Assessment Task 3: Written research report

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Assessment Task 3: CLN team written research report

Submission Date: Sunday of Week 13 by 23:59 PM (AEDT)

Marks Allocated: 30 pts (30%)

Word limit: 3000 words (+/- 10%)

Learning Outcomes Assessed: CLO1, CLO2, CLO3, CLO4.

Process: Working in a CLN team, this task requires you to conduct research and submit a written report.

Marking criteria: see detailed rubric below

Submission: CLN written report is to be uploaded to Turnitin via the course CANVAS by Sunday of Week 13 (23:59 PM, AEDT).

Feedback mode:  Feedback will be made available when marks are released by the university.

Overview

The main assessment is divided into two inter-related tasks: Assessment task 2 and Assessment task 3. To complete these tasks, you are required to conduct research and deliver a verbal presentation to an industry panel and then submit a written report after incorporating the panel’s feedback. The purpose and description of these tasks are provided below:

Purpose:  As a part of this course’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) approach, Assessment task 2 in conjunction with assessment task 3 is designed to develop and apply your knowledge and skills related to contemporary issues in international management to a real or simulated business project/business environment context. These tasks will therefore involve conducting research on a contemporary issue of international management, delivering a verbal presentation to an industry panel and submitting a written report after incorporating the panel’s feedback within the stipulated timeframes.

Description: To complete assessment task 2,  each CLN will present an analysis of the post-COVID impact of globalisation on one of the APEC member economies/countries.  APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) is a multilateral organisation consisting of 21-member economies. APEC was established in 1989 to further enhance economic growth and prosperity for the region and to strengthen the Asia-Pacific community. Since its inception, APEC has worked to reduce tariffs and other trade barriers across the Asia-Pacific region to support sustainable economic growth in the region. ‘The APEC region became the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic when it struck, infecting more than 5.4 million people worldwide as of 25 May 2020, almost half of that number from the APEC region’ (APEC Policy support unit, 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to the region and has necessitated the economies to introduce measures and develop policies to mitigate its impact. The APEC Policy Support Unit predicts a decline in the region’s economic growth.

In analysing the post-COVID impact of globalisation on the economy, you should include specific attention to some of the main forces associated with globalisation (technology, trade, offshoring and outsourcing) and the impact of these forces on businesses within the country. You should assess how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the overall impact of globalisation on the country, and how the pandemic has affected multinationals and the global supply chains. COVID-19 is a good example of how the reliance on globally connected supply and value chains is superior in normal
times, but vulnerable to disruptions. It has posed an unprecedented challenge to global supply chains by striking several Global value chain hub regions, with severe implications for many supply chains. Some of the affected countries include China, Korea, Italy, Japan, and the U.S. which jointly account for the majority of the world’s supply and demand, imports and exports. Supply chain disruptions in any of these countries are likely to affect business activities in many other countries. Finally, you should make recommendations by answering the following questions:

  • How are businesses ensuring that cross-border supply chains are resilient? Provide examples of methods/processes used.
  • How can governments support businesses to maintain the resiliency of supply chains? What policy options are available?

In sum, as part of assessment 2 and 3, you are required to conduct research and deliver a verbal presentation and a written report for an industry panel. Assessment task 2 represents the verbal presentation component. For both the presentation and the report you need to address the objectives and the associated question outlined above. For this assessment, each CLN will be allocated one of the APEC economies.  Discuss with your class facilitator about the economy you have chosen as our aim is to have diversity in the selection of the countries across various CLN groups. This discussion forum can also be used to have chat regarding the countries choice.

Methodology:

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unparalleled pressures on governments and businesses alike. The research focuses on addressing the research objectives and answering the research question(s) from articles and reports from publicly available current and credible references. The research does not include any stakeholder interviews.

APEC’s 21 member economies (Links to an external site.) are Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; Viet Nam.

Each CLN will need to research on :

  • The general business environment of the selected APEC economy, the main forces associated with globalisation and the impact of the pandemic on the business comunity within the country. 
  • Analyse how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the overall impact of globalisation on the country and  how the pandemic has affected multinationals and their supply chains. 
  • Make recommendations by addressing the following questions:
    1.  How are businesses ensuring that cross-border supply chains are resilient? Provide examples of methods/processes used.
    2. How can governments support businesses to maintain the resiliency of supply chains? What policy options are available?

 Assessment 2 & 3 resources:

Citations and References

You should have a minimum of ten good references.

RMIT Learning Lab Documents supporting Business Report Writing and advice on Structure.

Video resource (Links to an external site.)

The following are documents from and hyperlinks to the RMIT Learning Lab that provide guidance to a general format of a Business Report.

This document details a very solid structure to follow and a clear indication of purpose and focus for each aspect of a Business Report.  It also clearly identifies the role of the Executive Summary or Abstract (if Report is a Research Report not Business Report).

Actions

 

Also consider other resources from the Learning Lab to assist writing approaches.

Actions

 

The following is a link to the RMIT  Report Check List to help you with assessing if you have fully completed the Report.

https://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/content/report-checklist (Links to an external site.)

 

The following Video may provide some further ideas in writing your Business Report

https://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/content/writing-coursework (Links to an external site.)

 

(RMIT Learning Lab Advice on Report writing provided by Dr Chris Booth)

Assessment 3 Marking criteria:

The following criteria are considered in assessing the analysis of the case study, with the weighting of these criteria noted below.

