Page 1 of 7 Coursework Assignment Brief Semester: E16 Autumn 2016 Module Code: PM301 Module Title: Total Quality Management Programme BSc (Hons) Business Management BSc (Hons) Business Management (Travel & Tourism) BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Business Informatics Level: Level 6 Awarding Body: Plymouth University Module Leader Rupal Pattni Format: Report Presentation: No Any special requirements: • All work should be submitted on the Student Portal. • Work to be submitted in a professional manner, and as directed by the Module Leader. Word Limit: 2,500 words (with 10% plus or minus leeway) Deadline date for submission: Thursday, 1st December 2016 Learning outcomes to be examined in this assessment (please note that this is NOT the assessment task) 1. Understand the nature and purpose of total quality management and how it is influenced by the management culture of organisations. 2. Identify a range of total quality management techniques including benchmarking and process reengineering. Percentage of marks awarded for module: This assignment is worth 50% of the total marks for the modulePage 2 of 7 Assessment criteria Explanatory comments on the assessment criteria Maximum marks for each section KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING Factual and conceptual knowledge and understanding; use of class materials; independent reading 35% Graduate Skills: transferable, employability, practical and academic skills Written, oral and presentation skills; interpersonal, group and teamwork skills; leadership skills; numeracy; digital skills; practical, professional and academic skills (including referencing/presentation 25% INTELLECTUAL & COGNITIVE SKILLS Critical thinking; conceptualisation; creativity; synthesis, analysis and evaluation; application; problem solving and research/investigation 40%Page 3 of 7 Background "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle." Sun Tzu, The Art of War Assignment Task Choose an organisation and evaluate the reasons why they would be interested in the benchmarking process. Discuss the steps this organisation will undertake to implement benchmarking practices and the challenges it may face doing this. Provide recommendations to mitigate the risks and difficulties that the organisation may face. Total Marks for Assignment: 100Page 4 of 7 GENERIC ASSESSMENT MARKING CRITERIA LEVEL 6 KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING INTELLECTUAL & COGNITIVE SKILLS Graduate Skills: transferable, employability, practical and academic skills Factual and conceptual knowledge and understanding; use of class materials; independent reading Critical thinking; conceptualisation; creativity; synthesis, analysis and evaluation; application; problem solving and research/investigation Written, oral and presentation skills; interpersonal, group and teamwork skills; leadership skills; numeracy; digital skills; practical, professional and academic skills (including referencing/presentation MARKIN G BAND MODULE LEARNING OUTCOMES CLASSIFICATI ON WEIGHTED AT 35% WEIGHTED AT 40% WEIGHTED AT 25% 86 - 100% Achieved at this level FIRST (1ST) Includes all required factual content, accurately and succinctly summarised. Well developed, persuasive, highly relevant, reasoned introduction and conclusions, demonstrating originality. Within word count or presentation time. Includes relevant factual content only. Clearly and logically structured material showing sophisticated understanding of the discipline. Accurate spelling, grammar, punctuation, paragraphing. Systematic, accurate identification of relevant concepts, theories and/or principles. Information or data selected from a broad range of highly relevant, current primary and secondary sources, and categorised, analysed or evaluated using relevant, selfdetermined methods or techniques. Eloquent, professional writing style, appropriate to the assignment OR professional, engaging, confident, audible and well paced presentation. Sophisticated use of technical vocabulary, where appropriate. Exceptional, in-depth understanding of factual and conceptual material, including understanding of the limits to knowledge in this area. Well developed, perceptive, coherent arguments, systematically referencing primary and secondary literature, including competing perspectives, with clear rationale for choices. Professional, creative visual presentation, including font, spacing, margins, headings, graphics, images and appendices. Calculations are accurate, clearly set out, with excellent, precise explanations. Exceptional integration of theory and practice, using appropriate conceptual frameworks. Correct and systematic use of academic conventions, references and bibliography. Independent, wide-ranging, highly relevant reading and research, from authoritative primary and secondary sources. Exceptional application of numerical and statistical methods to defined complex problems. Exceptional, consistent, flexible delivery of group work obligations. Proactive leadership, accepts responsibility and ameliorates conflict. Undertakes complex tasks. Substantiated, highly relevant recommendations generating novel solutions. Excellent awareness of ethical issues. Exceptional, well articulated reflection on own strengths and weaknesses in relation to defined professional and practical skills. Identifies and follows up required actions. 