5TR005 - Research Methods Assignment Guidelines

As it  is known thing that repeatedly referred, the 2^nd part of the assignment is a continuum of the 1^st part. Dealing with a broad specification of guidelines, the analysis of your 2^nd assignment has to comply with your theoretical analysis on the 1^st assignment. More specifically:

1. Formulation of Topic: You already did that on the 1^st assignment. On the 2^nd one you have to write down 2 – 3 paragraphs (approximately one page) summarising (ALWAYS connected with the 1^st assignment): title, purpose, aims & objectives, research hypothesis and selected methodological approach(es). 

2. We need an indicative timetable you are going to follow during your independent study (primary – secondary research & analysis). In addition, explain how your research is going to be achievable and manageable in terms of size and scope but also in terms of time available to the researcher and resources for the collection and analysis of data.

3. Secondary Data - Literature Review, why is this stage important? Perhaps consider the various sources from which relevant info may be gathered and the possible drawback of using these resources - i.e. political bias from newspapers or, reliability and validity issues of some websites.(approx half a page)

4. Research Methods - Suggest which methods would be useful for gathering primary data for research within your field ALWAYS EXPLAINING WHY:

o   Research Types: ie: exploratory – explanatory – descriptive – evaluative

o   Qualitative – Quantitative

o   Induction – Deduction

o   Examined Population – Sample

o   Method (s), i.e. Survey, Interviews, Observation,

o   Data Collection Instrument(s): ie: Questionnaires – Interviews [also – if applicable – give a sample as an appendix]

5. Writing of the Research Proposal: Always explaining WHY, refer to research methodology focusing on YOUR research (ie: ethics, confidentiality, credibility, research process, research limitations).

Note: Appendices are NOT included to the total word count 

Corporate Business Assignment

Part A- Group assignment 40% of final grade

• You should work in a team of three members. It is your responsibility to inform the module leader who is your team members.
• Please obtain unique team number from the module leader. This number should be printed (font size 24) on the cover page of your complete work. Under the title of your work. Failing to do so will cost you 10% of your final grade.
• The output of your work will be a hardcopy of a PowerPoint presentation. Please remember to write the names of your team members and student number on the cover page of your presentation. NOT on the cover page of your complete work.
• You will hand in your presentation together with the other two parts of this assignment in the same folder as one piece of work. Each one of the team members should hand in a copy of the presentation in her/his folder.
• CorporateSocial Responsibility (CSR) is defined as ‘a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis’ (Belz and Peattie 2009). Is CSR really adopted “on a voluntary basis”? In which situations and to which degree are companies free to decide whether to adopt a CSR approach or not? Use the case of Franke Sissons Ltd to support your theoretical discussion. What are the advantages and the risks of voluntary environmental programs for a company such as Franke Sissons Ltd and the potential risks and benefits commercially?
• Conduct a stakeholders’ analysis of FRANKE WASHROOM SYSTEMS; your analysis should include identification of the relevant stakeholders and their possible position regarding Franke Seasons Ltd.’s environmental and ethical strategy. 

Part C- Marketing Communication Strategy  (30% of final grade)

     Advice Franke Sissons on a communication plan to develop awareness in all the stakeholders  the company and its products and services impinge on 

Marking criteria

           ·              Understanding of the broader issues of the module

           ·             Evidence of wide range of reading

           ·             Understanding of the issues presented by promoting environmental programs

           ·             Critical analysis

           ·             Reflection

           ·            Presentation and readability

           ·            Appropriate report format and use of Harvard reference system

Learning outcome to be tested:

• Demonstrate an awareness of the broader context of business particularly emphasizing its social and environmental impact;
• Apply arguments for relating to how social and environmental can be embedded in managerial decision-making;
• Conduct a stakeholder analysis and suggest ways of improving stakeholders input into decision-making.

 

Intellectual Skills

·         The module aims to develop the students' critical understanding of:

·         The broader context of business particularly emphasizing its social and environmental impact;

·         How to include social and environmental concerns in business  decision-making;

·         Sustainable business practices;

·         Stakeholders analysis and related issues;

·         The inclusion of social and environmental concerns in business strategy;

·         Diversity, particularly with respect to employment practices.

 

Mode of submission

              ·               hard copy and a CD

              ·               PowerPoint presentation

Group work management

Group work is traditionally a source of difficulty for some of the students. You should remember, though, that the ability to work in teams is vital and necessary part of the professional skills of a business professional. Students will have to submit evidence of resource management of their team.  A clear visible record of all students meetings will be required to include the assessment task as an aim and the group objectives to complete the task. Each meeting should be recorded to include:

             ·         Date and time of meeting

             ·         Group members present

             ·         Roles within the group

             ·         Discussion topic(s)

             ·         Assigned tasks, with deadlines, the outcome of which should be included in the log.

The record of the group meetings will be required to be submitted with the assessed work

Commercial and Corporations Law Assignment

This article is related to the Commercial and Corporations Law Assignment.

Internationalization of regulations would benefit countries in Trade and Commerce Assignment. In other words, creation of a set of rules that could be applied and enforced regardless of jurisdiction of a country.