  • Content/Requirement
  • Structure
  • Use of Evidence and Referencing
  • Mechanics

–  The final mark will be scaled to bring the maximum possible mark to 30%

Rubric: Please see the detailed rubric attached below

Assessment policies

Referencing guidelines

You must acknowledge all the courses of information you have used in your assessments.

Refer to the RMIT Easy Cite referencing tool  to see examples and tips on how to reference in the appropriated style. You can also refer to the library referencing page for more tools such as EndNote, referencing tutorials and referencing guides for printing.

Academic integrity and plagiarism

Academic integrity is about an honest presentation of your academic work. It means acknowledging the work of others while developing your own insights, knowledge and ideas.

You should take extreme care that you have:

  • Acknowledged words, data, diagrams, models, frameworks and/or ideas of others you have quoted (i.e. directly copied), summarised, paraphrased, discussed or mentioned in your assessment through the appropriate referencing methods,
  • Provided a reference list of the publication details so your reader can locate the source if necessary. This includes material taken from Internet sites.

If you do not acknowledge the sources of your material, you may be accused of plagiarism because you have passed off the work and ideas of another person without appropriate referencing, as if they were your own.

RMIT University treats plagiarism as a very serious offence constituting misconduct.

Plagiarism covers a variety of inappropriate behaviours, including:

  • Failure to properly document a source
  • Copyright material from the internet or databases
  • Collusion between students

For further information on our policies and procedures, please refer to the university website on academic integrity .

 

Assessment declaration

When you submit work electronically, you agree to the Assessment declaration. 

 

Extension application

If you are prevented from submitting an assessment on time by circumstances outside of your control, you can apply for an extension.

Applications (link: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf (Links to an external site.)) must be submitted at least one business day prior to the due date to your course coordinator via email (e.g. If an assessment is due on Sunday, students will need to submit a form by Friday).

 

Special consideration

If you are applying for extensions for your assessment within five working days after the original assessment date or due date has passed, or if you are seeking an extension for more than seven days, you will have to apply for Special Consideration, unless there are special instructions on your Equitable Learning Plan.

If you need an extension of time beyond seven (7) days or if you have missed the one (1) working day requirement to submit this request, you should apply for SPECIAL CONSIDERATION https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-results/special-consideration (Links to an external site.), unless there are special instructions on your Equitable Learning Plan.

Eligibility criteria

Examples of the types of circumstances that may be considered include:
a) unexpected short-term physical or mental illness
b) primary carer responsibility for a family member with an unexpected illness
c) an unexpected, unavoidable employment commitment
d) other unexpected personal circumstances outside your control such as: bereavement; being the victim of a crime or other trauma; severe disruption to living arrangements or financial hardship, for instance, the sudden loss of employment or income.

Your application will be strengthened by documentary evidence of your circumstances.

Further information and a copy of the PDF form can be located here: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-results/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work  .

For more information on special consideration, visit the university website on special consideration.

 

Rubric

Some rubric
Some rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
Content / Requirement

13.5 to >10.79 Pts

High Distinction
Exceeds requirements and exhibits evidence of an original approach to the entire question

10.79 to >9.44 Pts

Distinction
Meets requirements for content and exhibits significant original content

9.44 to >8.09 Pts

Credit
Meets requirements for content and exhibits some original content

8.09 to >6.74 Pts

Pass
Meets basic requirements for content, little original content, and/or only basic input

6.74 to >0 Pts

Fail
Nil or minimal attainment of requirements
13.5 pts
Structure

7.5 to >5.99 Pts

High Distinction
Outstanding presentation of material which supports all requirements

5.99 to >5.24 Pts

Distinction
Structure is sound throughout and supports logical exposition

5.24 to >4.49 Pts

Credit
Content is generally organised logically with some aspects needing more attention

4.49 to >3.74 Pts

Pass
Structure is just sufficient to present the content, and/or ideas often presented in disorganised manner

3.74 to >0 Pts

Fail
Nil or disorganised structure
7.5 pts
Use of Evidence and Referencing

4.5 to >3.59 Pts

High Distinction
Outstanding integration of a wide range of evidence and all points are substantiated by primary resources, with evidence of a wide range of research,and with all sources cited in correct format

3.59 to >3.14 Pts

Distinction
Excellent integration of evidence into material and primary sources used to support most points, and all sources are cited in the correct format

3.14 to >2.69 Pts

Credit
Most points are supported by third party evidence, and/or most sources are cited and all are in the correct format

2.69 to >2.24 Pts

Pass
Some examples are used but only of a basic nature, and/or gives citation for some sources and inconsistent in citation style

2.24 to >0 Pts

Fail
Little or no use of evidence to support content requirements, and/or copied material with no citations
4.5 pts
Mechanics

4.5 to >3.59 Pts

High Distinction
Overall style and use of language encourages ease of comprehension and insightful conclusions

3.59 to >3.14 Pts

Distinction
Good presentation, with content and language easy to read and comprehend

3.14 to >2.69 Pts

Credit
Overall presentation is easy to digest, and language succinct and well chosen

2.69 to >2.24 Pts

Pass
Layout is adequate with acceptable logic flow and use of language, and/or some misspellings and/or grammatical errors

2.24 to >0 Pts

Fail
Layout is confusing. Logic, flow and use of language is difficult, and/or many errors in spelling and/or grammar
4.5 pts
Total points: 30