Get BUS7076 The Integrated Business Assignment Help

BIRMINGHAM CITY BUSINESS SCHOOL

POSTGRADUATE DEGREES

COURSEWORK FRONTSHEET

MODULE TITLE: The Integrated Business (Main)

MODULE CODE: BUS7076

LECTURER: Dr Juanling Huang

ISSUE DATE: January 2023

GROUP PRESENTATION: May 10th & 11th, 2023

INDIVIDUAL REPORT: May 17th, 2023 at 12:00pm noon on Moodle

HAND BACK DATE: 20 working days from date of deadline

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria specific to this assignment:

1. Critically review and analyse the situation of an integrated business using appropriate spreadsheet software, to interrogate contextual data from a marketing and operations perspective, within a globalised business environment.

2. Create a range viable marketing and operations management options and propose and present comprehensive recommendations for a given digital business scenario, whilst ensuring the effective integration and optimisation of marketing and operations.

3. Interpret and evaluate PRME (Principle of Responsible Management Education) to ensure an inclusive and sustainable global economy through incorporating values of responsibility and sustainability in business.

4. Develop excellence in leadership, communication and team collaboration and to reflect on their personal and professional skill development.

This module is 50% Group Presentation and 50% Individual Report assessed. You must achieve 50% or more to pass. Under the University’s Regulations you have one main attempt and one resit attempt opportunity to be assessed and to pass this module. If you have not achieved a pass in this module after all main and resit attempt have been used, no further opportunities are available and you will be withdrawn from the course.

The marking scheme is provided at the end of this document.

BUS7076 The Integrated Business Assessment Brief Background

The aim of this module is to provide you with the key knowledge and understanding of the integrated nature of business functions focusing specifically on marketing and operations. The module explores in detail the strategic and tactical scope of Marketing and Operations management and the relationships between them. As you will discover there is little point selling a product a business does not have the capability to produce and distribute, similarly there is little profit in making a product that customers do not need or want.

The purpose of this assessment is to enable you to explore this relationship between demand generation and management and the impact on operations, production and supply chain management to ensure you will fully understand the complexity of matching supply-side to demandside requirements to achieve strategic fit.

As part of the module this assessment brief will help you explore these issues within a small group setting. You and your group will develop skills in managerial decision making and professional presentation whilst also developing data analysis skills using spreadsheets. By working in a small group, you will improve and enhance your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with others both within the context of an integrated business, but also within the context of your award of ‘MSc Management’, which ever pathway you have chosen. This approach aligns with the programme philosophy that ensures that as a future manager you will be able to make effective decisions that take account of the fast changing external and enterprise environments.

The assessment process incorporates a time-based assessment incorporating an integrated presentation process within a group situation comprising of the presentation within a given business context, as detailed below.

Assessed Group Presentation (15 minutes – Maximum 40 slides) – 50%

In the presentation as part of a group, you will provide a comprehensive situation analysis linked to the marketing management and operations management of the business context. Your presentation should cover a detailed exploration and analysis of the internal and external environment using the theory, concepts, frameworks, tools and techniques as taught on the module. The aim of the analysis is to ensure that you answer the following key questions:

1. What is your evaluation of the strategic and tactical fit of the organisation from a marketing and operations perspective?

2. What would you recommend that the organisation should do to improve its strategic and tactical fit in respect of marketing and operations?

Individual Report (Maximum 2,000 words) – 50%

The new information (at the end of this file) about both the external and internal enterprise situation and you will be required to react by proposing recommendations to optimise the organisation appropriately to this changing situation in the Individual Report together with Group reflection. The Individual Report should therefore answer the following key questions:

3. How could the business optimise aspects of its digital marketing and operations to take advantage of this new situation, through incorporating values of responsibility and sustainability in business?

4. What key reflections can you make about the efficiency and effectiveness of the group and its decision making during the assessment process? In your answer reflect on the group’s strengths and weaknesses, including an assessment of your skills, and develop an action plan to improve future group working.

The assessment process involve an element of peer assessment. See details of the peer assessment process below.

By introducing an element of change within the given business scenario, the assessment mirrors and simulates the challenging situation faced by professional managers in their day to day practice, thus realising the programme’s philosophy of theory into practice. The presentation will develop your verbal communication skills whilst the groups based context will reflect the nature of the integrated business where many individuals from different functional areas come together to make effective management decisions in a dynamic and time constrained environment.

The Business Context

Groups must choose a business from the industry indicated by the module tutor. All groups must choose a business from this industry. All choices MUST be approved by the module tutor before starting work. Companies that only engage in distribution and/or retail activities will not be approved. Companies that only act as sub-contractors to other companies will also not be approved.

