Assignment Brief

Course/Programme: BA Business Studies

Level: 6

Module Title: Building A Sustainable Organisation

Module Leader:

Assignment titles: Individual case study analysis

Assignment number: 2

Weighting: 70%

Date given out:

Submission date:

Eligible for late submission (3 Yes

working days, with penalty)?

Method of submission: X Online only Online and paper

copy

Special instructions for

submission (if any):

Date for results and feedback:

Employability skills assessed: C1, C2, C3, LP1, IT1, IT2, IT3, LP2, PS1, PS2, PS3

LO2: Critically evaluate roles and responsibilities of

sustainable strategic managers and how to apply tools
of strategic business management to problems of
sustainability
Learning outcomes assessed: LO4: Appropriately plan and solve problems in
entrepreneurial and innovative settings
LO5: Deploy effective networking and persuasive
communication skills

LO6: Work independently and as part of a collaborative

virtual team to develop attributes and capabilities for
business success in a complex and changing environment

LO8: Critically evaluate and reflect on individual career

development objectives.
 TASK DESCRIPTION –

TASK

Sustainable Innovation: Sustainability is about fulfilling our needs from natural resources
without compromising on the future generations’ ability to fulfil their requirements from the
natural resources. For businesses innovation is one of the strategic necessity to stay ahead in
the completion. Many businesses are successful in combining the innovation and
sustainability.
For example, a British firm, Bio-bean is involved in developing eco-friendly fuel from coffee
waste to power London buses.

(Adapted from: https://www.nbs.net/articles/what-is-sustainable-innovation-and-how-to-

make-innovation-sustainable)
PART A [approx. 1200 words]
Research and critically discuss the importance of sustainable innovation using a real example
like the bio-bean?

PART B [approx. 500 words]

Examine your current lifestyle and write a reflective document on how you could comply
with the sustainability ideals?

LENGTH
REQUIRED

2000 words +/- 10%. Any deviation from this will be penalised.

FORMATTING AND
LAYOUT

Please note the following when completing your written assignment:

1. Writing: Written in English in an appropriate business/academic style
2. Focus: Focus only on the tasks set in the assignment.
3. Document format: Report
4. Ensure a clear title, course, and name or ID number is on a cover sheet and a
reference using Harvard referencing throughout is also provided.
5. Research: Research should use reliable and relevant sources of information e.g.
academic books and journals that have been peer reviewed. The research should be
extensive.

The use of a range of information sources is expected – academic books, peer reviewed
journal articles, professional articles, press releases and newspaper articles, reliable
statistics, company annual reports and other company information. All referencing
should be in Harvard style.
Structure of the assignment

1. Title Page
2. Table of Contents
3. Introduction (150 words)
4. Body
- Part A – (1200 words)
- Part B – (500 words)
5. Conclusion (150 words)
6. List of References
 MARKING CRITERIA AND STUDENT FEEDBACK

This section details the assessment criteria. The extent to which these are demonstrated by
you determines your mark. The marks available for each criterion are shown. Lecturers use a
similar format to comment on the achievement of the task(s), including those areas in which
you have performed well and areas that would benefit from development/improvement.

Awarded
available

Marks
Common Assessment Criteria Applied

Marks
1. Research-informed Literature 20

Extent of research and/or own reading, selection of credible sources, application of

appropriate referencing conventions.

2. Knowledge and Understanding of Subject 25

Extent of knowledge and understanding of concepts and underlying principles associated

with the discipline.

3. Analysis 25

Analysis, evaluation and synthesis; logic, argument and judgement; analytical reflection;
organisation of ideas and evidence

4. Practical Application and Deployment 20

Deployment of methods, materials, tools and techniques; application of concepts;

formulation of innovative and creative solutions to solve problems.

5. Skills for Professional Practice 10

Attributes in professional practice: individual and collaborative working; deployment of

appropriate media; presentation and organisation.

TOTAL 100

Assignment Mark (Assessment marks are subject to ratification at the UoS

Assessment Board. These comments and marks are to give feedback on module 72 Hour Late Submission Penalties (tick if %
work and are for guidance only until they are confirmed. ) appropriate)
GENERIC ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Level 6

In accordance with the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, at the end of Level 6 students should have coherent and detailed
knowledge and a systematic understanding of their subject area, at least some of which is informed by the latest research and/or advanced
scholarship within the discipline. They will be able to accurately deploy established techniques of analysis and enquiry within a discipline,
using their conceptual understanding to devise and sustain arguments and/or to solve problems. They should be aware of the uncertainty,
ambiguity and limits of knowledge. They should be able to critically evaluate evidence, arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data
(that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions. They
will apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding, and
to initiate and carry out projects. They will have the ability to manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary
sources (for example, refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to the discipline). They will demonstrate the qualities and
transferable skills necessary for employment requiring: the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility; decision-making in complex and
unpredictable contexts; the learning ability needed to undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature.

