University of Lincoln Assessment Framework

Assessment Briefing 2023-2024

NOTE: All Assessment Briefings should be made available prior to the
commencement of the module, clearly signposted on the module Blackboard site
as well as included in any module handbook or briefing document.

Module Code & Title: People and Global Organisations

Contribution to Final Module Mark: 100%
Assessment Summary:
The assessment on this module is an individual 3000-word portfolio which demonstrates
students’ learning on the module. The aim of the portfolio is to appraise students as responsible
business managers through analysis and critique of a topic covered on the module with practical
application to an organisation. Assessment will incorporate both formative and summative
approaches, with the formative feedback feeding into the final piece of summative work.

The portfolio consists of two parts. Part A involves choosing and analysing a topic with
practical application to the case study and Part B is a reflection on your personal
experience of interacting with different cultures.
Part A: Choose one of the three topics below to address the issues in the above case study:
1. Cross-cultural negotiations
2. Diversity in global organisations
3. Cross-cultural team-working

Emphasis will be on highlighting the significance of the chosen topic based on existing research,
employing appropriate national and institutional frameworks to apprise the topic, identifying
issues and strengths, examining the benefits and challenges of the chosen topic from individual,
organisational, and societal perspectives, evaluating, and critiquing the current leadership
approach, and highlighting a plan of action. – (2200 words)
You will need to:
• Briefly explain why the topic you have chosen is significant to the case study organisation

• Apply the relevant theories and approaches to explain/analyse the case and the chosen topic

• Consider the cultural and institutional contexts that have an impact on the case

• Propose recommendations for any identified issues considering academic theory

• Highlight managerial implications of your findings and recommendations to managers working

in a global setting

Part B: Involves a reflection on your own learning and development during the module -
exploring how your understanding of managing People in Global Organisations has developed
over the term based on your interactions with different cultures. How has what you have learned
over the course the module helped you understand those interactions with cultures different than
your own.
How have your experiences and the theories covered throughout the semester shaped your
understanding of the nuances and challenges of managing or working with different cultures?
How will you use your new knowledge as you progress in your career or move on in life?
Develop your reflective account using academic theory, highlighting whether you found the
theory to hold true or not based on your experience. Emphasise how your learning will inform
your career in future. - (800 words).
Contribution to Final Module Mark: 100%
Part A – 2200 words
Part B – 800 words
Total Portfolio – 3000 words
This assignment is limited to 3000 words. The word count includes everything in the main
body of the text (including headings, tables, citations, quotes etc). It does NOT include your
reference list.

The word count should be clearly stated on the front cover page. Please note that the word limit
for this assignment is an absolute maximum. Misrepresentation of word counts in an attempt to
gain an unfair advantage in assessment may be referred as an academic offence.

Students should be aware that the marker will not include any work after the maximum word limit
has been reached within the allocation of marks. Students may therefore be penalised for a
failure to be concise and for failing to conclude their work within the word limit specified.
Likewise, a failure to meet the maximum word limit may result in lower marks based on the
quality of the work because they may not have included the necessary information required for
the assessment and met the intended learning outcomes.

Detailed instruction for this assessment is contained on the module’s Blackboard site under
‘Assessment Submission Guidelines’.

Portfolio:
a) 100% of your overall grade
b) 3,000 words
c) Electronic submission via Turnitin
D) Submission date: Wednesday, 10 January 2024 12 PM (noon) UK Time

Description of Assessment Task and Purpose:

The assessment is an individual 3000-word portfolio which demonstrates your learning on the
module. The aim of the portfolio is to appraise students as responsible business managers
through analysis and critique of a topic covered on the module with practical application to an
organisation. Additionally, the assessment also aims to assess your ability to find and evaluate
accurate and reliable information/evidence and present it in a clear, concise, and academic
manner. Assessment will incorporate both formative and summative approaches, with the
formative feedback feeding into the final piece of summative work. The portfolio should consist
of two parts.
Part A: 2200 words
For this Part, you are required to choose one of the three topics below and develop a 2,200-
word individual essay to address a case study scenario.

1. Cross-cultural conflict and negotiations

2. Diversity in global organisations
3. Cross-cultural team-working

The purpose of the essay is to assess your knowledge of the subject area and your ability to
employ the key theoretical concepts covered on the module in the analysis of an organisation.

In the essay, you must have the following aspects covered. Please note that you don’t need to
use titles and subtitles for different aspects/sections – but it’s your choice if you would like to
have sub-sections).

Introduction – 100 words This will be a very brief icebreaker about what your essay will be all
about. Good introductions will signpost reader about what will be discussed in the essay, any
theories used and the order of the discussion.

