1 ASSIGNMENT FRONT SHEET Unit: 16 Managing Communications, Knowledge and Information Learning Hours: 60 Hours. Self-learning hours: 90 hours. Course: BTEC HND Business – Level 4 CREDIT VALUE: 15 CREDITS Term: Module Leader: Mr Perry Lecturer: Internal Verifier: Mr ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Learners Name Term: Cohort: Intake: Registration Number Campus: Hand out Date: 22/02/2016 Submission Date: 06/05/2016 to 07/10/2016 Learning Outcome Assessment Criteria In this assessment you will have the opportunity to present evidence that shows you are able to: Task Number Evidence Page number LO 1: Understand how to assess information and knowledge needs 1.1 Discuss the range of decisions to be taken 1 1.2 Examine the information and knowledge needed to ensure effective decision taking 1 1.3 Assess internal and external sources of information and understanding 1 1.4 Justify recommendations for improvement 1 LO2 : Be able to create strategies to increase personal networking to widen involvement in the decision-making process 2.1 Identify stakeholders for a decision-making proces 1 2.2 Make contact with those identified and develop business relationships 12 2.3 Involve those identified in the decision making as appropriate 1 2.4 Design strategies for improvement 1 LO3: Be able to develop communication processes 3.1 Report on existing processes of communication in an organisation 2 3.2 Design ways to improve appropriateness 2 3.3 Implement improvements to ensure greater integration of systems of communication in that organisation 2 3.4 Create a personal plan to improve own communication skills 2 LO 4: Be able to improve systems relating to information and knowledge 4.1 Report on existing approaches to the collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and knowledge 2 4.2 Carry out appropriate changes to improve the collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and knowledge 2 4.3 Implement a strategy to improve access to systems of information and knowledge. 2 Please see that you include the Turnitin report. This work will not be accepted without the Turn it in report. Report attached: Yes No If no Reason: % of the turn it in report. Learners Declaration: I certify that the work submitted for this unit is my own and the research sources are fully acknowledged. Learners Signature: Date: Plagiarism:Any act of plagiarism will be seriously dealt with according to the colleges and awarding bodies' regulations. In this context the definition and scope of plagiarism are presented below:3 Plagiarism is presenting someone's work as your won. It includes copying information directly from the web or books without referencing the material; submitting joint coursework as an individual effort; copying another student's coursework; stealing coursework form another student and submitting it as your own work. Suspected plagiarism will be investigated and if found to have occurred will be dealt with according to the college procedure. (For further details please refer to the plagiarism policy and the student code of conduct.) Due Dates Issue Date Submission Date 06/05/2016 Formative Feedback for LO1 week commencing 18/04/2016 Deadline for assignment submission 07/10/2016 Formative Feedback for LO2 week commencing 18/04/2016 Formative Feedback for LO3 week commencing 25/04/2016 Formative Feedback for LO4 week commencing 25/04/2016 Assignment Guidelines:  Use a standard report structure, Word-process the report and use Normal script of a proper font size 12.  Produce an academic report, detailing the above issues with an approx. word limit of 4000 to 4500 words.  Complete the title page and sign the statement of authenticity.  The Assignment sheet should be attached in the front.  All work must be uploaded on turnitin before the submission date. .  Assignments submitted after the deadline will not be accepted unless mitigating and may be entitled for a late fee.  Collusion and Plagiarism must be avoided.  Start each answer on a new page and pages should be numbered. Highlight each question clearly.  Include a Bibliography at the end of the assignment and use the Harvard referencing system.  All work should be comprehensively referenced and all sources must be fully acknowledged, such as books and journals, websites (include the date of visit), etc.  Try to give the page numbers, publishers' details and the year of publication  In order to pass you need to address all the LO and AC  In order to get a merit you need to address the characteristics of pass and address M1, M2,M3  In order to get a Distinction you need to address the characteristics of pass, merit and address D1, D2 and D3. Use a common format for the questions, for example:  Introduction (analyse the question.)  