Portfolio Assignment – T1

TASK 1 (Learning Outcome 2) – 18.5 marks

Write a report based on ICL cafe to identify two problems* and make recommendations to
solve the two problems.

(* See below) 

You are required to collect relevant information about ICL cafe from different sources: signs,
advertising, materials, customers, staff and manager. At first you need to do planning and
make a draft of your report and this draft must be shown to your lecturer for feedback. You
need to research, analyse and modify your drafts and finally prepare your report.

Guidelines for writing the report:

 Line spacing no less than 1.5 and no greater than double.

 Main text using 12pt font size, font Times New Roman or Arial.
 Write in a formal, neutral style. Do not use personal pronouns or contractions such
as can’t. Write words in full – e.g. cannot.
 Use appropriate paragraph numbering
 Consistently use appropriate font, point size, spacing and margins
 Include appropriate headings and sub-headings for each section
 Findings grouped under sub-headings
 Uses same headings in Conclusions as in Findings
 Recommendations grouped under sub-headings
 Professionally presented (including page numbers and cover page)
 Word count – Not less than 1000 and no more than 1500 words

The report should be written in objective language and in your own words and it must
include:

 Title Page: Present, with correct title in full, name of author and other required
information
 Table of Contents: Correct, well presented
 Executive Summary: States background to investigation, gives the key findings, lists
key points of recommendations
 Introduction: States what is being investigated
 Findings: Are logical and relevant
 Conclusions: Express opinions and inferences based on the evidence from the facts
in findings, relate logically to Findings
 Recommendations: Are action-oriented, useful and practical, relate logically to
findings and conclusions
 In-Text Citations and Reference List (APA style)

Task 1 – Marking Guide for Report (18.5 Marks)

POSSIBLE MARKS
SECTION CRITERIA
MARKS AWARDED
¨ Present, with correct title in full, name
TITLE PAGE of author and other required ½
information
TABLE OF CONTENTS ¨ Correct, well presented 1
¨ States background to investigation 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ¨ Gives the key findings 1
¨ Lists key points of recommendations 1
¨ States who authorised the report ½
INTRODUCTION / TERMS OF
¨ States what is being investigated ½
REFERENCE
¨ States when report is to be submitted ½
FINDINGS ¨ Are logical and relevant 3
¨ Express opinions and inferences based
on the evidence from the facts in 1
CONCLUSIONS
Findings
¨ Relate logically to Findings 1
¨ Are action-oriented, useful and
1
practical
RECOMMENDATIONS
¨ Relate logically to Findings and
1
Conclusions
¨ All sections are written in concise,
GRAMMAR/ PUNCTUATION 3
clear, courteous, and correct format
REFERENCES ¨ Includes at least four sources 1
 ¨ Uses APA referencing style for in-text
1
referencing
¨ Uses APA referencing style for
½
reference list
  Total 18.5

* [Business problems at ICL cafe can be current challenges which may prevent it from
achieving goals/objectives and sometimes may threaten its survival. Some examples are: (i)
loss of reputation due to poor customer service (ii) financial issues such as poor cash flows
and/or low profitability (iii) non-adaptation to changing needs of the customers (iv) non-
conformance with regulatory requirements (v) branding issues (vi) lack of marketing and
promotion (vii) poor quality of products supplied by third parties (viii) rising costs (ix)
decreased sales despite increased student numbers (x) poor customer relationship (xi) poor
quality of prepared products (xii) delay in time to market (xiii) delay in time to reach desired
sales volumes (xiv) lack of knowledge in food preparation - poor know-how (xv) delay in the
use of new technology (xvi) Poor organisational culture (xvii) Low productivity/efficiency
(xviii) lack of KPIs to monitor performance (xix) poor customer experience (xx) expensive
down-time due to poor operations]