Faculty of Business and Law

ACADEMIC YEAR 2019/20

ASSESSMENT BRIEF

Module Code: UMAD5T-15-3

Module Title:
Submission Deadline:
Assessment Component
Assessment Weighting:
Marking and feedback
deadline (20 working days)
International Financial Management
27th March 2020 at 14:00
B Coursework
40 per cent of total module mark
28th April 2020

Assessment Instructions

• This is a group assignment, to be carried out in groups.

• Each group should be formed of 4 or 5 students. Please seek the module leader’s approval
for groups of any other size.
• A member of your group should send an email registering the group to the module leader
(Bouchra.benzennou@uwe.ac.uk) by email by 14th February 2020. The email must contain
the student numbers of all students in the group (See Appendix 1).

Requirements: Read the scenario below.

Starting from the 7th February, and for four weeks, question(s) for your group to consider and
research will be released each Friday in the “Assessment” tab in the module’s BlackBoard page.
Each week your group should research answers to these question(s), and put them together in a
portfolio and submitted as part of the report.
You must provide appropriate evidence of research (proper citations) within your portfolio section.
The answers to these weekly questions should not be more than a page and consistent in formatting.
Once you have answered all the questions, you should produce a 1,500-word report summarising
the position of your business, based on your research and findings from the weekly questions.
In addition, each member of the group should submit a 500-word individual piece giving conclusions
and recommendations for the future of the business.

One final submission should be made per group, which should comprise the following:
1. One 1,500-word summary of the position of the business.
2. One individual 500-word conclusion per group member (each clearly marked with student
number).
3. Appendices numbered 1 to 4, which should contain the group’s responses to each week’s
questions.
4. One reference list, which should be in UWE Harvard format and should cover the whole
submission.

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Theme: US-China Trade War – Technology

Background Information

During the G20 meeting in December 2018, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the U.S. President Donald
Trump and China’s Leader Xi Jinping announced a truce in the ongoing trade war between the two
largest economies, following months of accusations, tariffs, and escalating retaliation. After an
“amazing and productive meeting”, the U.S. President deferred the increase from 10% to 25% in
tariffs applied to a large number of Chinese goods, initially scheduled for the 1st of January, 2019,
by 90 days.

The trade war erupted when the President Donald Trump blocked networking giant Huawei
Technologies Co. from buying U.S. component and imposed tariffs on many Chinese products. In
response, President Xi Jinping threatened to blacklist U.S. products. In the midst of the turmoil, the
technology sector is under a rising tension, especially that the two countries are closely intertwined
through global supply chains and software.

China’s greatest reliance on the U.S. is arguably in semiconductors (e.g. processors, memory chips,
mobile chips, switch chips).

China’s semiconductor imports surge

The dominating U.S. companies of the processors market are Intel Corpo. And Nvidia Corp.
Processors are key components of all laptops, desktops, and server computers. A third potential
competitor in the processor market is yet another American company: Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
The largest processor manufacturing hub of processors is located in Tawain.

Global computer chips market share, 2017

Intel has a plant in China where memory chips – a commodity component – are produced and covers
36% the global computer chips demand. In 2019, Huawei announced its first home-grown server
chip, designed by ARM Holdings Inc., a UK-based company. The latter has crucial operations in the
U.S. which significantly shrank owing to the U.S. export controls.

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Huawei is also relatively independent of U.S. suppliers of mobile chips used in smartphones. As of
2018, Huawei produces 68% of its own chips. Other Chinese smartphone companies such as Xiaomi,
Vivo, Oppo, and Lenovo, however, still rely on Qualcomm, the world’s largest mobile chip producer
based in California.

Dependency on Qualcomm

Another crucial area of technology is switch chips manufacturing. Switch chips are used to direct
one-to-one information between any devices across networks, including the internet. 80% of the
global switch chip market share is held by Broadcom, a California-based chip maker. The software
used to design these chips are monopolised by U.S. technology supplied by Synopsys Inc. and
Cadence Design Systems Inc.

Internet Switches Market share by shipments, 2018 Q4

Huawei is a top networking gear provider and, therefore, a heavy buyer of switch chips.

Source: Bloomberg Intelligence Report.

The task

You are the members of the Board of Directors of one of the companies mentioned in the report
above. Groups are free to pick the company of their choice. In light of the US-China economic and
political relationships and knowing the recent threat to these relations, your task is the prepare a
report where you:

1. Present a brief profile of the company of your choice: the profile should detail the company’s
industry, key products, financial performance based on share price fluctuations in 2019,
changes in net profit in the past years (3-4 years), and Return-On-Equity (ROE) in the past
years (3-4 years).
Hints: Students might use Yahoo! Finance, Bloomberg for price data and financial reports
available in companies’ websites, Yahoo! Finance or Bloomberg for net profit and ROE
information. Other sources are acceptable as long as the source is reliable and specified in
the report.

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 2. Analyse and present a critical evaluation of the company’s position (drawing on the
company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats). The analysis should take into
considering issues such as corporate governance, ethics, financing opportunities, country
and exchange rate risks, potential incentives and market entry strategies. In addition, it
should draw upon relevant theories. Students are free to make assumptions about your
company, but these must be based on sound, logical and practical justifications.
3. Write a conclusion/recommendation based on this analysis.

