ASSIGNMENT

(Semesterised FT v37)

INTRODUCTION

1. The assessed coursework for this module comprises two assignments:

Assignment 1 and Assignment 2 €“ Each assignment carries equal marks (50/50).

2. Assignment 1:

Comprises Part A (Group Presentation) which requires you to work within a group to prepare and

present a 10 minute powerpoint presentation of your video case study analysis to the class where

YOU become the teacher. Your group also needs to prepare QUESTIONS about the case to lead the

questioning of other groups.

3. Assignment 2:

Comprises Part A (Group Presentation) and Part B (Individual Report) which requires you to do:

€¢ Part A: As above

€¢ Part B: Prepare an INDIVIDUAL 1000 €“ 2000 word report documenting your own analysis of the

case study based on the work you did in your group for Part 2A.

4. Your work will support the achievement of all five intended learning outcomes.

5. Each assignment will be assessed on the measures of comprehension, effort and presentation,

with a focus on the rigour of your analysis (linking relevant theory to practice), clarity of your

critical arguments, and the quality of questions asked to other groups. The mark will be based on

the quality of your work, not the effort expended.

6. In both the group presentations and individual report, you are expected to clearly demonstrate

evidence of independent learning through the citing of references from academic journal articles

and other relevant publications that you have researched to support your arguments.

7. You are required to list all references in a reference list at the end of your presentation/report

using the CU Harvard referencing system, for which a guide is available to download from the CU

website (see link below).

8. To pass this module you must achieve a module mark of at least 40%.

You should find that this activity led learning and the associated research and transferable skills you

develop through learning by doing in teams (as opposed to traditional lectures and exams) will be

immensely valuable throughout your course and career, and especially for undertaking your individual

project. Time invested now in learning to use the library research facilities should be well rewarded

over the remaining period of your course €“ therefore please make the most of this opportunity, invest in

working collaboratively with your peers and building a network, and manage your time wisely!

HAND-IN DATES:

1. Assignment 1 (Part A only)

Upload to Moodle WELL BEFORE 23.59 (midnight) on the Sunday after your FIRST group

presentation.

2. Assignment 2 (Part A and Part B):

Upload to Moodle WELL BEFORE 23.59 (midnight) on the Sunday after your SECOND

presentation.

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART A €“ GROUP PRESENTATIONS:

1. Obtain the designated video case studies (as detailed on your timetable) from the University W

drive server at: W:ECstudentModule CodeCase Studies

2. Watch your designated case study AT LEAST TWICE and make notes of the key points of the case.

3. Using the CU Library resources, research academic research journal articles and other quality

books and publications and read the module materials to identify relevant concepts and theories

which help to underpin or are reinforced by the case.

4. Working in your group, discuss and critically analyse the case in the context of the concepts and

theories that you have researched. You are expected to demonstrate evidence of independent

learning through the citing of references from academic research journal articles and other quality

publications to support your arguments and critical analysis.

5. Use the MOODLE FORUM (not emails) to discuss and share files with your other group members

€“ this enables you to keep all group communications and files in single location accessible only to

group members and teachers.

6. For the feedback session, YOU will become the TEACHERS for your case topic so please

prepare well, be professional and dress smartly as in business!

Prepare a 10 MINUTE (max) group powerpoint presentation which presents your arguments

and analysis clearly to the class, and includes:

(i)

MESSAGE: give a short summary of the overall message of the video to explain

the focus of the case.

(ii)

THEORIES: provide an overview of the key concepts and theories reinforced by

the case, citing quality authors/sources for each point (remember to cite each

author/source on your slides €“ do NOT cite miscellaneous websites found on Google,

other search engines or Wikipedia)

(iii)

LINK THEORY TO PRACTICE: explain how each theory specifically relates to

the case study using examples and critical evaluation (this can be positive or

negative or both).

Note: €“ this is seeking to get you to link theory and practice using critical

evaluation, discussion and argument based on theory from your research and

evidence from the case. Rigor is important for both your learning and a good

assessment score.

(iv)

IMPLEMENTATION: identify practical problems and difficulties in

implementation and how these can be overcome €“ use examples from the case

study to help reinforce your points.

(v)

FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS: based on your analysis of the case, make

recommendations for future improvements or developments beyond what was

presented in the case.

(vi)

KLPs: provide a short summary of the key learning points that you think the other

delegates in the class should take away as having learnt from your analysis.

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(vii)

REFERENCES: include a reference list at the end of your presentation (use the

CU Harvard referencing system)

7. Each person in your group must present at least one section of your group’s presentation €“ please

write your full name in LARGE FONT at the top of each slide that you present to enable the

class and teachers to know your name when you are presenting.