Underpinning Knowledge (write about the relevant theory/points)  Applied knowledge(Data Analysis)  Conclusions and Recommendations (summarizing the whole scenario keeping in view pass, merit, distinction criteria.)4 Guidance in addition to the Pass criteria's, this assignment gives you the opportunity to submit evidence in order to achieve the following Merit and Distinction grades. Assessment Grid indicating their pass, merit and distinction: Unit16 : Managing Communication, Knowledge and Information Outcomes/criteria: Indicative characteristics Contextualised Feedback LO1 Understand how to assess information and knowledge needs LO2 Be able to create strategies to increase personal networking to widen involvement in the decisionmaking process LO3 Be able to develop communication processes LO4 Be able to improve systems relating to information and knowledge As per the assessment criteria specified for pass Do Do Do Task 1 Task 1 Task 2 Task 2 Merit grade Description: Contextualisation5 M. Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions.  Effective judgements have been made. An effective approach to study and research has been applied. To achieve M1: you will make effective judgements during the start-up stage of your business, focused on developing an effective approach to study and research. Your aim is to assess the information and knowledge needs of your business and, in doing so, create strategies to increase personal networking, to widen involvement of you and others in the decision-making process. M2. Select/ design and apply appropriate methods/ techniques. Relevant theories and techniques have been applied. The design of methods/techniques has been justified you will have applied relevant theories and techniques to identify and implement integrated communication processes for your business, during a time of expansion M3. Present and communicate appropriate findings. Coherent, logical development of principles/concepts for the intended audience Communication is appropriate for familiar and unfamiliar audiences and appropriate media have been used. To achieve M3, (you will have used appropriate communication for internal and external audiences and demonstrated that appropriate media have been used. You will have coherent, logical development of principles/concepts for the intended audience to assess information and knowledge needs , thereby justifying the recommendations you have proposed. 2.3,3.4, 4.2)6 Distinction Grade Description: D1. Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusion.  Conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and have been justified.  Realistic improvements have been proposed against defined characteristics for success. To achieve D1, you will have conclusions which draw out the links between decision and information and the impact of sources of information. You will also provide an evaluation which improves personal networking to widen involvement in the decision-making process .( LO4) D2. Take responsibility for managing and organizing activities.  Autonomy/independence has been demonstrated  The importance of interdependence has been recognised and achieved To achieve D2, You will have demonstrated an effective approach to independent research and interdependence to improve systems relating to develop communication processes and improve systems relating to information and knowledge. D3. Demonstrate convergent, lateral and creative thinking  Receptiveness to new ideas is evident To achieve D3, you will have demonstrated receptiveness to new ideas to develop communication processes and improve systems relating to information and knowledge7 ASSIGNMENT Brief Unit Number and title Managing Communication, knowledge and Information Qualification BTEC HND Business (Level 5) Start Date 25/01/2016 Deadline/ Hand-in 06/05/2016 to 07/10/2016 Assessor Task 1 SCENARIO For both tasks, you are required to assess the information and knowledge you need to be able to create strategies which will help you to establish your new business and then, when the time is right, help you to grow the business. You plan to open a shop selling high quality foods, which you are sourcing directly from a non-UK country within the European Union. You must identify what information you will need in order to make a good case for your planned business startup, especially with regard to sourcing finance and with regard to your other stakeholders. Purpose of this assignment For the first part of this assignment (Task 1) you are required to prepare a report which sets out the business case for setting up a new business venture. You will need to identify what knowledge and information you should include in your report to support your business case. You must also decide how to communicate this information to your current and future stakeholders. LO1 Understand how to assess information and knowledge needs Develop a report which will guide the reader through the process of setting up a business. Your report should include the following.  