Assessment 2 Task – (AS2): Evidence-based analysis | Assignment Solution

Quality sources normally include academic journals and academic books and credible reports. You must also cite and reference your sources using Harvard Referencing (Cite Them Right). There will be guidance on your DMU Learning Zone to help you to consider the credibility of your research and to help you with Harvard Referencing. For support with critical reading and writing, how to approach literature reviews, Harvard referencing, and other academic skills please visit Centre for learning and Study Support (CLaSS)

This is a traditional essay assignment with 2000 words, which will worth 60% of the overall module mark. Due to the highly contemporary nature of the module, the syllabus and its emphasis can change from year to year. The students are expected to demonstrate both theoretical and practical knowledge while answering the question.

Students are expected to develop a greater understanding of the subject by continued and extensive reading using a range of sources while getting prepared for the assessment. It will not be sufficient to rely on material given in lectures only. Instead, the student should develop an awareness of diverse opinions, theoretical frameworks, and practical examples.

This is an individual essay assignment that must be submitted online before the submission deadline. The questions are based on the taught material throughout the academic year. Please follow all instructions carefully.

·        You must choose only one question out of four.

·        You must prepare your answer in a single word document so that it can be submitted as a single document via Turnitin.

·        Word limit is 2000 words (+/- 10%) excluding references

·        Please, name the document as “CORP3543 – Pnumber”

·        You must submit your essay via Turnitin on or before Friday 10^th May 2024, 12:00 PM (Noon) UK Time

·        You may submit your answers at any time up to the submission time.

·        You are allowed to resubmit once you have uploaded a document.

Indicative Answer: Students are expected to explain the essence of retail, consumer behaviour, customer service and satisfaction, and some elements of marketing. They also need to clarify how digitalization changes the shape of retail as well as consumer behaviour and expectations.

Emphasis should be given to the discussion of contemporary customers’ expectations and link them to the theories of sharing economy and experience economics, which companies should take into account and adjust their business strategies accordingly. Students must provide a specific case study example(s) in their discussion: e.g., John Lewis, Thomas Cook, Deliveroo.

 Question 2: Has the COVID19 pandemic disrupted the landscape of standard supply chain management concept and how?

Indicative Answer: Students must discuss the standard theories and models of the supply chain and lean management. They are also expected to examine how current pandemic challenges these existing models and debate whether businesses (and scholars) should rethink them.

Specific emphasis should be given to a particular case study example of the industry sector: for instance, car manufacturing (e.g., VW, Toyota), clothing (textile) industry (e.g., Nike), technology production (e.g., HP), maritime transportation, etc. Students must demonstrate the ability to apply theories in their discussion of real-life examples.

Question 3: Mission impossible? What are the motivating factors and challenges to businesses being sustainable and how effective are contemporary sustainability strategies?

Indicative answer: Students must discuss some of the motivating factors to business being sustainable (such as consumer/NGO pressure, legislation, SDGs, climate change and threats to long-term business survival as a result of inaction) as well as the challenges to businesses being sustainable (e.g., cost, consumer apathy, shareholders, weak legislation, ‘unreachable’ parts of the supply chain etc.)

Students must also discuss the effectiveness of sustainability strategies such as making changes to supply chain or manufacturing practices, adopting the SDGs or a certification system (such as ISO26000, Fairtrade etc.) and how effectiveness can be ascertained/measured. The analysis must include real-life case study examples and practical recommendations for businesses.

 Question 4: Critically discuss the challenges and opportunities for businesses within Industry 4.0.

Indicative Answer: Students must assess and debate the changing landscape of the world economies and the impact of technologies on the labour market. Good answers should include the critical discussion of how digitalisation has created new types of jobs and now requires new skills of potential employees. Students should also provide how digitalisation influenced other spheres of doing business and how technologies are being implemented there: supply- chain, sales, customers service, and public, private sectors, in general. Students must provide a specific case study example(s) in their discussion by examining a particular industry sector or a company: e.g., financial industry, deliveries (e.g., Deliveroo), or streaming services (Netflix vs Blockbuster).

Title Page (not included in the word count)

1.  Introduction (200-250 words)

·         Introduction into the topic

·         Problem statement / background of the problem / Relevance

·         Research aims and objectives

2.  Theoretical discussion of the topic (750-800 words)

·         Discuss relevant theoretical frameworks and models related to your case study problem: for example, retail, digitalization, consumer behavior, international trade theories, regional integration, agency theory, stakeholder theory, supply chain and lean management, etc.

·         This is a literature review section; hence, the use of academic sources is compulsory.

3.  Example / Case study (750-800 words)

·         Students must provide a specific case study example(s) in their discussion by examining a particular company or an industry sector.

·         Students must demonstrate the ability to apply theories in their discussion to the real-life examples.

·         Demonstration of the figures, graphs, and tables with secondary data will be beneficial.

