Question:
STUDENT ASSESSMENT TASKS
PROMOTE INNOVATION IN TEAM ENVIRONMENTS
BSBSTR401
Contents
Introduction 3
Assessment Task 1: Knowledge questions 4
Assessment Task 1: Checklist 7
Assessment Task 2: Project Portfolio 8
Assessment Task 2: Checklist 13
Final results record 16
Introduction
The assessment tasks for BSBSTR401 Promote innovation in team environments are outlined in the assessment plan below. These tasks have been designed to help you demonstrate the skills and knowledge that you have learnt during your course.
Please ensure that you read the instructions provided with these tasks carefully. You should also follow the advice provided in the Business Works Student User Guide. The Student User Guide provides important information for you relating to completing assessment successfully.
Assessment for this unit
BSBSTR401 Promote innovation in team environments describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to identify and implement ways of promoting innovation within team environments in the workplace.
For you to be assessed as competent, you must successfully complete two assessment tasks:
Assessment Task 1: Knowledge questions – You must answer all questions correctly.
Assessment Task 2: Project – You must work through a range of activities and complete a project portfolio.
Assessment Task 1: Knowledge questions
Information for students
Knowledge questions are designed to help you demonstrate the knowledge which you have acquired during the learning phase of this unit. Ensure that you:
review the advice to students regarding answering knowledge questions in the Business Works Student User Guide
comply with the due date for assessment which your assessor will provide
answer all questions completely and correctly
submit work which is original and, where necessary, properly referenced
submit a completed cover sheet with your work
avoid sharing your answers with other students.
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Assessment information
Information about how you should complete this assessment can be found in Appendix A of the Business Works Student User Guide. Refer to the appendix for information on:
where this task should be completed
the maximum time allowed for completing this assessment task
whether or not this task is open-book.
Note: You must complete and submit an assessment cover sheet with your work. A template is provided in Appendix C of the Student User Guide.
Questions
Provide answers to all of the questions below:
Explain what is meant by the term “innovation”.
Provide examples of three different types of innovation.
Outline two benefits of innovation in the workplace.
Modern lifestyles and the focus on work/life balance along with the global pandemic of COVID-19 has seen several changes to the modern workplace. Complete the table by providing two examples for each.
Working hours
Working spaces
Agile working
Describe two characteristics of a work team that may contribute to the team becoming innovative.
Describe two environmental factors external to the organisation that may contribute to a work team remaining innovative.
Describe two aspects of group dynamics that may hinder a work team remaining innovative.
Outline two reasons why having people from different cultures or job roles or with different skill sets in a work team may contribute to the team becoming innovative.
Explain why it is important to allocate sufficient time for team activities to encourage innovation.
Explain why role modelling behaviour may impact innovation in a team.
Explain why recognising and rewarding innovative ideas may encourage team innovation.
Explain the possible effect poor communication may have on team innovation.
Explain how providing constructive feedback to team members can affect team innovation.
Assessment Task 1: Checklist
Student’s name:
Did the student provide a sufficient and clear answer that addresses the suggested answer for the following?
Completed successfully?
Comments
Yes
No
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7
Question 8
Question 9
Question 10
Question 11
Question 12
Question 13
Task outcome:
Satisfactory
Not satisfactory
Assessor signature:
Assessor name:
Date:
Assessment Task 2: Project Portfolio
Information for students
In this task, you are required to demonstrate your skills and knowledge by working through a number of activities and completing and submitting a project portfolio.
You will need access to:
a suitable place to complete activities that replicates a business environment including a meeting space and computer and internet access
your learning resources and other information for reference
Project Portfolio template
Simulation Pack (if you need a case study).
Ensure that you:
review the advice to students regarding responding to written tasks in the Business Works Student User Guide
comply with the due date for assessment which your assessor will provide
answer all questions completely and correctly
submit work which is original and, where necessary, properly referenced
submit a completed cover sheet with your work
avoid sharing your answers with other students.
i
Assessment information
Information about how you should complete this assessment can be found in Appendix A of the Business Works Student User Guide. Refer to the appendix for information on:
where this task should be completed
how your assessment should be submitted.