A discussion of the different decisions to be made and an examination of the information and knowledge required to make the decisions in relation to starting up a business (AC 1.1, 1.2)  List of internal and external sources of information and understanding. Assess these sources and justify their suitability and reliability in relation to the business start up. (AC 1.3)  Recommend any improvements in the methods used in the selection and analysis of information needed for business start ups. (AC 1.4)8 LO 2 Be able to create strategies to increase personal networking to widen involvement in the decision-making process  Identify a list of stakeholders whose actions may influence your decision making processes, in relation to starting up the above mentioned business. (AC 2.1)  A selection of professionals and other stakeholders you should make contact with and ways to make contact with these individuals. Which methods you would use to develop a business relationship with these selected individuals. (AC 2.2)  A plan to involve the identified people in the decision making process for example price strategy and location strategy applicable for this business start-up. (AC 2.3)  Your plan should include a strategy for future improvements in this process. (AC 2.4) Task 2 Scenario The second part of the assignment (Task 2) assumes that your business has been established and that you are planning to expand your operations. This could be through opening more outlets, by extending the goods and services you offer, or by developing other channels of distribution (eg establishing an on-line business). Purpose: Having established your business you are now thinking about expansion. The shop next door to you is a well- established café. The owner of the café has informed you he is about to retire and has offered you the chance to buy his business. You must identify what information you need in order to make a decision about whether or not to buy. You must also consider how you can develop your existing business processes – databases, stakeholder relations (suppliers, customers, the local community), marketing promotions – to ensure you can succeed in a competitive environment. LO. 3: Be able to develop communication processes You are required a produce a report which focuses on your plans to expand the business. Your report should address the following points, as they relate to the Unit 16 scenario.  Report on existing processes of communication in the given case study and design ways by explaining the different communication processes which may be appropriate with regard to growing the business. (AC 3.1,AC 3.2 )  By comparing the different communication processes explain how the needs of an up and running business differ from those of a business in its start-up phase. Describe how the development of existing processes (for managing information and communications) can help the business to grow effectively? How can the business implement improvements to ensure greater integration of systems of appropriate communication processes to support future growth. (AC 3.3)9  Given your role as the leader of your business, create a personal development plan for yourself which will help you to improve your own communication skills (AC 3.4) LO4 Be able to improve systems relating to information and knowledge  Report on existing approaches to the collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and knowledge in your business. (AC 4.1)  Carry out appropriate changes to improve collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and knowledge. (AC 4.2)  Implement a strategy to improve access to systems of information and knowledge which can be used to strengthen your business and help it to continue its future growth. (AC 4.3)10 Achievement Summary The Following Sections to be completed by the assessor: Centre Name: Regent HE Campus: Centre Number: Please note that the assessor's signature below denotes conformation that he/she has in no way influenced the outcome of the assessment: Assessors Name: Assessors Signature: Learners Name (to be filled by the Assessor) Intake: Cohort: Term: Campus: Learners Edexcel Reference Number Has the unit been Internally Verified? Y/N Date of verification: Name of the Internal Verifier: Internal verifiers signature: If Sampled ,Internal verifiers comments on the assignment brief: Evidence Checklist Summary of the evidence required by the student Evidence presented Task 1 and Task 2 The two parts of your final report should comply with the word count guidance of 3000 (+/- 10% margin). You should use Harvard Style in-text referencing and bibliography. You may use tables and diagrams to support your report and to illustrate the text. Word count excludes the index, headings, information contained in tables, references and bibliography Unit Outcomes Outcome Evidence for the criteria to pass, merit and distinction as specified in the student feedback and contextualised. Assessors decision Internal verification decision. (agree, disagree) TASK 1 You plan to open a shop selling high quality foods, which you are sourcing directly from a non UK country within the European Union. You must identify what i make a good case for your planned business start-up, especially with regard to sourcing with regard to your other stakeholders. Develop a report which will guide the r process of setting up a business. Your report should include the following.11 LO 1. Understand how to assess information and knowledge needs A discussion of the different decisions to be made (AC 1.1) P1.1(P,M,D) P1.1(P,M,D) An examination of