Groups cannot choose the same organisation as other groups so choices are approved on a first come first served basis. Group choices must be made using the link on the module Moodle site as per the guidance provided.

If the chosen organisation operates in multiple geographic markets with multiple products and services, groups can choose to narrow the focus of their analysis to a specific territory/and or brand but should seek approval from their module tutor before doing so.

Groups can make justified assumptions, supported with evidence, about the nature and scope of the chosen business’ internal systems and processes.

Presentation Assessment Constraint

Presentations should demonstrate skills in the use of PowerPoint and spreadsheet software (such as Microsoft Excel) to generate graphs of demand and capacity analysis. Presentations should demonstrate significant evidence of research and the appropriate application of tools, techniques and theories that are related to the subject areas of Marketing and Operations. The Harvard Referencing system should be used throughout. Detail notes should be presented under each slides as additional information to expand from key information or bullet points presenting on the slides.

Plagiarism and Collusion

You are reminded of the University’s Disciplinary Procedures that refer to plagiarism. A copy of the Disciplinary Procedure is available from iCity

Except where the assessment of an assignment is group based, the final piece of work that is submitted must be your own work. Close similarity between assignments is likely to lead to an investigation for cheating.

You must also ensure that you acknowledge all sources you have used.

Submissions that are considered to be the result of collusion or plagiarism will be dealt with under the University’s Disciplinary Procedures, and the penalty may involve the loss of academic credits.

If you have any doubts about the extent to which you are allowed to collaborate with your colleagues, or the conventions for acknowledging the sources you have used, you should first of all consult module documentation and, if still unclear, your tutor.

Mark Adjustments

Please note that assessing tutor(s) can change group and individual marks according to their academic judgement, at their discretion, in line with published marking schemes and in accordance with academic moderation processes and have the final say in all marks for all work.

Feedback

Formative feedback will be provided in sessions by the tutor and between peers based on in-class presentations of case-study analysis and via a practice presentation. This will help individuals and group reflect on their performance and improve over the course of the module. In addition, a small scale, practice presentation opportunity will be provided that mirrors the module assessment to

provide an opportunity for feedforward. Practice presentations will be available for review by groups in addition to Tutor’s verbal feedback.

Groups will receive verbal summative assessment feedback to enable them to identify areas of improvement. Final written summative feedback will be provided in line with Faculty deadlines for providing feedback (usually within 20 working days).

Group work

Working in a group is a key employability skill and as mentioned earlier, provides an opportunity to develop your leadership, communication and collaboration skills. The resources section of the module moodle site provides key resources for you to help manage the group including:

(1) A group agreement form

(2) A meeting agenda and guidance on managing group meetings

(3) Guidance on giving feedback to group members about their work

(4) Managing group conflict

(5) Outline structure for group meeting minutes

(6) Role definition and links to online psychometric tests

If you have any queries or concerns about group work, please contact your module tutor. If group conflicts cannot be resolved, please refer to your tutor for further advice – group conflicts are unlikely to be resolved retrospectively after the submission of summative assessments.

Peer Assessment

This assessment is subject to a PEER Assessment (details included below) process. Peer assessment of individual contribution can result in the assignment of different grades to different group members subject to assessing tutor moderation.

Group Size

Tutors can change group members according to individual and group performance. Group size is limited to a min. of 3 to a max. of 6 members only. Groups that have more than 6 members or less than 3 will be significantly penalised when submitting assessments unless they have had written prior approval from their group tutor and/or the module co-ordinator.

If you are not in a group by Week 3 of the module, please contact the module tutor and request to be put in a group.

Any student failing to attend without extenuating circumstance will be failed in this component of assessment. Extenuating or exceptional circumstances need to be presented to your group tutor in advance of the presentation.

Any student who is registered with disability services will need to personally speak to their group tutor as a matter of urgency if they have specific issues or support requirements.

Further Questions

Should you have any questions about the Presentation please contact your tutor.

Guidance and Structure

Part 1 – Group Presentation

Introduction

Company Information

Main body

1. Operations Management – Apply theories that you have learn in identifying how the case company operates to produce their products / services.

2. Process Mapping

3. External Situational Analysis – PESTEL analysis, Porter’s 5 Forces

4. Internal Situational Analysis – McKinsey 7S Framework, Porter’s Value Chain, SWOT

Conclusion

Recommendation – Marketing and Operations Management

Part 2 – Individual Report

Introduction

New Information Briefing

Present each of the New Situation issues according to the “New Information Briefing”, and to provide solutions / strategies accordingly.

