Faculty of Business and Law

Department of Business & Management:

Strategy & Operations Management Cluster

ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-24

ASSESSMENT BRIEF: APPLIED ESSAY

Module Code: UMSD9F-15-3

Module Title:
Submission Deadline:
Assessment Component
Assessment Weighting:
Multinationals in the domestic and global context
The assignment should be submitted via Blackboard
before 2pm on 30 April 2024
*submission window applies
End of 48-hour submission window: 2pm 2 May 2024
Component B
50% per cent of the total module mark

Assignment Learning Objective

To demonstrate your ability to apply concepts from the module to MNEs under domestic and global
contexts, to undertake a theoretically informed analysis, and to draw conclusions that link the topic
of study to the objective of contextual factors for international business. For this essay, you will be
required to independently investigate the academic literature on the topic and apply your
knowledge of this literature to the organisation of choice.

Assessment Instructions
This element accounts for 50% of your final mark. To complete this assignment you must produce
a 2000 (±10%) word academic essay on a topic relevant to one aspect of the following three topics
(See topic choices below) for multinational enterprises in domestic and/or global context.

Topic Choice 1: Brexit

Topic Choice 2: Covid

Topic Choice 3: Carboneconomics/carbon neutral/green economy

Topic Choice 4: Russian war in Ukraine

 Critically assess how (an aspect of) your topic of choice has impacted multinational
enterprise(s) in a global economy.
 You are supposed to pick a (1) a theoretical framework (i.e. one study unit) and (2) an
industry/company. You can either focus on one company (single case) or multiple
companies (comparative case).
 Some examples:
(1) How Brexit has impacted Easyjet/Rynanir: A public policy perspective
(2) How Covid has impacted the global supply chain for Tesco: A CAGE framework.
(3) How has Tesla developed green firm-specfic advantages in china: a public policy
perspective

-The assignment is an academic essay, not a report. We expect students to apply a stream of
literature to the case company. The contextual factor could be a study unit or other relevant
environmental factors. It is strongly suggested that you focus on an issue we cover in this module.

-The word count is 2000 (+/-10%) (Excluding references). Diagrams and figures would be counted
as 10 words.

-Coursework surgeries: Formative feedback will be provided in surgeries. Students are encouraged

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to provide a short 300-word abstract on a topic that they want to work on for their coursework.
These surgery sessions will provide formative feedback on the coursework topic in a friendly,
collegial environment and are first-come-first-served. All students are encouraged to register and
attend these surgery sessions. Please note that we won’t read any drafts of the essay.

Tip: Choose a topic that you really like!

Tip: Formative feedback will help you refine your idea.

This assessment task requires you to both discuss the appropriate theoretical area and, drawing on
evidence from the case study you choose, apply these theoretical ideas to a ‘real world’ example.
The key to doing well is to demonstrate that you can discuss the theoretical ideas and apply these
in an analysis of an industry and organisation, as you have been doing in the seminars. You are of
course permitted to draw on other areas of the international business and strategy literature.

Marking Criteria
A detailed breakdown of the marking criteria used by staff to assess this applied essay is provided
at the end of this document. When writing your assignment it is useful to keep in mind these
assessment criteria and the weightings allocated to each element.
Format
The purpose of an essay as an assignment task is to demonstrate your understanding of the topic
and your ability to sustain an argument. Essays are a form of academic writing that requires you
to follow the general structure of introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. An essay is written
in whole sentences and paragraphs. If you do not use an essay format you will lose marks. Essays
do not necessarily need headings, though these are often useful for guiding the reader.
Appendices are not permitted; any essential figures and tables should be included in the body of
the assignment.

Document submission formats for online marking

Please follow these guidelines in preparing your documents:
• Do NOT use a cover sheet; instead, just put your title at the top of the first page and begin your
essay immediately beneath this.
• You MUST include your student ID number at the top of every page (put it in a header).
• Page numbers MUST be included at the bottom of every page.
• You should use Calibri or Times New Roman 12-point typeface with single line spacing. Please
leave a full line between each paragraph for easier online reading.
• The document you submit must be in Word (.doc or .docx) format and should be uploaded as
one file. Please do not spread your assignment over multiple files – for example, do not put your
references in a separate file. We will only open and mark one file per student.
• Your marks will be affected if your tutor cannot open or properly view your submission (for
example, if you did not follow instructions on acceptable file formats).
• To minimize file size, please do NOT include pictures or photographs. Your own diagrams are
OK!
• All tables and diagrams must be included in the text - DO NOT use appendices as tutors will not
scroll back and forth through your work to find material in an appendix.
• Please number and give titles to all tables and diagrams for ease of reference in your text.
• Please check your citations and references (we do!).
Word Limit
To complete this assignment you must produce a 2000 (+/- 10%) word academic essay (the word
count excludes the reference list and in-text citations).

