Coursework assignments 2016/17 There are two assignments. You must complete both. Word Indicator/Limit Your answer should be around1,800 words for assignment one and 2,200words for assignment two. Assignment One is worth 45% of the marks for the module and Assignment Two, 55%. The word limit excludes appendices, but only if they are providing contextual background information or consist only of diagrams. It excludes your list of references/bibliography. The purpose of a word indicator is to give students a clear idea of the depth they are expected to go into. You should indicate the number of words in your assignment on the cover. The university allow you to go 10% over or 10% under without penalty. If you write more than 10% over the limit (1,980 words for assignment one and 2,420 words for assignment two), there will be a deduction of 5% from the mark you would otherwise have received, ie a mark of 62% would become 57%. An assignment more than 10% under the word limit (1,620 words for assignment one and 1,980 words for assignment two) may well not have explored the topic in sufficient depth or has failed to use examples to illustrate the points made. Deadlines Your assignments must be submitted by the date/time indicated in the assignment diary. University regulations regarding late assignments will be applied. You would be wise to start drafting your assignments early on in the semester. Do not leave it till the last minute. This is because writing is one of the best methods of learning and developing your ideas (cf Joan Bolker. 1998. Writing your dissertation in fifteen minutes a day. Owl Books.) Assignment 2 is about innovation and choice (worth 55% of the marks for the module as a whole) This is based on the work covered in the whole module. Title of Assignment 2 Using frameworks, theories and models from the module, evaluate the different approaches organisations can take to encourage innovation. Are innovative organisations always successful in achieving competitive advantage? What are the key factors involved? Illustrate your answer with examples which show the diversity of experience among organisations. Guidance for Students The Assessment Criteria in the module guide explain how we will mark your work and you will also find in the guide what we expect from Masters' students. Here are some additional pointers for this question. This question asks you to examine the ways of encouraging innovation which the literature puts forward (especially see sessions 8 and 10-12). It specifically asks you to "evaluate" - to say what are the most important, why they are so significant compared to the others, and whether some would be more appropriate for some organisations than for others. Evaluation means (roughly) "say how important something is", compare and contrast, plus come to conclusions on the basis of the comparison. (See also comments on "evaluate" in the guidance to question 1 above) In order to make the link between the two parts of the question, you might want to considerwhether the approach to innovation taken by specific organisations can be linked to the success or failure of those innovations in helping to achieve organisational goals. As well as the sessions on Innovation (9-12),session 8 (Strategic change and Strategic Leadership) contains relevant material. However, it is a characteristic of thinking in this discipline that almost any topic within it directly affects almost all others, so you may well find material in many other sessions in the module. Guidance for both assignments You must use plenty of theory and concrete examples in your answers, both properly referenced. You will find it essential to define your terms. What is “organisational culture”, or “innovation”? What is "strategic management"? How does the one contribute to the other? You are asked to ‘Illustrate your answer with examples which show the diversity of experience among organisations'. We are looking for you to compare organisations so that you appreciate that not all organisations are the same. If you know one organisation very well (your current employer, for example) then you can concentrate mainly on that organisation, but also find other case studies (at least one other example) which you can contrast with that organisation.