Reflection

Demonstrate your Leadership skill, communication and professional skill especially in a team setting.

Conclusion

List of References

New Information Briefing

Following your Presentation that covered the assessment of strategic and tactical fit of your organisation with regards to Marketing and Operations, a series of internal and external events have come to light that will require you to review your initial considerations and recommendations and present them in your individual report (Maximum 2,000 words).

Following the first part of your assessment that covered the strategic and tactical fit of your organisation with regards to Marketing and Operations, a series of internal and external events have come to light that will require you to review your initial considerations and recommendations.

The overall economic outlook remains unpredictable under the Pandemic impact of COVID-19. Yet key industry indicators suggest overall productivity is up as exporting improves and exchange rates remain favourable. However, inflation remains a concern and is set to increase.

What is of far greater concern is the news that with regards to your company, your Finance Director has resigned following allegations of misreporting the company finances. Your company’s profit statement was overvalued by at least 30% in the last financial year and the Serious Fraud Office has contacted you to initiate a full investigation. Following the news, the share price has de-valued as shareholders look for more attractive investment opportunities with serious implications for the financial stability of the company and its market reputation with key stakeholders. Unrelated but of significance, you are also shocked to discover the excessive expense accounts submitted by your Business-to-business sales account team spent on ‘Corporate Hospitality’ with channel partners.

Your closest competitor has launched an almost identically performing product range to your own but at a significantly reduced price, in fact 20% lower than your own. Whilst you are not sure how they are achieving this aggressive pricing strategy whilst retaining profitability, the fact is that they now have a significant pricing advantage in your key market and consumers are starting to switch to their alternative product(s).

Meanwhile, it has become apparent that other competitors are starting to offer a variety of innovative added value online. Insider information suggests they are investing heavily in a wide range of digital management approaches to streamline their businesses and their online value propositions.

Your Stock Controller has come to you with concerns that you will run out of warehouse space within the next 3-4 weeks for inventory if manufacturing output continues at the same rate going forward. Whilst manufacturing output is high, quality issues suggest problems with sourcing components from suppliers and your own in-house assembly. Consumer complaints are increasing, particularly regarding lead times and stock-outs, and customer returns suggest high levels of dissatisfaction with both your product and service levels. You wish you had more accurate and timely management information.

In light of the information above and as a first step to help you decide what to do next, you reforecast your product sales and then reconsider your strategy and tactics going forward.

PEER CONTRIBUTION EVALUATION & ASSESSMENT

The following evaluation of your group members is a tool to determine those who have been active and cooperative members as well as to identify those who did not participate. Be consistent when evaluating each group member’s performance by using the guidelines below. REMEMBER you are evaluating the contribution of the group member to the group tasks.

FOR EACH MEMBER OF YOUR GROUP, INCLUDING YOURSELF, EVALUATE EACH GROUP MEMBER USING THE SCALE PROVIDED BELOW. PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL NOT TO SHARE YOUR RATINGS WITH OTHER GROUP MEMBERS.

Evidence of collusion in submitting these forms will be taken seriously as a deliberate attempt to cheat and will be dealt with through the University’s disciplinary processes. Students should under no circumstances attempt to influence other group members in their evaluation of contributions.

SUBMIT THE COMPLETED CONSOLIDATED RATINGS FORM TO YOUR TUTOR BEFORE THE PRESENTATION.

Assign an overall rating using the scale below for each member of your group, including yourself:

RATING WORDS:

A PASS OR MORE Rating Description

Excellent Consistently carried more than his/her fair share of the workload

Very good

Consistently did what he/she was supposed to do, very well prepared and cooperative

Satisfactory Usually did what he/she was supposed to do, acceptably prepared and cooperative

Ordinary Often did what he/she was supposed to do, minimally prepared and cooperative

A FAIL OR LESS

Marginal Sometimes failed to show up or complete assigned work, rarely prepared

Deficient Often failed to show up or complete assigned work, rarely prepared

Unsatisfactory Consistently failed to show up or complete assigned work, rarely prepared

Superficial Practically no participation

No show No participation at all

By rating members of your group differently to other group members, you will redistribute the total marks achievable between group members. For example:

GROUP A achieves an examiner mark of 60% in their group presentation. Group A has five members, so the total maximum marks achievable by Group A is 300 (5 times 60). Different ratings between Group A members will redistribute the 300 marks as appropriate, resulting in some members receiving less than 60 and some members receiving more than 60. But the total marks when all members’ marks are added together will always be equal to 300.