Length: 2500 words (max.) excluding citations and quotations, footnotes and

Bibliography.

1. There is one short essay as part of the progressive assessments. It is worth 20% of the final mark. More information about the assignment will be given with the question.

2. In this unit you are required to use legal citation and referencing not Harvard referencing style which is used in most of your other units.

The Bibliography should include all books, articles and reports consulted including cases or legislation. Correct footnoting should be used. Note that end notes should not be used. Please note that the file cannot be printed. It can however be bought online or ordered at the Unitext bookshop at your campus. The styles as set out in the Guide must be complied with and this will be taken into account in marking.

Check the Language and Learning website for the document ‘Referencing using law style’ which gives you an introductory overview of the Australian Guide to Legal Citation required by the Deakin Law.

3. The Short Essay may be based on a Chapter which has not been covered in class before the due date. Therefore, it is expected that you do your own research on the topic beforehand.

4. You should select only seven (7) academic sources: articles or chapters from books.You should cite them appropriately in your Bibliography. Prescribed text book/s are not considered as reference material. The statutes and cited cases should not counted academic sources.

5. The title page must include:

   Your name and student number

   Word count

6. Please refer to the Rubric (marking guide). Make sure that you follow the guidelines carefully to avoid losing marks for unnecessary mistakes and omissions. The mark will reflect an assessment of style, structure and the content.

7. Both assessments are required to be submitted online via CloudDeakin ONLY.

8. The CloudDeakin submission area will be opened from one week before the due date.

9. The results and feedback will be released within 15 working days from the scheduled submission date.

Submission policy

1. The Short Essay is to be submitted online in CloudDeakin in the area provided.

2. It should be typed and presented in a professional manner. The typed assignment MUST only be in ‘WORD’ format (no PDF or any other format).

3. No extensions will be considered for both submissions unless a written request is submitted to and approved by the designated Unit Chair. Late submissions will be marked subject to a penalty – 1.5 marks will be deducted for each day. Any work submitted more than 10 days overdue will not be marked. If you are given an extension, the 10 days will run from the last day of your extension. Submissions after 10 will not be marked.

4. Any submissions sent by fax or email will not be marked.

5. The late submissions (with or without permission) will not be marked along with the other papers.

6. Late submissions (with or without permission) will be marked at the time of finalization of the final results.

7. Late submission of an assessment occurs when not due to a fault of the Cloud Deakin system a student submits an assessment after the due date and time without a prior permission for an extension from the Unit Team.

BSMAN 3190 - Bachelor of Applied Management Course

BSMAN 3190 is the capstone course in the Bachelor of Applied Management. It is a project course with the sole focus of identifying, planning, implementing, managing & developing and reporting on a project in your workplace.

Your project should address an issue or opportunity that you, or your manager recognize as being important to your organization, and for which your manager is willing to give you the responsibility of taking on the role of project manager.  Where it is not possible for you to engage in a workplace project within your own organization, you should seek to identify an alternative. It may be possible for you to offer your services to a community organization.

The project you choose should afford you the opportunity of drawing on and demonstrating the knowledge that you have gained over the previous six courses.

Your project needs to be approved by your lecturer to ensure its suitability for this course. It is your responsibility to contact your lecturer to discuss your ideas for your project and to submit a brief outline of the project via the Moodle drop-box by the commencement of week three to seek formal approval.

You are also encouraged to contact your lecturer for assistance throughout the duration of the project. Face to face meetings maybe arranged by appointment, as can online meetings. Communication with your lecturer via email is encouraged.

There are no formal learning sections, course materials or learning activities to complete in this course on Moodle. However, you will be required to access Moodle to check for important updates from your lecturer and also to submit your assessments.

An introductory workshop will be offered early in the semester.  During this workshop we will conduct a brainstorming session to assist you with ideas for potential projects and also discuss the assessment requirements, with particular emphasis on formal report writing skills, presentation skills and critical reflection.

 LEARNING TASKS AND ASSESSMENT:

Summary

Learning Task	Assessment	Weighting	Week Due
The reflective journal will document the critical reflection of the project manager on the project progress, including issues, breakthroughs, and frustrations. Progressive reflections are required.	Assessment 1: Reflective Journal	30%	An initial submission is required in week 3 for lecturer feedback only, it not assess able at this stage.  The progressive reflective journal is due in Week 12 for assessment.
The preliminary report Opportunity to provide feedback on the progress of the project, raise issues for clarification and to “realign” the direction of the project based on experience so far.	Assessment2: Preliminary Project Report	20%	Week4
The final project report will be in the formula written report and verbal presentation which outlines all findings, outcomes and recommendations of the workplace project.	Assessment3: •          Presentation •          Final Project Report	10% 40%	Week11 or 12 Week12

Note on Assessment

At the University a PASS is usually achieved at 50

Students are strongly advised to attempt ALL assessment tasks. Students who do not submit a task(s) or fail a task(s) in the semester will be identified as a ‘student at risk’ of unsatisfactory academic progress (outlined in the Faculty Handbooks) and will be directed to the Faculty’s Intervention Program. Students who encounter difficulties or who are otherwise concerned regarding their progress should consult their lecturer.