8. EACH person in your group must complete and sign the form entitled GROUPWORK €“ MARK

ALLOCATION SHEET’ (posted on moodle or in the Assignment section of the notes pack near

the front coloured pale blue). This shows each individual person’s recommended split of the

notional group mark to the other people in the group (see example on rear of sheet). NOTE: If your

group mutually agrees that the mark should be split EQUALLY between all the members of the

group, then just write EQUAL across the sheet and ensure that ALL members sign the sheet on

the right-hand-side to signify their agreement. Then scan/photograph the completed form, and

distribute the file to each member of your group for each person to include as the first slide in

their PART A presentation Moodle submission.

9. PRIOR TO your presentation, each person in your group must peer assess the other group

members by rating their contribution to the group effort using Moodle WebPA private voting system.

This will help to ensure that assessments fairly reflect each persons contribution to the group effort,

and will assist staff in calculating your individual mark.

10. Each group will be called upon to LEAD THE QUESTIONING of another groups presentation, so

please prepare some searching questions which will probe understanding and stimulate debate. The

quality of your questioning will form part of your groups assessment, so prepare well!

11. Each group member should keep individual personal copies of the group’s final presentation slides,

notes and completed blue GROUPWORK €“ MARK ALLOCATION SHEET.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART B €“ INDIVIDUAL REPORT (ASSIGNMENT 2B):

1. Submit an individual report €“ 1000 words target, 2000 words maximum (excluding references)

which documents IN YOUR OWN WORDS your groups critical analysis of the case study as

prepared for part 2A above.

2. You may use the learning and analysis shared in your group and in class, but you must write your

report in your OWN WORDS and not use any words written by others unless quoted or cited and

referenced. DO NOT COPY ANOTHER STUDENTS WORK OR PLAGIARISE

FROM ANY SOURCE (SEE MORE BELOW).

3. For structure, you may use the structure suggested in Part A, 6 (i)-(vii) above if you wish, but you

are encouraged to develop your own structure based upon your prior research and analysis done in

your group and individually.

4. You are required to SUPPORT your all your arguments by CITING references from academic

journal articles and quality books and publications, and must include full references per the CU

Harvard referencing system in a reference list at the end of your report.

5. In undertaking this independent learning through research of relevant theory and concepts to

support your arguments and critical analysis, you are encouraged to make full use of the electronic

journal database search services such as Business Source Premier (EBSCO), Emerald, Elsevier

Science Direct, Wiley Interscience etc. (see Useful websites for SCM/PM research) and other

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library research facilities such as the printed academic research journals on the 2nd floor of the

library and the audio/visual materials on the 3rd floor of the library.

6. You may wish to search for and include some of the following points in your report:

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Referenced definitions of supplier development

The foundations which need to be in place to enable the improvement initiatives between

customer and supplier contained in the case to take place

The various objectives that the customer and supplier may seek to achieve from such

improvement initiatives

The role of leadership at each company in establishing and supporting such initiatives

How commonality of purpose is achieved, and how differences and problems between

customer and supplier are resolved?

What performance measures (metrics) are used to justify the initiatives and to measure and

report achievement against targets?

What supply improvements were achieved by each company, and how?

What are the risks, costs and benefits of participating in such improvement initiatives for both

customer and supplier?

Any mistakes made or lessons learnt?

Any future trends?

Example(s) from the case study to reinforce your points

MOODLE UPLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

1. FILE UPLOAD

Each assignment file should be uploaded to Moodle WELL BEFORE the submission deadline

2. IF MOODLE IS NOT WORKING

If Moodle is not working or you have difficulties uploading your files, please try again later as

Moodle should become operational again within 24-48 hours. DO NOT email the teachers if you

experience Moodle problems €“ just upload your files to Moodle in the normal way when it becomes

operational again.

3. MOODLE TECHNICAL SUPPORT

For Moodle technical support, please contact the e-learning unit support team Flying Squad at

[email protected] , tel 02476 887673, located in room FLG38A in the library. If genuine

Moodle problems cause you to be late uploading your assignment, you will not be unfairly

penalised because it likely affects all other students. Therefore DO NOT email the teachers to

advise about such Moodle problems, as we will already be aware and will take account of this.

4. FILES SENT BY EMAIL NOT ACCEPTED

Emailed assignment files are NOT accepted and are automatically deleted without email

correspondence or acknowledgement. THEREFORE DO NOT EMAIL ANY ASSIGNMENT

FILES TO THE TEACHERS €“ THEY MUST BE UPLOADED ON TO MOODLE ONLY.

