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THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHAMPTON NORTHAMPTON BUSINESS SCHOOL

MODULE: BUS3005 2015-2016

Module Code Level Credit Value Module Tutor

BUS3005 6 20 Dr Mils Hills

Assignment Brief

Assignment title:

Strategic Drivers & Barriers Essay For an industry of your choice, identify and analyse the

most important drivers and barriers affecting its development.

Use appropriate, researched models and examples from two countries or regions to explain your ideas.

Weighting:

50%

Deadline:

09/12/2015

Feedback and

Grades due:

Within 4 weeks

Resit Date 17/02/2016

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Purpose of the Assessment

The purpose of the assignment is to assess the student’s ability to identify key

strategic issues facing industries globally and the implications for industry

development.

This essay will test the students understanding of theory within the subject and their

ability to apply it to what is happening in their chosen industry today. This provides

students with the skills to review industry landscapes at both local and international

levels.

Assessment Task

This assignment needs to be presented in an essay format. The word count is 2500

words. Please submit a document using Verdana, 11pt font with 1.5 line spacing. Please include a title page including the full essay title, your name, and student

number. Please refer to the link below for advice on structuring your essay:

http://skillshub.northampton.ac.uk/tag/structuring-essays/

Please ensure you follow the advice below and shown on the NILE site regarding content:

Advice #1: Please do not be tempted to discuss only the industry in one (e.g. your home) country. It is important to draw comparisons from two or more countries or

regions in order to give a balanced answer that considers issues at a global level. Advice #2: The essence of this assignment is to give you skills in analysing key

issues facing industries at a global level. While you may include company level examples you need to focus on the dynamics of the industry as a whole.

Advice #3: Note the key words in the title- Drivers, Barriers. Please ensure you write the full title of the assignment as given above at the start of your assignment. This

will help you to focus on the key areas you need to address. Use the module materials to provide you with relevant theory and academic concepts to support your

discussion.

Assessment Breakdown

Marks will be awarded in the following areas: 1. Student articulates the strategic landscape of the industry effectively showing

appropriate use of theory to frame their answer 2. Student analyses both drivers and barriers of internationalisation for that

industry drawing on relevant examples throughout

3. Student evaluates the key points made to draw sensible conclusions on the most important aspects affecting the development of their chosen industry

4. Student demonstrates a consistently high standard of writing; knowledge of a range of quality sources, and uses Harvard referencing correctly throughout

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Assessment Submission

To submit your work, please go to the ‘Submit your work’ area of the Module NILE

site. It is important that you submit your work to the correct module NILE site, and

that your work is submitted on time.

Assessment Guidance

Please refer to the advice notes for some clarity on what is needed within the

assignment. The best assignments are those that demonstrably use knowledge from

the course material and explore a range of sources that are of a high quality showing

further reading and deeper knowledge. For advice on library resources please check

the Module Handbook.

Academic Practice

This is an individual assignment. The University of Northampton policy will apply in all

cases of copying, plagiarism or any other methods by which students have obtained

(or attempted to obtain) an unfair advantage.

Support and guidance on assessments and academic integrity can be found from the

following resources

SkillsHub: http://skillshub.northampton.ac.uk

CfAP: http://tinyurl.com/UoNCfAP

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes being addressed through this assignment are:

a)

b)

d)

e)

f)

Knowledge and Understanding

Research and evaluate a range of key issues in strategic

management.

Apply a range of key theoretical models

Subject specific skills

Apply academic models to current industry and company examples

Key Skills

Identify and analyse complex strategic issues using appropriate

knowledge

Articulating effective arguments in assessment tasks