Support for Coursework

Outline
• Coursework requirements

• Understand Assessment Criteria

• Review academic essay writing

• Using the assessment criteria to evaluate
extracts from student essay work on the
Mybank case study
• Further advice
Course Work Requirements

• A 3000 word essay (+/- 10%)

• Submission electronically
– deadline 2pm 28th January 2021
 Assessment Criteria
are the same as in CW1
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant • T
theories

• Analysis linking theory and practice • A

• Critical evaluation and coherent argument • C

Marking Grid
MARK
THEORY and LITERATURE KNOWLEDGE AND
UNDERSTANDING

100 Demonstrates an excellent knowledge and

  understanding of theories and concepts used.
90  
  Shows excellent evidence of reading widely.
80  
  Extensive reference to wide range of relevant
75 literature.
 
70 Referencing is exemplary.
Marking Grid

MARK
ANALYSIS LINKING THEORY & PRACTICE
100
  Insightful analysis that highlights and exposes
90 key issues.
   
80 Extensive integration of theory with practice.
 
 75 Well chosen number and quality of examples.
70
 Marking Grid
 MARK
CRITICAL EVALUATION, COHERENT ARGUMENT
100 Excellent evidence of sound judgement, critical
  thinking and well supported evaluations.
90  
  Development of strong, coherent argument.
80  
  Consistently addresses the purpose of the
75 assignment.
 
70 Adept handling of the material, well-reasoned,
with a clear line of thought.
Stages in Essay Writing
1. Analyse the question (Brainstorm)
2. Establish a possible point of view (argument)
3. Research the topic – take notes
4. Organise ideas & write an essay plan
5. Write 1st draft (introduction, body & conclusion)
6. Set aside
7. Edit your essay
8. Review
9. Finalise your references and citations
10.Final draft completed - hand it in
This essay has TWO parts you are required to answer BOTH and
observe the word count limit:
• Part 1: What are some of the key elements of effective change
management? Critically review the implementation of a specific
organisational change and evaluate the implications for
successful people management in situations of organisational
change (approx. 2000 words).
 Review your chosen organisational experience:
– Why have you chosen your case?
– Do you have enough detailed information to conduct an analysis that demonstrates your T A C
skills?
– What concerns do you have about using this example of organisational change?
 Develop/Review the content of your essay (Part 1)
– T - which particular theories and models will you use?
– A - what are the insightful links between theory and practice
– C – what critical questions do you have, what arguments will you develop?
 Evaluation - Develop/Review the plan of your essay
 What are the implications for the successful organisational change management that
you will discuss?
This essay has TWO parts you are required to answer BOTH and
observe the word count limit:
• Part 2: In your judgement, is organisational change
typically managed well? Critically reflect on your own
experiences of change situations. Compare and contrast
your experiences with your discussion of successful
people management of organisational change in Part 1
(approx. 1000 words).
Getting started: Analyse the question

COURSEWORK: INDIVIDUAL ESSAY

This element involves a 3000 word essay (+/-
10%).
The assessment provides an opportunity to
reflect critically on managing organizational
change and its general implications (lessons) for
organizational practice
Getting started: Analyse the question
Objectives
This part of the coursework is designed to
develop your ability to:
• Understand theories and conceptual frameworks of
the management of organisational change
• Conduct an insightful analysis of the effective
management of change by linking theory and
practice
• Undertake critical evaluation and present a succinct,
reasoned, coherent argument
Activity 1: Do I have any Questions?

Around your tables, identify concerns and

questions you have about Coursework.

Plenary discussion.
1. Analyse the question (Brainstorm)
2. Establish a possible point of view (argument)

? Experience What is the

relationship? Key
word
WHAT
Key
WHERE word What is the
What is the relationship
WHY relationship? Essay Task

HOW
Theories,
WHEN Theories, What are the
connections
models,
models, between
concepts
WHO concepts these?
The structure of an academic essay
Introduction
• Orientate the reader
• Identify the focus
• State your argument.
• Essay organisation (ie explain structure)

Main Body
• Develop an argument in relation to question
• Argument points
• Be analytical, critical and evaluative in tone and content
• Address the question