GROUP MEMBER CONSOLIDATED RATING TABLE

Group number: ___________

Your name:

Once you have rated each member, including yourself using the rating scale provided, please consolidate your ratings on the table below and submit this page to your group tutor by the presentation date. You can hand this to your tutor at the presentation.

NOTES*

The rating you give to the student will be combined with the rating given by other students in your group and then converted into an individual weighting for that student. This weighting will be used to adjust the overall grade given to your group by your examiner to create an individual grade for each member of your group for the presentation group work assessment only. The adjustment component (the addition or subtraction of marks according to the calculated weighting) is based on the perceived contribution of the individual by their group and not an assessment of the group’s work according to the rating scale provided. Your tutor will explain how the weighting is calculated in more detail in group seminars. In the event that a form or rating is not submitted by a group member, the tutor mark will be used in lieu to calculate the final marks. Tutors will moderate these marks as appropriate.

This is an example form only, please ask your tutor for a form which will have your group member’s names pre-filled below (in the grey area).

Marking Criteria – Group Presentation (50%) – 15 minutes Maximum 40 slides

Postgraduate bands

Criterion 1

Mark: 50%

LO1

To review and analyse the situation of an integrated business using appropriate spreadsheet software to interrogate contextual data from a marketing and operations perspective, within a globalised and dynamic digital business environment.

Insufficient evidence demonstrated of the business and its situation; extensive gaps demonstrated in understanding of integrated business issues; deficient skills in using spreadsheet software to interrogate and present contextual data analysis. Poorly formatted slides with spelling and grammar errors. Lack of presentation evident.

Situational evidence is poorly presented demonstrating a lack of sufficient research and/or situational understanding; many gaps demonstrated in understanding of integrated business issues; insufficient skills in using spreadsheet software to interrogate and present contextual data analysis; some aspects of the presentation are unprofessional (visual format, spelling and grammar).

Situational evidence is presented sufficiently but somewhat descriptively demonstrating only a minimal level of research; some gaps demonstrated in understanding of integrated business issues; skills in using spreadsheet software to interrogate and present contextual data analysis are basic but sufficient; Some presentation errors apparent.

The analysis presented clearly and competently identifies the situation of the integrated business and the digital business issues their-in based on a competently researched evidence base. Use of spreadsheet software clearly demonstrated using more advanced techniques; Presentation slides are formatted professionally with only minimal errors. Presenters are engaging.

Comprehensively covers the situation analysis of the digital business scenario with significant evidence presented demonstrating only minor gaps in understanding of integrated business issues; excellent skills in using spreadsheet software to interrogate and present contextual data analysis yielding interesting insights; no presentation errors (either in design or delivery).

Highly extensive and outstanding levels of evidence of critical analysis of the integrated business aspects of the given scenario; sophisticated insight and understanding of digital business complexity; highly advanced skills in using spreadsheet software. The presentation exudes professionalism at an executive level with regards to supporting slides and other visual content.

Criterion 2

Mark: 25%

LO1

Criterion 3

Mark: 25%

LO4

Some options and recommendations related to the business scenario are presented but are not entirely logical based on the evidence provided. The integrated nature of the business proposals is tenuous but evident. The external/enterprise environments are not clearly linked suggesting a lack of understanding.

A sufficient number of options and recommendations related to the business scenario are presented and flow somewhat logically from the evidence base presented. The integrated nature of the business proposals has been identified albeit lacking in sophistication. The external/enterprise environments are clearly linked.

Options and recommendations related to the business scenario are presented competently and professionally. There is a clear logical flow between the recommendations and the evidence base. The integrated nature of the business proposals are evident and demonstrate a credible understanding of the key integration issues. A comprehensive understanding of the links between the external/ enterprise environments is demonstrated.

The group present an excellent and highly professional and credible set of options and recommendations that flow logically from the evidence base. The integrated nature of the business proposals are evident and demonstrate an excellent understanding of the key integration issues. A comprehensive understanding of the links between the external/ enterprise environments is demonstrated.

To be able to create viable marketing and operations management options and propose and present comprehensive recommendations, whilst ensuring the effective integration and optimisation of marketing and operations. Significant Lack of options and recommendations related to the business scenario. Options and recommendations do not flow logically from the evidence base and are largely prescriptions, highly generic or derivative. The integrated nature of the business proposals are largely missing or missing entirely. A misunderstanding of the relationship between the external environment and the enterprise environment is evident.

The options and recommendations presented are outstanding, totally convincing and highly appropriate and professionally presented. The rationale / logic demonstrates a high degree of unique and creative insight into the needs of the business given the dynamic external and enterprise scenario provided. The presentation is delivered perfectly by all presenters.

