Candidate Instructions

Purpose of this Assessment task

This assessment task is designed to test your skills in communicating with influence as required by the unit BSBLDR513 Communicate with influence. Your trainer/assessor will be assessing your work and provide you with constructive feedback on Canvas. This task will assess your skills to:

• Communicate clearly
• Present and negotiate persuasively
• Participate in and lead meetings effectively
• Make presentations at meetings, forums and conferences.

In this assessment you will analyse the provided case provided, undertake research in the topics presented, conduct 1 role-play to demonstrate your skills and provide report to your Trainer. By successfully completing this Case Study you will provide the required performance evidence of your competence in promoting innovation in a team environment.

What are you required to do to undertake this Case Study?

You should carefully read the provided Case Study; its additional documents provided on Canvas and undertake all questions. The task includes: (i) Analysing the case (ii) Undertaking required research (iii) Role playing and (iv) Reporting.

To successfully undertake this assessment, you should be doing the following:

• Read the provided Case Study couple of times and understand its requirements
• Clarify the requirements with your trainer and assessor, if you are not sure
• Research appropriate websites as directed by your trainer/assessor
• Self-reflect and practice the 1 role-play before you record them and upload them on Canvas
• Discuss with your trainer/assessor the contents of the report you will be presenting

Context and conditions of undertaking the tasks?

The prescribed tasks will be undertaken by you after carefully analysing the case scenarios. Your trainer/assessor will provide you a context to role-play the scenario. Your trainer will also provide you guidance on the websites to be researched. Your trainer/assessor may also set certain conditions under which you will perform the tasks required by this assessment. For example, your trainer may set a time limit to perform a task or, ask you to repeat a task or, ask you to give additional information about the performance by asking you some verbal questions or, they may prescribe you some new conditions to undertake certain tasks.

Given your personal conditions, your trainer/assessor should also be able to make some reasonable adjustments in undertaking the tasks of this assessment. You should check with your trainer/assessor about the conditions under which the tasks should be completed, and the possible adjustment they can make in undertaking these tasks.

What specific WHS requirements may be involved?

This assessment will require you to be aware of the standard Workplace Health and Safety requirements e.g. Workplace Health and Safety Act and Workplace Health and Safety Legislation Your trainer/assessor will advise you on these and other legislative requirements.

Tasks and frequency of performance

Details of the tasks to be undertaken in this assessment are provided in the attached Case Study. The tasks listed in that document must be performed at least once. The role-play question should involve at least 2 team members.

Getting Started

It is anticipated that the assessment will take approximately 6 hours to complete.

The assessment may be re-attempted on two further occasions (maximum three attempts in total). All assessments must be resubmitted 3 days within receiving your unsatisfactory grade. You must clearly indicate "Re-submission" on your resubmitted work.

You must complete all questions unassisted by the assessor or other personnel but may refer to reference material as may be needed. All questions must be answered satisfactorily for the assessment to be completed satisfactorily.

For any assessment conducted that is incomplete, or without satisfactory performance, the assessment will need to be completed again after further training support. This may be simply to focus on question areas not achieved in the prior assessment.

Submitting your assessment

When you are ready to submit your assessments, upload the files in Canvas via the submission tab. It is important that you keep a copy of all electronic assessments submitted to Canvas.Please submit all assessment components.

Word count

In this assessment some of the questions include a word count. This is a guideline only, but your answers should not vary substantially (i.e. +/- 10%) from the word count provided. Microsoft Word includes a word count tool.

Objective

To test the required application skills in communicating with influence.

Assessment Cover Sheet

Candidate name:

Trainer's Name:

Date Submitted:

Candidate declaration:

I declare that:

I have read and understood all the information provided in relation to the assessment requirements to complete this unit, the instructions and the purpose and processes of undertaking this assessment task

This assessment is my own work and where other's works or ideas have been borrowed, I have appropriately referenced or acknowledged them

I understand that plagiarism is a serious offence that may lead to disciplinary action.

Candidate signature:

Task 2: Portfolio of Evidence

General instructions

Learners have to put into practice what they have learnt during class about communicating effectively.

This assessment is divided into three parts:

Part A: Preparing for a meeting (completed one week before group work activity)

Part B: Meeting role play (completed as part of an observed group work activity)

Part C:Minutes, Summary and Self-reflection (completed after group work activity)

To complete the assessment, a scenario has been created which will act as a simulated workplace. In cooperation with two of your classmates, you will act as managers for a company tasked to solve workplace problems. Read through the scenario carefully and complete all parts of the assessment.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO LEARNERS:

This section forms part of a classroom activity that must be observed by your Trainer.