Conclusion
• Summarise key points in relation to argument
• Link back to general introductory comment
• No new ideas!!
 ILLUSTRATIVE QUESTION:
“A strong culture may inhibit rather
than enhance organisational learning”
 Which introduction is better?
Number One
The purpose of this essay is to
analyse my experience in relation to
applying multiple perspective
theories and how it will help me in
the future. In doing so, the first part
of this paper will attempt to highlight
my learning journey through this
course. The second part will focus on
multiple perspective theories; i.e.
machine, organic and brain
metaphors. Finally, I will conclude
how these models will help me in the
future. The essay will begin by giving
brief explanations of the terms of
multiple perspective frameworks.
Number Two
The Organization act as a machine
consists of a large range of factors
and influences that may impact on
its ability to serve its customers,
markets and survive in the long
term. Factors are influences on
operations coming from
independent organizations which
can be managed by the manager.
The internal micro environment
includes production, financial
capability, human resources, and
corporate identity, research and
development capabilities.
The Main Body

– Presents argument and

addresses question
– Logical sequence
– Paragraphs/ideas linked
– Integrate theory,
application and critical
evaluation.

TA C
 Developing the argument
A strong culture (Brown, 1998) means a majority of organisational
members share the same values and basic assumptions (Schein,
2010) and that there will be a unitary culture. Members are
therefore less likely to question the operating norms. This means
that organisational members as far less likely to engage in double
loop learning (Argyris and Schön, 1978). For example, when I worked
in a call centre, I was trained to follow the script when speaking to
callers. Everyone thought it was important to stick to the script, that
was the culture – nobody questioned this. After a while I noticed
that nobody questioned what it said in the script. – even if it was
incorrect which meant that mistakes were not reported and we did
not innovate or were not creative in our thinking in response to
callers’ feedback. So a strong culture may inhibit double loop
learning and therefore learning organisation (Senge, 2010) activities.
Ways to demonstrate critical evaluation
• Questioning what you have read
• Providing different view points
• Contrasting & comparing the relevance of
theories when you analyse the experience
• Understanding the limitations of a view point,
perspective and/or theory
• Highlighting differences and similarities
• Developing a line of reasoning or argument
• Using a wide range of theories to make your
points
A good conclusion
– Draws your analyses together

– ‘Briefly’ summarise what has been the

key thread or argument/s

– ‘Briefly’ reviews why what you have

written answers the question or has
reflected the key points made in your
introduction
Assessment Offences
• Academic misconduct
• Cheating
• Plagiarism
It makes no difference whether this is deliberate or
accidental, and applies to all materials, including
anything copied or downloaded from the internet
• Collusion : working with others to produce a joint
piece of work which you present as your individual
effort. Collusion is a form of plagiarism.
 Activity 2: Which Organisational
Experience to use?
• Choosing your organisational experience
– Personal or well known to you (e.g. school, work, part-
time work, placement etc.,)
– Case study (e.g. core text, articles, other sources)
– Seminar activities (e.g. Gerry Robinson video)
– Cases from internet or media (do not copy analysis as
this would be an assessment offence)
• Personal brainstorming (mind map your options)
• Can you see relevant theories that might be
useful to analyse this experience /case?
Activity 3: Choosing your theories
- Which theories apply…
AND/OR
- Which theories do you understand that can
be applied to your experience/ case to make
relevant arguments

(….. Kotter’s Dual System, the Change Kaleidoscope,

Dunphy & Stace, Appreciative Inquiry etc….)
Selection of Theories is based on Study Units
– Leading Change/ Change Leadership
– Change – Continuity Paradox
– Choices, Communication & Resistance
– Planning Approaches to Change Management
– Process Approaches: Context, Stories, Politics and
Substance of change
- The Emergence of Complex Organisational Structures
– Organisation Development & Learning Approaches to
Change
- Changing Organisational Structure & Systems
– Can we Manage Organisational Culture
Activity 4: What makes a good
essay?
You will be give Essay Extracts that you should
review using the marking scheme
• For questions 1 and 2 you may want to write a
comment and / or mark ‘S’ and ‘W’ where
these occur as you read through the extract.
• For questions 3, 4 and 5 you may want to
mark T or A or C where you see the examples
as you read through the extract
1. What would you say are the key strengths (S) of this extract?
Were these weaknesses consistently seen throughout the piece
or occasional?
2. What would you say are the key weaknesses (W) of this extract?
Were these weaknesses consistently seen throughout the piece
or occasional?
3. What is the evidence of use of Theory (T)? Using the full marking
scheme what level of mark would you give for T and why?
4. What is the evidence of Analysis (A) use of examples and
applying theory to relevant situations? Using the full marking
scheme what mark would you give for A and why?
5. What is the evidence of use of Criticality (C) in either the
discussion of T or the discussion of A?
6. Having marked this extract what questions do you need to ask in
order to complete MOIC Coursework 2?