Critically evaluate the impact of current and emerging trends on organizations.

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ASSESSMENT BRIEF AND MARKING RUBRIC

Module title: Managing strategy, operations and partnerships (SG7001)

Assessment point: Assessment point 1 (Week 6)

Assessment task: Report

Word count limit: 4500 words +/- 10% (excluding references and appendices)

Width: 75% of overall module grade

Procedure in the event of illness or other valid cause (extenuating circumstances)

If you believe that:

• your performance in assessment or reassessment has been impaired, or;

• you were unable to attend for an assessment or reassessment, or;

• you were unable to submit assessed or reassessed work by the scheduled date due to

illness or other valid cause (as defined in the Procedures Governing Extenuating

Circumstances), may submit an application for extenuation for the relevant component(s) to

Unicaf Extenuating Circumstances team ([email protected]).

*Once a component has been capped, extenuation does not uncap it.

Academic misconduct including plagiarism

Ensure that you are familiar with the relevant regulations regarding academic misconduct. By

submitting the assignment, you declare that it is your own work and that the material and

sources of information used, including internet sources, have been fully identified and properly

acknowledged. In addition, you confirm that the presented work has not been submitted for

any other assessment. You also acknowledge that the faculty reserves the right to investigate

allegations of plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct which, if proven and

dependent on the severity level of the offence, may result in a penalty that could affect your

progress.

By submitting your work, you acknowledge that you have read and agreed with the above

statements.

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General Guidance

Your assignment should be MS Word processed (handwritten assignments are not accepted),

using Times New Roman size 12 font, double spaced, with numbered pages and your student

number printed as a footer on every page. Note this is a report supported by academic research

so you should adhere to the appropriate referencing guidance. The word limit stated for this

assignment excludes the list of references at the end of the assignment but includes all text in

the main body of the assignment (including direct quotations, in-text citations, footnotes,

tables, diagrams and graphs). Please be aware that exceeding the word limit will affect the

academic judgement of the piece of work and may result in the award of a lower mark.

Appendices are not considered a supplement and will not be assessed as part of the content of

the assignment. As such, they will not contribute to the grade awarded; however, it may be

appropriate to use an Appendices section for any material which is a useful reference for the

reader. Please note that appendices are not included in the word count. The majority of

references should come from primary sources (e.g. journal articles, conference papers, reports,

etc.) although you can also utilise area specific textbooks. You must ensure that you use the

Harvard style of referencing. Please indicate the word count length at the end of your

assignment.

Marking and assessment

This assignment will be marked out of 100% and contributes to 75% of the total module mark.

The pass mark is 50%. Nevertheless, in to pass this module, you must both achieve an

aggregate mark of 50% and also meet the assignment threshold marks. For the purposes of

passing a module each assignment has a threshold mark of 40%.

The marking rubric is attached, which offers guidance on the assessment criteria and weighting.

Late Submission

There will be a stipulated deadline date for all assignments. All assignments will need to be

submitted by the set time on the stipulated deadline date. Assignments submitted up to 24 hours

late will be accepted, but the assignment mark will be subject to a deduction of 5 marks from

the mark awarded or a mark of 40% whichever is the greater.

Learning outcomes applied in this assessment

2. [critically] Evaluate the impact of current and emerging trends on organizations.

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3. Demonstrate an ability to effectively analyse problems and issues employing a range of

appropriate concepts, theories and approaches.

6. Apply tools and techniques of strategic and operations analysis.

8. Develop succinct business reports.

Assessment guidelines

Produce a 4500-word report (+/- 10%) (excluding the list of references) which offers students

the ability to demonstrate their developing knowledge and application of the teaching and

learning material covered in weeks 1 to 5. It also encourages students to develop their thoughts

and perspectives on contemporary business issues, and be intellectually creative (underpinned

by credible resources).

Task

Students are required to produce a report (LO8) on one international organization of their

choosing and address the following issues:

Task 1:

Brief introduction to the organisation and sector it operates in, including a summary of the

past 3 years’ revenue, operating profits and general overview of the business’s operational

activities (LO2).

Task 2:

An outline of one strategic business issue they are, or have recently, faced; contextualised

within the organisational setting, including an overview of relevant strategic decisions that

led to their current position (discussed through relevant literature, tools and techniques)

(LO2/3).

Task 3:

Critical analysis of why the issue has strategic implications and its impact on its stakeholders

(discussed through relevant literature and supported by other contemporary examples)

(LO2/6).

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In selecting the company to analyse, students will want to spend time identifying an

international organization which has experienced, or is experiencing, major issues as a result

of current and emerging global trends, and satisfy themselves that there are a number of

credible resources from which to refer. Well established media (e.g. BBC, Financial Times,

New York Times, etc) may be used to develop the context of the discussion, but the material

used to underpin the research and analysis should be from academic books and/or peer

reviewed academic journals.