Dysfunctional group work and leadership evidenced by a highly fragmented presentation; lack of presentation practice; contradictory or duplicated content. No clear logical flow to the presentation and no reflection, or only a very superficial reflection provided with no improvements to work identified.

Evidence of group work is unconvincing due a fragmented presentation; lack of presentation practice; somewhat contradictory or duplicated content; an unsatisfactory lack of logic throughout. Reflective elements are generally generic or somewhat superficial. Little or few improvements identified as part of the group’s reflective practice.

Group work communication and collaboration is sufficient, with aspects of the presentation demonstrating a satisfactory level of integration of both group members and their work. Some evidence of reflective practice demonstrated with at least one group work practice improvement identified.

Group work demonstrated is professional and competent. There appears to be a good level of collaborative effort demonstrated – content is integrated following a logical order. Group members clearly understand all the work presented. Evidence of improvements to group work practice justified and presented professionally.

Demonstration of group work is excellent – the reflexive account of the project demonstrates effective application of group work based tools and techniques to develop high levels of collaboration amongst group members. Improvements to group work identified are fully justified.

Outstanding l levels of leadership and group work demonstrated. The examiner(s) are presented with highly convincing evidence that clearly shows how the group has worked together to produce a fundamentally inspiring and engaging piece of project work.

To demonstrate excellence in leadership, communication and group collaboration and to reflect on their personal and professional skill development.

Criterion 1

Mark: 50%

LO2

LO3

Critical discussion and recommendation for the company’s strategy to react according to the new situation in the information provided.

Failed to provide recommendations for the company to react to the new situation.

Fail to incorporate responsibility and sustainability in business.

Limited discussion and recommendations for the company to react to the new situation.

Limited incorporation of responsibility and sustainability in business.

General discussion and recommendations for the company to react to the new situation.

With incorporation of responsibility and sustainability in business.

Good discussion and recommendations for the company to react to the new situation.

Good incorporation of responsibility and sustainability in business.

Very good discussion and recommendations for the company to react to the new situation.

Good level of incorporation of responsibility and sustainability in business.

Detailed and critical discussion and recommendations for the company to react to the new situation.

Applied incorporation of responsibility and sustainability in business.

Criterion 2

Mark: 25%

LO2

Limited description of the process of group project, able to identify strengths and weaknesses of the group.

General description of the process of the group project, able to identify strengths and weaknesses of the group.

Good description of the process of the group project, able to identify strengths and weaknesses of the group.

Very good description of the process of the group project, able to identify strengths and weaknesses of the group.

Learning Experience and Personalisation – Describe the experience and the process of the Group project, identify strengths and weaknesses of the group. Identify at least two significant learning aspects through this group project, and your contribution to the group. Failed to present any description of the process of the group project, able to identify strengths and weaknesses of the group.

Failed discussion of learning experience through the group project. Fail to identify your personal skills and abilities and contribution to the group.

Limited discussion of the learning experience. Not able to identify your personal skills, abilities and contribution to the group.

General discussion of the learning experience through the group project. Able to identify your personal skills and abilities and contribution to the group.

Good discussion of the learning experience through the group project. Able to identify your personal skills and abilities and contribution to the group.

Very good discussion of the learning experience through the group project. Able to identify and reflect your personal skills and abilities and contribution to the group.

Detailed description of the process of the group project, able to identify strengths and weaknesses of the group.

Detailed discussion of the learning experience through the group project. Able to identify and reflect your personal skills and abilities and contribution to the group.

Criterion 3

Mark: 25%

LO3

Communication and organisation of thoughts, Identify how the experience would influence future project management.

Failed to communicate ideas and logical reflections throughout the project and report.

Failed to analyse the group project and identify future changes for the improvement of performance for the group and yourself.

Limited level of abilities to communicate ideas and logical reflections throughout the project and report.

General level of abilities to communicate ideas and logical reflections throughout the project and report.

Good level of abilities to communicate ideas and logical reflections throughout the project and report.

Very good level of abilities to communicate ideas and logical reflections throughout the project and report.

Excellent level of abilities to communicate ideas and logical reflections throughout the project and report.

Limited level of analysis on the group project and identify future changes for the improvement of performance for the group and yourself.

General level of analysis on the group project and identify future changes for the improvement of performance for the group and yourself.

Good level of critical analysis on the group project and identify future changes for the improvement of performance for the group and yourself.

Very good level of critical analysis on the group project and identify future changes for the improvement of performance for the group and yourself.

Critical analysis on the group project and identify future changes for the improvement of performance for the group and yourself.