Marking Criteria
The following criteria will be used in evaluating this assessment (See Appendix II):
Element Questions (20%) Summary (40%) Presentation and Individual
(weighting) references (10%) contribution (30%)
A: 70%+ Correctly and fully A full and A very well and Appropriate
Outstanding – all answered, with sophisticated professionally conclusions and
requirements reference to discussion and presented and recommendations
met, and supporting sources analysis of the complete portfolio; made, considering
exceeded where appropriate. position of the easy to follow; very position of the
Evidence of business. good clarity of business. No new
research from a Evidence of expression wit information
wide range of extensive research evidence of editing introduced, but
sources, effectively from a very wide throughout; correct attempts made to
used in answering range of sources, citations and consider global
questions, and very effectively references where issues and tailor
synthesis between used in evaluating appropriate and recommendations
questions and business. Clear necessary. accordingly. Links
topics. links made to demonstrated to
research done for research in
questions, with questions and
references to summary.
appendices where
necessary.
B: 60-69% Correctly and fully Good discussion A well-presented Appropriate
Very good – all answered, with and clear attempts piece of work, well conclusions and
requirements reference to to evaluate rather laid-out and easy recommendations
very competently supporting sources than simply to follow; made, taking into
met where appropriate. describe the appropriate account position of
Some links drawn situation of the business English the business. Links
between question business. Some used throughout; demonstrated to
topics. attempt to go citations and research in
beyond the brief in references questions and
considering complete and summary.
implications. Clear correct throughout.
evidence of wide
research, informing
discussion. Well
linked to question
appendices.
C: 50-59% Questions mostly A good summary A complete Some good
A Generally good well addressed, of the work done to portfolio, which conclusions and
piece of work, with some fairly answer the may have some recommendations
most minor errors of questions, clearly errors in made, but limited
requirements met understanding, linked to expression, consideration of the
well, with some underpinned by responses in incomplete or broader
omissions or good but fairly appendices. Some incorrect citations implications of the
areas for further limited research. evidence of wider and references. business position.
development reading and
research having
informed the
discussion, but
evaluation and
synthesis may be
limited.

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 D: 40-49% Most questions A mostly One or more Limited
Some strong answered, but descriptive elements of the understanding or
areas, but some missing summary, with portfolio missing; the requirement
significant responses or parts some links to citations missing displayed, some
omissions or of responses, and research done for when needed; conclusions drawn,
underdeveloped limited evidence of questions, but little reference list but relevance to
points widespread reach evidence of wider incorrectly business not really
and research. reading and limited formatted; clarity of clear.
Largely theory evaluation of expression
based responses. broader variable.
implications.
E: 35-39% Some questions An attempt made One or more Conclusions and
Some attempt to answered well, but to describe the elements of the recommendations
address the generally weak position, but limited portfolio missing; not really present or
requirements, but responses, entirely to the citations missing plausible, or difficult
major theoretical only, question when evidently to follow; new
weaknesses, with little or no responses, no necessary; material introduced;
inaccuracies or wider research. evidence of wider expression difficult no links to
omissions research or good to follow. summary of
understanding of questions.
the broader
implications.
F: <35% Responses An entirely Poorly presented Too short, and
Fail – little missing or descriptive portfolio; difficult to descriptive with
attempt to inadequate, no response, with no follow; little or no attempt
address the evidence of attempt to analyse inappropriate at linking research
requirements meaningful or evaluate the language; some to conclusions or
research to research done. portfolio elements recommendations
address questions. missing;
Regurgitation of inadequate or
book theory only. missing citations;
incorrectly
formatted
reference list.

Formative feedback and Support

Formative feedback
Formative feedback provides opportunities to reflect on your ongoing work and preparation for your
assignment. There will be an assessment clinic in week 8 where you have an opportunity to ask
general question and get feedback on the progress of your report.
Further information about this assessment is available on the Blackboard site for this module
and includes: Guidance documents, module handbook, reading list sections or other resources
here.

Format
Please use the following file format(s): MS Word format. We cannot ensure that other formats are
compatible with markers’ software.
All work should be word processed in 12-point font AND double spaced.
The first page of your coursework must include:
• Your Group number or Number
• The module Name and Number
• Your word Count
Please also ensure that your student number is shown clearly on your individual contribution.

Word Limit
The maximum word limit for this coursework is 1,500 words for the group summary report and 500
words for the individual conclusion.
• This word count includes everything in the main body of the text (including headings, tables,
citations, quotes, lists, etc.).

