A Comparative Analysis of the Impact of Staff Attrition on Organisational Culture in the Mining Industry: Focus on Australia, China and Guyana.

Submission Deadline Marks and Feedback
Before 10am on:
31/03/2020
20 working days after deadline (L4, 5 and 7)
15 working days after deadline (L6)
10 working days after deadline (block delivery)

01/01/2020

Unit title & code BSS056-6 Theory into Practice Project
MBA (General)
MBA (Internship)
MBA (Finance)
MBA (Hospital and Health Services Management)
MBA (Human Resource Management)
MBA (Logistics and Supply Chain Management)
MBA (Marketing)
MBA (Oil and Gas Management)
MBA (Digital Technology Management)
Assignment number and title 2. TIP Project Report
Assignment type PJ-Proj
Weighting of assignment 80%
Size or length of assessment
9000 words
Unit learning outcomes 1. Demonstrate the following knowledge and understanding
• Demonstrate a systematic understanding and critical appreciation of the interrelationship of diverse theories in the MBA toolkit to challenge existing preconceptions and develop positive and enquiring approaches to management and enterprise. Demonstrate an aptitude and ability to solve a defined business problem through enquiry having drawn upon your MBA studies and appreciating the interrelated nature of organisations.

2. Demonstrate the following skills and abilities
Demonstrate intelligent practice by imaginative and critical integration of theory and practice to create a tangible deliverable through critical insightful evaluation stipulating areas of excellence and reflecting on areas for development to improve performance in contemporary organisations. In addition, for specialist pathways:
• MBA (Finance)
, A focus on strategic finance and risk management
• MBA (Hospital and Health Services Management)
A focus on hospital and health service management and including economic, political, social and environmental change and the impact of regulatory and governance trends.
• MBA (Human Resource Management)
A focus on human resource management and development in complex situations and within and across borders.
• MBA (Logistics and Supply Chain Management)
A focus on sustainability of the relationship and expectation between markets, customers, supply chain partners and other stakeholders.
• MBA (Marketing)
A focus on complex market situations taking account of the development and progression of the customer relationship and customer satisfaction.
• MBA (Oil and Gas Management)
A focus on the external context in which modern oil and gas organisations operate including economic, political, social and environmental change and the regulatory and governance trends impacting n different organisations.
• MBA (Digital Technology Management)
A focus on the management of communication and information technologies and contemporary information systems to inform and support decision making in a global knowledge-based economy.

What am I required to do in this assignment?
The unit aims to enable you to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of management and business as well as the skills essential to effective operation in a corporate, business, public sector or not for profit environment. It is a unit specifically designed to help your transition into the professional work environment through the integration of theory and practice supported by contemporary research evidence.
This unit provides the opportunity for you to investigate an area of interest drawing on the MBA toolkit developed through taught units and will support the development of lifelong learning through an Evidence-based management approach where analysis, evaluation and decision making are supported by research evidence from quality academic and practitioner sources.
The emphasis is on your independent learning through the application of management education to management practice to inform and enhance problem solving and decision making and to improve organisational effectiveness and performance
You will develop an appreciation of the range of data sources and their collection and analysis in order to help you more critically assess a contemporary problem and solve a business issue.
This would normally require the collection of secondary data from quality academic and practitioner sources. Where relevant, it might be possible for students to collect primary data. However, please remember time is tight and, unless you have experience of data collection and analysis, this is discouraged. You will be expected to comply with the University ethics process including seeking approval where required.
The TIP Project enables you to consider a business problem, how this is framed and what solution you can present based on your appreciation of critical enquiry. The assessment requires you to consider in depth one aspect of the implementation of decisions.
For Assignment 1 you will have already developed the plan for your project comprising the scope, aim, objectives, theoretical underpinning, method of analysis and evidence. Assignment 2 is where you present the in-depth report on the project including an in-depth review of influential contemporary contributors, analysis of the evidence, interpretation and discussion, leading to clear conclusions and feasible recommendations for practice.
Assignment 2, the Project Report should be a deep consideration of a specific topic, drawing on a wide range of academic sources, including peer-reviewed material, and using practical examples and cases to illustrate your points. The emphasis of the work is to consider the practical issues involved in making decisions, solving organisational problems or exploring opportunities, achieving change and managing the implementation of strategy. Your work must be submitted as a professional Business Report of 9000 words +/-10% (including an improved Chapter 1). Staged submissions are required through the online journal on the BREO course site.

