Assessment Briefing 2023-2024

Module Code & Title: People and Global Organisations

Contribution to Final Module Mark: 100%

Description of Assessment Task and Purpose: 

The assessment is an individual 3000-word portfolio which demonstrates your learning on the module. The aim of the portfolio is to appraise students as responsible business managers through analysis and critique of a topic covered on the module with practical application to an organisation. Additionally, the assessment also aims to assess your ability to find and evaluate accurate and reliable information/evidence and present it in a clear, concise, and academic manner. Assessment will incorporate both formative and summative approaches, with the formative feedback feeding into the final piece of summative work. The portfolio should consist of two parts.  

Part A: Essay - 2200 words 

For part A, you are required to choose one of the three topics below and develop a 2,200-word essay to analyse the chosen topic and the ONE SPECIFIC case study linked to the theme. 

• Cross-cultural conflict and negotiations – Google in China
• Diversity in global organisations – Samsung in a changing environment
• Cross-cultural team-working – Schneider Electric India 

The purpose of the essay is to assess your knowledge of the subject area and your ability to employ the key theoretical concepts covered on the module in the analysis of the case study organisation. 

In the essay, you must have the following aspects covered. (Please note that you do not need to use titles and subtitles for different aspects/sections, as this takes up valuable word count – but it’s your choice if you would like to have sub-sections). 

Introduction – This will be a very brief introduction to what your essay will be all about. Good introductions will signpost reader about what will be discussed in the essay, any theories used and the order of the discussion. 

Develop a critical literature review on your chosen topic – This requires you to provide a rigorous assessment of academic literature on the chosen topic with a particular focus on evidencing critique of the academic theory for practice. Here, you should also explain critically evaluate the benefits and challenges of your chosen topic from individual, organisational, and societal perspectives for the case study organisation.

After choosing your topic, you may decide to focus on a sub-themes since the topics stated above are very broad and include several themes. For example, you can analyse the relationship between your chosen topic and organisational outcomes - such as performance, innovation, business development and so on. In all cases, the chosen angle must be discussed with a cross-cultural perspective. 

Please note that when you are writing an essay, you are not describing a topic, but presenting some type of argument, or claim about what you are analysing. So, please include both positive and negative aspects, points and arguments in your discussion that are found in the literature. Based on this evaluation of the literature develop your own stance about what seems more plausible and why (in the light of theory!). Good essays will have a very rigorous evaluation of theory and a clear rationale for arguments based on a thorough literature search from academic resources. So, support your arguments with academic sources and reports. 

Application and analysis of the chosen topic within the case study scenario – this is a crucial element of the essay. You are required to address the case study scenario by examining it from the angle of your chosen topic by applying relevant theories and approaches. While conducting this analysis, consider the cultural and institutional contexts that could have an impact on the scenario. A discussion which highlights the complexity and influence of these contexts will bolster the overall mark.

Additionally, you may opt to focus on critically evaluating the current leadership approach on your chosen topic and chosen organisation. If you choose to discuss leadership, ensure the focus is on whether the leadership is having a positive or negative influence on your topic. Is it appropriate and effective based on what you have learned about your selected topic? Support the discussion with evidence from the organisation and bolster your analysis through theory. 

Implication and recommendations - Propose recommendations for any identified issues considering academic theory (i.e., provide the academic rationale for the proposed future strategy). For example, would you recommend the organisation to change its style or stance on the topic/issue and why? You must base your recommendations on academic theory and rationales and state what might improve if this change is made. Or, if the change is not made, what could be the negative consequences? 

Finally, you should highlight managerial implications for managers working in a global setting. What is the take home message for managers/organisations based on your research and analysis? Top tips for them and what will these tips achieve. LO1  Explain organisational processes from the perspectives of individuals and organisations in the global context.

Conclusion – A brief overview of what the essay discussed. Do not introduce new ideas in the conclusion but tell the reader ‘What do we know now that we read your paper that we did not know before’? 

Part B: Personal Reflection - 800 words 

A 800-word reflection on your experience of coming into contact with a culture that is different from your own. Do this by reflecting on a personal experience that made you think, worry, feel confused, laugh, etc. Consider various aspects you have learned throughout the module and reflect on how your new understanding of the influence of culture explains your actions, feelings, behaviours, etc in that moment. Emphasise how you will use your new knowledge going forward (in work or life in general). 

Consider your own interactions and experiences with cultures different than your own. Selecting one or two experiences as examples, explain how you felt. Were you scared? Confused? Shocked? Did you find the experience to be weird or funny? Did the experience result in misunderstanding or conflict? 

Has what you have learned over the course of this module helped you better understand or explain those interactions with cultures different than your own? How have your experiences and the theories covered throughout the semester shaped your understanding of the nuances and challenges of managing or working with different cultures? How will you use your new knowledge as you progress in your career or move on in life?

Please ensure to develop your reflective account in relation to academic theory highlighting if you found the theory to hold true or otherwise in your experience and how this will inform your practice in future. It is important to develop your reflective account using academic theory, highlighting whether you found the theory to hold true or not based on your experience. Emphasise how what you have learned will benefit your future working life.