Level 6 SATISFACTORY GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL

FAIL MARGINAL FAIL
(3rd / Pass) (2.2 / Pass) (2.1 / Merit) (1st / Distinction) (1st / Distinction)

Category 0-29% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%

Engagement Little or no Poor Engagement Engagement Engagement Engagement Exceptional

with evidence ofengagement with a limited with an with a wide with an engagement
literature reading and/or with essential range of mostly appropriate range of extensive range with an
(including reading, reliance onreading. No relevant and range of research- of relevant and extensive range
referencing, inappropriate evidence of credible research- informed credible of relevant and
academic sources. wider reading. sources. Some informed literature, literature, credible
conventions and Reliance on omissions and literature, including informed by literature,
Views and inappropriate minor errors. including sources the latest informed by
findings mostly
Level 6 SATISFACTORY GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL MARGINAL FAIL
(3rd / Pass) (2.2 / Pass) (2.1 / Merit) (1st / Distinction) (1st / Distinction)

Category 0-29% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%

academic honesty) unsupported sources, and/or Referencing sources retrieved research. the latest
and non- indiscriminate conventions retrieved independently. Consistently research. High-
authoritative. use of sources. evident though independently. accurate level
Heavily reliant not always Some over- Selection of application of referencing
Referencing on information applied reliance on relevant and referencing. skills
conventions gained through accurately or texts. credible consistently
used class contact. consistently. Referencing sources. Very and
incoherently or Inconsistent may show good use of professionally
largely absent. and weak use minor referencing, applied.
of referencing. inaccuracies or with no/very
inconsistencies. few
inaccuracies or
inconsistencies.

Knowledge Major gaps in Gaps in Limited Knowledge is Knowledge is Excellent Exceptionally

and knowledge and knowledge, knowledge and reasonably reasonably coherent and coherent and
understandin systematic with only systematic detailed, extensive detailed detailed
g (Coherent and understanding superficial understanding accurate with a coherent and knowledge and knowledge and
detailed knowledge of the subject systematic of the relevant good detailed. systematic systematic
and systematic
understanding of
matter. understanding. concepts and systematic Exhibits very understanding understanding
the subject area, at Substantial Some principles understanding good of the of the
least some of which inaccuracies. significant within the of the field of understanding principles and principles and
is informed by the
latest research
No awareness inaccuracies subject area study and to of the breadth theories of theories of the
and/or advanced of knowledge and/or which to some some extent, and depth of current subject, well-
scholarship within of the latest irrelevant limited extent, current established research and informed by
the discipline.)
research and/or material. No is informed by research and views, and the scholarship. current
advanced awareness of current scholarship. work is, at least Clear research and
scholarship knowledge of research and in part, well- awareness of scholarship. A
within the the latest scholarship. informed by challenges to critical,
discipline. research and/or current established sophisticated
advanced research and views and the and nuanced
Level 6 SATISFACTORY GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL MARGINAL FAIL
(3rd / Pass) (2.2 / Pass) (2.1 / Merit) (1st / Distinction) (1st / Distinction)

Category 0-29% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%

scholarship scholarship. limitations of awareness of

within the the knowledge the ambiguities
discipline. base. and limitations
of knowledge.
Cognitive and Wholly or Largely Limited Some critical Sound critical Excellent Exceptional
intellectual almost wholly descriptive attempt at thinking, thinking, critical critical
skills descriptive work, with critical analysis, analysis, thinking, thinking,
work. Little or superficial use thinking, synthesis and synthesis and analysis, analysis,
(Conceptual and
critical thinking,
no analysis, of critical analysis, evaluation. Can evaluation synthesis and synthesis and
analysis, synthesis synthesis or evaluation. synthesis and analyse new demonstrating evaluation. evaluation
and evaluation of evaluation. Weak evaluation, and/or abstract critical Ability to based on
research,
assumptions, development of tending concepts and thinking. investigate judiciously
abstract concepts
Failure to arguments and towards data without Ability to contradictory selected
and data (that may develop judgements. description. guidance. devise and or incomplete evidence.
be incomplete); arguments,
logic, argument and Information sustain information
judgement.) leading to accepted Some evidence An emerging persuasive and make Ability to
illogical or uncritically, to support awareness of arguments, and strong, investigate
invalid uses emerging different to review the persuasive, contradictory
judgements. generalised arguments and stances and reliability, arguments and or incomplete
Unsubstantiate statements judgements but ability to use validity and sophisticated information
d made with these may be evidence (that significance of judgements. and make
generalisations, scant evidence underdevelope may be evidence (that Some evidence strong,
made without and d or with a incomplete) to may be of independent persuasive,
use of any unsubstantiated little support the incomplete) to thought and arguments and
credible opinions. Ideas inconsistency / argument. make mostly ability to ‘see sophisticated,
evidence. sometimes mis- appropriate and beyond the nuanced,
interpretation.Mostly valid judgements.
illogical and valid question’,
arguments and Evidence of
contradictory. judgements. suggesting a
Asserts rather logical independent
grasp of the
than argues a judgements. thought and
broader field
case. Some tendency
Level 6 SATISFACTORY GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL MARGINAL FAIL
(3rd / Pass) (2.2 / Pass) (2.1 / Merit) (1st / Distinction) (1st / Distinction)

Category 0-29% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%

to assert/state and wider ability to ‘see

opinion rather concepts. beyond the
than argue on question’,
the basis of suggesting an
reason and outstanding
evidence. grasp of the
broader field
and wider
concepts.