5. LATE SUBMISSIONS

Moodle will accept late submissions, so please upload your assignment to Moodle regardless of

whether you submit on time or late. DO NOT email the teachers if submitting late €“ just upload

your files to Moodle in the normal way.

6. NON-SUBMISSIONS (IMPORTANT)

Non-submissions to Moodle will be deemed absent (AB) and will not receive a mark. A non-

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submission 1st attempt will PREVENT your entitlement to a free resit 2nd attempt. Whereas a very

weak and/or late 1st attempt submission will entitle you to a free 2nd attempt resit at the next

assessment opportunity (late submissions receive a zero mark, resit marks are capped at 40%).

Therefore you are strongly advised to upload a submission for each and every assignment

regardless of the quantity or quality of your work and regardless of lateness. In the extreme case,

this could just be a file containing the assignment question and your submission details but with no

1st attempt at the work €“ at least this will entitle you to a free resit 2nd attempt at the next assessment

opportunity.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

1. BACK UP

You are strongly advised to keep your own personal back up copies of all files in a separate and safe

location in case of loss.

2. DECLARATION

Remember to include the required declaration at the beginning of assignment 2B per below:

I have read the Coventry University rules and regulations on the submission of academic work and in particular the

sections concerning misconduct in assessment, including plagiarism and collusion. I certify that this assignment is

the result of my own individual work and contains no unreferenced material from another source and does not

contravene any part of the University’s rules and regulations.

I acknowledge that in submitting this work I am declaring that I am fit to be assessed and that a deferral may not be

applied for following hand in.

I confirm that I have abided by all applicable Professional Codes of Conduct and I/we will protect confidential

information about patients and clients.

3. STRUCTURE & LAYOUT

Your Part B individual written report should have a logical structure, be page numbered, contain a

contents page (indexed to page numbers), a conclusion and a reference list. It should be checked for

accurate English grammar, spelling and punctuation.

4. WORD COUNT

Include a word count of your part B report (target 1000, MAX 2000 words excluding references) at

the bottom of your contents page.

5. VIRUS CHECK

Virus check your file prior to uploading to Moodle.

6. REFERENCES

All material used in your report should be fully cited in your text and be fully listed in your

reference list. If you read an original work by one author (primary reference e.g. Smith 2005) in

another work (secondary reference e.g. Jones 2009), then both sources must be cited and

acknowledged in your reference €“ for example: a. Smith (Jones 2009) states .€¦€¦..OR b. Smith’s

study in 2005 (cited in Jones 2009) states .€¦€¦.€¦..OR c. Jones (2009), in reporting Smith’s 2005

study, states .€¦..€¦€¦

7. HARVARD REFERENCING

Your reference list should be correctly presented using the CU Harvard (alphabetical) system of

referencing. Accuracy and full correct presentation of references is important €“ please see the CU

Harvard Referencing Guide available at:

http://www.coventry.ac.uk/study-at-coventry/student-support/academic-support/centre-foracademic-writing/support-for-students/academic-writing-resources/cu-harvard-referencestyle-guide/

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8. ASSIGNMENT ASSISTANCE

If you have questions or need assignment assistance, please ask your teacher in class. If this is not

possible, please follow the instructions given at the top of the Moodle module web €“ namely email

Ike Dike from your CU email address, and always include your: NAME, SID, COURSE, GROUP

No, CLASS DAY/TIME, DETAIL OF QUERY & MOBILE TEL so that you can be contacted if

needed €“ this will help him deal with your request more quickly.

9. TURNITIN

Your part 2B individual report submission will be uploaded via the CUOnline Moodle TurnItIn

submission link. Please include the summary turnitin report as the first page of your submission.

Coventry University are very strict on plagiarism, so for your own sake you must ensure that your

submission is entirely your own work. CITE ALL REFERENCES and DO NOT COPY OR

PLAGIARISE ANY OTHER STUDENTS WORK OR AUTHORS WORDS OR FROM THE

INTERNET. You are advised to submit a DRAFT copy of your submission to TURNITIN in order

to check and avoid submitting any sections which may contain plagiarism or poor academic

practice or collusion (please refer to further plagiarism avoidance guidance below). Turnitin is

set to allow you to see originality reports and over write any draft submissions up to the submission

date, but not after final submission.