***

Report Format

What is a report?

A report is written for a clear purpose and to a particular audience. Specific information and

evidence are presented, analysed and applied to a particular problem or issue. The information

is presented in a clearly structured format making use of sections and headings so that the

information is easy to locate and follow.

When you are asked to write a report, you will usually be given a report brief which provides

you with instructions and guidelines. The report brief may outline the purpose, audience and

problem or issue that your report must address, together with any specific requirements for

format or structure. This guide offers a general introduction to report writing.

What makes a good report?

Two of the reasons why reports are used as forms of written assessment are:

• to find out what you have learned from your reading, research or experience;

• to give you experience of an important skill that is widely used in the work place.

An effective report presents and analyses facts and evidence that are relevant to the specific

problem or issue of the report brief. All sources used should be acknowledged and referenced

throughout, in accordance with the preferred method of your department.

The style of writing in a report is usually less discursive than in an essay, with a more direct

and economic use of language. A well written report will demonstrate your ability to:

SG7001 / Managing Strategy, Operations and Partnerships

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• understand the purpose of the report brief and adhere to its specifications;

• gather, evaluate and analyse relevant information;

• structure material in a logical and coherent ;

• present your report in a consistent manner according to the instructions of the report

brief;

• make appropriate conclusions that are supported by the evidence and analysis of the

report;

• make thoughtful and practical recommendations where required.

The structure of a report

The main features of a report are described below to provide a general guide. These should be

used in conjunction with the instructions or guidelines provided by your department.

Title Page

This should briefly but explicitly describe the purpose of the report (if this is not obvious from

the title of the work); remember to add your name and student number/assessment number, and

which assessment it pertains to.

Summary (Abstract)

The summary should briefly describe the content of the report. It should cover the aims of the

report, what was found and a brief review of the conclusions. Aim for about 1/2 a page in length

and avoid detail or discussion; just outline the main points. Remember that the summary is the

first thing that is read. It should provide the reader with a clear, helpful overview of the content

of the report.

Contents (Table of Contents)

The contents page should list the different chapters and/or headings together with the page

numbers. Your contents page should be presented in such a way that the reader can quickly

scan the list of headings and locate a particular part of the report. You may want to number

chapter headings and subheadings in addition to providing page references. Whatever

numbering system you use, be sure that it is clear and consistent throughout.

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Introduction

The introduction sets the scene for the main body of the report. The aims and objectives of the

report should be explained in detail. Any problems or limitations in the scope of the report

should be identified, and a description of research methods, the parameters of the research and

any necessary background history should be included.

Methods

Information under this heading may include: a list of research methods used (e.g. literature

review using ProQuest resources and the filter criteria applied for each search) and other

sources of information and details of selection/rejection; reference to any problems

encountered and subsequent changes in procedure.

Discussion

The main body of the report is where you discuss your material. The literature and evidence

you have gathered should be summarised, analysed and discussed with specific reference to

the problem or issue. If your discussion section is lengthy you might divide it into section

headings. Your points should be grouped and arranged in an that is logical and easy to

follow. Use headings and subheadings to create a clear structure for your material. Use bullet

points to present a series of points in an easy-to-follow list. As with the whole report, all sources

used should be acknowledged and correctly referenced (remember to use the most credible

resources available).

Conclusion

In the conclusion you should show the overall significance of what has been covered. You may

want to remind the reader of the most important points that have been made in the report or

highlight what you consider to be the most central issues or findings. However, no new material

should be introduced in the conclusion. Remember to specifically answer the initial questions

posed.

Appendices

Under this heading you should include all the supporting information you have used that is not

published. This might include tables, graphs, questionnaires, surveys or transcripts. Refer to

the appendices in the body of your report.

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List of References

A key feature of academic writing, the list of references should list – in alphabetical by

author – all published sources referred to in your report. There are different styles of using

references so be sure to refer to the study guide and check your departmental handbook for

guidelines.

Note the suggested structure for your essay:

Section/aspect Content to cover Marks available

Introduction

500 words
General background on the

topic you are going to discuss.

Possible definitions for terms

relating to the question.

What the essay will include

and/or leave out (scope).

What themes the essay will

discuss and the they are

presented.

What the essay will argue /

demonstrate (thesis statement).

10 Marks

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Main Body

3500 words

The following structure can be

used for discussion of the themes

that you have identified:

T – topic (sentence to introduce

the theme or topic of the

paragraph)

E – example (you could mention

an example here to focus the

topic)

S – support (bring in supporting

information from your research /

eg. theory, research studies,

statistics, legislation,

professional guidelines,

examples from practice)

T – talk about the ideas

(strengths, weaknesses,

importance, relevance,

usefulness, comparison to other

ideas). Evaluation and critical

discussion of the supporting

materials and how they relate to

the question under scrutiny –

keep the discussion focused on

answering the question in the

essay title.

