Business Essentials: Extended Project – 2018 |
Instructions
All submission of coursework will be online via Turnitin on the module’s Moodle site unless stated otherwise.
The Roehampton Harvard Referencing system should be used for any resources used as part of your research.
Final submission deadline is:
Group Poster Presentation: w/c Monday 19th February 2018, 10am, in class presentation (30% of marks) – individually marked within a group poster presentation format
The poster must identify individual contributions and marks will be allocated on that basis. Any posters where individual contributions have not been explicitly defined will result in all members of the group being awarded the same mark.
Individual written report: Monday 23rd April 2018, 2pm, via Turnitin (70% of marks)
Your student number MUST be included in your document on each page of your report and a word count given at the end of the document. All names and student numbers must be included on your posters.
Word count: approx. 2,000 for the individual assignment. Poster word count may vary but you should base your work around an A1 -size sheet and make as much appropriate use of that space as you can in order to fulfil the requirements of the brief. Note that A2 is acceptable but it may be difficult to ensure enough information is presented in that much space so A1 is recommended. As a guideline, each student is expected to contribute in the region of at least 300 words, or diagrams and research content representing a similar level of effort.
Use appropriate credible sources, referenced in accordance with the University of Roehampton’s Harvard Referencing guidelines:
http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/Referencing.aspx
Formatting
- All main body text for both the poster and individual report should be Arial, size 12;
- Indiviaul report must be submitted as a Word document (not a pdf) using the Turnitin link provided on Moodle;
- Other fonts and sizes may be used to enhance structural elements of your work as appropriate.
The Assignment
The assignment consists of two elements, based around an investigation into a business sector of your choice (e.g. construction, IT consulting, fast food, air travel, plumbing supplies, etc.). These are just examples and you may wish to focus more specifically, such as housing construction or ‘no frills’ air travel. You should explore and research this sector both as a group and individually to ensure you are able to produce the following deliverables.
- A ‘poster presentation’ to be delivered as a group of three or four people and presented in class time (w/c 19th February 2018) to lecturers who will wish to read it and then discuss it with you for around ten minutes. This poster should clearly identify your chosen business sector, the major competitive players and forces (use Porter theory from semester 1), market size, structure and give a good overall introduction to the nature of that market sector, the way it works, the key issues it faces and the direction it is taking;
- An individual, written assignment of approximately 2,000 words, excluding tables, diagrams, headings, appendices, bibliography, etc.
- Each person in the group is required to identify a different major competitor in this sector (so no two group members should choose the same organisation) and explore how that organisation is positioning itself to attempt to gain/maintain competitive advantage. You should explore any aspect that may be relevant to that organisation’s competitive position such as supply chain, pricing, brand values, marketing, HR, etc. This list is not prescriptive and you are free to explore what makes this organisation different and explain how it has responded to the market. Ensure you mention how its position has changed in recent years and conclude your work by giving your own opinion on what it needs to do to succeed in this sector in the next 2-5 years.
- In addition, you will be expected to keep a weekly diary of progress which will form a part of your formative feedback. The five weeks of timetabled classes (the 6th week is poster presentation week) will be focused on assisting you in your research. Some guidance will be given but each student will be expected to bring a ‘diary’ of progress week by week (template to be provided) showing what they have done, what their targets are for the following week. This diary will be checked off each week. This diary will show both group and individual targets and completion of tasks.
Note that students will be required to show evidence of research from a range of sources including credible media sources. Use of academic and industry journals is not essential. You should avoid just relying on corporate websites although you are encouraged to contact your chosen companies in order to get some direct information from the organisations’ Corporate Affairs or PR departments.
Marking Schema
Poster Presentation (group mark) – 30% of total, apportioned as follows:
- Evidence of research (20%). Have you shown that you have researched around the subject, used appropriate references and have you made use of these sources to inform and enhance your description of the industry sector?
- Logical flow and application (30%). Have you addressed all the required points of the task in a logical and consistent manner, demonstrating some ability to apply theory to practice? Is the poster fit for purpose and does it convey the information required?
- Explanation and Understanding (30%). Does your work demonstrate understanding of the sector under consideration and the competitive pressure it faces? Does it give insight into its current issues and direction?
- Professionalism (20%). Is your poster tidy and well laid out, with appropriate structure and standard of concise and effective written English? Have any diagrams and illustrations used been well chosen and correctly presented and is the work of appropriate length? Are you able to communicate your understanding verbally when required and discuss your work with confidence?
Individual report – 70% of total, apportioned as follows
- Evidence of research (20%). Have you shown that you have researched around the subject, used appropriate references and have you made use of these sources to inform and enhance your description of the organisation?
- Logical flow and application (30%). Have you addressed all the required points of the task in a logical and consistent manner, demonstrating some ability to apply theory to practice? Have you uniquely chosen an appropriate organisation and have you conveyed the information required?
- Explanation and Understanding (30%). Does your work demonstrate understanding of the organisation and its competitive position? Have you explored its uniqueness and demonstrated some insight into its current issues and direction?
- Professionalism (20%). Is your report tidy and well laid out, with appropriate structure and standard of concise and effective written English? Have any diagrams and illustrations used been well chosen and correctly presented and is the work of appropriate length?
Diary – formative – not marked
- Have you completed your diary each week with realistic and logical goals, demonstrating that you have followed through on your previous week’s targets?
Note that you are expected to show you are ready and able to engage with a level 4 degree course so superficial answers will not be awarded pass marks. A good set of answers will therefore be well researched and presented, argued logically and effectively, using examples from credible sources to illustrate your points and referenced in line with the University of Roehampton’s Harvard Referencing guidelines.
As well as the schema shown above the following overall grade descriptors will be used to guide the final grade awarded:
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