There is no direct penalty for exceeding the word count but the marker WILL stop reading once the
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

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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.

Please refer to the UWE ‘Library Guidelines on Citations and References’:

References (citations) within the body of a report should be linked to your reference list using the
Harvard system of referral. This requires the author’s surname and the year of publication to be
inserted at every point in the text where a reference is made to a particular document.

Why reference?
There are a number of reasons why you should provide references:
 to demonstrate that you have considered other people's opinions and read around your
subject;
 to acknowledge other people's work and/or ideas - and thus avoid accusations of plagiarism
(plagiarism: is the act of presenting the ideas or discoveries of another as one's own);
 to provide evidence for a statement;
 to illustrate a point or offer support for an argument/idea you want to make;
 to enable readers of your work to find the source material, e.g. for a particular methodology you
have used; and
 to direct readers to further information sources.

When preparing reports, essays, etc. for assignments at UWE, if you wish to refer to something
you have read you MUST give a reference for this material.

Harvard Referencing
There are often differences in how this system is implemented as there is no definitive guidance on
how Harvard should be applied. However, UWE Library Services have undertaken an extensive
review and provided UWE-approved guidance on what is expected by all UWE Faculties that use
the Harvard style. For details of how to reference according to the UWE-approved Harvard
referencing style, please visit the Referencing section of UWE Library Services’ iSkillZone. You will
find advice on how to list references within the body of the text, as well as how to present the
reference list.

NOTE: If you submit a poorly referenced essay you will lose marks. If you submit an unreferenced
or plagiarised essay you will fail the assignment. Cases of plagiarism will be referred via the formal
assessment offences process. Plagiarism, collusion and non-compliance with assessment
regulations are offences under University regulations and where suspected, will be investigated
under official procedures. Penalties vary depending on the severity of the offence but can include
expulsion from the University.

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.

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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 proofread your 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 criteria
 That the submission is in the correct format

Grace period
5 day submission window is available for the coursework submission. You don’t need any evidence
for this.
https://www.uwe.ac.uk/study/academic-information/personal-circumstances/late-submission-
window#:~:text=However%2C%20if%20you%20encounter%20unexpected,late%20submission
%20window%20has%20ended.

Other personal circumstances

For more information including 7-day coursework extension, check here
https://www.uwe.ac.uk/study/academic-information/personal-circumstances
Feedback
The feedback on the module will be a combination of formative feedback and formal summative
feedback. Feedback on this module is not limited to the written comments you will receive on
individual written assessment submissions. Rather, engagement in the seminar series provides you
with regular and immediate formative feedback as you work on your case analyses during the
seminar.

Coursework surgeries: Surgeries will be provided during seminars. Students are encouraged to
provide a short 300 word abstract on the topic that they want to work on for their coursework.
These surgery sessions will provide formative feedback on the coursework topic in a friendly,
collegial environment and is first-come-first-served. All students are encouraged to register and
attend these surgery sessions. Please note that we won’t read any drafts of the essay.

Summative feedback: You can expect written feedback through the Blackboard system. Students
will normally receive marks and feedback on their submission within 20 working days of the
submission deadline (not including weekends, any public holidays, or university closure days). Any
delay in returning students’ work will be communicated by the module leader via Blackboard.
Please bear in mind that marking can sometimes be delayed due to technical problems with online
marking and due to the extensive quality control process involved in moderating work. Please read
this feedback carefully as it will highlight areas where you can develop your work. If you wish to
discuss your work further, you will have the opportunity to contact the person who marked your
work. Their e-mail address will be provided on the feedback form.
Further Guidance
Guidance on study skills: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills.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

Extenuating 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.

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Please note the module leader cannot grant extenuating 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
‘Extenuating Circumstances (ECs)’, how to do so and what evidence is required to support the
application. Further details on ECs can be found here:
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/assessments/extenuatingcircumstances.aspx

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Coursework Assessment Rubric

Assignment Feedback 2022/23

Student ID:

Marker name and email:

Marking grid

Would students please note that achievement of the learning outcomes for this assessment is demonstrated against the assessment criteria shown below (which
are not necessarily weighted equally). Your assignment is marked as a whole and your grade is more than a summation of your performance as rated below. You
are advised to retain this feedback in a safe place.

*Rating scale: How far have you met the assessment criteria – A. Excellently; B. Substantially; C. Adequately; D. To a limited extent; E. Inadequately.

The five-point scale below reflects the ratings on

the table overleaf
Assessment Criteria

Extent to which the question has been answered A B C D E

Knowledge and understanding of theory A B C D E

Analysis and application of issues A B C D E

Nature and range of materials used A B C D E

Presentation and overall structure A B C D E

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Strengths of the essay are

The main ways to improve this essay are