60 Marks

Conclusions

500 words

Links back to the themes

identified in the introduction.

A reminder of what the essay has

argued.

A recap of the main themes that

have been discussed.

15 Marks

Formatting and

Referencing

(list of references not

included in word

count)

High quality presentation of the

material that conforms to

principles of academic writing

and contains minimal errors in

sentence construction, grammar

and punctuation. The

assignment followed

appropriate academic

conventions regarding in-text

citations and referencing.

15 Marks

Total: 4500 words 100

Marks

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Masters Grading Scale

Grade Grade Range

Distinction 70-100 %

Merit 60-69 %

Pass 50-59 %

Not passed 0-49 %

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Module Title: Managing strategy, operations and partnerships (SG7001)

Assessment Title: Assessment Point 1 Weighted: 75% 4500-word

report

Criteria and

weighting

90-100%

Highly

Exceptional

Work

80 – 90%

Outstanding

Work

70 – 79%

Excellent

Work

60 – 69%

Very Good

Quality Work

50 – 59%

Good Quality

Work

40 – 49%

Acceptable

work with some

good aspects

20 – 39%

Work does not

satisfy

assessment

criteria

0-19%

Work fails to

meet the

assessment

criteria

25%

Selection and

application of a

relevant case

study subject

and the

identification of

the strategic

issues,

underpinned by

resources to

inform

discussions

(LO2/3)

Exceptional and

outstanding

integration of

the appropriate

data,

contextualised

with commercial

awareness,

business

maturity and

skill.

Excellent

integration of

the appropriate

data,

contextualised

with good

evidence to

show

commercial

awareness,

business

maturity and

skill.

Very good

integration of

the

appropriate

data,

contextualise

d with

evidence to

show

commercial

awareness,

business

maturity and

skill.

Good

integration of

the appropriate

data,

contextualised

with good

evidence to

show overall

awareness,

business

maturity and

skill.

Adequate

integration of

the appropriate

data,

contextualised

with good

evidence to

show overall

awareness,

business

maturity and

skill.

Some

integration of

the appropriate

data,

contextualised

with limited

evidence to

show awareness,

business

maturity and

skill.

Poor quality of

integration of

the appropriate

data,

contextualised

with very

limited evidence

to show

awareness,

business

maturity and

skill.

No

integration of

the

appropriate

data,

contextualise

d with very

poor

evidence to

show

awareness,

business

maturity and

skill.

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50%

Demonstration

of knowledge

and application

of relevant

theories,

concepts and

other supporting

material (LO6)

All relevant

theories/concept

ual models

accurately and

extensively

presented.

Exceptional

application of

theory and

supporting

materials.

All relevant

theories/conce

ptual models

accurately and

extensively

presented.

Excellent

delivery of

applied theory.

Virtually all

relevant

theories/conc

eptual models

accurately

and

extensively

presented.

High level

delivery of

applied

theory.

Most of the

relevant

theories/conce

ptual models

accurately

presented.

Good level

delivery of

applied theory.

Some of the

relevant

theories/conce

ptual models

accurately

presented. A

reasonable

delivery of

applied theory.

Omissions and

inaccuracies in

the presented of

theories/concept

ual models.

Some level of

delivery of

applied theory.

Many

deficiencies and

omissions in

theories/concept

ual models.

Delivery of

applied theory is

inadequate or

wholly absent.

Major

deficiencies

and

omissions in

theories/conc

eptual

models.

Delivery of

applied

theory is

wholly

absent.

25%

Use of the

prescribed

format and

derived

conclusions, and

overall quality

of the answer:

development of

the paper, the

resources

applied and

referencing

(LO8)

Exceptionally

innovative.

Outstanding

professional and

appropriate

delivery and

language.

Accurate

referencing

throughout.

Highly

innovative.

Very

professional

and

appropriate

delivery and

language. Very

well referenced

throughout.

Very

innovative.

Strongly

professional

and

appropriate

delivery and

language.

Well

referenced

throughout.

High standard

of innovation.

Professional

and

appropriate

delivery and

language.

Referencing

most accurate.

Good standard

of innovation.

Appropriate

delivery and

language.

Many

referencing

errors.

Reasonable

standard of

innovation.

Reasonably

appropriate

delivery and

language.

Referencing was

inaccurate

and/or

inconsistent.

Low quality of

innovation. Poor

and inadequate

delivery and

language.

Referencing

very poor.

No

reasonable

attempt at

innovation.

Poor and

inadequate

delivery and

language.

Referencing

absent.

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