Develop a critical literature review on your chosen topic – 700 words This requires you to
provide a rigorous assessment of academic literature on the chosen topic with a particular focus
on evidencing critique of the academic theory for practice. Here, you should also explain why the
topic you have chosen is significant and critically evaluate the benefits and challenges of your
chosen topic from individual, organisational, and societal perspectives.
After choosing your topic, you may decide to focus on a sub-topic since the topics stated above
are very broad and include several themes. For example, you can analyse the relationship
between your chosen topic and organisational outcomes - such as performance, innovation,
business development and so on. In all cases, the chosen angle must be discussed with a
cross-cultural perspective.

Please note that when you are writing an essay, you are not describing a topic, but presenting
some type of argument, or claim about what you are analysing. So, please include both positive
and negative claims, points and arguments in your discussion that are found in the literature.
Based on this evaluation of the literature develop your own stance about what seems more
plausible and why (in the light of theory!). Good essays will have a very rigorous evaluation of
theory and a clear rationale for arguments based on a thorough literature search from academic
resources. So, support your arguments with academic sources and reports.

Application and analysis of the chosen topic to the case study scenario – 900 words this
is a crucial element of the essay. You are required to address the scenario by examining it from
the angle of your chosen topic by applying relevant theories and approaches. While conducting
this analysis, consider the cultural and institutional contexts that could have an impact on the
scenario. A discussion which highlights the complexity and influence of these contexts will
bolster the overall mark.

Additionally, you should focus on critically evaluating the current leadership approach on your
chosen topic in your chosen organisation. Discuss whether the leadership approach is
appropriate and effective based on the situation of the case study scenario in comparison to
what the theory says. Support the discussion with evidence of the case study and theory.
Implication and recommendations - 400 words Propose recommendations for any identified
issues considering academic theory (i.e., provide the academic rationale for the proposed future
strategy). For example, would you recommend the organisation to change its style or stance on
the topic/issue and why? You must base your recommendations on academic theory and
rationales and state what might improve if this change is made. Or, if the change is not made,
what could be the negative consequences?

Finally, you should highlight managerial implications for managers working in a global setting.
What is the take home message for managers/organisations based on your research and
analysis? Top tips for them and what will these tips achieve.

Conclusion – 100 words A brief overview of what the essay discussed. Do not introduce new
ideas in the conclusion but tell the reader ‘What do we know now that we read your paper that
we did not know before’?

Part B: 800 words

A 800-word reflective essay on your own development during the module, reflecting upon how
your understanding of managing People in Global Organisations has developed over the term
and how you will use your new knowledge in work or life in general.

Consider your own interactions and experiences with cultures different than your own. Selecting
one or two experiences as examples, explain how you felt. Were you scared? Confused?
Shocked? Did you find the experience to be weird or funny? Did the experience result in
misunderstanding or conflict?
Has what you have learned over the course of this module helped you better understand or
explain those interactions with cultures different than your own? How have your experiences and
the theories covered throughout the semester shaped your understanding of the nuances and
challenges of managing or working with different cultures? How will you use your new
knowledge as you progress in your career or move on in life?
Please ensure to develop your reflective account in relation to academic theory highlighting if
you found the theory to hold true or otherwise in your experience and how this will inform your
practice in future. It is important to develop your reflective account using academic theory,
highlighting whether you found the theory to hold true or not based on your experience.
Emphasise how what you have learned will benefit your future working life.

Learning Outcomes Assessed:

LO1 Explain organisational processes from the perspectives of individuals and organisations
in the global context.
LO2 Evaluate global organisational context within which individuals operate and assess how
economic, political, and social influences impact individual/team behaviour.
LO3 Analyse strategies for managing international teams and projects with particular
emphasis on the impact of national culture on the function and culture of the
organisation.
LO4 Evaluate organisation and management theory in relation to students’ own experience
and/or competencies as manager.

Knowledge & Skills Assessed:

Subject Specific Knowledge Skills and Understanding: Academic writing, literature searching,
project planning, paraphrasing and summarising sources, critical analysis, critical reflection,
evaluation.

Professional Graduate Skills: Independence and personal responsibility, written communication,

critical thinking, creativity, effective time management, working under pressure to meet
deadlines.

Emotional Intelligence: Self-awareness, self-management, motivation, resilience, self-

confidence.

Career-Focused Skills: An understanding of the range of graduate careers, skills and attributes
required by employers, a range of strategies to present skills and attributes to employers.

Assessment Submission Instructions:

You are required to submit your assessment by 12:00 (noon) on Wednesday, 10 January 2024
through Turnitin, the online assessment submission facility on the Module Blackboard site. Pay
careful attention to instructions provided at the time of submission.

Both parts of the portfolio will be submitted as one document. Separate submissions of
both parts are not required.