70 - 85% Achieved at this level FIRST (1ST) Includes all required factual content, accurately and succinctly summarised. Well developed, relevant, reasoned introduction and conclusions, demonstrating some originality. Within word count or presentation time. Includes relevant factual content only. Clearly and logically structured material, showing excellent understanding of the discipline. Accurate spelling, grammar, punctuation, paragraphing. Systematic, accurate identification of relevant concepts, theories and/or principles. Information or data selected from a good range of relevant, current primary and secondary sources, and categorised, analysed or evaluated using relevant, self-determined methods or techniques. Fluent, professional writing style, appropriate to the assignment OR professional, engaging, audible and well paced presentation. Excellent use of technical vocabulary, where appropriate. Excellent, in-depth understanding of factual and conceptual material, including understanding of the limits of knowledge in this area. Well developed, coherent arguments, systematically referencing primary and secondary literature, including competing perspectives, with clear rationale for choices. Professional, creative visual presentation, including font, spacing, margins, headings, graphics, images and appendices. Calculations are accurate, clearly set out, with excellent explanations. Excellent integration of theory and practice, using appropriate conceptual frameworks. Correct and systematic use of academic conventions, references and bibliography.Page 5 of 7 Independent, wide-ranging, relevant reading and research, from authoritative primary and secondary sources. Excellent application of numerical and statistical methods to defined complex problems. Excellent, consistent, flexible delivery of group work obligations. Proactive leadership, accepts responsibility and ameliorates conflict. Undertakes complex tasks. Substantiated relevant recommendations generating novel solutions. Very good awareness of ethical issues. Excellent, well articulated reflection on own strengths and weaknesses in relation to defined professional and practical skills. Identifies and follows up required actions. 60 - 69% Achieved at this level UPPER SECOND (2:1) Includes most required factual content, mostly accurately and succinctly summarised. Relevant and valid introduction and conclusions. Within word count or presentation time. Includes relevant factual content only. Clearly structured material, with some gaps in logic, but showing understanding of the discipline. Mostly accurate spelling, grammar, punctuation, paragraphing. Mostly systematic and accurate identification of relevant concepts, theories and/or principles. Information or data selected from mainly relevant primary and secondary sources, and categorised, analysed or evaluated using relevant methods or techniques but with minor gaps or misunderstandings. Mainly fluent, professional writing style, appropriate to the assignment OR mainly professional, engaging, audible and well paced presentation. Good use of technical vocabulary, where appropriate. Very good understanding of factual and conceptual material, showing some appreciation of the limits of knowledge in this area. Mostly coherent arguments, with some perceptive points, mostly systematically referencing well selected primary and secondary literature. Mostly professional, creative visual presentation, including font, spacing, margins, headings, graphics, images and appendices. Calculations are mainly accurate, clearly set out, with good explanations. Good integration of theory and practice, using appropriate conceptual frameworks. Mostly correct use of academic conventions, references and bibliography. Independent reading and research from a range of mostly authoritative primary and secondary sources. Mainly good application of numerical and statistical methods to defined complex problems, with some gaps, errors or misunderstandings. Consistent delivery of group work obligations. Some leadership and ability to accept responsibility and modify responses. Undertakes nonroutine tasks. Some relevant recommendations generating some novel solutions. Satisfactory awareness of ethical issues, where relevant. Clear reflection on own strengths and weaknesses in relation to defined professional and practical skills. Partial identification of required actions. 50 - 59% Achieved at this level LOWER SECOND (2:2) Includes most required factual content, but with some gaps or misunderstandings. Satisfactory introduction and conclusions. Within 10% of word count or presentation time. Includes some irrelevant factual content. Mostly clearly structured material, with some gaps in logic, showing some understanding of the discipline. Some mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, paragraphing. Adequate identification of relevant concepts, theories and/or principles. Information or data selected from mainly secondary sources, and categorised, analysed or evaluated using mostly relevant methods or techniques but with gaps or misunderstandings. Writing style is appropriate but not always fluent or professional OR a presentation that is not always professional, engaging, audible or well paced. Some use of technical vocabulary, where appropriate. Satisfactory understanding of factual and conceptual material, but not in-depth. Limited appreciation of the limits of knowledge in this area. Satisfactory arguments, referencing mostly secondary literature and including some personal opinion Appropriate visual presentation, including font, spacing, margins, headings, graphics, images and appendices. Calculations may have some inaccuracies, or issues relating to set out and explanation. An adequate attempt to relate theory to practice, using appropriate conceptual frameworks. Inconsistent use of academic conventions, references and bibliography. Adequate independent reading and research from mostly secondary sources. Adequate application of numerical and statistical methods to defined complex problems, with some gaps or errors. Inconsistent delivery of group work obligations. Some awareness of responsibility and options. Undertakes mostly routine tasks. Basic recommendations, which do not generate novel solutions. Satisfactory awareness of ethical issues, where relevant. Some evaluation of own strengths and weaknesses in relation to defined professional and practical skills. Limited identification of required actions.Page 6 of 7 40 - 49% Marginal achievement at this level THIRD (3RD) Includes limited required factual content, with many gaps or inaccuracies. Basic introduction and conclusions. Within 10% of word count or presentation time. Includes considerable irrelevant factual content. Unevenly structured material, with many gaps in logic and limited understanding of the discipline. Frequent mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, paragraphing. Some identification of relevant concepts, theories and/or principles. Information or data selected from secondary