4.  Conclusion (200-250 words)

·         Provide a summary of your work

·         Cover the key findings and points as the result of your work

Bibliography list (not included in the word count)

Marks will have been internally moderated only, and will therefore be provisional; your mark will be formally agreed later in the year once the external examiner has completed their review. More information on assessment and feedback can be found here.

Generative AI tools cannot be used for this assessment. You must not use generative artificial intelligence (AI) to generate any materials or content in relation to your assessment.

Students MUST add a statement acknowledging the non-usage of Generative AI for assessments on the cover page of assessment. Example of a student acknowledgement statement is shown below:

Statement of acknowledgment – This assessment has not used any generative-AI.

  You can find the library guide on generative AI use here – https://library.dmu.ac.uk/genai

You identify the sources that you have used by citing them in the text of your assignment (called citations or in-text citations) and referencing them at the end of your assignment (called the reference list or end-text citations). The reference list only includes the sources cited in your text. The main referencing guide can be found here and includes information on the basics of referencing and achieving good academic practice. It also has tabs for the specific referencing styles depending on whether you require Harvard style used in business or OSCOLA style used by the Law school.

The University has a wealth of support services available to students; further information can be obtained from Student Gateway, the Student Advice Centre, Library and Learning Services and, most importantly, your Personal Tutor. If you are struggling with your assessments and/or deadlines please do seek help as soon as possible so that appropriate support and guidance can be identified and put in place for you. More information can be found on the Healthy DMU pages.

Merit

(1)

Depth of Academic Knowledge and Understanding

(30%)

Excellent knowledge and understanding, exploring and analysing key areas. Excellent analysis of key areas and broadened subject.

The work demonstrates a confident, independent and well-judged response to the assessment brief.

There is evidence of exceptional research based on a broad scale of quality sources of information and you demonstrate excellence in critical information literacy and digital information literacy.

There is evidence of very good wide-ranging research. Very good mixture of sources used. Very good evidence of digital information literacy and very good critical judgement

regarding sources to use.

Good knowledge and understanding of key areas with detailed and accurate application in practical scenarios. Different views and perspectives are shown. The work provides a detailed and systematic response to the assessment brief. There is evidence of wide-ranging research, but sources may be dated and/or mostly industry / opinion- based sources. There may be evidence of digital information literacy but a lack of critical judgement regarding sources to use.

Sources may not be critically evaluated before selection. This may come across as a lack of relevant sources / dated articles / too many opinion pieces and or lack of evidence-based research.

Limited knowledge and understanding

of theories, accurate application in practical scenarios.

Unsatisfactory, as sources are not critically evaluated before selection. There is very limited evidence of information literacy and digital information literacy and/or selection lacks quality.

Unsatisfactory, as a very limited / lack of knowledge and understanding of well- established theories. Incorrect application to practical scenarios. Not making sense and has a very limited area of depth.

Where appropriate, work demonstrates applied research skills and/or advanced scholarship to a very good standard. Explores and critically analyses key areas. Justified personal opinions/ideas. Good recommendations and improvement plans. Very good range of theories considered with a very good evaluation/ justification for preferred theory as applied. Detailed and accurate application in practical scenarios. Different views and perspectives are shown. Very good solid answer with very good analysis of the underpinning theory with elements of generalisation and descriptiveness.

Satisfactory, the work offers a more limited application of knowledge and/or conceptual understanding of advanced scholarship. However, it nonetheless contains evidence of critical awareness concerning analysis, synthesis, evaluation and application.

This work demonstrates initiative as an independent and self-critical learner but in a limited form.

Competent problem analysis/problem- solving. Original and retrospective thinking. Limited evaluation of key points. This work is mainly descriptive. A limited range of theories appropriately included applied.

Accurate application in practical scenarios. Satisfactory theoretical underpinning, but highly descriptive and generalized

are evident, demonstrating the qualities

expected of an effective self- critical

learning is demonstrated. Where

appropriate, work demonstrates

sources to evidence critical

analysis. A very limited / lack of

demonstrates consistent research and

critically analyses key areas. Justified

and insufficient detail. A very

retrospective thinking. Excellent critical analysis and reflections. Original ideas

plans. A good range of theories is considered with some evaluation/

solving. Incorrect application to practical scenarios. Not making

Excellent range of theories and

application in practical scenarios.

application. A very limited or no

(3)

Synthesis

& Conclusions (20%)

You have brought together all your research and study materials from different academic and creditable sources in an Excellent form.

Excellent discovery of the relationship between sources and identifying major themes and concepts and identifying critical gaps and disagreements.

Excellent comparison, contrast and critically evaluation and interpretation

Excellent conclusions which draw together an analysis of authors on the topic or theme. Excellent focus on the assignment brief is evident Extends audience use of vocabulary by clarifying complex/new terms; invites audience participation; spoke with good pace and volume; prepared and used media effectively.