Date for Return of Feedback: Friday, 02 February 2024

Format for Assessment:

The portfolio is limited to 3000 words, with Part A 2200 and Part B 800 words. The word count
includes everything in the main body of the text (including headings, tables, citations, quotes
etc). It does not include your reference list.

The word count should be clearly stated on the first page of the assignment.

Please follow these formatting guidelines:

- Font / Size: Arial or Calibri 11/12
- Spacing / Sides: 1.5 / Single Sided
- Page numbers required: Yes
- Margins: At least 2.54 to left and right and text ‘justified’
- Referencing: Full compliance with Harvard protocols

Note this assignment is limited to 3000 words. The word count includes everything in the main
body of the text (including headings, tables, citations, quotes etc). It does NOT include your
reference list.

The word count should be clearly stated on the front cover page. Please note that the word limit
for this assignment is an absolute maximum. Misrepresentation of word counts in an attempt to
gain an unfair advantage in assessment may be referred as an academic offence.

If you submit an assignment which exceeds the prescribed word limit, marking will cease at the
point at which the limit has been exceeded and the mark will be awarded based on the extent to
which the criteria for assessment have been met up to that point.
Marking Criteria for Assessment:
Please see Appendix Three.

Please note that all work is assessed according to the University of Lincoln Management
of Assessment Policy and that marks awarded are provisional on Examination Board
decisions (which take place at the end of the Academic Year.

Feedback Format:

Final grades and written feedback will be provided through the Turnitin system. Face to face
feedback may be available for those who would like to schedule a time to meet with the tutor. If
you have any specific questions relating to the feedback comments, please email your tutor to
discuss.

Additional Information for Completion of Assessment:

 Feel free to use tables/figures/diagrams, but make sure they are properly formatted (title,
source, etc) and make sure to use them to promote your argument and are commented
on/interpreted in the text.
 Appendix: if you want to add any information. Appendix is not included in the word
count.
 Reference list: Please use Harvard style - you must be consistent. Also, use a variety of
scholarly sources from journal articles. There is a list with suggested journals in your
module handbook. Be aware of online sources that may not be trustworthy. You may use
some of those to present/illustrate your case, but you should not use them as evidence to
support your arguments.
 You must work with referenced journal articles and academic sources from textbooks.
You must supply a full list of academic references on completion of your research.

Learning Resources are available via the links above and on Blackboard.

Assessment Support Information:

You will receive support and guidance from the tutor, but please use other university resources.
Some of the planned support activities include:

• Dedicated assessment support workshop*

• Class discussions
• Links to online resources provided in lecture slides
• One-to-one meetings with tutor

*Students are encouraged to explore and utilise the support offered by the library on Essay
Writing, Reading and Language Skills and Referencing techniques

Important Information on Dishonesty & Plagiarism:

University of Lincoln Regulations define plagiarism as 'the passing off of another person's
thoughts, ideas, writings or images as one's own... Examples of plagiarism include the
unacknowledged use of another person's material whether in original or summary form.
Plagiarism also includes the copying of another student's work'.

Plagiarism is a serious offence and is treated by the University as a form of academic

dishonesty. Students are directed to the University Regulations for details of the procedures and
penalties involved.

For further information, see plagiarism.org

 Assessment Criteria LO1-4
Learning Outcome 0-30 (Fail) 35-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80+

