Course assessment
Assessment scheme
The assessment for this course is based on three assessment items.
Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due date
Online test 20 20 17/08/2015
Case study 1 (Report writing) 30 30 21/09/2015
Case Study 2 (Essay writing) 50 50 30/10/2015
Submission details
? All assessment items will be accepted by way of electronic submission ONLY. No hard copy assessment items will be accepted.
? Please include all parts of the assignment. Do not submit twice.
Final submission should be by the due date specified in the study schedule. Check your course details for the specific nature of your assessment.
There is a 10% +/– allowance on the word count for case study 1 & 2. You must use at least 12 different academic references for each of the two case studies. Academic references may include refereed journal articles, academic books, and government reports. You should avoid using references sourced directly from the internet (i.e. references with http://www … addresses) as these references have dubious academic value. Practitioner magazines, business publications (i.e. Fortune or Business Review Weekly) and newspaper articles may be used for illustrative purposes only (i.e. they may not be used to support your main argument but materials in them may be summarised to provide very brief examples). As a postgraduate student in a university, you are expected to produce work to high academic standards. Written material must be presented well, be thoroughly researched, contain appropriate references, and demonstrate considerable thought and appreciation of the subject matter. ? All students are expected to have access to an IBM or equivalent computer and the Internet. Details of the Faculty of Business minimum requirements can be found at http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/current/geninfo.html .
? Both case studies must be submitted in Microsoft Word format. The two acceptable word document formats are .doc and .docx. Please note that you are only allowed to submit ONE Word document file (either .doc or docx) electronically. The file size of your document must not exceed 1 GB. No hard copy assignments will be accepted. Please do not submit PDF files as they will not be accepted. Please do not submit additional files. Your course examiner (or maker of the course) will only mark one file per assignment. Please do not submit files of excessive size containing photos and other large graphic presentations.
? All written assessments are to be lodged electronically via the MGT8002 StudyDesk on UConnect. Details on the actual procedure will be provided to students in the introductory material and also via the MGT8002 StudyDesk.
Late policy
As a general rule no extension of time will be granted. All assessment items must be submitted electronically to the UConnect drop box by 11.59pm AEST on the due date.
If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval of the examiner, then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded.
If an assignment extension is required for cases of extreme hardship or illness which would prevent you handing in your assessment item by the due date, an extension may be obtained in advance from the course leader/course staff member by requesting an extension before the due date of the assessment item. Extension requests must be in writing and include supporting documentary evidence. Requests must be emailed to the course leader.
As most of the course participants are working full time in demanding careers, work load reasons do not qualify for extension of the due date. It is expected that course participants organise their work and study commitments in such a way as to meet the assignment due dates.
Online test
Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due date
Online test 20 20 17/08/2015
The online test relates to a number of knowledge questions based on chapter 1 and 3 of your text Grant et al. (2014). You must have acquired a copy of the text (or acquired this online through Wiley & Sons). Please ensure you read and study both chapters thoroughly.
To pass the test, you have to complete all 20 questions. Each question is worth 5 marks with final marks scored out of 10. You will find the link for the On-line test on the study desk. The online test will be available to you before the due date and you will be advised when the test is available through the course StudyDesk. You have 1 hour only to complete the test after opening it. Please go to the course StudyDesk to check further information provided by the course leader.
Case study 1
Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due date
Case study 1 (2500 words) 30 30 21/09/2015
You are required to view the following video regarding Qantas produced by Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for this assignment: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2014/s3953030.htm
As the presenter, Sarah Ferguson, describes: 'These are turbulent times in the history of Australian aviation and tomorrow [27 Feburary 2014] will be D-Day for the national carrier, Qantas, as it confronts crippling financial losses. In the morning the company is due to announce the extent of its losses, which will measure in the hundreds of millions of dollars for the past 12 months, and in the afternoon it'll address its staff, where it's expected to announce thousands of job cuts'. You are encouraged to view more videos from ABC regarding the airline.
The case study primarily focuses on Chapters 1 to 5 of the textbook. However, you are strongly advised to study other materials such as selected readings in modules plus any additional sources for the case study. You should prepare this assignment in 'Report' format. In preparing this assignment, you should refer to Chapter 3: ‘Report writing’ in Summers and Smith 2010, Communication skills handbook, 3rd edn, John Wiley and Sons. Please note that you are expected to include a 'Table of Contents' in your assignment.
