The Capstone paper for MOL670 is a comprehensive leadership development plan designed by the learner. This
document integrates concepts not only from MOL670 but from courses across the MOL program. This paper is
designed to allow the learner to demonstrate:
• Mastery of the concepts learned in the MOL program,
• The ability to critically analyze situations using those concepts,
• The ability to synthesize and apply the concepts,
• The ability to perform graduate level research,
• The ability to integrate a biblical worldview into the topic of leadership, and
• The ability to communicate in a professional and proficient manner expected of a graduate learner.
The Capstone paper is a high-stakes, comprehensive exercise that assesses the learner’s ability to demonstrate a
master’s degree level of the abilities and knowledge noted above. In addition to earning the total number of points
necessary to pass the course, the learner must earn on the capstone paper a score equal to 80% of the points available
for the Capstone paper. If a learner does not submit a Capstone paper that does not grade at the 80% level, a grade
no higher than a C will be recorded. The learner will be allowed one resubmission of the Capstone paper within 30
days after the end of the course to improve upon the grade of C for the course.
What follows is a description of the required contents of a well-constructed leadership development plan (LDP) for
MOL670.
1. Background of the Organization
This section should be brief, but should provide the reader with enough background to understand the
situation and setting for the leadership development plan.
2. Diagnosis
This section identifies the signs indicating that leadership development is necessary or would be beneficial.
This section should identify the part or component of the organization in which leadership development
should take place.
3. Identification
This section describes the person(s) or group that will be the focus of your LDP (i.e., the candidates).
4. Values:
This section identifies the terminal and instrumental values that are most prominent in this LDP.
5. Competencies (objectives).
This section identifies the leadership competencies that the plan will develop in the candidates.
6. Organizational benefits.
This section describes how development of these competencies will benefit the organization. The writer
may identify any or all of the following benefits to the organization. Descriptions of the benefits should be
specific and where possible, quantified.
a. Financial benefits
b. Operational benefits
c. Human relations benefits
d. Strategic benefits
7. Personal benefits.
This section will describe how development of the identified competencies will make the candidates better
leaders and how these competencies may benefit them personally.
8. Literature review.
This section will allow the writer the ability to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in performing
research. In this section, the writer will summarize findings from peer-reviewed sources, reputable books
and trade journals that support the writer’s leadership development plan. The literature review should
contain sources that support the following aspects of the plan:
a. The importance of leadership development to organizations
b. The nature, purpose and benefits of the leadership competencies that are contemplated in the LDP
c. The strategies and implementation (action plans) intended to be used in the LDP.
9. Strategies:
This section will identify and describe the strategy(ies) (i.e., experiences or education) for developing the
competencies that have been identified.
10. Implementation.
This section will describe the action steps that will be used to carry out the strategy or strategies previously
described. Action steps will need to be specific and will need to clearly focus on developing the previously
identified competencies.
11. Financial:
In this section, the writer will identify resources that will be needed to successfully carry out the strategies
and action steps identified. The section will include a professional-appearing budget for the LDP and
where possible, a calculation of the return on investment for the LDP.
12. Human resources and legal.
This section will identify and discuss human resources and legal issues that will or may be present in the
implementation of this LDP.
13. Feedback.
This section will discuss the feedback loop for the LDP. In this section, the writer will:
a. Identify how the plan leaders will give your candidates feedback on how they are doing.
b. Identify how the plan participants will give plan leaders feedback on how the LDP is progressing.
14. Evaluation.
In this section the writer will describe how plan leaders will evaluate the results of your LDP after
implementation. This section will discuss how the leaders will assess the specific competencies to be
learned, and whether (or to what extent) the participants developed the intended competencies. Discussion
will include:
a. What will be measured or observed.
b. How it will be measured or observed.
c. How the findings will be reported and used.
15. Biblical worldview integration.
In this section the writer will demonstrate understanding of the applicability of a biblical worldview to
leadership and leadership development. This section should include:
a. The Christian and Biblical foundations for the LDP
b. The biblical concepts and specific scriptures that support those foundations
c. Discussion of how those ideas and foundations have been intentionally included in the design of
the LDP.
d. A description of how the LDP may be different without the influence of those foundations or
without a biblical worldview. Specific attention should be paid to the extent to which the concepts
of servant leadership are used in the LDP.
General description:
• The typical Capstone paper written according to this guide will be approximately 30 pages long, and
may also include appendices for forms, tables and other supplementary material.
• The Capstone paper should demonstrate a high level of proficiency in graduate-level communication. It
will be written using the Belhaven APA rules and protocols in effect at the time that the paper is written.
• The paper will include references. While no specific number of references is provided, it is in the
instructor’s prerogative to determine if the number and quality of the references used demonstrate Master’s
degree research and writing proficiency, and if the sources used adequately support the LDP. As a guide,
the typical leadership development plan will have eight or more references, though.
• The biblical worldview integration will constitute at least 1,000 words and will demonstrate graduate level
critical thinking and analysis
