Contemporary Developments in Business and Management(SIM337)
Assessment weighted at 100% assessing all module learning outcomes (Task1 – 30% & Task2 – 70%).
Activity:
Prepare a management report of 3,500 to 4,000 words* on an organization** within one of the
followingindustry/sectors***:
1. Agriculture, forestry and fishing (Section A)
2. Insurance, reinsurance and pension funding (Section K, Division 65)
 Insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security
3. Human health and social work activities (Section Q)
4. Arts, entertainment and recreation (Section R, Divisions 90, 91 & 92)
 Creative, arts and entertainment activities
 Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities
 Gambling and betting activities
[An organization profile must be included in your submission as “Appendix1”.]
This report should assess the impact of external business environmental factors on the organization
and evaluate the organization’s position and responses. In the case of a large organization it is
permissible to confine your report to part of the organization. An organization’s activities may range
beyond the designated industrial sector in which case the focus of your report must be on the
organization’s activities within the designatedsector.
* You are advised to write between 3.500 and 4,000 words and the word limit is 4,000 words. This
word limit does not include the title page, the executive summary, the contents page, the
organization profile, tables, diagrams, appendices or references. You must include an accurate a
word count on your title page.
(See the following link https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-8851/AQH-
F14%20Policy%20on%20penalties%20for%20exceeding%20the%20prescribed%20limit%20for%20an%20assignment.pdf
for guidance)
** If you wish to select a firm from outside the identified industries/ sectors, you are required to
seek approval from your module tutor (your lecturer). A note from your lecturer confirming her/ his
approvalshould be uploaded to JIRA. This is your (student)responsibility.
*** According to the “International Standard Industrial Classification of All EconomicActivities”
https://unstats.un.org/unsd/publication/seriesm/seriesm_4rev4e.pdf
Task 1 (30%weighting)
Give a brief overview of the primary external influences to which the organization is subject and
briefly explain the particular importance of each to theorganization.
This first task should contribute no more than one third of your overallreport.
Task 2 (70%weighting)
Choose one of the following themes:
1. Ethics and Corporate SocialResponsibility
2. Regional geopolitics
3. Climate change
4. Changing demography
5. Migration
In relation to your chosen theme:
i. analyse its relevance to your chosen organization and how it influences policies and
decision-making within your chosen organization orindustry-sector.
ii. critically evaluate the effectiveness of the organization’sresponse.
iii. (if possible and appropriate) demonstrate some areas for improvement in the response of
the organization. If you consider it not possible and appropriate to suggest areas for
improvement, justify yourposition.
Guidance notes:
Whatever organization you choose and whichever theme you chose, you must clearly demonstrate
knowledge and understanding from research and reading wider than that contained in the module
pack and core textbook. This is a REPORT and so must be presented in business report format and
style. You must also structure your report to cover the tasks including points 2.i to 2.iii above. This is
an academic piece of work therefore you are expected to link theory and practice. You should take
care to ensure that the work you submit has a high standard of presentation. This is an individual
assignment. You must acknowledge your sources of information and evidence using the Harvard
referencing system. All assignments are subject to the University’s regulations on collusion and
plagiarism and must be submitted in electronic form for checking on SunSpace for Turnitin and the
Turnitin report must be submitted to JIRA along with yourassignment.
Summary AssessmentCriteria
1. Relevance: Directly relevant to the requirements of the assessment.(10%)
2. Knowledge: A substantial knowledge of relevant material, showing a clear grasp of themes,
questions and issues therein.(20%)
3. Analysis: Good analysis, clear and orderly(20%)
4. Argument and structure: Coherent and logically structured, using an appropriate mode of
argument and/or theoretical model(s).(20%)
5. Critical evaluation: Contains distinctive or independent thinking; may formulate an
independent position in relation to theory and/or practice.(10%)
6. Presentation: Well written, with standard spelling and grammar, in a readable style with an
acceptable format. (10%)
7. Reference to literature: Critical appraisal of up-to-date and/or appropriate literature.
Recognition of different perspectives. Good use of a range of sources.
(10%)
(See marking scheme below for more detailedguidance)
SIM337 Marking Scheme and Generic Assessment Criteria
These will be interpreted according to the assignment tasks and the module assessment criteria.
Grade Relevance (10%) Knowledge
(20%)
Analysis (20%) Argument and
Structure (20%)
Critical
Evaluation (10%)
Presentation
(10%)
Reference to
Literature (10%)
Pa
ss 86 –
100%
The work examined is exemplary and provides clear evidence of a complete grasp of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate
to SIM337. There is also unequivocal evidence showing that all the learning outcomes of SIM337 have been fully satisfied. At this level it is
expected that the work will be exemplary in all the categories cited above. It will demonstrate a particularly compelling evaluation,
originality, and elegance of argument, interpretation or discourse.
