Details: Part 2 – Individual Report (50%) The purpose of this assessment is for students to demonstrate their capacity to identify a business issue, undertake quality secondary research to uncover both external and internal influences via relevant theory learned in prior units and then provide concise recommendations to address the issue. Feedback from the business proposal should be considered when developing this report as it is expected that the direction recommended in this earlier document will be translated into firm strategies and recommendations in the final report. Whilst many items in the proposal are expected to be discussed in the final report, students may find themselves discarding others due to further insights being uncovered as their research and analysis continues. If this is the case, the report must include reasons why any items were/were not progressed through to the final plan. Students must apply relevant theories and concepts to their report. Focus should be on selection of relevant theories, concepts and constructs and how these can be integrated to work for the chosen topic.  Note: The final report is expected to significantly build upon the work completed in the original proposal. Where there has been no further information developed in a particular area, it is expected that the student will provide a brief summary of the original information that relates to the final recommendation rather than simply repeating it in full. The final report should contain (but is not limited to) the following components: Business topic Succinctly summarise the issue you are exploring, show why it is important, and what you believe you are achieving in your report. Background information Provide sufficient background information to the business and/or situation for a reader to understand the context of the issue you are exploring. Situation analysis (including application of relevant frameworks) Provide a summary of the relevant situation, including the use of frameworks. Evaluation and application of appropriate theories to arrive at potential strategies Evaluate and apply appropriate theories to the analysed situation so as to arrive at potential strategies. Recommendations Make specific recommendations as to what you believe the organisation should do as a result of your overall analysis.  Note: This assessment is due during Session 10 and must be handed in by 6.00pm on day of class. In the interests of being fair to all students, late assignments will be penalised by 10 per cent per day unless you have applied for special consideration, and that application is considered acceptable. Applications for extensions must be made before the submission date, and will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.  Note: Since most of us suffer from constant pressure of work, submitting consideration based on “work pressure” would not be considered an “exceptional circumstance”.  Note: The maximum length for this assessment is 4,000 words. Any reports longer than this may risk not being marked beyond this word limit. It is expected that no report would be less than 3,500 words. Marking criteria and standards – Individual report CRITERIA STANDARDS Identify and use relevant information: Identification of business topic. (5%) Unclear or absent definition of business topic. Identified business topic but with little justification for the choice of the topic. Identified business topic but with only average justification for the choice of the topic. Identified specific business topic with some good, though limited, discussion of the justification for the choice. Clear identification of specific business topic which has been critically chosen and well justified as an issue of importance. 0-0.9 1-1.9 2-2.9 3-3.9 4-5 Identify and use relevant information: Background information. (5%) Absent or very general background information, not clearly relevant to the topic chosen. General background company information, but only peripherally related to the specific topic chosen, or general topic information, with little context. Moderate background information, but providing only a basic background to either the company or topic chosen. Good background information on topic and organisation, but lacking in some areas. Excellent background information, providing appropriate and relevant information on both the organisation and topic chosen. 0-0.9 1-1.9 2-2.9 3-3.9 4-5 Literature Review: Range of references used to develop the topic and analysis. (5%) Uses only online sources with limited credibility (e.g. news reports). Uses a limited range of sources i.e. news reports and company reports. Uses a large range of sources from news reports, to books and journal articles. Uses a comprehensive range of sources e.g. books, news reports, journals and internet sources. Uses an extensive range of sources e.g. journals, books, magazines/newspapers and internet sources. 0-0.9 1-1.9 2-2.9 3-3.9 4-5 Apply frameworks to the situation faced by the firm: Situation analysis. (15%) Inadequate or heavily flawed analysis. Basic analysis, overlooking some important components of the situation. Average analysis, with some good points, but some obvious limitations. Good analysis, showing some limited insight. Excellent analysis, showing excellent insight into the situation. 0-2.9 3-5.9 6-8.9 9-11.9 12-15 Develop business strategies: Discussion of theoretical concepts. (5%) Missing or inadequate theoretical concepts. Basic and/or unjustified application of one theoretical concept. Average application of one or two theoretical concepts with some obvious limitations. Good application of two or more theoretical concepts with good justification. Insightful, well-justified application of two or more theoretical concepts. 0-0.9 1-1.9 2-2.9 3-3.9 4-5 Develop business strategies: Evaluation of potential strategies. (30%) Inadequate or heavily flawed evaluation. Basic evaluation, though not well justified and overlooking obvious issues. Average evaluation, with some good points though with some limitations. Good evaluation, in most aspects. Insightful and well justified evaluation of potential strategies. 0-5.9 6-11.9 12-17.9 18-23.9 24-30 Develop business strategies: Recommendations (15%) No inclusion of recommendations and findings. Recommendations and findings included but unclear links to literature and planning tools. Recommendations and findings included but with limited links to literature and planning tools, and unclear practical implementation. Recommendations and findings included with links to literature and planning tools, but may have limits to practical implementation. Recommendations and findings included with clearly defined links to literature and planning tools and practical business implementation. 0-2.9 3-5.9 6-8.9 9-11.9 12-15 Clarity of communication: Referencing and paraphrasing. (5%) Material is paraphrased poorly, and/or inadequate in-text citations and/or incomplete reference list. Poor in-text citations and/or incomplete reference list provided and/or content may be poorly paraphrased. Satisfactory in-text citations, paraphrasing and reference list, with some errors. Satisfactory in-text citations, paraphrasing and reference list, with minor errors. Excellent in-text citations, paraphrasing and reference list in all respects. 0-0.9 1-1.9 2-2.9 3-3.9 4-5 Clarity of communication: Superior overall paper style (e.g. easy to read, good flow of thoughts, interesting and well written) and layout. (15%) Basic paper with no reader engagement. There is no obvious logic and is hard to read. Basic paper with little reader engagement. It provides little insights and logic and/or lacks structure. Paper creates some interest and provides some insights and logic with a basic structure Paper is interesting and easy to read, but could be better structured. Good layout. Paper is well laid out and has logical flow of thoughts, is well structured and a pleasure to read. 0-2.9 3-5.9 6-8.9 9-11.9 12-15