams.
You are the newly appointed Store Manager for Melbourne City store of The Lollipop Shop. You lead a team of six sales assistants. (Refer to the position descriptions given in the scenario).
Working under the direction of General Manager, your role is to manage the store staff and coordinate business activities, such as pricing and the display of products to ensure the set sales targets are achieved. You also ensure your team provides effective customer service.
The following are the job descriptions of various team members:
General Manager
The General Manager’s role is to ensure strategic goals are met by setting operational policies, creating and maintaining budgets and managing employees.
The General Manager’s responsibilities are:
- Develop strategic plans for optimised productivity
- Review and improve organisational effectiveness by developing processes, overseeing employees, establishing a highly motivated work environment, and creating innovative approaches for improvement
- Uphold standards of excellence and quality
- Seek out opportunities for expansion and growth by developing new business relationships
- Adding to the range of products and services, by sourcing new products from all over the world and introducing innovative services
- Provide guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas
- Develop, implement, and maintain budgetary and resource allocation plans
- Delegate responsibilities to the employees to perform them while enforcing all policies, procedures, standards, specifications, guidelines, training programs, and cultural values
- Resolve internal staff conflicts efficiently and to the mutual benefit of those involved
Store Manager
The Store Manager runs store by carrying out marketing and operational plans and monitors daily operations to boost and generate sales. He/she should work closely with members of the marketing and the sales team to execute marketing strategies and complete sales targets respectively.
The following are the main responsibilities of the Store Manager:
- Develop store strategies to raise customers’ pool, expand store traffic and optimize profitability
- Meet sales goals by training, motivating, mentoring and providing feedback to sales staff
- Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction through excellent service
- Complete store administration and ensure compliance with policies and procedures
- Maintain outstanding store condition and visual merchandising standards
- Report on buying trends, customer needs, profits, etc.
- Propose innovative ideas to increase market share
- Conduct personnel performance appraisals to assess training needs and build career paths
- Deal with all issues that arise from staff or customers (complaints, grievances etc)
- Be a role model for the store staff
Sales Assistant
A sales assistant’s role requires a high level of customer interaction as they act as primary point of contact for customers, answering phone and email enquiries, resolving complaints and processing orders in an efficient and timely manner. Therefore, sales assistants should have good customer facing and communication skills.
Their main responsibilities are to:
- Greet customers who enter the store
- Determine customer requirements and advise on product range, alternatives, price, etc.
- Work within established guidelines, particularly with specific brands
- Demonstrate and explain to customers the establishment's goods and services
- Accept payment for goods and services by a variety of payment methods and preparing sales invoices
- Work within established guidelines, particularly with specific brands
- Deal with customer refunds
- Deal with customer complaints.
- Balance cash registers with receipts
- Maintain customer sales records and profiles for targeted advertising
- Identify customer buying trends
- Work as a team with others, offering guidance and support as well as delegating tasks
- Assist with the ongoing management of stock such as product inventories and participating in stocktakes
- Stack and display goods for sale
- Keep the store tidy and clean, this includes vacuuming and mopping
- Maintain security within the store and be on the look out for shoplifters and fraudulent credit cards etc.
Part A – Role-play: Establish a common understanding of team purpose, roles, responsibilities and accountabilities
The General Manager has asked you facilitate a brainstorming session with your team to discuss and document team actions to achieve the strategic goals.
The purpose of the brain storming activity is to consult team members to establish a common understanding of team purpose, roles, responsibilities and accountabilities in accordance with organisational goals, plans and objectives.
You must read the scenario above and prepare for the following activities.
a. Conduct a brainstorming session
In groups of 5-6, you and your classmates must take turns in leading a brainstorming session, no longer than 10 minutes, to discuss and document the team actions to achieve the strategic goals.
This is a role play, and:
- your assessor will organise a time and place for the brainstorming activity and divide the class into groups of 5-6 for the purpose of this assessment activity
- each student in the small group will take turns to play the Store Manager and get 8-10 minutes to lead the discussion during the activity, with all other group members playing the roles of sales assistants in the sales team
- your assessor will assess each individual student’s performance in a separate Role Play Observation
When it is your turn to play the role of Store Manager and lead the brainstorming session, you must:
- welcome the group and introduce the purpose of the brainstorming session
- briefly summarise the background of the organisational goals, plans and objectives
- facilitate constructive communication within the team by:
- establishing the expectation of proactive communication from all team members, at the start of the session
- encouraging team members to participate in the discussion to articulate their ideas
- encouraging team members to discuss and agree on the team purpose, roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of the members
- showing respect for the opinions, values and particular needs of others identifying and resolving problems
- providing feedback and recognition on team members’ ideas
- gain consensus on:
- team purpose
- roles
- responsibilities and accountabilities of the members
You will be provided with flipcharts, butcher’s paper, markers, etc. for the brainstorming activity.
