Assessment Brief – Level Six Undergraduate

Module Code: HR 0372

Module Title: Culture and Organisation

Distributed on: Teaching Week 1 Hand in Date: The module hand in date will be
part of a schedule of dates for all
assignments to be issued at a later
date

Further information about general assessment criteria, ARNA regulations, referencing and plagiarism
can be found on the module’s site on the e-Learning Portal. Students are advised to read and follow
this information.

Instructions on Assessment:

‘The value of a student’s international experience goes beyond purely the acquisition of language – it
lies in the ability to see business and personal issues from other than your own cultural perspective’
Charles MacLeod, Head of UK Resourcing, Price Waterhouse Coopers 2008

Title: An analysis of the culture of an organisation

Your report will apply ONE theoretical framework used in the study of organizational culture to conduct
an analysis of an organization’s culture.

The analysis will illustrate the culture by focusing on EITHER

1. An issue (something which the organization has responded to) OR

2. A particular organizational practice (something the organization does) OR

3. An event (some particular incident or series of incidents inside the organization) OR

4. A sub – unit (an organizational department department/division) .

You will be able to choose from ONE of six organizations:

 Google http://www.google.com

 UNIQLO http://www.uniqlo.com

 3M http://www.3m.com/

 AirAsia http://www.airasia.com

 ZARA http://www.zara.com

 HSBC https://www.hsbc.com.hk/

Your report will not exceed 3000 words (excluding appendices) and must use the format shown
below. The breakdown of marks for each task is shown in brackets:

 A brief background to the organization and its environment (10 marks)

 An Introduction to the focus of the report (the practice, issue, event or sub-unit) (NOTE: WITHIN
THIS SECTION YOU MUST INCLUDE A SENTENCE STATING YOUR FOCUS CLEARLY AND
SIMPLY) (10 marks)

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Assessment Brief – Level Six Undergraduate

 A brief argument which explains/justifies why you have chosen a particular theoretical framework
instead of 1 other alternative that you considered but have rejected (10 marks)

 An explanation of your chosen theoretical framework that you will use to analyse the organization,
including its main concepts (20 marks)

 An analysis of the practice, issue, event or sub-unit which uses the chosen theoretical framework
and concepts (30 marks)

 Conclusions (including recommendations if necessary) (10 marks)

 The final 10 marks will be awarded for structure of the assignment, the quality and credibility of
references and use of APA referencing

Reading/Resources

Please see the TLP for this module for suggested reading. Other reading and resources will be
suggested by your seminar tutor as you discuss your ideas with them.

For specific and more detailed guidance you will be able to discuss in the first instance with your
seminar tutor or any member of the module team.

Word limits and penalties for assignments

If the assignment is within +10% of the stated word limit no penalty will apply.

The word count is to be declared on the front page of your assignment and the assignment cover sheet. The
word count does not include:

 Title and
 Reference list  Appendices
Contents page
 Appropriate tables,
figures and
 Quotes from
illustrations
 Glossary  Bibliography interviews and focus
groups.

Please note, in text citations [e.g. (Smith, 2011)] and direct secondary quotations [e.g. “dib-dab
nonsense analysis” (Smith, 2011 p.123)] are INCLUDED in the word count.

If this word count is falsified, students are reminded that under ARNA page 30 Section 3.4 this will be
regarded as academic misconduct.

If the word limit of the full assignment exceeds the +10% limit, 10% of the mark provisionally awarded
to the assignment will be deducted. For example: if the assignment is worth 70 marks but is above the
word limit by more than 10%, a penalty of 7 marks will be imposed, giving a final mark of 63.

Students are advised that they may be asked to submit an electronic version of their assignment.

Time limits and penalties for presentations

The time allocated for the presentation must be adhered to. At the end of this time, the presentation
will be stopped and will be marked based on what has been delivered within the time limit.

Submission of Assessment:

All assignments must be submitted via the Programme Office. Each assignment must be
accompanied by an Assessed Work Form which must be completed in full. The assignment will not be
accepted by the Programme Office unless the form is completed correctly.
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Assessment Brief – Level Six Undergraduate

Marked assignments will be returned to students. It is advisable to retain a copy of your assignment
for you own records. Your mark will be returned on t3e Assessed Work Form via the Undergraduate
Programme Office.

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Assessment Brief – Level Six Undergraduate

Mapping to Programme Goals and Objectives:

This assessment will contribute directly to the following Undergraduate programme goals and
objectives

1. Knowledgeable about the theory and practice of international business and management
Objectives:
Students will be able to:

1. Acquire knowledge of functional areas of business and management.

2. Acquire knowledge of specialist areas of business.

X 3. Apply their knowledge to business and management contexts.

4. Conduct contemporary research into business and management.

2. Skilful in the use of professional and managerial techniques and processes

Objectives:
Students will be able to:

1. Provide evidence of self reflection as a means of informing personal development planning.

2. Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work in a team.

X 3. Demonstrate critical thinking skills .