If you do not undertake this group work activity in class or submit a video with this group work activity in case you attend the webinar, you will not pass this unit.

Only cases where a medical or family emergency prevented a learner from attending class will be considered in an appeal.

Make sure that your Trainer have signed the observation checklist provided at the end of this assessment.Scan the signed checklist and upload this together with Task 2 onto the portal.

If you attend the webinar, you will need to do this role play at home either with 2 members from your class or, if this is not possible, with family and friends. You will need to brief family and friends on the context of the role play. Record the video and submit with your written assessment. The instructions on Recording and submitting a video role play are located in additional information on Canvas.

Scenario - Block House Developments

Introduction to company

Block House Developments (BHD) is a real estate development company that provides affordable accommodation for students. The vision for BHD is to become the market leader in student accommodation, by providing quality individual living spaces as well as communal living arrangements where students can build a community and share resources.

These communal living spaces include facilities such as a library, BBQ area and a games room. This can help their tenants to form a student community where they can share books, meals and take part in fun activities.

The company has constructed its first apartment building and have just completed its first year of operations.

However, the company currently faces several problems that must be addressed, namely:

After one year of operations, only 50% of the rooms are occupied. The company wants to increase its occupancy rate. However, the sales team don't get any commissions for obtaining clients, so they lack motivation. The company also don't have an advertising or marketing strategy to attract more tenants.

The company initially told students that it would provide access to a gym and swimming pool for its tenants, but later on decided not to provide these facilities due to the costs involved. Some of the tenants are now complaining that these facilities are not available to them.

As the company had lower revenues this year, it had to take out a high interest cash loan of $400,000 to help cover its operational costs. The interest payments on this loan is very high and it is now negatively impacting the cash flow position of the company.

After the first year of operations, the company can spend $100,000 to help solve the above problems.

Part A - Meeting Preparation

The General Manager of BHD has asked that you meet with two of your colleagues to solve the problems listed above.

A brief summary of the responsibilities for each of these team members is provided below:

Marketing Manager. Responsible for designing and executing a marketing plan, managing the sales team and increasing the number of tenants.

Financial Manager. Responsible for managing and controlling spending and putting in place strategies to ensure the long-term financial viability of the business.

Operations Manager. Responsible for maintenance of buildings and infrastructure, customer service and solving complaints from tenants.

1.Identify who can assist in the resolution of the problems BHD are facing and who else needs to be involved and informed by completing the following:

(a)Describe how each of the team members can contribute to resolving the problems BHD are facing.(60 words)

2.Formulate your own personal position for each of the problems by completing the following:

(a)Based on the information provided in the case study, list 2 other stakeholders you can consult with.

(b)List 3 questions you can ask the salespeople to help you determine your position about the problem of low room occupancy.

(c)What are 2 reliable sources where you can get advice on the legal implications of telling the tenants that a gym and swimming pool will be provided and later deciding not to.

(d)explain your position and a supporting argument for each one.

Negotiation Plan 1

Problems

My Position

Supporting Argument

No incentives for sales team

No advertising / marketing plan

No gym facilities / swimming pool

High interest debt

3.For each of the problems, explain the position that the relevant team members are likely to hold. The relevant team members are in brackets in the problem's column.

Negotiation Plan 2

Problems

Team Members' Positions

No incentives for sales team

(Marketing)

No advertising / marketing plan

(Marketing)

No gym facilities / swimming pool (Operations)

High interest debt

(Financial)

4.For each of the problems, consider how they may be resolved.

(a)Describe at least one possible solution for each problem.

Negotiations 3

Problems

Potential Solutions

No incentives for sales team

(Marketing)

No advertising / marketing plan

(Marketing)

No gym facilities / swimming pool (Operations)

High interest debt

(Financial)

(b)Prepare a PowerPoint presentation of your possible solutions for use in the meeting. Have one introductory slide and one slide for each problem/solution. Upload your slides with this completed assessment.

5.Describe the communication style that you plan to use in the meeting and explain why you chose this.

6.Based on the Negotiations Plan, compile a final meeting Agenda using the template provided below. Make sure that you allow enough time for each participant to first present their solutions and answer any questions from the other managers (5 min each).