A random sample of students will be called to attend a viva voce to check the authenticity of their work
What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)

In order to pass Assessment 2 you will need to:
• Demonstrate assessment of theories underpinning the aim and objectives of the project and integrate this understanding into a coherent framework for analysing case studies or other data/evidence.
• Develop a research design to identify and assemble sources of data and evidence and carry our data analysis as appropriate to the aim and objectives.
• Demonstrate adequate critical analysis and evaluation of case studies/evidence, debate the implications of the analysis and develop a tangible deliverable.
How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?
We will be filling this section in together in class on (TBA) make sure you have downloaded/printed out the Assignment Brief and bring it to the session with you.

• You need to widely extend your reading through independent research using quality academic and practitioner sources
• You will apply theory in practice for critical, in-depth analysis in the context of the chosen research topic
• Is your method of analysis aligned to your aim?
• Are you clear on how to collect evidence (data), how to report this and how to analyse the data leading to your findings?
• How might you interpret your findings in relation to current knowledge reviewed in Chapter 2? Discussion chapter
• What are the insightful outcomes of your research – what is your contribution to knowledge/practice?
• Consider what are the main conclusions derived from your discussion?
• Make feasible recommendations that are directly actionable
• You must use in-text citations throughout to acknowledge others’ ideas in support of your critical analysis
• You must use the Harvard style of referencing.
How does this assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?
All students are expected to attend scheduled Advancing Professional Practice workshops between blocks to develop their personal, professional and academic skills in preparation for the final projects and their first post-MBA position. This is an independent project and you are supported through scheduled classes for group briefings and you are allocated a supervisor for guidance.
You will have an interim and final group briefings to support the progressive development of your project, including data collection and analysis and final write-up of the report.
Online Journal Supervision on Breo is where you submit formative drafts for feedback. The journal is private and can only be viewed by you and your supervisor.
 

How will my assignment be marked?

Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations and the criteria on the following page.

You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit.

