Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn MGT70003 Business Analysis and Risk Semester 01 – 2017 Page Number 1 of 3 Assessment Task Three –Analysis of business sustainability approaches – Case study (Individual Assignment) Due: No later than Sunday Week 12 @ 23:59 hrs Assessment Value = 45% To be completed as an individual assignment. Details of the Assessment Task requirements Porter and Kramer (2011) identify the opportunities to create shared value for business and society as a key source of competitive advantage. Increasingly there is pressure on business to adopt integrative thinking in its use of ‘capitals’ to create sustainable value for stakeholders. See the IIRC business model framework (refer to Learning Object 3-2) and the Executive Summary of the International Framework (refer to Learning Object 4-3) that argue the case for integrated reporting around the use of ‘capitals’. As a starting point to familiarise yourself with the history of the organisation and its adoption of Plan A, read the case study provided to you at the beginning of the unit, i.e. “Marks & Spencer: the Business Case for Plan A” (Spitzeck, H 2009, Cranfield University). To consider Marks and Spencers’ strategic approach to contemporary business challenges, also access Marks & Spencers’ website (and especially their 2013 and updated Plan A report http://corporate.marksandspencer.com/investors/reports_publications/2012_2 ). Note that Marks and Spencer (M&S) aim to become the world’s most sustainable international multi-channel retailer. Select a small selection of appropriate models/frameworks from Lessons 3 & 4, and provide an evidence based critique of the extent to which M&S has effectively managed capitals and created sustainable value for its stakeholders through its Plan A. In framing recommendations, ensure you have justified your advice in the body of your report with reference to relevant academic and other published business materials. Your recommendations must be workable, and capable of being implemented by the organisation concerned if it so chose. Presentation Requirements Various formats for report writing are recognised in many different settings. In this case you are to present a report structured along the following lines:  An executive summary that succinctly presents the main arguments, conclusions and recommendations;  An index or table of contents complete with page numbering;  An introduction that covers the issues relevant to the question that you will be considering in the report and the scope of your inquiry;  The report body including identification and rigorous analysis of the issues you have identified;  A conclusion that reflects your overall assessment of the effectiveness of the organisation’s approaches to the effective management of their capitals to crate sustainable value through plan A. Include recommendations for change if appropriate. Submission Requirements The response should be in one single MS Word document that is clearly structured as noted above and appropriately referenced. The question or task should be stated clearly and the document length should be around 2000 (+/- 10%) words (excluding References, Executive Summary and Table of Contents). Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn MGT70003 Business Analysis and Risk Semester 01 – 2017 Page Number 2 of 3 Submissions MUST contain a completed cover page (will not be marked without a cover page) and associated declarations re originality of work. Copies of the appropriate cover page are located under ‘Assessments’ (i.e. the same location as this document) Submissions MUST be made through the ‘Assessments’ facility on the Blackboard unit website (following the instructions available through Blackboard ONLY). Do NOT email any reports to the Convenor unless prior arrangements have been agreed in exceptional circumstances. Assessment Criteria The criteria for grading this assessment task are incorporated in the Marking Guide included at the conclusion of this document. Assessment Procedures In assessing your assignment your Unit convenor will record initial impressions on the first reading of the work. Next a detailed evaluation of the submission against the marking criteria (see blow) will be completed and a grade allocated for the work. The basis upon which the decision was made will be identified. Grade Descriptions The range of grades achievable and the associated requirements for each grade are contained in the Unit Outline. Important notes 1. The assessment and marking criteria reflect the standards expected in a postgraduate unit of study. 2. Complying with the assessment task requirements is essential to pass the unit. 3. The work you submit must be YOUR work only and nobody else’s (make sure you are familiar with the university’s plagiarism policy – see http://www.swinburne.edu.au/ltas/plagiarism/ for a detailed description). 4. You MUST submit assignments using the Blackboard unit website assessment submission facilities. Do not use the email facilities. 5. Keep a backup of your submission. If your assessments happen to go astray in the process of submission, you will be asked to re-produce it. 6. Late assignments without prior approval may result in a penalty of 10% of your marks per day for the assessment task (refer to the Swinburne assessment guidelines contained in the Unit Outline). Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn MGT70003 Business Analysis and Risk Semester 01 – 2017 Page Number 3 of 3 Marking Guide - Assessment Task Three (45% overall assessment value) 1. Presentation – includes assessment of; structure, style, grammar, fluency and effective communication of issues, findings, conclusions and recommendations. It is anticipated that at a post graduate level the presentation of the report, case study, document, analysis, or other piece of work will be of a standard commonly expected of a professional in the commercial/academic environment. This criterion also assesses relevant use and formatting of references (Harvard system). Note also that simply copying (even with references cited) or paraphrasing sections of text from a variety of articles without adding your own coherent analysis and discussion does not constitute the communication of professional/academic knowledge in a submission or report. 10 marks NP P C D HD Comments: ___________________________________________________________________________ 2. Understanding – includes assessment of your demonstrated understanding of concepts and issues relevant to the case study and/or discussion topics. This means that your work in the unit and associated research effort will provide information to enable you to demonstrate your understanding of concepts, frameworks, and issues that are specifically relevant to the discussion topics and/or case studies. You may also demonstrate contextual understanding through a brief background or overview, but you are expected to focus specifically on the concepts and issues relevant to the discussion topics and/or case study. General discussion loosely related to the concepts and issues under consideration will not be considered an adequate demonstration of your understanding of relevant concepts and issues for this criterion. 10 marks NP P C D HD Comments: ___________________________________________________________________________ 3. Scholarship – includes assessment of; evidence of ability to research, analyse and critique issues relevant to the discussion topic; academically rigorous use of supporting references; appropriate use of supporting course content. Scholarship includes being able to locate academically rigorous literature, decide what is relevant to the topic under consideration and coherently discuss its relevance. Critical analysis is assisted by using appropriate literature (theories, models, concepts and constructs) to explore assumptions, points of view, nuances, etc., that underpin situations, and the practices of or claims made by organisations. Wider reading is required. Using additional academic references to build on those presented in the unit materials will be valuable. 10 marks NP P C D HD Comments: ___________________________________________________________________________ 4. Effectiveness of responses to task requirements – includes assessment of the approaches taken to the assignment tasks, including content and issues coverage, determination of approaches taken, the level of innovation employed in your approaches, and their relevance to the assignment context (including suggested solutions or recommendations). Where the assignment calls for analysis and recommendations, the latter should flow from effective analysis employed in the body of your assignment. 15 marks NP P C D HD Comments: ___________________________________________________________________________ Total Marks out of 45:……………………