In case the assessment is to be conducted online, you will need to ensure access to:
- a computer that has Internet access
- Online video conferencing software such as Zoom or Skype
- note pad and pen
Prior to the assessment, read the Role Play Observation Checklist to understand the standard of performance expected of you in this assessment task.
Part B: Role-play
Scenario
The General Manager has asked you to develop a team performance plan, based on the brain storming discussions and the common understanding of the team that you have established.
The purpose of the plan is to establish goals and key performance indicators, and also record the actions required to achieve these goals.
1. Prepare a team performance plan
- Develop a team purpose statement for the Melbourne City store team, based on the common understanding the team members have agreed on during the brainstorming session and addressing the following questions:
- What is it that we are going to do?
- Who are we doing it for?
- Why are we doing it?
- Does this support our purpose and the organisation’s goals?
- Select three goals that are linked to the organisation’s overall strategic goals, and prepare a draft of a Team Performance Plan for achieving team outcomes for the next 12 months, using the template provided to You must ensure that they are SMART goals.
- Determine at least two Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each goal, such as improved individual and team performance, improvements to systems, targets for productivity improvements such as improved delivery times, reduced downtime, targets for training and
- Allocate roles and responsibilities of different team
- Determine support measures such as mentoring, coaching, training, meetings, for your team members to achieve expected performance.
- Decide on how the plan will be monitored and
To complete the plan, you must read the business scenario of The Lollipop Shop, as described at the start of Assessment 2.
You must also refer to the notes you have prepared on the brainstorming session.
You will need to use the Team Performance Plan template provided in Appendix A to record the team actions and other details.
2. Distribute team performance plan
Your team performance plan needs to be shared with the team to ensure everyone on the team is familiar with the plan, clear about the strategy, comfortable with their roles, and in tune with exactly what has to be done to be successful.
You need to assure them of the organisation’s support in achieving the goals, by mentioning the details of the support activities.
You also need to invite feedback from team members, which will make them feel included and involved with the process.
Assuming that you are to send the team performance plan by email to the team members, you are required to:
Prepare a covering email, which:
- briefly introduces the attached team performance plan and how it serves the broader goals / objectives of the organisation
- summarises activities included in the plan to support team members in meeting expected performance outcomes
- invites feedback on the plan and suggestion for
Attach the team performance plan to the email and send it to the CEO (your assessor) at an email address specified by your
You should ensure the email is written effectively in clear and correct English.
Assessment 3 – Project 2 – Develop and facilitate team cohesion
Instructions for Students
- This is the third of the four assessment tasks you must complete satisfactorily to be deemed competent in this
- In this assessment, you must prepare a team handbook with key policies and
- Read the scenarios given and complete the tasks that
- You must attempt all criteria to the required standard (e.g. fulfil assessment criteria mentioned in the performance checklist) to be deemed satisfactory in this
- You must complete this task by following all given instructions, for the trainer/assessor to assess competency in this assessment
- Clearly label your work with name, unit code and unit title to all the documents and sheets that are attached to your
- Review other resources, related to the task you are going to
- Seek clarification regarding the assessment required to be done, if you do not understand the
- Ask for reasonable time from Assessor for preparation of
- Seek information on additional reading material and reference for completion of the
- Submit this document along with your assessment
Applicable conditions
- You will need to complete this project in your own time and submit it as per the Gen’s
- You must complete the task
- You can refer to the textbook, learning materials or your research of external resources in completing this
- The Trainer/Assessor may ask you relevant questions on this assessment task to ensure that this is your own work, or to confirm your knowledge to close any gaps they may identify as not evidenced in your written
- Trainer /Assessor will assess your practical skills, technique and knowledge as you complete this assessment
- All criteria listed in the performance checklists guide must be completed satisfactorily to the standard
- No marks or grades are allocated for this assessment The outcome of the task will be Satisfactory or Not satisfactory.
- You must express all answers/responses in your own words or acknowledge the sources of reference materials
- If you are found to have plagiarised or copied another student’s work, your assessment submission will not be accepted (please refer to the Gen Plagiarism Policy).
Resources required for assessment
You will need the following materials/ resources for this task:
- Textbook/ Online learning resources
- Computer with Internet access for research purposes and word processing
Scenario
This is a continuation of the scenario in Assessment 2.
All store managers have prepared performance plans for their teams. At a store manager’s meeting, all managers have reported that their respective teams have asked if they would be given the opportunities for contributing their ideas and whether they would be rewarded for their efforts. Some other members would like to know how issues, concerns and problems identified by team members will be recognised and addressed.
To address this, the General Manager has proposed that a team handbook should be developed to provide ready information about the policies and procedures and strategies to ensure the smooth functioning of the teams.
