Assignment Briefing – 2021-22
| Module Name | Economics for Business |
| Module Code | |
| Assignment Title | Individual Assignment |
| Type of Submission | Report |
| Word Count | 1500-1700 max. |
| Submission Date | |
| Date of Feedback to Students | Within 20 working days after the submission date |
| Where feedback can be found | Canvas |
| Assignment Task |
| Your task is to write a report that describes, explains and analyses three relevant news articles published in the UK or international press (in print or online) Each case should refer to specific firms (different firms for each story) and the ways they are responding to challenges in their business environment. Story 1. A firm that is affected, either positively or negatively, by policies introduced to counter the effects of climate change. Story 2. A firm that is confronted with new barriers to the international flow of trade, capital or people, for example a UK firm since Brexit. Story 3. A firm that has adapted to changes in its business environment due to the coronavirus pandemic. The articles you use for identifying the specific news stories you are going to write about should have been published between 27 September 2021 and 21 February 2022. They should come from quality news outlets (e.g. The Financial Times, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Indian Express, BBC). It is fine to use either print or online versions. However, ‘Tabloidesque’ news outlets such as, in the UK, the Sun or The Mirror are not acceptable as sources and neither are blogs or social media reports. Once you have found news reports for each of the three stories specified above, you’ll need to do further research into the firms and industries in question by finding further sources of information (see below). Your report must be submitted through Canvas by the date and time specified above. |
| Guidance and Requirements |
| For each story you are asked to describe, explain, and analyse. The description is simply a short summary in your own words what the news report is about, that is, what particular events or issues does it deal with. Make sure you provide a proper reference for this news report. The explanation is the relevant background to the story. In order to understand the story well you should, for example, give some more information about the firm involved, or about its industry, or about the reason why the particular event or issue reported in the news has arisen. The information for this background is not always found in the initial article, you should use further sources (here journal articles, for example from The Economist, can be used. These further sources do not have to be published within the time period specified). Again, make sure you provide proper references. The analysis (which carries a lot of marks, see the Marking Criteria below!) often involves the application of more general concepts. This sounds harder than it is. Here are a few examples: when analysing a firm that is affected by policies introduced to counter the effects of climate change, you may consider whether this firm relies on technologies that contribute to climate change or on technologies that will reduce contributions to climate change. In either case, how does this affect their future prospects? Are they likely to benefit or suffer from the innovations that may disrupt their industries, changing social attitudes and government regulations?when analysing a firm that is confronted with new barriers to the international flow of trade, capital or people, you may consider how these new barriers may affect its operations and ability to compete for customers at home and/or abroad or how it may turn to other consumer markets or supply chains.when analysing a firm that has adapted to changes in its business environment due to the coronavirus pandemic, you may consider what made the process of adaptation relatively easy or difficult. What were the strong characteristics of the business before the pandemic and is it able to continue to rely on them (or not), e.g. its ability to exploit economies of scale, network effects, the flexibility of its operations etc. Try to make connections between the news articles and general concepts that were covered during the sessions on this module. You may use graphs or other visual aids to clarify your analysis but no special credit is given for this. Report requirements: A front cover with title (for example: “Three firms and their responses to a changing business environment”) and date.Contents page naming the three stories.Three stories, each following the format description, explanation and analysis. Aim for a length of about 500 words for each story. The total word count of the report should be between 1500 and 1700 words.In the text of your report you should include short references (author, date) to sources you use for specific pieces of information or arguments. Direct citations need to be placed in quotation marks. On the last page of your report you should list the full details of your references. This should include the three articles you have used and all other sources that you have used. References must be written using the Harvard referencing style (look this up). Make every effort to avoid plagiarism (see the information about avoiding plagiarism at the end of this brief).The report should be a Word document. |
MARKING CRITERIA AND FEEDBACK FORM. THIS INDIVIDUAL REPORT IS WORTH 45% OF THE OVERALL MODULE MARK.