PLAGIARISM AVOIDANCE:

DO NOT COPY ANOTHER STUDENTS WORK OR PLAGIARISE FROM THE

INTERNET OR FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE. IF YOU COPY WORK POSTED ON

THE INTERNET (e.g. a case study analysis) FROM ASSIGNMENT SHARING OR

COMMISSIONING SITES, YOU WILL BE COMMITING PLAGIARISM AND WILL

BE REPORTED EVEN IF TURNITIN DOES NOT DETECT IT. THIS COULD

RESULT IN A ZERO MARK FOR YOUR SUBMISSION WHICH COULD LEAD TO

FAILURE OF THE MODULE, FAILURE OF YOUR MASTERS DEGREE AND

POSSIBLE EXPULSION FROM COVENTRY UNIVERSITY.

In order to avoid submitting any sections which may contain plagiarism or poor academic practice

or collusion it is important that students should adopt the following referencing practice:

CITATIONS: Include an in-text citation (author and year of publication €“ per CU Harvard System) and

give the correct reference at the end of the work for any sources used or referred to or paraphrased in

the work but not directly quoted.

QUOTATIONS: Mark up any directly quoted text using quotation marks (this enables Turnitin to

identify quoted sections), add an in-text reference (author, year of publication and page number) and

include the correctly formatted reference at the end of the work;

Examples of plagiarism or poor academic practice or collusion:

a. Excessive and inappropriate use of quotations.

e.g. Where the assessment learning objectives require a student to explain an argument but the student

simply copies an explanation from another source, correctly annotating the work as a quotation.

b. Quoted sections that are not correctly annotated as quotations (using quotation marks, which will

allow Turnitin to identify quoted sections), but where there is an attempt to cite and reference the source.

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e.g. If a student includes separate paragraphs in the format In 2005 Smith found evidence that€¦ and

then copies the rest of the paragraph directly from the cited source.

c. Copying material from another source without indicating it is a quotation (indicated by using

quotation marks, which will allow Turnitin to identify quoted sections).

d. Omitting from the reference list and/or bibliography at the end of a submission any sources that a

student has used to help formulate their own answer, even if the actual submission is written in the

student’s own words.

e. The use of substantial sections of text that have been previously written by others, but with no clear

indication that the text is not the student’s own work.

f. Copied sections of text from elsewhere without the source and extent of the copied section being

clearly indicated in the text of the assignment.

e.g. Directly copied sections, such as several complete paragraphs, without in-text acknowledgement of

the sources used.

. Collusion e.g. two or more students with similar or identical work, or with large sections of work that

are similar or identical in their individual submissions. This can apply to submissions from students

studying at the same or different institutions regardless of the dates of submission.

*******DO NOT COPY ANOTHER STUDENTS WORK OR PLAGIARISE *******

FEEDBACK:

Following presentation of Assignment 1 part A, FEEDBACK will be provided as follows:

1. Verbal Feedback on the quality of presentations & improvement suggestions for Assignment 2.

2. Group Written Feedback to each group to assist them to improve their performance in

comprehension, effort and presentation.

3. Written Structured Feedback via moodle detailing specific suggestions to help improve individual

performance both in the group presentations and in the individual written report.

SOLAR:

Programme Assessment Boards (PABs) sit in the semester following your taught module in February,

June and September of each year. These determine and confirm student results and awards ahead of

the graduation ceremonies held in April, July and November. Within 3 weeks after each PAB, you will

be notified of your officially confirmed results via SOLAR.

WHEN YOU ARE NOTIFIED OF YOUR RESULTS ON SOLAR, PLEASE CHECK YOUR

MODULE MARKS AND ADVISE THE EC STUDENT SUPPORT OFFICE AND YOUR

PROGRAMME MANAGER AND THE MODULE LEADER IF YOU BELIEVE ANY MARK IS

MISSING OR WRONG.

You have 10 DAYS IN WHICH TO APPEAL A MARK/AWARD following notification on SOLAR

(please refer to guidance about appealing on the EC student web).

PLEASE ENSURE YOU CAREFULLY READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN

TO YOU ON SOLAR WHEN YOU ARE NOTIFIED OF YOUR RESULTS.

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SOLAR instructions are often missed or overlooked by students, but these contain IMPORTANT

RESIT DATES and OTHER INSTRUCTIONS with DEADLINES FOR YOU TO RESPOND BY. It is

the students responsibility to READ and ACT on these instructions.

If in doubt, please email or visit your EC Registry Administrator located in ECG-22 behind the EC

student support reception desk (see your moodle course web for email/telephone contact details).

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Overview of Nissan case study

Supplier development and Selection

Supplier relationship management

Supplier performance measurement

Supplier integration in new product development

Conclusion with key learning points

References?