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 • The references, bibliography and footnotes (provided footnotes only include references) are
NOT included in this word count.
• There is no direct penalty for exceeding the word count, but the marker WILL stop reading
once the maximum word limit has been reached and nothing further will be taken into account
in the allocation of marks.
You can view the UWE word count policy here: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/aboutus/policies

Referencing
Please ensure you adhere to the principles of good academic practice and ensure you use the UWE
Harvard system to reference your work. Failure to properly reference your work to original source
material can be grounds for the assessment offence of plagiarism and may result in failure of the
assessment or have more serious implications.
For further guidance on correct referencing go to:
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills/referencing.aspx
Details of what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it can be found here:
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills/readingandwriting/plagiarism.aspx
For general guidance on how to avoid assessment offences see:
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/assessments/assessmentoffences.aspx

Instructions for submission

You must submit your assignment before the stated deadline by electronic submission
through Blackboard. Notification that the electronic submission portal is open for your assignment is
displayed (usually two weeks before the submission date) in the Coursework tab in myUWE, the
Coursework tab in Blackboard and via an announcement in the Blackboard course.
Please ensure you allow sufficient time to upload your script, noting that the system becomes busier
and slower as the deadline approaches. Only your final upload will be counted. Ensure all your
information is submitted at one attempt to avoid ‘overwriting’ your intended submission. Always check
and retain your receipts.
Late submission in the 24 hours following the deadline will be accepted but the assignment mark will
be capped at 40%. Submissions after 24 hours will not be accepted. For full guidance on online
submission through Blackboard, see:
http://info.uwe.ac.uk/online/Blackboard/students/guides/assignments/default.asp
Submissions of coursework by any other method (including a paper copy, on disc, by email or by fax)
are NOT permissible for this module unless specifically agreed in advance of the submission date.
Before submitting your work, please ensure the following:
• That you have proof read you work thoroughly to ensure your work is presented
appropriately
• That you have addressed all the required elements of the assessment
• That you have referenced in accordance with the guidance provided
• That you have addressed each of the marking criterion
• That the submission is in the correct format

Feedback
Students will normally receive marks and feedback on their submission within 20 working days of the
submission deadline (not including any public holidays or university closure days). Any delay in
returning students’ work will be communicated by the module leader via Blackboard.
Please note feedback can take many forms and can be summative (provided for work completed) or
formative (provided for on-going work or activities). Feedback on this module is not limited to the
written comments you will receive on individual written assessment submissions .
For further guidance on feedback, please refer to the module handbook.

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Further Guidance
General guidance on study skills: is available at:
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills.aspx
Specific study skills pages relating to this module include:
Please list the specific study skills pages related to the format or content of this assignment (delete
or amend as required).
Presentation skills:
https://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills/groupworkandpresenting/presenting.aspx
Working in a group:
https://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills/groupworkandpresenting/groupwork.aspx
Writing skills:
https://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills/readingandwriting/writing.aspx
Support from the FBL Academic Success Centre:
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/bl/bbs/aboutus/studentexperience/academicsupportcentre.aspx
Guidance on UWE assessment regulations and terminology:
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/assessments/assessmentsguide.aspx
Guidance on using the library: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/library/usingthelibrary.aspx

Personal Circumstances
If you are experiencing difficulties in completing a piece of assessment on time due to unexpected
circumstances (for example illness, accident, bereavement), you should seek advice from a Student
Support Adviser at the earliest opportunity.
Please note the module leader cannot grant personal circumstances or extensions.
Appointments with a student adviser can be made via an Information Point or online at:
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/studentadvisers.aspx
The Student Support Adviser will advise as to whether you should submit an application for ‘Personal
Circumstances (PCs)’, how to do so and what evidence is required to support the application.
Further details on PCs can be found here:
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/assessments/personalcircumstances.aspx

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APPENDIX I: GROUP REGISTRATION FORM

Group members - groups must comprise 4 or 5 students. Module leader approval must be given for any other group size, and this
will not normally be permitted.

Student number

This registration form should be emailed to the module leader bouchra.benzennou@uwe.ac.uk by 5pm on 14th February at the latest.

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APPENDIX II: Summary Marking Grid 1
1

International Financial Management [UMAD5T-15-3] Student Number 

COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENT
SUBMISSION DATE: 28/03/2019 HAND BACK DATE: 29/04/2019 Weighting 40% [final mark]

1ST Marker Office Number

Group work Assessment

1 Analyse and present a critical evaluation the given company’s position (drawing on the company’s strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats). See assignment brief posted on Blackboard for details
2 Individually, write a conclusion/recommendation based on this analysis

The marking criteria are listed on blackboard and each are phrased as a question (i.e. Has the assignment ...?).
The grading classifications, F to A (also listed below) and are phrased as answers to the criteria's question.

A 70%+ Outstanding – all requirements met, and exceeded

B 60-69% Very good – all requirements very competently met
C 50-59% Generally a good piece of work, most requirements met well, with some omissions or areas for further development
D 40-49% Some strong areas, but significant omissions or underdeveloped points
E 35-39% Some attempt to address the requirements, but major weaknesses, inaccuracies or omissions
F <35% Fail – little attempt to address the requirements

Marking Criteria: Knowledge and understanding

Has the assignment fully addrssed the following....? % F E D C B A
1 Weekly Questions 20

2 Analysis of company: Summary 40

3 Presentation and referencing 10

4 Individual contribution 30

Overall
Tutor Feedback Mark
Overall Comments

Specific areas to focus on before the Exam 907

301