76-
85%
The work examined is excellent and demonstrates comprehensive knowledge, understanding and skills appropriateto SIM337. There is
also excellent evidence showing that all the learning outcomes of SIM337 have been fully satisfied. At this level it is expected that the work
will be excellent in the majority of the categories cited above or by demonstrating particularly compelling evaluation and elegance of
argument, interpretation or discourse.
70 –
75%
The work examined is of a high standard and there is evidence of comprehensive knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to
SIM337. There is clearly articulated evidence demonstrating that all the learning outcomes of SIM337 have been satisfied At this level it is
expected that the standard of the work will be high in the majority of the categories cited above or by demonstrating particularly
compelling evaluation and elegance of argument, interpretation or discourse.
60 –
69%
Directly
relevant to the
requirements of
the assessment
(6 – 7)
A substantial
knowledge of
relevant
material,
showing a clear
grasp of themes,
questions and
issues therein.
(12 – 14)
Good analysis,
clear and
orderly
(12 – 14)
Generally coherent
and logically
structured, using an
appropriate mode of
argument and/or
theoretical model(s)
(12 – 14)
(May) contain
some distinctive or
independent
thinking; (may)
begin to formulate
an independent
position in relation
to theory and/or
practice. (6 – 7)
Well written, with
standard spelling
and grammar, in a
readable style
with acceptable
format
(6 – 7)
Critical appraisal of
up-to-date and/or
appropriate literature.
Recognition of
different
perspectives. Very
good use of source
material. Uses a
range of sources. (6
– 7)
50 –
59%
Some attempt to
address the
requirements of
the assessment:
(may drift away
from this in less
focused
passages)
(5 – 6)
Adequate
knowledge of a
fair range of
relevant
material, with
intermittent
evidence of an
appreciation of
its significance.
(10 – 12)
Some
analytical
treatment, but
(may be) prone
to description,
or to narrative,
which lacks
clear analytical
purpose. (10 –
12)
Some attempt to
construct a coherent
argument, but (may)
lose focus and
consistency, with
issues at stake
stated only vaguely,
or theoretical
model(s) couched in
simplistic terms. (10
– 12)
Sound work which
expresses a
coherent position
and evaluation
only in broad
terms and in
uncritical
conformity to one
or more standard
views of the topic.
(5 – 6)
Competently
written, with
only minor
lapses from
standard
grammar, with
acceptable
format
(5 – 6)
Uses a variety of
literature which
includes some recent
texts and/or
appropriate literature,
though not necessarily
including a
substantive amount
beyond library texts.
Competent use of
source material. (5 –
6)
40 –
49%
Some correlation
with the
requirements of
the assessment
but there are
instances of
irrelevance.
(4 – 5)
Basic
understanding
of the subject
but addressing a
limited range of
material
(8 – 10)
Largely
descriptive or
narrative, with
little evidence
of analysis
(8 – 10)
A basic argument is
evident, but mainly
supported by
assertion and (there
may be) a lack of
clarity and coherence
(8 – 10)
Some evidence of
a view and a very
basic evaluation
starting to be
formed but mainly
derivative. (4 – 5)
A simple basic
style but with
significant
deficiencies in
expression or
format that
(may) pose
obstacles for the
reader. (4 – 5)
Some up-to-date
and/or appropriate
literature used.
Goes beyond the
material tutor has
provided/main text.
Limited use of
sources to support a
point. (4 – 5)
Fa
il 35 –
39%
Relevance to the
requirements of
the assessment
(may be) very
intermittent,
and/or (may be)
reduced to its
vaguest and least
challenging
terms. (3.5 – 4)
A limited
understanding
of a narrow
range
of material
(7 – 8)
Heavy
dependence on
description,
and/or on
paraphrase
(7 – 8)
Little evidence of
coherent argument:
acks development and
(may be) repetitive
or thin
(7 – 8)
Almost wholly
derivative: the
writer’s
contribution rarely
goes beyond
simplifying
paraphrase
(3.5 – 4)
Numerous
deficiencies in
expression and
presentation; the
writer (may)
achieve clarity (if
at all) only by
using a
simplistic or
repetitious style.
(3.5 – 4)
Barely adequate use
of literature. Over
reliance on material
provided by the
tutor/main text.
(3.5 – 4)
The evidence provided shows that the majority of the learning outcomes of SIM337 have been satisfied – For Compensation consideration
30 –
34%
The work examined provides insufficient evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to SIM337. The evidence
provided shows that some of the learning outcomes of SIM337 have been satisfied.
15-
29%
The work examined is unacceptable and provides little evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to SIM337. The
evidence provided shows that few of the learning outcomes of SIM337 have been satisfied.
0-14% The work examined is unacceptable and provides almost no evidence of the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to SIM337.
The evidence provided fails to show that any of the learning outcomes of SIM337 have been satisfied.
Please note that all work must to be referenced correctly according to the Harvard system. Marks will be subtracted for poor referencing and more serious cases of
plagiarism or collusion will be reported to the University of Sunderland Faculty of Business and Law Infringement Panel.

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