Assessment criteria set out the details by which performance in each task will be judged. This information will give a clear and explicit understanding of the expected standards to be achieved relative to the marks awarded.

Assessment details and criteria

Value: 30%

Word Limit: Completed submission - 2,500 words

Purpose:

This assessment task assists students to develop skills in:

• Reflection on project progress and identification of contingency strategies if required;

• Communicating project findings within the workplace;

• Self-management of time lines; and

• Review and reflection on the learning experience with particular reference to project management, organizational change, and management skills.

 Task Overview:

This assessment task requires students to produce an ongoing critical reflection of the progress of their project. This task does not need to be completed in formal report format. However, where as part of your reflection you refer to management theory or other sources of information, that information should be referenced in APA style.

It is important to note that a reflective journal is not just about describing project events. While some description will be necessary, the purpose of this journal is to demonstrate your ability to learn from your experiences, draw connections between your experiences and theory, to examine reasons for your successes and failures, and to consider how your approach might differ in the future.

Further information and resources to assist you in reflective writing will be presented in the workshop arranged for week two.

Journal entries should be made at frequent intervals throughout the semester in order to capture important reflections in a timely manner. The absolute minimum for your final submission should comprise of at least six entries (one every two weeks).

Your first entry must be submitted to your lecturer for feedback by the end of Week 3. Your completed journal is required at the conclusion of Week 12 at which time you will then receive a grade for this task.

Assessment Criteria:

Please refer to marking guide.

Assessment 2: Preliminary Project Report

Value: 20%

Word Limit: 2000 words

Purpose:

This assessment task assists students to develop skills in:

·        applying management theories to an organisational setting;

·        applying project management skills within an organisational environment  to resolve a management issue or opportunity;

·        communicating project details within the workplace

Task Overview:

The preliminary project report is an opportunity to present the details of your project and to demonstrate the integration of project management theory in the planning stages. It should be presented in a business report format, as would be appropriate to submit to the management team of your organization.

Although the exact contents of your report may vary according to the nature of the project undertaken, at a minimum, your report should encompass the following:

·              executive summary

·              background

·              introduction

·              purpose

·              scope statement (including key deliverables)

·              work breakdown structure

·              project controls

·              risk management strategy

·              summary schedule (milestone report and Gantt chart)

·              summary budget

·              references

Assessment Criteria:

Please refer to the marking guide

Assessment 3: Final Project Report and Presentation

Part B: To be assigned – Week 11 or 12 on allocated presentation days

Value:            50%    (Part A: Final Project Report 40%Part B:  Presentation 10%)

Word Limit: 4000 words

Purpose:

This assessment task assists students to develop skills in:

·              communicating and negotiating with a range of stakeholders during the life of the

project;

·              critically reflecting on project progress and identifying contingency     strategies if required;

·              communicating project findings within the workplace

·              presenting project findings to an internal/external audience.

Task Overview:

This assessment will comprise two components:

Part A- Written Report

Your final submission should provide a comprehensive review of your project. It should take the form of a formal business report that can be presented to all members of your organization. It is appropriate to write this report in the third person.

Central to your report should be a comparison of the actual process and outcomes with the plans and goals outlined in your preliminary project report.

As with your preliminary project report, the exact contents of your final project report will vary according to the nature of the project undertaken. Your report should include all of the standard formal business report requirements such as executive summary etc., and a summary and critical discussion on all areas that are relevant to your particular project and its execution for example:

·              the issue the project investigated

·              the project plan

·              methodology used and the extent to which you applied it

·              project highlights, disappointments, set-backs, problems

·              project outcomes, recommendations and interventions required

·              lessons learnt, both professionally and personally

Part B - Presentation

For your presentation, please read carefully the following scenario under which you are to present.

Scenario:

After six months in your current position in your organization, the senior management team has asked you to provide a presentation outlining the latest project that you have project managed as part of your role in the organization. Of note, there will be members of your audience who are external consultants to the organisation and not necessarily familiar with the aspects that you will be reporting on.

Your presentation should provide a succinct overview of the planning, implementation and outcomes of your recently completed project. Your presentation must demonstrate your ability to manage the planning and implementation of a project. It should conclude with a reflection that will demonstrate to the management team of your ability to learn from your experience.

You have been directed that your presentation should last for approximately 20 minutes. A warning bell will sound at 18 minutes and you will be expected to conclude your presentation within the following two minutes. The management team may then have questions for you regarding your project.

Standard business technology (a computer, projector, screen and lectern) is available; however you are encouraged to consider other creative alternatives in order to engage your audience.

As a final requirement, a hand-out summary of your presentation should be provided to all members of the management team the day prior to your presentation. (This must be uploaded on Moodle for your lecturer to access the day prior to your presentation).

SEQUENCE:

As semesters and contact hours vary between teaching locations, please contact local lecturers for further information about the schedule.

BSMAN 3190 is a project course. The primary focus of learning will be on completing the workplace project. Students are encouraged to access the course lecturer as they move through the project. Individual meetings may be arranged by appointment.

There are no formal learning sections, course materials or learning activities to complete in this course.