In this case study, you are required to do the following tasks:
1. Provide a summary of the industry and market information. This summary must be very brief (limited to no more than 300 words). Further information can be provided as an appendix.
2. Conduct an industry analysis using the following tools:
Industry Analysis I
Pestel Analysis: Draw the PESTEL framework similar to page 115 of the text of the organisation competing in its industry. Use bullet points in each box to list the points you want to emphasize.
Element Narrative: See the text pages 115–17 of Grant et al. 2014. For each of the six elements listed, describe and outline how the environmental conditions within each might influence the organisations decisions going forward. (Total 600 words) Collect Evidence: Find evidence to support your PESTEL. Extra marks will be awarded to those who use quotations and references other than the text showing clear evidence that the academic article(s) and/or publication(s) have been read. You should quote theory in such a way that it supports the framework you produce. For example, see selected readings in modules plus any additional sources.
Industry Analysis II
Five Forces: Develop a Five Forces model similar to page 134 of the text. Use the addition of complements if appropriate. Draw the figure similar to page 134. However, populate each box with bullet points of the main features or forces listed from pages 121–34.
Forces Narrative: Each main component of your five forces should also be explained in written narrative. That is, immediately below your figure, now summarise each of the forces and why or why/not these are relevant to the forces you selected. (Total 600 words)
Collect Evidence: Extra marks will be awarded to those who use quotations and references other than the text showing clear evidence that the academic article(s) and/or publication(s) have been read (e.g. see readings in modules). You should quote theory in such a way that it supports the model you produce. For example, see selected readings in modules plus any additional sources.
Industry Analysis III
KSF Table: Draw up a KSF Table similar to one on p.145 of the text. Identify the external forces of the industry of the organisation competes in, list the likely industry response as a whole (i.e. how the whole industry is currently (or should be) responding to these forces, then list the key success factors going forward. That is, how all companies competing in the industry can be successful.
KSF Narrative: Choose five (5) of the most important key success factors for the industry. Write a supporting paragraph explaining why you have chosen each key success factors (KSFs) to support your table. (Total 600 words)
Collect Evidence: Extra marks will be awarded to those who use quotations and references other than the text showing clear evidence that the academic article(s) and/or publication(s) have been read (e.g. see selected readings in modules). You should quote theory in such a way that it supports the table you produce. For example, see selected readings in modules plus any additional sources.
Please note that there is a 10% +/– allowance on the word count for the assignment.
Assessment criteria – Case study 1
Case study 2
Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due date
Case study 2 (2800 words) 50 50 30/10/2015
You are required to study Case Study 6: 'Michael Hill International: Controlled expansion and sustainable growth' (p.450) in your textbook and answer the five questions (see below) at the end of the case study (p.460).
1. What elements of global strategic management are apparent in Michael Hill's initial expansion into Australia?
2. Critically analyse Michael Hill's diversification into shoes.
3. Compare and contrast the entry models into Australia, Canada and the United States.
4. What factors do you believe Michael Hill included into the feasibility analysis to move overseas?
5. The case highlights the fact that the North American market is fragmented. What are the characteristics of fragmented industries such as these? How should companies like Michael Hill compete in a fragmented industry?
The case study primarily focuses on Chapters 6, 8, and 11 of the textbook. However, you are strongly advised to study other materials such as selected readings in modules plus any additional sources for the case study. You should prepare this assignment in ‘Essay’ format. In preparing this assignment, you should refer to Chapter 5: ‘Essay writing’ in Summers and Smith 2010, Communication skills handbook, 3rd edn, John Wiley and Sons. The use of subtitles is encouraged in the development of your essay however, these should be used sparingly. You may use a brief version of the questions as subtitles for your assignment. Keep subtitles short, simple and relevant to the content which they represent. It is important for essays to have standard subtitles for 'Introduction' and ‘Conclusion’. Please note that there is a 10% +/– allowance on the word count for the assignment.
Assessment criteria – Case study 2
MGT8002 – Strategic management
Additional resources
Library resources
Supplementary material to assist in your study of this course is available through the USQ Library http://libcat.usq.edu.au .
The Library contact details are:
Off-Campus Library Service
Phone: 1800 063 632 (free call to students in Australia outside the 07 Toowoomba zone)
(07) 4631 2589 (students in the Toowoomba zone or overseas)
Fax: (07) 4631 2920
Email: offcamp@usq.edu.au or at the web site: http://www.usq.edu.au/library/gettinghelp/online-students
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