sources, and poorly categorised, analysed or evaluated using inappropriate methods or techniques. Awkward or inappropriate writing style OR a presentation that is not engaging, audible or well paced. Little use of technical vocabulary, where appropriate. Basic understanding of factual and conceptual material. Minimal appreciation of the limits of knowledge in this area. Sense of emerging argument, but mainly descriptive or personal opinion, with limited and superficial reference to literature. Negligible use of primary literature. Inappropriate visual presentation, including font, spacing, margins, headings, graphics, images and appendices. Calculations are often inaccurate, with many issues relating to set out and explanation. Limited attempt to relate theory to practice, using appropriate conceptual frameworks. Inconsistent or incomplete use of academic conventions, references and bibliography. Basic independent reading and research from secondary sources. Weak application of numerical and statistical methods to defined complex problems, with many gaps or errors. Unreliable delivery of group work obligations. Limited awareness of options. Undertakes only routine tasks. Confused recommendations. Little awareness of ethical issues, where relevant. Limited reflection on own strengths and weaknesses in relation to defined professional and practical skills. 30 - 39% Marginal failure at this level FAIL. POSSIBLE COMPENSATI ON. Includes insufficient required factual content, with significant gaps or inaccuracies. Mostly incoherent or irrelevant introduction and conclusions. More than 10% outside word count or presentation time. Includes substantial irrelevant factual content. Incoherently structured material. Serious mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, paragraphing. Limited identification of relevant concepts, theories and/or principles. Limited selection of information or data, and little attempt at collation, categorisation, analysis or evaluation. Poor writing style OR a presentation that is not engaging, audible or well paced. Does not use technical vocabulary, where appropriate. Limited understanding of factual and conceptual material. No appreciation of the limits of knowledge in this area. Little or no argument, entirely descriptive or personal opinion, with no reference to literature. Poor visual presentation, including font, spacing, margins, headings, graphics, images and appendices. Calculations are mostly inaccurate, or incorrectly set out or explained. Very weak attempt to relate theory to practice, using appropriate conceptual frameworks. Inaccurate or incomplete use of academic conventions, references and bibliography. Minimal independent reading and research. Very weak application of numerical and statistical methods to defined complex problems, with significant errors. Poor delivery of group work obligations. No awareness of options. Undertakes a few routine tasks. Irrelevant or no recommendations. Little or no awareness of ethical issues, where relevant. Very limited reflection on own strengths and weaknesses in relation to defined professional and practical skills. 16 - 29% Not achieved at this level FAIL. NO COMPENSATI ON. Includes almost no required factual content, and with very significant inaccuracies. Incoherent or no introduction and conclusions. More than 10% outside word count or presentation time. Includes mainly irrelevant factual content. Very incoherently structured material. Serious and extensive mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, paragraphing. Minimal or inaccurate identification of relevant concepts, theories and/or principles. No evidence of the selection, categorisation, analysis or evaluation of information or data. Incoherent writing style OR an inaudible, poorly paced and unengaging presentation. Does not use technical vocabulary, where appropriate. Limited understanding of factual and conceptual material. No appreciation of the limits of knowledge in this area. No argument, entirely descriptive or personal opinion, with no reference to literature. Very poor visual presentation, including font, spacing, margins, headings, graphics, images and appendices. Calculations are inaccurate, with no explanations. Theory not related to practice. Very inaccurate or no use of academic conventions, references and bibliography.Page 7 of 7 No independent reading and research. Minimal application of numerical and statistical methods and techniques to defined complex problems, with significant errors. Very poor delivery of group work obligations. Does not undertake even routine tasks. No recommendations. No awareness of ethical issues, where relevant. Minimal or no evaluation of own strengths and weaknesses in relation to defined professional and practical skills. 0 - 15% Not achieved at this level FAIL. NO COMPENSATI ON. Does not include required factual content. No introduction and conclusions. More than 10% outside word count or presentation time. Includes entirely irrelevant factual content. Very incoherently structured material. Serious and extensive mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, paragraphing. No identification of relevant concepts, theories and/or principles. No evidence of the selection, categorisation, analysis or evaluation of information or data. Incoherent writing style OR an inaudible, poorly paced and unengaging presentation. Does not use technical vocabulary, where appropriate. No understanding of factual and conceptual material. No appreciation of the limits of knowledge in this area. No argument, entirely personal opinion, with no reference to literature. Exceptionally poor visual presentation, including font, spacing, margins, headings, graphics, images and appendices. Calculations are missing, with no explanations. Theory not related to practice. No use of academic conventions, references and bibliography. No independent reading and research. No application of numerical and statistical methods to defined complex problems. No delivery of group work obligations. No recommendations. No awareness of ethical issues, where relevant. No evaluation of own strengths and weaknesses in relation to defined professional and practical skills.