Strategic Management 2 :Assignment Guide and Marking Criteria

BUSM3192 Strategic Management HKMA

Assignment 2 -Essay

Assignment Guide and Marking Criteria

Due Date: Friday 16 May

Value 30%

Length: 8 Pages (approx 2000 words)

Select 2 companies that operate in an industry that you are familiar with. You can not use

the company that you used in Assessment Item 1. Use relevant theory to

a. Describe the industry environment.

b. Compare and contrast the business level strategy of these companies.

c. Assess if the strategy chosen is the best strategy, and if not, recommend the

strategy you believe should be adopted.

Advisory Notes:

• You should use appropriate theoretical models in your discussion

• This is 8 page essay (approximately 2000 words). It is not possible to explore ALL aspects

of the industry environment and business level strategy

• It is strongly suggested that you select an industry which you are familiar with.

• In your introduction, you should specify the scope of your coverage (what you have chosen

to focus on) and why you have chosen to direct you focus in the way you have chosen.

• This is an academic essay. In line with RMIT policy, sources must me consistently and

comprehensively referenced using the Harvard System. At least 3 primary sources must

be used.

Essay Structure

Introduction

2. This states the purpose and structure of the essay, and identifies the main theme or

proposition(s) that you are trying to prove. It tells the reader what to expect.

Body

7. In the body of the essay, you are trying to build a logical argument that supports the main

theme or proposition. The body needs to be consistent with what you have said you are

going to do in the introduction.

8. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence, and the points you are making should

reflect that topic sentence.

9. You need to refer to theory to analyse the topic you are discussing.

10. Use theory and examples to explain your argument.

11. Remember that you are trying to present a logical, cohesive and clear analysis of the key

issues that you have identified, and to use these to support your proposition or theme in a

systematic way.

12. DO NOT TRY TO WRITE EVERYTHING THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE TOPIC

IN THE HOPE THAT SOMETHING WILL BE GOOD.

Conclusion

3. A conclusion is not just a list of the key points you have made. You need to draw

together your key points to demonstrate that you have supported your theme or proven

your proposition(s).

4. The conclusion needs to be consistent with both the introduction and the body of the

essay.

General Points about essays

4. You can use headings, but use them sparingly. Headings only add value if they assist the

reader in following the logical argument.

5. BODY should not be used as a heading.

6. Poor spelling and grammar detracts from your ability to build an argument. CHECK

BOTH GRAMMAR AND SPELLING THOUROUGHLY.

Recommended databases to quote the references

ABI/Inform Global covers international business, management and marketing,

including company information. It contains content from thousands of journals

helping to track business conditions, trends, management techniques, corporate

strategies, and industry-specific topics worldwide.

Academic Research Library (ProQuest) covers a broad range of general research

subjects including business.

AIMMAT: AIM Management and Training (Informit) - A bibliographic database

covering all aspects of management, training and human relations, including

organisational change, award restructuring, business ethics, customer service and

leadership

APAIS (Australian Public Affairs Information Service)- Australian political economic,

legal, social and cultural affairs.

Business and Management Practices (OCLC) focuses on the practical aspects of

business management with coverage of more than 300 core management journals and

trade publications. A FirstSearch password may be obtained from the Library to use

this database.

Dissertations and Thesis Full-text - Full text of theses available from 1997 onward

and dissertation abstracts available from 1861 onward. All disciplines of theses are

included.

EBSCO Business Source Premier covers all areas of business. There is full text access

for more than 3,000 business journals, including nearly 1000 peer-reviewed business

publications. Harvard Business Review is available in full text from 1922.

Edge (Informit) - A bibliographic database that indexes and abstracts selected articles

from about 80 journals. It focuses on management topics and includes some

management issues within selected industries.

Emerald provides abstracts and full text articles in the areas of marketing,

management, human resources, training and education.

Expanded Academic ASAP - A full text database covering all academic disciplines.

Factiva includes online full-text articles from some 9000 publications world wide,

including newspapers and academic journals. It's a good source of news, company,

financial and business information. Factiva also provides access to the Australian

business press, including the full text of The Age, and the indexing of the Business

Review Weekly and the Australian Financial Review.

FAMILY - Australian Family & Society Abstracts - Current Australian writing and

research on the legal, sociological, psychological, economic and demographic

situation of Australian families, children and adults.

Libraries Australia (http://librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au/) gives access to a national

bibliographic database of material held in Australian libraries. Covers all disciplines

and types of material.

MEDGE: Management and Environment Information (Informit) - A bibliographic

database that indexes and abstracts articles from about 100 journals on management

issues, including environmental management.

ProQuest Asian Business and Reference includes business and management

information for the Asian region with 60 of the 70 titles indexed being in full text.

ProQuest European Business includes European trade and business information for

the European region with 100 of the 110 journal titles being in full text.

Proquest Psychology Journals - Nearly 300 academic journals in psychology

including issues psychology issues relating to business and management. All articles

are in full text.

PsycINFO focuses on psychology and includes psychological aspects of related

disciplines such as business.

Science Direct - Multidisciplinary database indexing 1100 journal titles with over

200 available full-text.

Web of Science - A citation index of 8,500 leading academic journals in the

engineering, science, biomedical, social science, arts and humanities areas.

Wiley Interscience - Multidisciplinary database which includes full text access to

business, finance and management journals.

Wilson Business Abstracts provides access to leading English-language business

magazines. Topics include accounting, personnel, and small business. A FirstSearch

password may be obtained from the Library to use this database.

WORKLIT (Informit) indexes and abstracts articles on industrial relations, workplace

reform, work and family relationships, job design, performance appraisal, dismissal,

retrenchment, management, technological change and teleworking.

BUSM3192 Strategic Management

Assessment Item 2 Marking Guide

Student Name: ________________________________________

Student Number: ________________________________________

Due Date: Friday16 May Length: 8 pages (approx 2000 words)

Criteria Marks

Critical approach to the topic (10 marks)

1. The body of the essay is consistent with the introduction and critically

analyses the topic.

2.

3. Analysis shows knowledge of relevant theory.

4. There is a balance between descriptive and analytical content, with a strong

emphasis of critical analysis.

5. The topic is discussed using relevant strategic management theoretical

frames, and these are supported by the use of at least three primary sources

(e.g. refereed journal articles) that are directly relevant to the topic chosen.

Line of argument (5 marks)

1. The introduction outlines the main proposition of the essay and body

develops a clear line of argument. The argument is incisive and includes a

concise, relevant treatment of the issues.

2. The conclusion draws together the main points of the essay and demonstrates

a plausible, insightful, and rationally persuasive point at which to end the

argument.

Use of academic literature/overall presentation (5 marks)

1. Judicious and appropriate use of at least three academic journal articles.

2. Makes use of textbook (or other text books) and primary sources to support

their argument.

3. Sources are referenced consistently and comprehensively using the Harvard

referencing system. #

4. Use of language appropriate to an academic essay; Presentation is

professional (e.g. spell and grammar checked, judicious use of headings,

etc).##

TOTAL (20 Marks)

Notes:

#Failure to adequately reference is plagiarism. Plagiarism will be dealt with in line with university policy.

##Up to 20% of overall marks may be subtracted for poorly presented essays.

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