UNIT CMI 703 Collaboration and Partnerships

Assessment Brief: Collaboration and Partnerships

Overview of assessment tasks

Each task in this assessment brief has been developed to enable you to evidence achievement of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for CMI 703: Collaboration and Partnerships. Each of the assessment criteria must gain a pass outcome for you to successfully achieve the unit.

Preparation for the assessment

• Before you begin the assessment brief please read the CMI 703 unit specifications thoroughly as only the content related to the achievement of the assessment criteria will be assessed.
• Research the topics being assessed. Suggested reading/web resources are provided on the CMI 703 unit specification. Your tutor may signpost you to relevant resources. Additionally, you may access excellent online resources at ManagementDirect https://members.md.cmi.org.uk/.
• If you are enrolled on the Trailblazer Apprenticeship programme you are encouraged to review the Senior

Leader Master’s Degree Apprenticeship standard.

Completing the assessment brief

• The assessment brief contains a series of tasks which are clearly referenced to the relevant assessment criteria and indicative content.
• Refer to the Assessment Guidance Table at the end of the assessment brief which outlines the requirements for a Pass or Refer.
• Evidence must be provided in the evidence booklet. Additional work-based evidence such as plans or documentation (which has been referred to within the main text) should be included at the end of the booklet marked ‘Work Based Evidence’. Appendices are not a requirement of this assessment brief. If appendices are included these will not be marked or moderated by the CMI.
• Work based evidence must be accompanied by a supporting statement in the learner evidence box, to explain the link to the assessment criteria. Work based evidence (where required by the task) must not exceed SIX (6) pages. Files embedded in the booklet must not exceed 10MB.
• The evidence booklet must be completed in a professional manner (e.g. applying business conventions for writing formal reports) and by using Microsoft Word, Rich Text Format or another compatible software programme.
• An appropriate referencing system (such as Harvard Referencing) must be used to ensure the original source(s) of quotations or models can be verified.
• Finally, you must sign the Learner Authenticity statement (an electronic signature is accepted).

Learner support

For information regarding policies and procedures for assessment (e.g. special assessment arrangements, learner support, appeals, complaints, certification, confidentiality, plagiarism) you should contact your tutor or Centre manager and refer to the CMI Level 7 in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice

Collaboration and partnerships can turn ideas into reality, enhancing opportunities for innovation and creativity, research and development. Increasingly, collaboration and partnership working are required to be successful in gaining a bid or tender.

Assessment brief CMI 703 has been designed to enable learners to evidence their understanding of collaborative and partnership arrangements. Leaders will critically assess the scope and value of these, as well as evaluating the impact of organisational and legal frameworks on how these arrangements are delivered. The unit culminates in the requirement for the leader to present a rationale for collaboration or partnerships to further an organisation’s success.

Assessment brief CMI 703 features the following assessment tasks. Further detail is provided against each assessment task within the brief.

Guideline word count

The written word, however generated and recorded, is still expected to form the majority of assessable work produced by Learners at Level 7. The amount and volume of work for this unit should be broadly comparable to a word count of 3500 - 4000 words within a margin of +/-10%. The excessive use of word count is not grounds for referral, however the CMI reserve the right to return work to the Centre for editing and resubmission by the Learner. 1.1 Critically assess the scope and value of collaboration and partnerships to support the achievement of strategic objectives

The following are excluded from inclusion in word count, if used and not required by the assessment brief an introduction to a job role, organisation or department, index or contents pages, headings and sub headings, diagrams, charts and graphs, reference list or bibliography, reflective statement drawn from undertaking the assessment and how this has impacted on the learner’s work.

Please see the CMI Assessment Guidance Policy for further guidance.

Collaboration and partnerships can have a huge impact on organisational success. These arrangements (formal or informal) can result in increased profitability and productivity, as well as the development and delivery of new products and services.

The aim of Task 1 is for leaders to evidence their understanding of the role of collaboration and partnerships in strategic contexts.

Using well-chosen examples, you are required to write a report entitled:

‘The role of collaboration and partnerships in strategic contexts’

The report must:

• Critically assess the scope and value of collaboration and partnerships to support the achievement of strategic objectives (AC1.1)
• Critically evaluate the impact of organisational and legal frameworks on collaboration and partnerships (AC1.2)
• Appraise strategies and principles for making collaboration and partnerships a success (AC1.3)

Organisations can, at times, be reticent to collaborate and partner with others. Leaders may question the validity of the approach when ‘going it alone’ might be simpler, easier to govern, lead and manage. There are, however, compelling arguments for collaboration and partnering. Reasons for collaboration and partnerships will be specific to each project, objectives and business need.

The aim of Task 2 is for leaders to present a rationale for developing a collaborative relationship or partnership to further organisational success.

For an organisation you know well or have researched you are required to present the rationale for developing a collaborative relationship OR partnership.

To complete Task 2 you must select ONE (1) of the options below as the basis of your response:

Option 1

You are required to present a proposal OR report OR presentation entitled:

‘The rationale for collaboration to further organisational success’

The rationale must include:

• Identification of the opportunity or need for collaboration
• Evidence to support the rationale for collaboration (e.g. relevant data and information, options/ choice(s) of collaborators, appraisal of evidence used to inform decision making)
• Success indicators
• Conclusions (AC2.1)

OR

Option 2

You are required to present a proposal or report or presentation entitled:

‘The rationale for partnership to further organisational success’

The rationale must include:

• Identification of the opportunity or need to form a partnership
• Evidence to support the rationale for the partnership (e.g. relevant data and information, options/ choice(s) of partners, appraisal of evidence used to inform decision making)
• Success indicators
• Conclusions (AC2.1)