Submission Deadline Marks and Feedback

Before 10am on: 20 working days after deadline (L4, 5 and 7)

15 working days after deadline (L6)
21/02/2020 10 working days after deadline (block delivery)

20/03/2020

Unit title & code BSS066-6 Management Practice (Placement)

Assignment number and title
Assignment type
Weighting of assignment
Size or length of assessment
Unit learning outcomes
1. Reflection and skills assessment
Report
20%
1250 words
On completion of this assignment you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a systematic understanding and critical appreciation of theories in the MBA
toolkit to challenge existing preconceptions and develop positive and enquiring approaches to
management and enterprise.
2. Demonstrate intelligent practice by imaginatively and critically integrating theory and practice,
stipulating areas of excellence and reflecting on areas for development to improve
performance in a dynamic competitive environment.

What am I required to do in this assignment?

You will prepare a personal skills diagnostic and evaluation in preparation for the placement which will form the basis of a reflective journal
for your placement experience, including an assessment of skills and knowledge gained to date in relation to the course and wider
experiences and an assessment of the leadership qualities required in the placement organisation. The assessment will be incorporated in
the MBA Placement project unit assessment.
You will prepare a personal skills diagnostic and evaluation in preparation for the placement. This will form the basis of a reflective journal
for your placement experience.

The report should include:

1. An assessment of skills and knowledge you have gained to date in relation to the MBA course. This should be backed up by both
empirical evidence and theoretical analysis.
2. An assessment of your skills and knowledge based on your wider experiences both pre and while completing the MBA course. This
should be backed up by both empirical evidence and theoretical analysis.
3. An assessment of the leadership qualities you believe are required a placement organization.

What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)

In order to pass the assessment you will need to:

 Show independence of thought in evaluating the usefulness of theory in practice applied the simulated task of running a business,
monitoring performance and adjusting decisions in the light of the success or failure in a competitive environment.
 Demonstrate a critical appraisal of the complexity of management in the implementation of strategic decisions.
 Research, select and use creatively appropriate business and management theory to manage and complete a project in the context
of a new situation.
How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?
We shall discuss this during the final day of the scheduled workshops.

Critically assess your skills and knowledge

 Gained to date in relation to the MBA course

 Based on your wider experiences both pre and while completing the MBA course.
 An assessment of the leadership qualities you believe are required a placement organization.

All must be backed up by empirical evidence and theoretical analysis

 Produce a clearly written and well-constructed report with appropriate theoretical underpinning appropriately referenced.
 Demonstrate the impact that your knowledge, skills and capabilities have had on the simulated task of running a business in a
dynamic environment.
 Demonstrate the impact that your skills and personal attributes have had on team performance in the simulated task of running a
business in a dynamic environment
 Clearly identify those areas where your personal development is necessary and provide an appropriate plan for that development
during the period of your placement.

How does this assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?
The workshops consist of:

 Formation of teams to engage in the simulation.

 An introduction to the simulation and deadlines for decision making
 Analysis of outcomes of your decision making in relation to performance and results in a dynamic, competitive environment,
reflect on the use of the MBA Toolkit.
 Participation of your contribution in consultancy sessions
 Reflection and models of reflection together with guidance on how personal development might be achieved.

It is intended that this will lead to students developing a clearer underpinning for the decisions that they make in terms the identification of
issues and the execution of solutions.

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How will my assignment be marked?

Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations and the criteria on the following page.

You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit.

Pass – 40-49% Pass – 50-59% Commendation – 60-69% Distinction– 70%+

Limited evidence of Evidence of critical A critical piece of writing with Insightful honest appraisal of
critical thinking. thinking and recognition of clear insights tied into the the journey with a clear
Largely descriptive personal responsibility. performance of the team, the timeline tracking failures and
Analysis 50% but some insights. Starts to tie progress into business and the MBA Toolkit. improvements
Starts to recognise the performance of the
personal team, the business and
responsibility. the MBA Toolkit.
The conclusions flow The conclusions flow The conclusions are clearly Conclusions are crisp,
from the analysis to clearly from the analysis derived from the analysis and succinct and demonstrate a
Conclusions 20% some extent. and demonstrate greater lead quite naturally into the strong understanding of the
understanding of the recommendations. learning opportunities that
learning achieved. have been experienced.
Recommendations Recommendations are Clear and appropriate Clear and appropriate
are vague. Doubtful reasonably clear and recommendations. Less recommendations.
feasibility. mostly realistic. comprehensive than for an A Professional applicability.
There is recognition There is clear recognition grade. A clear plan of action based
of what needs to be of what needs to be added There is clear recognition of on the recognition from the
Recommendations done to improve to the skills portfolio and what needs to be added to reflection. The suggested
(20%) and develop but there is recognition of how the skills portfolio and there is means of achieving this by
there is limited this might be achieved. recognition of how this might the components of the plan
recognition of how However, the timelines be achieved. The timelines are well defined.
this might be are not well defined nor is and the measures that might
achieved. the end state. be used to judge progress are
defined.

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 May follow report Follows report format and A thoroughly professional A thoroughly professional
format but poorly is professionally produced piece of work with no spelling piece of work that is visually
formatted, contains with clear evidence of or grammatical errors and appealing and which has
Presentation and spelling or proof reading. Word which shows strong evidence used the word count well.
referencing (10%) grammatical errors. count fully used and with of proof reading. Well sourced The writing style is crisp and
Does not comply adequate citations. throughout. effective. Well, and
with word count. comprehensive sourced
Few citations. throughout.
Section / Title Details / Guidance
Title page Title of your report. Address (to/from) and date the report.
Executive Summary 150-word maximum summary of your report, including key
recommendations.
Contents Page Include page numbers.
Introduction Short (approximately 150 words) introduction to the report setting out
what the aims and objectives of the report are, what the report will
cover and why.
Analysis Assessment of skills and knowledge gained to date in relation to
 the MBA course
 Your wider experiences
 Your assessment of the leadership qualities required in the
placement organisation

(Approximately 600 words in total split as your require between

the three areas)
Conclusions This section should initially summarise the assessment analysis and
identify professional progression paths. (Approximately 350 words)
Reference List A list of all sources cited directly in the text. Harvard style