| Letter Grade | F1-F4 | F5 | D | C | B | A | ||
| % Grade Band | 1-34 Fail | 34-39 Marginal Fail | 40-49 3rd | 50-59 2.2 | 60-69 2.1 | 70+ 1st | Max mark | Your mark |
| Overall written style and structure of report | Unacceptable, insufficient or incomplete 0 – 2 | Significant flaws 3 | Acceptable, but with some flaws /errors remaining 4 | Satisfactory, but with few flaws /errors remaining 5-6 | Good. Minimal flaws /errors 7-8 | Excellent written style and structure 9-10 | 10 | |
| Referencing | Incorrect referencing and insufficient or incomplete list (less than 5 sources) 0 – 2 | Not properly constructed list and inaccurate or inconsistent referencing 3 | Properly constructed list but with some inconsistencies remaining in referencing 4 | Properly constructed list with only few inconsistencies in referencing 5-6 | Properly constructed list and accurate referencing throughout. Minimum errors (e.g. full stops, brackets and comas) 7-8 | Exemplary referencing throughout and properly constructed list. 9-10 | 10 | |
| Description | Insufficient or incomplete summary of articles 0-4 | Some flaws in the summaries of the articles 5 | Adequate summaries of the articles 6-8 | Satisfactory summaries of the articles showing some understanding of the issues raised 9-11 | Good summaries of the articles showing proper understanding of the issues raised 12-14 | Excellent summaries of the articles showing full understanding of the issues raised 15-20 | 20 | |
| Explanation | No relevant background provided 0-4 | Some background and explanation provided but incomplete or irrelevant 5-8 | Adequate background and explanation provided 9-12 | Satisfactory background and explanation provided for all three articles 13-17 | Good background and explanation provided for all three articles 18-22 | Excellent background and explanation provided for all three articles 23-25 | 25 | |
| 5. Analysis | Insufficient or incomplete, does not draw on theory 0-9 | Vague and ambiguous analysis with very little evidence of an in-depth examination of relevant issues and theories – just repetition of facts from the articles and replication of theory. Very little evidence of logical development of arguments 10-14 | Adequate analysis with little evidence of an in-depth examination of relevant issues and theories – little attempt to link the articles’ issues with theory. Little evidence of logical development of arguments. 15-20 | Satisfactory analysis with some evidence of an in-depth examination of relevant issues and theories – some attempt to link the articles’ issues with theory. Some evidence of logical development of arguments. 21-25 | Good analysis with clear evidence of an in-depth examination of relevant issues and theories – good links between the articles’ issues and theory. Good evidence of logical development of arguments. 26-32 | Excellent analysis with highly critical evaluation of relevant issues and theories – very good links between the articles’ issues and theory. Excellent and highly logical development of arguments. 33-35 | 35 |
Total 100
| Avoiding Plagiarism When you write an essay, report or dissertation you should always cite the published sources to which you quote, refer to or use as evidence, otherwise you are likely to be committing plagiarism, which is a form of academic misconduct with potentially very serious consequences. References need to be made both within the text and in a list at the end. The aim in doing this is to ensure that somebody reading your work can easily find these sources for themselves. This applies to whether you are using a book, a report, a journal article or an Internet site. You will probably know from your own experience how much easier it is to find a reference when a reading list or bibliography is clear and unambiguous.There is help available from the library and online, including a range of videos such as those given below: Do remember you can submit your work as many times as you like before the final deadline. It is a good idea to check your Originality Report and ensure that any potential plagiarism is eradicated for your work by rewriting in your own words and referencing correctly. The best way to avoid academic misconduct or plagiarism is to use your own words at all times; do not cut and paste from other work. |
| Illness or other mitigating circumstances By submitting an assignment you are declaring yourself fit to take the assessment therefore please make sure that if you are unwell you understand our mitigating circumstances process. The most important thing to do is keep us informed if you are experiencing problems! See our regulations on this link: |