Excellent and Clear and appropriate structure; length indicates in-depth coverage of topic and written work has no major errors.

You have brought together all your research and study materials from different academic and creditable sources in a very good form.

A very good discovery of the relationship between sources and identifying major themes and concepts and identifying critical gaps and disagreements.

A very good comparison, contrast and critically evaluation and interpretation. Very good conclusions which draw together an analysis of authors on the topic or theme. Very good focus on the assignment brief is evident.

Extends audience use of vocabulary by clarifying complex/new terms; invites audience participation; spoke with good pace and volume; prepared and used media effectively.

Very good and Clear and appropriate structure; length indicates in-depth coverage of topic and written work has no major errors.

You have brought together all your research and study materials from different academic and creditable sources in a good form.

A good discovery of a relationship between sources and identifying major themes and concepts and identifying critical gaps and disagreements.

A good comparison, contrast and critically evaluation and interpretation.

Good conclusions draw together an analysis of authors on the topic or theme. Good focus on the assignment brief is evident.

Appropriate use of language; spoke clearly and at an appropriate pace; occasional use of notes; visual aids supported presentation.

Written work has adequate structure, demonstrates logical progression, is within the designated word limit and is relatively free of errors.

You have brought together all your research and study materials from different academic and creditable sources in a Satisfactory form.

A satisfactory discovery of a relationship between sources and identifying major themes and concepts and identifying critical gaps and disagreements. Satisfactory comparison, contrast and critically evaluation and interpretation.

Satisfactory conclusions which draw together an analysis of authors on the topic or theme. Some focus on the assignment brief is evident.

Satisfactory use of language; spoke clearly and at an appropriate pace; occasional use of notes; visual aids supported presentation.

Written work has satisfactory structure, demonstrates logical progression, is within the designated word limit and has few errors.

You could not bring together all your research and study materials from different academic and creditable sources.

Unsatisfactory discovery of a relationship between sources and identifying major themes and concepts and identifying critical gaps and disagreements. Unsatisfactory comparison, contrast and critically evaluation and interpretation.

Unsatisfactory, as a weak conclusion which bears little relation to the main points made in the text. Very little focus on the assignment brief is evident.

Inappropriate language and/or body language; relies heavily on notes; lacking in clarity and difficult to hear; lack of or poorly prepared visual media aids.

The structure of written work has serious and persistent errors. Does not cover assigned topic and assertions not supported by evidence.

Pass

(4)

Academic writing, Rigour and Harvard Referencing style, quality and quantity of sources, format, structure & flow

(20%)

Excellent piece of work, with no errors. Achieved all module outcomes.

Evidence of Excellent individual research with very effective Harvard referencing. Citations and References are excellent and meet university standards.

Excellent referencing, no technical issues in respect of referencing.

The number of referenced sources is excellent extensive and shows excellent use of appropriate academic articles, book sources and company/industry materials.

The work is technically Excellent presented, with high standards of presentation and expression. There is an excellent flow throughout.

You have applied word limit/length of video presentation as requested and you followed all the requirements and provided layout, Excellent.

You have submitted your video / your essay as the brief requested. Excellent

Very good evidence of independent research undertaken with largely effective Harvard referencing.

Well, research academic sources.

Very few technical issues in respect of referencing. The number of referenced sources is reasonable and shows very good use of appropriate academic articles, book sources and company industry materials.

You applied the word limit and video length as requested (but not fully) and you partly followed and applied the requirements and provided layout as expected with few errors. Very Good

References and citations are Good and follow protocol Good piece of work. Only a few errors. Good evidence of independent research undertaken with largely effective Harvard referencing. Well, research academic sources.

Very few technical issues in respect of referencing. The number of referenced sources is reasonable and shows good use of appropriate academic articles, book sources and company industry materials.

The technical aspects of the work are Good, with good standards of presentation and expression.

There is a good flow.

You partly followed and applied the requirements and provided the layout as expected with few errors. Good

Satisfactory referencing and citations but may have errors. Some effective Harvard referencing of various sources was used.

Achieves modules outcomes.

Some technical issues in respect of referencing which you need to work harder at. The number of references is small and tends to lack academically reliable sources.

Satisfactory as the technical aspects of the worksite at the threshold, with appropriate presentation and expression.

You just partly applied the word limit and the length of the video.

You went above or below 10% but it is not very significant.

You partly followed and applied the requirements and provided the layout as expected. Satisfactory.

Unsatisfactory referencing- considerable technical issues in respect of referencing which you need to work on. The number of references is small and tends to lack academically reliable sources.

Unsatisfactory as improvement is needed for your structure and flow and/or presentation. You did not apply the word limit as requested and you did not follow all the requirements and provided the layout as expected.

You have submitted well below or well above the word count or well above or well below the agreed length for the video presentation. This is very significant and affecting the quality of your academic work.