the information and knowledge required to make the decisions in relation to starting up a business (AC1.2) P1.2(P,M,D) P1.2(P,M,D) List of internal and external sources of information and understanding. Assess these sources and justify their suitability and reliability in relation to the business start up. (AC 1.3) P1.3(P,M,D) P1.3(P,M,D) Recommend any improvements in the methods used in the selection and analysis of information needed for business start ups. (AC 1.4) P1.4 (P,M,D) P1.4(P,M,D) Contextualised Feedback for LO1 (reflecting 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, Pass merit and distinction.) IV comments towards LO1 LO 2. Be able to create strategies to increase personal networking to widen involvement in the decisionmaking process Identify a list of stakeholders whose actions may influence your decision making processes, in relation to starting up the above mentioned business. (AC 2.1) P2.1(P,M,D) P2.1(P,M,D) A selection of professionals and other stakeholders you should make contact with and ways to make contact with these individuals. Which methods you would use to develop a business relationship with these selected individuals. (AC 2.2) P2.2(P,M,D) P2.2(P,M,D) A plan to involve the identified people in the decision making process for example price strategy and location strategy applicable for this business start-up. (AC 2.3) P2.3(P,M,D) P2.3(P,M,D) Your plan should include a strategy for future improvements in this process. (AC 2.4) Contextualised Feedback for LO2 reflecting 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, Pass merit and distinction.) IV comments towards LO212 TASK 3 Having established your business you are now thinking about expansion. The shop next door to you is a well- established café. The owner of the café has informed you he is about to retire and has offered you the chance to buy his business. You must identify what information you need in order to make a decision about whether or not to buy. You must also consider how you can develop your existing business processes – databases, stakeholder relations (suppliers, customers, the local community), marketing promotions – to ensure you can succeed in a competitive environment. LO 3. Be able to develop communication processes Report on existing processes of communication in the given case study. (AC 3.1 ) P3.1(P,M,D) P3.1(P,M,D) Design ways by explaining the different communication processes which may be appropriate with regard to growing the business. (AC 3.2 ) P3.2(P,M,D) P3.2(P,M,D) By comparing the different communication processes explain how the needs of an up and running business differ from those of a business in its startup phase. Describe how the development of existing processes (for managing information and communications) can help the business to grow effectively? How can the business implement improvements to ensure greater integration of systems of appropriate communication processes to support future growth. (AC 3.3) P3.3(P,M,D) P3.3(P,M,D) Given your role as the leader of your business, create a personal development plan for yourself which will help you to improve your own communication skills (AC 3.4) P3.4(P,M,D) P3.4(P,M,D) Contextualised Feedback for LO3 (reflecting 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, Pass merit and distinction.) IV comments towards LO3 LO 4. Be able to improve systems relating to information and Report on existing approaches to the collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and knowledge in your business. (AC 4.1) P4.1(P,M,D) P4.1(P,M,D)13 knowledge Carry out appropriate changes to improve collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and knowledge. (AC 4.2) P4.2 (P,M,D) P4.2 (P,M,D) Implement a strategy to improve access to systems of information and knowledge which can be used to strengthen your business and help it to continue its future growth. (AC 4.3) P4.3 (P,M,D) P4.3 (P,M,D) Contextualised Feedback for LO4 (reflecting 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, Pass merit and distinction.) IV comments towards LO4 Merit grades awarded M1 M2 M3 P1 P2 P3 P4 Distinction grades awarded D1 D2 D3 Resubmit : Any other comments Grade given by the Assessor: Pass Merit Distinction Assessors Signature: Date: IV Grading Check: Comments if any: Agree Disagree Modify grade to IV signature: Date: Students feedback: Student Signature: Date: Plagiarism: Any act of plagiarism will be seriously dealt with according to the colleges and awarding bodies' regulations. In this context the definition and scope of plagiarism are presented below: Plagiarism is presenting someone's work as your won. It includes copying information directly from the web or books without referencing the material; submitting joint coursework as an individual effort; copying another student's coursework; stealing coursework form another student and submitting it as your own work. Suspected plagiarism will be investigated and if found to have occurred will be dealt with according to the college procedure. (For further details please refer to the plagiarism policy and the student code of conduct.)