No Insufficient Some key A range of There is You have A thoughtful

LO3: Analyse consideration of discussion on points raised on issues raised on evidence of carefully critique of the
strategies for the strategies the strategies the strategies the strategies analysis to analysed the strategies for
Learning
managing 0-35for
(Fail)
managing 35-39 for managing 40-49 for managing 50-59 for managing 60-69 analyse the 70-79
strategies for 80+
managing
Outcome
international teams international international international international strategies for managing international
and projects with There is a lack
teams and There is and
teams There
teamsis only
and a There
teamsis aand There is an
managing There is a
international Thereand
teams is a
LO1: of awareness of inadequate partial clear
particular emphasis projects and the projects and the projects and the projects and the international analysis of the comprehensive
teams and thoughtful
projects and the
Explain
on the impact of the impact of awareness
impact of the awareness
impact ofof awareness
impact ofof organisational
teams and evaluation
projects andof the
the critiqueofofnational
impact the
organisational
national culture on organisational
national cultureorganisational
national culture thenational culture a range
nationalof the
cultureprocesses
projectsfrom
and the organisational
impact of organisational
culture on the
processes from
the function and processes
on the from
functionprocesses
on the from
function organisational
on the function organisational
on the function the impact
perspectives
of of processes from
national culture processes
function andfrom
the perspectives
culture of the the and culture of the perspectives
and culture of processes fromof processes
and culture and culture of individuals
nationalandculture the
on perspectives
the function the perspectives
culture of the
oforganisation.
individuals and perspectives
the of of individuals
the and thethe from
thethe organisations.
on the function ofand
individuals
culture ofand of individuals
organisation.
organisations in individuals and
organisation. organisations.
organisation. perspectives
organisation.of perspectives
organisation. and culture of organisations.
the and
the global organisations. individuals and of individuals the organisation. organisations.
context. organisations. and organisation.
LO4: Evaluate There is no Fails to Demonstrates organisations.
Demonstrates Demonstrates a Demonstrates a Demonstrates an
organisation and There is a lack
attempt to There is vague
adequately There is
minimal There
some is attempt
a toThere is an attempt
general Athoughtful
selection of There isand
in-depth a self-
LO2:
management theoryof awareness
evaluate andof awareness of the recognition
reflect on reflectionofof description
reflect onof analysis of the
to reflect on issues are on
reflection comprehensive
critical reflection
Evaluate global
in relation to the global
critique theory globalexperience. theexperience.
global theexperience
global but global
experience. synthesised
experience.with critical
on experience.
organisational
students’ own organisational
or to reflect on organisational
There is no organisational
Evidence of organisational
discussion is organisational
Some evidence aEvidence
comprehensive
of evaluation of the
Learning/
context withinand/or context
experience within
experience. context within of
evidence context within
learning/ context within
predominantly context within
of learning/ evaluation
learning/ of the global
development over
which individuals
competencies as whichThere is no which individuals
learning which
development which
descriptive. which individuals
development global
development organisational
the course clearly
operate
manager.and individuals
evidence of operate and
/development individuals
over the course individuals
Evidence of operate over and
the course organisational
over the course context within
evident.
assess how operate and
learning/ assess how operate and operate
over the course of the module is learning/ and assess
of thehow
module is context within is
of the module which
Implications for
economic, assess how
development economic,
of the module. assess how
unclear/absent. assess how
development economic, political,
unclear/absent. which individuals
present. individuals
managerial
political, and economic,
over the coursepolitical, and
Implications for economic,
Implications for economic,
over the courseandImplications
social for operate and for
Implications operate and are
development
social influences political,
of theand
module. social influences
managerial political, and
managerial political, and
of the module isinfluences impact
managerial assess how
managerial assessidentified
clearly how
impact social
Implications forimpactdevelopment social development social
unclear/absent.individual/team
development economic,
development economic,
and thoroughly
individual/team influences
managerial individual/team
are not influences
are not influences
Implications forbehaviour.
unclear/not fully political,
clearly and political, and
explained.
behaviour. impact
development behaviour.considered. impact
considered. impact
managerial explained. social influences
identified. social influences
individual/team
are not individual/team individual/team
development impact impact
behaviour.
considered. behaviour. behaviour.
unclear/not individual/team individual/team
present. behaviour. behaviour.
 AACSB – AoL Core Competencies – PG
Not Proficient Not Yet Proficient Proficient Exceeded Threshold

Learning Outcome 0-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89%

AoL CC2: Identifies some Evaluation incomplete Evaluation balanced Evaluation is critical and considers perspectives of different stakeholders.
Sustainability barriers and/or drivers or unbalanced with and comprehensive. Concept of value creation problematised and debated
Analysis but does not evaluate little consideration Application related to
Evaluate the barriers these in context beyond generic or context and value
to and drivers of broad contexts; lacks creation
sustainable value specificity in relation
creation top value creation.

AoL CC3: Critical Ethical issues are not Identifies some Ethical issues are Ethical issues are assessed in depth. Findings are used to determine
Assessment of assessed or assessed relevant ethical issues assessed adequately creative, practical and well justified suggestions in which resources can be
Ethical Issues with little depth. but does not assess Findings are used to managed in a socially responsible manner.
Assess ethical Findings are not used. these sufficiently. determine appropriate
issues and determine Suggestions provided Some suggestions are and well justified
ways in which for ways in which made but not justified suggestions in which
resources can be resources can be sufficiently or framed resources can be
managed in a socially in socially responsible managed in a socially
managed in a socially
responsible manner management. responsible manner.
responsible manner are inappropriate or
poorly justified.

AoL CC7: Can identify some Some evaluation of Competent evaluation, Critical evaluation of teamworking and the limits of leadership. Considers
Collaboration characteristics of team working and analysing the main the broader contexts within which teams and leaders operate and situates
effective leadership leadership drivers and barriers to their evaluation within the discourse of responsible management
Evaluate
and teamworking. effectiveness, but effective teamworking education.
teamworking and Some analysis but no incomplete and/or and leadership in the
leadership evaluation and/or limited to context of individual
effectiveness, recognition of generic/received views and cultural diversity.
respecting individual and/or with limited attention to Role of reflexivity in
individual and cultural diversity context; specifically leadership and
cultural diversity relating to diversity management
and positionality. examined.