Learning Outcomes Assessed:

• LO1  Explain organisational processes from the perspectives of individuals and organisations in the global context.
• LO2  Evaluate global organisational context within which individuals operate and assess how economic, political, and social influences impact individual/team behaviour.
• LO3  Analyse strategies for managing international teams and projects with particular emphasis on the impact of national culture on the function and culture of the organisation.
• LO4  Evaluate organisation and management theory in relation to students’ own experience and/or competencies as manager. 

Knowledge & Skills Assessed:

Subject Specific Knowledge Skills and Understanding: Academic writing, literature searching, project planning, paraphrasing and summarising sources, critical analysis, critical reflection, evaluation. 

Professional Graduate Skills: Independence and personal responsibility, written communication, critical thinking, creativity, effective time management, working under pressure to meet deadlines.

Emotional Intelligence: Self-awareness, self-management, motivation, resilience, self-confidence.

Career-Focused Skills: An understanding of the range of graduate careers, skills and attributes required by employers, a range of strategies to present skills and attributes to employers.

Assessment Submission Instructions:

You are required to submit your assessment by 12:00 (noon) on Tuesday, 14th May 2024 through Turnitin, the online assessment submission facility on the Module Blackboard site. Pay careful attention to instructions provided at the time of submission.

Both parts of the portfolio will be submitted as one document. Separate submissions of both parts are not required. 

Date for Return of Feedback: 10th June 2024

Format for Assessment: 

The portfolio is limited to 3000 words, with Part A 2200 words and Part B 800 words. The word count includes everything in the main body of the text (including headings, tables, citations, quotes etc). It does not include your reference list. 

The word count should be clearly stated on the first page of the assignment. 

Please follow these formatting guidelines:

• Font / Size:                         Arial or Calibri           11/12
• Spacing / Sides:                1.5 / Single Sided
• Page numbers required:    Yes
• Margins:                              At least 2.54 to left and right and text ‘justified’
• Referencing:                        Full compliance with Harvard protocols

Note this assignment is limited to 3000 words. The word count includes everything in the main body of the text (including headings, tables, citations, quotes, etc). It does NOT include your reference list. 

The word count should be clearly stated on the front cover page. Please note that the word limit for this assignment is an absolute maximum. Misrepresentation of word counts in an attempt to gain an unfair advantage in assessment may be referred as an academic offense. 

If you submit an assignment that exceeds the prescribed word limit, marking will cease at the point at which the limit has been exceeded, and the mark will be awarded based on the extent to which the criteria for assessment have been met up to that point. LO2 Evaluate global organizational context within which individuals operate and assess how economic, political, and social influences impact individual/team behavior.

Marking Criteria for Assessment:

Please see Appendix Three: 

Please note that all work is assessed according to the University of Lincoln Management of Assessment Policy and that marks awarded are provisional on Examination Board decisions (which take place at the end of the Academic Year. 

Feedback Format: 

Final grades and written feedback will be provided through the Turnitin system. Face-to-face feedback may be available for those who would like to schedule a time to meet with the tutor. If you have any specific questions relating to the feedback comments, please email your tutor to discuss. 

Additional Information for Completion of Assessment: 

• Feel free to use tables/figures/diagrams, but make sure they are properly formatted (title, source, etc) and make sure to use them to promote your argument and are commented on/interpreted in the text.
• Appendices may be used if you need to add any additional information to support your arguments. Appendices are not included in the word count.
• It is expected at level 7 that a 3,000-word portfolio will include a minimum of 10-15 references (ie academic texts, journal articles, etc).
• You must only work with referenced journal articles and academic sources from textbooks.
• You must supply a full list of academic references on completion of your research.
• Reference list: Please use Harvard style - you must be consistent. Also, use a variety of scholarly sources from journal articles. There is a list of suggested journals in your module handbook. Be aware of online sources that may not be trustworthy. You may use some of those to present/illustrate your case, but you should not use them as evidence to support your arguments.

Learning Resources are available via the links above and on Blackboard.

Assessment Support Information: 

You will receive support and guidance from the tutor, but please use other university resources. Some of the planned support activities include:

• Dedicated assessment support workshop*
• Class discussions
• Links to online resources provided in lecture slides
• One-to-one meetings with the tutor

Students are encouraged to explore and utilize the support offered by the library on Essay Writing, Reading, and Language Skills and Referencing techniques 

Important Information on Dishonesty & Plagiarism:

University of Lincoln Regulations defines plagiarism as `the passing off of another person`s thoughts, ideas, writings or images as one`s own... Examples of plagiarism include the unacknowledged use of another person`s material, whether in original or summary form. Plagiarism also includes the copying of another student`s work`.

Plagiarism is a serious offense and is treated by the University as a form of academic dishonesty. Students are directed to the University Regulations for details of the procedures and penalties involved.

For further information, see plagiarism.org