You have been asked to develop outlines for the following sections of the handbook:
- strategy to ensure team members have opportunities to provide input into planning, decision-making and operational aspects of work team
- a code of conduct for employees to ensure team members take responsibility for their own work as well as assist others to undertake required roles and responsibilities
- a feedback, rewards and recognition program to provide feedback to team members to encourage, value and reward individual and team efforts and contributions
- a process to ensure that issues, concerns and problems identified by team members are recognised and addressed, including corrective action for unresolved issues, concerns and problems raised by internal or external
Task
Prepare your team handbook as follows.
1. Research strategies for team consultation of various companies on the internet and prepare a brief outline of a strategy for consulting team members in the planning, decision- making and operational aspects of work
Your team consultation strategy outline must cover the following:
- five topics on which team consultation/feedback will be requested
- five consultation methods you will use to collect the tem members’ suggestions and input Your strategy must be no longer than 200
2. Research codes of practice of various companies on the internet, or read policies and procedures of your employer (if you are employed) to get information about the contents of a code of practice.
Then, prepare the following sections of a code of practice to outline team members’ responsibility for own work and for assisting others:
- Compliance with law
- Respect in the workplace
- Protection of Company Property
- Professionalism
- Personal appearance
- Ethical behaviour
- Job duties and authority
- Absenteeism and tardiness
- Conflict of interest
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Company Policies
- Disciplinary actions and consequences
Your code of practice must not exceed 500 words.
- Research feedback, rewards and recognition trends and practices on the internet and prepare an outline of a rewards and recognition program to encourage, value and reward individual and team efforts and contributions towards meeting the team’s
Your outline should contain information about:
- Feedback
- Why it is important
- What it may include
- Rewards and recognition
- Eligibility requirements for teams and individuals
- The approval process
- The types of rewards including non-monetary rewards
- recognition that will be provided, for both individuals and the team
- The frequency of award
Your outline should be no longer than 300 words.
- Research the processes for addressing team issues, of various companies on the internet or read policies and procedures of your employer (if you are employed) to get information about the contents of a grievance
Then prepare an outline of a process to ensure that issues, concerns and problems identified by team members are recognised and addressed.
Your outline should include a brief description of:
- Issues and problems that may occur in while working in the team
- Timeframes for addressing problems issues and concerns
- Step by step process to deal with team issues
- Techniques for addressing team concerns such as:
- brainstorming to address team concerns
- informal and formal - one-on-one discussion regarding an individual’s concerns
- informal and formal team meetings
- inviting team participation in resolution of concerns
At the end of your handbook, you must include a reference list that identifies all the research sources you have used in this task, in formal APA referencing format.
Assessment 4 – Project 3 – Facilitate teamwork and liaise with stakeholders
Instructions for Students
- This is the four of the four assessment tasks you must complete satisfactorily to be deemed competent in this unit
- This assessment is made up of four (4)
- Part A – Role play: Review team effectiveness
- Part B – Report outcome of team effectiveness review
- Part C – Role play: Communicate unresolved issues to management
- Part D – Communicate information from management to the team
- Read the scenarios given and complete the tasks that
- You must attempt all criteria to the required standard (e.g. fulfil assessment criteria mentioned in the performance checklist) to be deemed satisfactory in this
- You must complete this task by following all given instructions, for the trainer/assessor to assess competency in this assessment
- Clearly label your work with name, unit code and unit title to all the documents and sheets that are attached to your
- Review the role play observation Checklist so that you are familiar with the behaviours that you are expected to perform during the
- Review other resources, related to the task you are going to
- Seek clarification regarding the assessment required to be done, if you do not understand the
- Ask for reasonable time from Assessor for preparation of
- Seek information on additional reading material and reference for completion of the
- Submit this document along with your assessment
Applicable conditions
- You will need to complete this project in your own time and submit it as per the Gen’s
- You must complete the task
- You can refer to the textbook, learning materials or your research of external resources in completing this
- Time limit for role plays is 10 minutes, unless otherwise
- The Trainer/Assessor may ask you relevant questions on this assessment task to ensure that this is your own work, or to confirm your knowledge to close any gaps they may identify as not evidenced in your written
- The Trainer /Assessor will assess your practical skills, technique and knowledge as you complete this assessment
- All criteria listed in the performance checklists guide must be completed satisfactorily to the standard
- No marks or grades are allocated for this assessment The outcome of the task will be Competent or Not competent.
- You must express all answers/responses in your own words or acknowledge the sources of reference materials
- If you are found to have plagiarised or copied another student’s work, your assessment submission will not be accepted (please refer to the Gen’s Plagiarism Policy).
Resources required for assessment
You will need the following materials/ resources for this task:
- Textbook/ Online learning resources
- Computer with Internet access for research purposes and word processing
- Appendix B: Team Review Form
Scenario
This is a continuation of the scenario in Assessment 3.