4. Demonstrate problem solving skills.

3. Aware of ethical issues impacting on business and professional practice

Objectives:
Students will be able to:

1. Identify an ethical dilemma in a business situation

2. Suggest ethical solutions to this dilemma

4. Employable as graduates
Objectives:
Students will be able to:

1. In the context of securing graduate employment demonstrate the skills of self presentation.

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 Assessment Brief – Level Six Undergraduate

Assessment Criteria
Task 0 – 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59 60 - 69 70 - 79 80 – 100
Lack of clear Insufficient Some relevant Reasonable Good level of Very good level of Excellent level of
A brief
information on the information information provided background on the detail on the detail on the detail on the
background to the
organisation and its provided on the on the background organisation and its organisation and organisation and organisation and
organisation and
environment. Few background and/or and/or the environment has its environment. its environment. A its environment.
its environment
or no supporting the environment but environment but been provided. Some appropriate range of A wide range of
references more detail needed. more detail needed. Limited references references are references are references are
Insufficient Uses a small number have been used. used. used.
references. of references provided.
0-2 marks 3 marks 4 marks 5 marks 6 marks 7 marks 8-10 marks
Identification & No clear choice of Insufficient Fair choice of issue, Reasonable choice Good choice of Very good choice Excellent choice
justification of issue, practice, information on the practice, event or of issue, practice, issue, practice, of issue, practice, of issue,
choosing a event or sub-unit. choice of issue, sub-unit event or sub-unit event or sub-unit event or sub-unit practice, event
central FOCUS practice, event or or sub-unit
(the practice, sub-unit
issue, event or 0-2 marks 3 marks 4 marks 5 marks 6 marks 7 marks 8-10 marks
sub-unit)
Poor argument Lack of detail in the Some relevant Reasonable Good discussion Detailed Excellent
A brief argument
which does not argument which arguments provided discussion of why of why the discussion of discussion of
which
provide a clear does not provide a but more detail the chosen framework was choice of chosen
explains/justifies
case for choice of sufficiently clear required. Limited framework was chosen and good framework and framework and
why you have
framework and/or case for choice of discussion of selected as insights into an useful insights the selection
chosen a
no discussion of an framework and/or alternative opposed to an alternative into an alternative process.
particular
alternative insufficient frameworks. alternative one. selection. selection. Good Excellent use of
theoretical
discussion of an Relevant examples used to supporting
framework
alternative examples used to reinforce arguments.
instead of one
make points. arguments.
alternative
0-2 marks 3 marks 4 marks 5 marks 6 marks 7 marks 8-10 marks
Theoretical Theoretical The key points of the There is a The theoretical A very good A critical
An explanation of
framework not framework has theoretical reasonable attempt framework has insight into the analysis of the
your chosen
identified or been chosen but framework are to breakdown the been clearly framework and framework and
theoretical
understood little integration with described. theoretical articulated though concepts with concepts has
framework,
relevant evidence framework and its mostly in a some useful been provided
including its main
key elements descriptive analysis with supporting
concepts
manner references
0-5 marks 6-7 marks 8-9 marks 10-11 marks 12-13 marks 14-15 marks 16-20 marks

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 Assessment Brief – Level Six Undergraduate

Task 0 – 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 - 59 60 - 69 70 - 79 80 – 100
Little attempt to Attempt to analyse Attempts to apply Accurate Analysis clearly Critical analysis Critical analysis
An analysis of
analyse the case the case may be relevant concepts to application of demonstrates the differentiates and differentiates and
the practice,
using an made but describe the culture relevant concepts culture. integrates integrates
issue, event or
appropriate incoherent, of the organization to describe the Concepts drawn arguments and arguments and
sub-unit which
theoretical inconsistent or Some integration culture of the from the evidence at the evidence at the
uses the chosen
framework inappropriate to a between the organization but theoretical level of level of
theoretical
discussion of theoretical little attempt to framework are organizational organizational
framework and
culture in an framework and the analyse the used to analyse practice. practice and at
concepts
organization. case. organization using the case and different levels of
concepts and locate the theoretical
theory. organizational abstraction.
culture within the
framework.
0-8 marks 9-11 marks 12-14 marks 15-17 marks 18-20 marks 21-23 marks 24-30 marks
Very poor or few An attempt to A basic conclusion There may be an The effects of Provides Provides astute
Conclusions
relevant conclude the work has been provided attempt to show the culture are clearly convincing account of the
(including
conclusions have has been made which lacks depth or effects of the demonstrated. account of the effects of culture.
recommendatio
been outlined. No with some basic links to the main culture and to Concludes with effects of culture. Very strong and
ns if necessary)
appropriate recommendations body of the conclude with relevant Concludes with convincing
recommendations (where assignment. Some relevant recommendations appropriate conclusions and
are provided. appropriate). recommendations recommendations (where recommendations recommendations
are provided (where (where appropriate). (where (where
appropriate). appropriate). appropriate), appropriate)
drawing on drawing on
evidence and evidence and
similar cases. similar cases.
0-2 marks 3 marks 4 marks 5 marks 6 marks 7 marks 8-10 marks
Very poor structure. Inadequate Adequate structure. Clear structure. Well-structured A very clear and Excellent
Structure of the
References are structure of work. Use of some Most references work covering key logical structure. structure.
assignment,
poor and/or Use of very few credible/up-to-date are credible/up-to- areas. Good use Extensive use of Use of excellent/
quality of
outdated. APA credible/up-to-date references. date. Most of credible/up-to- credible/up-to- up-to-date
references, and
referencing not references. Lack of Inconsistent references are date references. date references. references, and
use of APA
evident in the main APA referencing in referencing in the presented correctly Consistent Very good excellent
referencing
text and/or list of either main text or main text and/or list in main text and/or referencing referencing referencing
references. list of references. of references. list of references. throughout. throughout. throughout.
0-2 marks 3 marks 4 marks 5 marks 6 marks 7 marks 8-10 marks

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Assessment Brief – Level Six Undergraduate

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