Practical Limited or no Rudimentary An adequate A good and A very good An advanced Exceptional
skills use of methods, application of awareness and appropriate application of a application of a levels of
materials, tools methods, mostly application of range of range of application and
(Apply/deploy
accurately
and/or materials, tools appropriate standard methods, methods, deployment
established tools techniques. and/or application of methods, materials, tools materials, tools skills in
and techniques; techniques but well- materials, tools and/or and/or unpredictable,
initiate and carry Little or no without established and/or techniques. techniques. practical
out projects;
formulate solutions
appreciation of consideration methods, techniques. contexts,
to solve problems in the context of and materials, tools Very good The context of drawing
complex and the application. competence. and/or Clear consideration the application skilfully on the
unpredictable
contexts.) Flawed techniques. appreciation of of the context is well latest research
Limited the context of of the considered, and
appreciation of within the
understanding Basic the application. application, insightful.
the context of discipline. Can
of the appreciation of Mainly with perceptive
the application. identify
application of the context of consistent, insights. Can Application
complex
theory to Weak the application. accurate and identify and
problems and
practice or understanding Theoretical logical problems and deployment
propose
making of the knowledge and application of propose extend beyond
sophisticated
appropriate application of understanding theory to appropriate established
solutions.
links between theory to applied in practice, solutions in conventions.
Assimilation
the two. practice, with practice, but making complex and Can identify
and
Level 6 SATISFACTORY GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL MARGINAL FAIL
(3rd / Pass) (2.2 / Pass) (2.1 / Merit) (1st / Distinction) (1st / Distinction)

Category 0-29% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%

Very weak only occasional not always appropriate unpredictable complex development of
problem- evidence of making logical links between contexts. problems and cutting edge
solving skills in making links between the two propose processes and
complex and appropriate the two. Evidence of excellent techniques.
unpredictable links between Can identify some solutions.
contexts. the two. Weak Can identify problems and innovation and Innovation and
problem- problems and propose mostly creativity. creativity
solving skills in propose basic appropriate evident.
complex and solutions in solutions in
unpredictable complex and complex and
contexts. unpredictable unpredictable
contexts contexts.
without fully
appreciating
the complexity.

Transferable Communicatio Communicatio Can Can Can Can Can

skills for life n medium is n medium is communicate communicate communicate communicate communicate
and inappropriate poorly in a suitable effectively in a well, professionally with an
professional or misapplied. designed medium but suitable format, confidently and confidently and exceptionally
practice and/or not with some but may have consistently in consistently in high level of
Work is poorly suitable for the room for minor errors. a suitable a suitable professionalism
(Exercise of structured, audience. improvement. format. format. .
initiative and
personal
disorganised Mostly
responsibility; and/or Work is poorly Mostly ordered coherent, Work is Work is Work is
professional confusingly presented in a presentation organised coherent, coherent, very exceptionally
development;
initiate and expressed. disjointed and structure in work, in a fluent, well- fluent and is coherent, very
complete tasks and Very weak use manner. It is which relevant suitable structured and presented fluent and is
procedures: of language loosely, and at ideas / concepts structure and is organised. Can professionally. presented
individually and/or
collaboratively; use and/or very times are reasonably for the most work very well Can work professionally.
appropriate media inappropriate incoherently, expressed. part clearly autonomously autonomously Can work
to communicate
Level 6 SATISFACTORY GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL MARGINAL FAIL
(3rd / Pass) (2.2 / Pass) (2.1 / Merit) (1st / Distinction) (1st / Distinction)

Category 0-29% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%

effectively; fluency style. Little or structured, with Work may lack expressed. Can and/or as partwith initiative. exceptionally
of expression;
clarity and
no evidence of information coherence in work of a team, with
Where relevant well and
effectiveness in autonomy (or and ideas often places. Can effectively very good
can work professionally
presentation and collaboration, poorly work as part of independently contribution to
professionally within a team,
organisation.)
where relevant) expressed. a team, but and/or as part group within a team, showing
in the Weak use of with limited of a team, with activities. showing advanced
completion of language involvement in clear leadership leadership
tasks. Little or and/or group Demonstrates
contribution to skills as skills.
no evidence of inappropriate activities. group very good appropriate, Demonstrates
the skills style. Weak activities. graduate managing exceptional
required in independent Demonstrates employment conflict and graduate
graduate initiative (or the basic skills Demonstrates skills, with just meeting employment
employment. collaboration, required in the skills occasional obligations. skills and an
if relevant). graduate required in minor Demonstrates appetite for
Limited employment, graduate weakness. excellent further
evidence of the with some employment, graduate development.
skills required areas of minor with some employment
in graduate weakness. areas of skills and an
employment. strength and appetite for
some of minor further
weakness. development.