You are the Store Manager at The Lollipop Shop’s Melbourne City Store.
It is now three months since your team’s performance plan was agreed upon and approved. It is now time to conduct a team performance review as scheduled, to assess the progress made towards the goals finalised in the performance plan.
The CEO has sent you the following email:
At the same time, you have also received feedback that some team members are offering corporate discounts without the company’s approval, to sign up corporate customers and meet their targets. This has demoralised other team members.
As a result of the low morale, two team members recently resigned from their jobs. This placed a sudden strain on the entire team, as the existing team had to take on more shifts to cover for the staff shortage.
Two new members have now joined the Melbourne store sales team, but since they were not part of the initial team goal planning process, and since no one has briefed them about the objectives, they feel lost and believe that they weren’t given sufficient opportunities to provide input into planning, decision-making and general operational matters.
Moreover, due to an oversight the newly recruited Melbourne store sales team members were not trained to use the new Point of Sale (POS) software aimed at tracking sales by each salesperson. As a result, they were not able to track their sales through the system, for calculating incentives on sales. This has further added to the disgruntlement of the new team members.
Your discussions with the HR Manager of the company has provided you with the following information:
- There is provision for regular briefing to staff and inviting participation of team members in the planning process to achieve staff
- Staff support is in the form of technical support, on the job-training, counselling and
- There are procedures in place for Team meetings, feedback/ suggestion
- Store managers provide team directives and responsibilities or
- Position descriptions, action plans, KPIs, are also agreed upon with the team.
- There is a code of practice and individual position descriptions state that every staff member should cooperate with others, but these documents can often remain unread or
- There is no clear policy and procedure for offering bonus and
- The company has all the required policies, but since they were deficient, they were revised and are still in the approval process, therefore not published to the
- There is an HR policy, but clear roles and responsibilities and eligibility criteria for promotions, have not been included in this
Part A – Role-play: Review team effectiveness
Your task is to ensure that your team is cohesive, effective, and productive. Your behaviour and actions will serve as a role model for other members of the team.
Conduct a team meeting to review the way your team functions. The purpose of this meeting is to:
- encourage team members to participate in, and to take responsibility for, team activities,
including communication processes
- uphold the positive image of the organisation through own language and non-verbal communication
- support the team in identifying and resolving work performance problems
- collectively analyse which current practices work and which don’t
- establish concrete next steps to fill gaps in team performance
- ensure your own contribution to work team serves as a role model for others
During the meeting, you must use the Team Review Form in Appendix B to guide you in asking questions to your team. You must make notes of team input in the review form.
The duration of the meeting will be 15 minutes.
This is a role play. You must play the Store Manager. Your assessor will organise three volunteers to play team members (one of whom will play a new team member).
The team members will be provided with cue cards for the parts they will play in the review.
Prior to the assessment, read the Role Play Observation Checklist to understand the standard of performance expected of you in this assessment task.
Part B – Report outcome of team effectiveness review
Review, edit and finalise the Team Review Form that you had used while conducting the team meeting.
Part C: Role-play – Communicate unresolved issues to management
Scenario
After the meeting with team members, you sent an email to the General Manager reporting the proceedings of the team performance review. In response, the General Manager has invited you to discuss the issues you have identified, and to find solutions or decide on corrective actions regarding the unresolved issues.
Task
Meet with the General Manager to discuss your team’s performance and decide on solutions to the unresolved issues raised by the team.
During the meeting, you must provide the General Manager with:
- a brief overview of your discussions with your team
- the issues the team have raised
- actions you will take at the team level
- what corrective actions you would like the management take to resolve the issues and problems
By the end of the meeting, you must evaluate and agree on taking necessary corrective action regarding unresolved issues, concerns and problems raised by your team.
This is a role-play. You must play the role of the Melbourne Store Manager. Your assessor will play the role of the General Manager.
Use the Team Review Form you have completed in Part B to guide your participation in the meeting.
Prior to the assessment, read the Role Play Observation Checklist to understand the standard of performance expected of you in this assessment task.
Part D: Communicate information from management to the team Scenario
During the meeting with the General Manager in Part C, you were able to convince them of the need to act upon the unresolved issues you had brought to their notice and take the suggested corrective actions discussed during the meeting. The management has decided to adopt all the suggestions made by the team.
As the Store Manager, since you had re-affirmed your commitment to improved communication upward and downward, you have decided to write a memo to the team to inform them of this development.
Task
Prepare an email memo to your sales team.
In the memo, briefly communicate the details of your meeting with the management and the information regarding the corrective actions they have decided to take.
Your email should follow the conventions of a memo and should be written in clear and correct English.
The email memo should not be longer than 200 words.
Send your email to an email address specified by your assessor.