Group Projects: Units 4 and 8

Project Introduction

This course includes two major group-based leadership projects designed to build progressively deeper leadership skills. Both projects use the same group members, allowing you to develop trust, collaboration habits, and shared leadership practices over time.

Planning Tips for Success

Both projects require intentional coordination, shared responsibility, and reflection. Groups that communicate early, establish roles, and set internal deadlines tend to perform more confidently and professionally. These assignments mirror how leadership work happens in real organizations through collaboration, ethical judgment, and adaptability rather than individual effort alone.

Your instructor will set the groups under People (left-hand navbar) / MBA620. Once this has been done, you will be able to access and use the built-in group features to communicate with your group.

Step One:

Step Two: Image telling students to click on the group name that they were assigned by their instructor.

Project Roadmaps

Each unit contributes to your progress on the final project. Expand the sections below to see what you will complete along the way.

Unit 4: Graduate Case Study

In Unit 4, your group will analyze a complex leadership case involving communication breakdowns, informal influence, and ethical pressure. This project focuses on diagnosis and strategy. You will collaboratively identify the core leadership challenge, apply ethical leadership theory, and propose evidence based interventions to restore trust and performance.

This assignment emphasizes:

Critical analysis of leadership challenges
Application of theory to real organizational problems
Ethical decision making under pressure
Collaborative leadership and shared accountability

Expect to coordinate schedules for discussion, divide research and writing responsibilities, and align on a unified leadership perspective.

Due: Unit 4, Sunday, 11:59 p.m. CT

Unit 8: Ethical Leadership Simulation Lab

In Unit 8, your group will move from analysis to action by designing and presenting a leadership simulation. Rather than writing about leadership, you will demonstrate it through a realistic scenario that integrates ethics, emotional intelligence, organizational culture, and AI informed decision making.

This final project emphasizes:

Integration of leadership theories from Units 1 to 7
Ethical reasoning and emotional leadership in practice
Strategic thinking during organizational change
Creative, professional presentation in an online format

Because this project builds on your Unit 4 collaboration, early planning and role clarity will help manage workload and maximize creativity.

Due: Unit 8, Sunday, 11:59 p.m. CT

Supporting Materials

Park Library Resources:
Purdue OWL - APA 7

Grading Criteria

All grading criteria are available on both the assignment pages, which should be available to you at the start of your course. One member of your group will submit the group's deliverable, and the same scores will be shared among all group members.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Expand the sections below to learn more.

How am I assigned to a group?

Your instructor will place everyone in the course within a group. If you have questions, please email your instructor.

Once your instructor has created the groups, you can click "People" in the left-hand navbar to locate your group and additional collaborative tools.

What if I have technical issues accessing my group?

If you need immediate assistance, contact Canvas directly using the Help link in the left-hand Canvas navigation bar. Additional supports can be found under Canvas> Course Information Module> Student Resources.

Do I need to use outside research?

The short answer is yes. In both assignments, you will need at least three scholarly outside sources to support your work. We recommend using the Park library resources above. Your assignment pages contain additional details and will be open all term for you to preview.

Be sure to follow the AI Policy Acknowledgement for MBA 620 for any use of artificial intelligence.

How do I use the rubric to guide my work?

Rubrics are attached directly to the assignments you currently have access to and should be referred to while working within your group. If you do not have access to Units 4 and 8 assignments, email your instructor to open these modules.

Can I submit drafts for feedback before the final due date?

No drafts may be submitted, but you are encouraged to email or call your instructor to ask questions. You may also request a Zoom conference if needed.

How much time should I plan for these projects?

These are graduate-level collaborative projects and require more time than individual assignments. Plan time for coordination, shared analysis, drafting, and revision.

Unit 4: Begin early to align on the leadership challenge, select theories, and divide responsibilities.

Unit 8: Allow additional time for scenario design, role coordination, presentation development, and reflection.

What does strong collaboration look like?

Strong collaboration results in a cohesive final product that reflects shared leadership rather than separate individual contributions.

Effective teams:

Agree on the core diagnosis and strategy before drafting
Use a shared outline and reference list
Review and revise each other’s work for alignment
Explain key decisions and rationale clearly in the final product

Can our group use AI on these projects?

Yes, with boundaries. AI may be used only to support organization, clarity, and professionalism after your group has completed the leadership thinking and decision-making. Review our MBA 620 AI Acceptable Use document before using AI.

AI may be used to:

Organize ideas or improve structure
Edit for clarity, concision, or professional tone
Assist with grammar or APA formatting

AI may not be used to:

Generate the full paper, simulation, script, or reflection
Produce original analysis, leadership decisions, or conclusions
Interpret course readings or cases for you
Replace professional judgment or ethical reasoning

Do we need to disclose the use of AI?

If AI is used in a meaningful way (for example, organization, revision, or formatting), include a full reference and brief disclosure.

Example APA reference entry:
OpenAI. (2026). ChatGPT (GPT-5.2) [Large language model]. https://www.openai.com/

Example disclosure note:
Note. ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2026) was used to support organization, clarity, and APA formatting. All analysis, interpretation, and final decisions were made by the project team.

How is individual participation evaluated?

All group members must contribute meaningfully. Contributions should be visible in analysis, leadership decisions, theory application, and the final presentation or reflection.

In Unit 8, role-based formats, each member must have an active leadership role that is clearly represented in the work.

What if our group disagrees on decisions?

Disagreement is expected in leadership work. Use leadership theory, ethical reasoning, and evidence to guide discussion and reach a final decision.

Document your chosen approach and explain why it was selected. Well-handled professional disagreement strengthens the quality of your analysis.