Pass – 40-49%
Pass – 50-59%
Commendation – 60-69%
Distinction– 70%+
Introduction Justifies a choice of project and appraises its feasibility. Although few relevant issues are outlined and no real framing. Attempts to formulate a plan by developing aims and objectives and designing a method of analysis. Clearly justifies a choice of project and appraises its feasibility. Attempts to frame and identify some valid and relevant issues. Formulates a reasonable plan by developing aims and objectives and designing a method of analysis. Very good justification of choice of project and appraisal of its feasibility. Frames and highlight the main issues. Formulates a clear plan by developing aims and objectives and designing a method of analysis. Excellent justification of a choice of project and appraisal of its feasibility. Provides a clear introduction that frames and highlights the main issues. Formulates a clear plan by developing aims and objectives and designing a method of analysis.
Literature Review and Method of Analysis Determines recent theories that may be appropriate for the project and demonstrates a critical assessment of theories underpinning the aim and objectives of the project and integrates this into a coherent framework. Supported by adequate appropriate data/evidence for the application of theory into practice. Logical and relevant identification of recent theories appropriate for the project and demonstrates a critical assessment of theories underpinning the aim and objectives of the project and integrates this into a coherent framework. Identification of directly relevant and recent theories appropriate for the project. Demonstrates a critical assessment of theories underpinning the aim and objectives of the project and integrates this into a coherent framework. Identification of entirely relevant and recent theories appropriate for the project. Demonstrates a critical assessment of theories underpinning the aim and objectives of the project and integrates this into a coherent framework.
Critical Evaluation Demonstrates adequate critical analysis and evaluation of case studies/evidence, debates the implications of the analysis and develops a tangible deliverable. Significant description; Some gaps in reasoning. Demonstrates a good critical analysis and evaluation of case studies/evidence, debates the implications of the analysis and develops a tangible deliverable. No great originality or organisation. There may be gaps in issues concerning scope and relevance and some reference to strategic issues but perhaps not fully or explicitly set out. Demonstrates an insightful and critical analysis and evaluation of case studies/evidence, debates the implications of the analysis and develops a tangible deliverable. The linkages and rigour will not be as explicit as for an A grade. There will be some omissions with respect to the clarity of argument and some of the analysis will have less strong evidence of originality. Demonstrates an insightful and critical analysis and evaluation of contemporary themes supported by evidence. Debates the implications of the analysis and develops a tangible deliverable.
The strategic issues regarding implementation issues are rigorously linked.
Clear evidence of originality
Conclusions and Recommendations Conclusions are limited and do not follow directly from the evidence and argument presented. Validity of conclusions is unconvincing.
Recommendations are vague. Doubtful feasibility. Conclusions are reasonable and supported by evidence. Some links to the aim and objectives. Recommendations are reasonably clear and mostly realistic. The conclusions are mostly supported by evidence and are linked to the aim and objectives for clear achievement of implementation of theory into practice. Clear and appropriate recommendations. Less comprehensive than for an A grade. The conclusions are fully supported by evidence and are linked to the aim and objectives for clear and workable achievement of implementation of theory into practice. Clear and appropriate recommendations that meet precisely the demands of the task
Presentation and Referencing Reasonable report format. Few citations and a passable bibliography. Well-structured report format, sourced throughout and with an adequate bibliography. Clearly and concisely structured in report format, sourced throughout and with a good bibliography. Professionally structured with excellent standard of academic writing.
High quality sources and with a comprehensive bibliography

 
Section / Title Details / Guidance
Title page Title of your report.
Executive Summary Concise summary of your report, including aim, analysis, key conclusions and recommendations (comes first, written last) (Approx 250 words)
Contents Page Include page numbers.
Chapter 1: Introduction Introduction to the report setting out what the aims and objectives of the report are, the context, what the report will cover, why and your method of analysis (Approx 1500 words). Must be supported by the ideas of influential contributors using in text citations.
Chapter 2:
Literature Review You will need to draw on a wide range of recent (2008-2018) quality academic sources, including peer-reviewed material, combined with practical examples to support your arguments. You will need to critically evaluate the sources in relation to the application of theory to practice. (Approx 2500 words)
Chapter 3:
Method of Data Collection, Data Analysis and Findings You need to state and justify the method of analysis as appropriate to the aim and objectives of your project. If using Systematic Review you will need to present full details of the search(es) with number of results and inclusion/exclusion criteria resulting in the final sample of evidence for review.
You need to present the evidence (data) published in quality academic sources. You need to analyse in-depth the evidence (data) and present the findings clearly.
For systematic review and comparative analysis methods a table is useful to illustrate the findings.
Word count for this section will depend on the topic of your project and may vary widely between projects (Approx 1500 words)
Chapter 4:
Discussion In the discussion, you will need to interpret your findings with reference to theories introduced in the literature review. Apply the theory to the data, critically analyse and evaluate in-depth the effectiveness of theory in applied in practice. What is the unique insight from your research? (Approx 2500 words)
Conclusions This section should initially answer the report aim and objectives and draw together the main points from your analysis. It summarises what has been learned from undertaking this project concerning the application of theory into practice. What are the main conclusions from your project? No new information should be presented in the conclusions. (Approx 500 words)
Recommendations Make recommendations for improvement based upon your conclusions, clearly stating how they can add value. Recommendations should be fully feasible and justified considering costs, priority level, time-scale, resources, who is responsible, benefits and any further implications. Proposals should be actionable (‘immediately implementable’) not just a list of ideas. (Approx 500 words)
Reference List A list of all sources cited directly in the text. Harvard style
Guide to Writing the TIP Project