Note: You must complete and submit an assessment cover sheet with your work. A template is provided in Appendix B of the Student User Guide.
Activities
Complete the following activities:
Carefully read the following:
This project is about promoting innovation in a team environment. You need to demonstrate that you can assist a team to create an innovative team environment on at least two occasions. By following the instructions below, you will be working with your team on more than two occasions thus fulfilling this requirement.
You can do this using the case study provided and working with other students in your classroom.
Vocational education and training is all about gaining and developing practical skills that are industry relevant and that can help you to succeed in your chosen career.
You will be collecting evidence for this unit in a Project Portfolio. The steps you need to take are outlined below. Before you begin, complete page 4 of your Project Portfolio.
Identify and plan for innovation
If using the case study in a classroom or online situation, choose a group of at least three students who will act as your work team throughout the project. Open the Simulation pack, read through the case study and select which student will take on which roles within the team.
Work through Section 1 of your Project Portfolio. As part of this step, you will need to:
Outline the team and what the objectives of the team are
Outline ways to find out the what the team needs to be innovative, subject to legislation, policies and procedures
Outline current ways of working and reasons why this may or may not be working
Identify opportunities for innovation and plan for better ways of working. Note: If you are using the case study you may make use of the Resource Use Report Template provided for you. Conduct an inspection of the RTO’s premises and complete the information on the template.
When you have completed Section 1 of your portfolio, submit to your assessor for review and feedback before moving onto the next activity step.
Team collaboration and delegating responsibility
In a group round-table style discussion within your team, use your Project Portfolio to outline the tasks that would support innovation in your work area.
As a team:
identify the team’s strengths and abilities
brainstorm some ground rules for the team
discuss your motivations and what you think the rewards should be for successfully implementing the innovative ideas that the team came up with.
Your assessor will be looking to see that you can:
model open and respectful communications
demonstrate and role model behaviour that supports innovation within the team
share information, knowledge and experiences
contribute to the make-up and rules of the team
demonstrate effective communication skills including:
Speaking clearly and concisely
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
build rapport with your team through use of effective communication skills.
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This can either be viewed in person by your assessor or you may like to video record the session for your assessor to watch later. Your assessor can provide you with more details at this step. Make sure you follow the instructions above and meet the timeframes allocated.
After the meeting, in the role of team leader, compose an email where you delegate responsibilities to your team members based on the opportunities for innovation that were identified by the team in the meeting. Attach this to Section 2 of your Project Portfolio.
Scheduling activities and testing ideas
After the round table discussion, have another team meeting to discuss the responsibilities of each team member, making sure it is suited to team strengths and abilities and that consensus is reached.
As a team, estimate and schedule the time needed for each team member to complete their assigned tasks relating to the innovation, during a typical work week. Each student should create their own schedule that reflects a typical week at work.
Decide how much time should be allocated to thinking, challenging and collaboration as a team. Students should add this to their personal schedule.
Have a breakout session with one other member of the team (10 minutes per person). At the end of the session, swap roles and repeat the tasks below:
challenge at least one of your team member’s ideas
come up with a plan to test your ideas before they are implemented
At the end of the breakout sessions, come together as a team and discuss and explore all of your innovation ideas to come up with your own final list of ideas that can be implemented.
Complete Section 2 of your Project Portfolio.
Submit your Portfolio to your assessor.
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This can either be viewed in person by your assessor or you may like to video record the session for your assessor to watch later. Your assessor can provide you with more details at this step. Make sure you follow the instructions above and meet the timeframes allocated.
Setting criteria to evaluate innovation
Based on your planning and the discussions with your team members, it’s now up to you and your team to implement your ideas. This could include the development of something for the business that helps to achieve a team or organisational goal or implementing ideas based on the case study.