MEETING AGENDA

Meeting name:

Date and Time:

Location:

Purpose statement:

Agenda item

Presented by

Duration

1. Solution Presentations

All

5 minutes

2.

3.

4.

Supporting Documents:

7.Prepare an email that you will send to the team members to invite them to the meeting. In the email, make sure that you include the following:

A brief introduction to the situation

Authority provided to you by the General Manager

The need for and purpose of the meeting

A summary of the key issues

An invitation to the meeting with date, time and venue

To:

Cc:

Subject:

8.List 3 types of information that may be subject to confidentiality and describe how you will manage that information in the meeting and in any correspondence or presentations to staff, management and/or other stakeholders.

Part B - Meeting Role Play

Instructions for role play.

You have arranged a meeting with the other team members to discuss the performance to date and address the key issues.

9.Conduct a role play of the meeting with 2 members from your class. Each member will select one of the following roles making sure that all 3 roles are selected:

Marketing Manager. Responsible for designing and executing a marketing plan, managing the sales team and increasing the number of tenants.

Financial Manager. Responsible for managing and controlling spending and putting in place strategies to ensure the long-term financial viability of the business.

Operations Manager. Responsible for maintenance of buildings and infrastructure, customer service and solving complaints from tenants.

In preparation for the meeting, review your answers to Part A with regard to your position, other possible positions and potential solutions.

Also review the Observer Checklist in Appendix A. You will be assessed in your ability to demonstrate ALL the items in this checklist.

The meeting should take approximately 30 minutes (15 minutes for presentations and 15 minutes for discussions) and you must meet all the requirements set out in question 9. You will also be required to take minutes for the meeting using the template in question 10.

Note: Face to face

This role play will be conducted as a class activity, so students need to be present in class. If you are not able to be in class for the role play, you will need to make alternative arrangements with your trainer.

Online

You will need to do this role play at home either with 2 members from your class or, if this is not possible, with family and friends. You will need to brief family and friends on the context of the role play. Record the video and submit with your written assessment. The instructions on Recording and submitting a video role play are located in additional information on Canvas.

During the meeting role play making sure to complete the following:

(a)As a group, agree on one agenda to use for the meeting.

(b)Each participant to present their proposed solutions at the beginning of the meeting.Allow 5 minutes per participant and use the PowerPoint slides prepared in question 4.

(c)Prepare and ask one question of each meeting participant during their presentation.

(d)Agree on 3 actions to be taken.

10.Complete the observer checklist found in Appendix A for each member of your role play team and ensure one is completed for you. Take a photo or scan of your completed checklist and upload it with this assessment.

Part C - Minutes, Summary and Self Reflection

11.Once the meeting has been concluded, complete the minutes to the meeting using the template provided below. Make sure that you provide an accurate summary of the discussion and the conclusion of the meeting. Also make sure that you provide a list of action points necessary for the implementation of the solutions you identified.

Meeting Minutes

Meeting title:

Date:

Time:

Meeting location:

Purpose of meeting

Attendees

Discussion

Make sure you provide a thorough summary of the discussions, indicating the main discussion points that were provided by each participant. You can use bullet points to summarise each discussion point.

Conclusion

Indicate what final solutions were agreed upon, detailing what concessions were made to reach a middle ground.

Action Points

Indicate what actions are now required to implement the solutions that were agreed upon.

12.It is important to let the tenants and internal staff know what the company position is about the swimming pool and gym facilities.Complete the following.

(a)Prepare a written notice to the tenants to explain the agreed position and actions regarding the gym and swimming pool.(80 words)

(b)You want to personally present this to staff and management. Describe 3 forums you can use to do this and select what you consider to be the best forum for this situation.(60 words)

13.Reflect on the discussions you had with your teammates in the role play by answering the following: (60 words each)

(a)What have you learned about your personal communication style? How do you think it impacts on your ability to communicate in the workplace?

(b)What communication styles did the other team members display in the role play? How do you think it impacts on their ability to communicate in the workplace?

(c)Based on what you have learned in this unit, what are 3 ways you can adapt your communication style in the workplace to communicate more effectively? You can select 3 attributes from other communication styles.

End of Assessment.

Congratulations, you have completed this assessment task.

Please ensure all questions are answered and upload the following:

This completed workbook

PowerPoint presentation (question 4b)

Signed and completed observation checklist (question 10)/video of meeting