Use Section 3 of your Project Portfolio to develop criteria to evaluate innovation based on the information you learned during the round table discussion and meeting. You will develop a set of tasks to be implemented and the criteria for evaluating whether it was implemented successfully. You will complete this activity on your own and not in discussion with your team members.
Seek feedback and present a response
In a group with your selected team, you will seek feedback from stakeholders and respond to it. If you are using the case study, your assessor will assume the role of the stakeholder. Reflect on the implemented innovation ideas
Ask for feedback from relevant stakeholders and take notes. Transfer this information to Section 3 of your Project Portfolio.
Obtain feedback from your team members
Take time to reflect on the feedback you were given. You will now prepare a short presentation using your choice of software or application e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote, etc. Your presentation should contain the following:
Share examples of successful innovation
your response to stakeholder feedback
your response to team member feedback
the challenges of being innovative
Your assessor will be looking to see that you can:
reflect on activities, feedback and challenges to identity improvement options
model open and respectful communications
demonstrate effective communication skills including:
Speaking clearly and concisely
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
Building rapport with your team through use of effective communication skills.
Submit your completed Project Portfolio
Make sure you have completed all sections of your Project Portfolio, answered all questions, provided enough detail as indicated and proofread for spelling and grammar as necessary. Remember to include all relevant attachments in each section of your portfolio.
Submit to your assessor for marking.
Assessment Task 2: Checklist
Student’s name:
Did the student:
Completed successfully?
Comments
Yes
No
Assist a team on at least two occasions to create an innovative environment?
Identify opportunities to maximise innovation by:
Identifying what the team objectives are
Determining the roles and responsibilities of team members
Determining their own responsibility as team leader
Evaluating what the team requires to be more innovative, subject to workplace policies and procedures
Identifying current ways of working
Identifying opportunities for innovation
Identify ways of working better?
Assisting a team to support innovation in a work area?
Encourage others to contribute to innovation?
Contributing to the make-up and rules of the team?
Planning and scheduling activities?
Modelling open and respectful communications?
Organise and agree on effective ways of working by:
Delegating responsibilities across the team, and encouraging innovation
Agreeing on and sharing responsibilities making the best use of team strengths and abilities
Scheduling activities that allow time for thinking, challenging and collaboration
Establishing reward and stimulation as an integral part of the team’s way of working?
During the round-table discussions, breakout session and meeting demonstrate effective communication skills including:
Speaking clearly and concisely
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
build rapport with your team through use of effective communication skills?
Support and guide colleagues to promote innovation by:
Demonstrating behaviour that supports innovation within team
Create an environment for staff to proactively share information, knowledge and experiences with other team members
Dedicate time with team members to challenge and test ideas
Discuss and explore innovation ideas with other team members?
Identify criteria to review successful innovation in the workplace?
Evaluate innovation ideas and promoted innovation by:
Sharing innovation successes and examples of successful innovation within own workplace
Reflecting on implemented innovation ideas
Seek and respond to feedback from relevant stakeholders to generate discussion and identify improvements in promoting innovation
Discuss with relevant stakeholders the challenges of being innovative
Document feedback received for improvements in promoting innovation for future activities?
Reflecting on activities, feedback and challenges to identity improvement options?
Implement and communicate improvements?
Task outcome:
Satisfactory
Not satisfactory
Assessor signature:
Assessor name:
Date:
Final results record
Student name:
Assessor name:
Date
Final assessment results
Task
Type
Result
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
Did not submit
Assessment Task 1
Knowledge questions
S
U
DNS
Assessment Task 2
Project Portfolio
S
U
DNS
Overall unit results
C
NYC
Feedback
My performance in this unit has been discussed and explained to me.
I would like to appeal this assessment decision.
Student signature: Date:
I hereby certify that this student has been assessed by me and that the assessment has been carried out according to the required assessment procedures.
Assessor signature: Date:
...