Assignment Brief Academic Year 2022-23

Module code and GMDGBS202 – Business Module Adam Pitharas

title: Decision Making leader:

Assignment No. Report (3000 words) Assessment 100%

and type: weighting:

Submission time Monday 14th November Target

and date: 23.59 feedback Weds 7th December 2022
time and
date:

Assignment task

You must, utilising appropriate methodology and secondary data, produce a report which provides an
analysis of a specific market related challenge faced by a business, and based on your analysis, propose
recommendations to deal with the challenge. The report must also include relevant models, theories and
concepts.

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your
achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO 1 Understand the context of business decision making and characteristics of decision-making

problems;

LO 2 Identify issues involved in making complex business decisions, including relevant ethical aspects
and compare various quantitative and qualitative decision-making models;

LO 3 Appreciate the need for approaching business problem solving as an integrated critical analysis as
well as more specialist, functional approach;

LO 4 Be able to select and use appropriate methodologies, tools and techniques to analyse data and present a
professional report.

Task requirements

OVERVIEW

Report (3000 words):

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As a business consultant you are required to assess the market and apply business decision making
theories, concepts and relevant models, such as the 5 or 7 step decision making process. Market research
should point the way for the company and its decision making by providing information that helps to reduce
the uncertainty surrounding the decisions to be made.

You are required to make a decision concerning the specified project regarding viability and practicability,
and then produce a report that recommends feasible solutions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TASK – WHAT YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO DO?

Scenario: Business decision making is an important concept which requires full consideration. Effective
research is essential as a basis for decision making. In this Report, you will undertake business decision
making in relation to the scenario below using research findings and analysis.

This report will focus on the business decision making for ‘Space for Rent’, a company specialising in
acquiring buildings at a reasonable price, refurbishing them to an acceptable professional standard and
then renting out a space at a desk in a room, or whole rooms. The company will be a new start-up
company that plans to enter the UK market within one year.

You are required to:

Report Tasks

Task 1

1.1 Select and justify an appropriate business decision-making model that would enable the business to
make and take key decisions (e.g., the 5,6, or 7-step decision making process; MCDA; utilization of critical
thinking, etc.).
1.2 Create a plan for the collection of primary and secondary data for the above business issue and
discuss the issues involved in making complex business decisions. Note that an outline plan is required
rather than an actual carrying out of a survey(s).

1.3 Select and justify an appropriate decision-making framework that you could use? Logically, it must be
one which most appropriately suits the business you have chosen to set-up, e.g., AARRR; OKR; Market
Opportunity Navigator.

Task 2
2.1 Identify competitors and undertake a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and
threats) of the business in relation to these competitors.
2.2 Select and justify one problem-solving technique most appropriate for your choice of business from the
following: Rational Decision-Making Model; Intuitive Decision-Making Model; Creative Decision-Making
Model; or Recognition-Primed Decision-Making Model.

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You must demonstrate evidence of wider research, real world application and reading of core
textbooks, learning materials on Moodle and academic scholarly work through Harvard referencing.

The word count excludes the cover page, table of contents, financials, references, and appendices.

References:
Akdere, M. 2011, "An analysis of decision-making process in organizations: Implications for quality
management and systematic practice", Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, vol. 22, no. 12,
pp. 1317-1330.
Drummond, H. & Hodgson, J. 2011;2012; 2016; Escalation in Decision-Making: Behavioural Economics in
Business, Gower, GB.
Fox, M., Tost, L.P. & Wade-Benzoni, K.A. 2010, "The Legacy Motive: A Catalyst for Sustainable Decision
Making in Organizations", Business Ethics Quarterly, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 153-185.
Iqbal, J., Shahi, A. & Khan, A. 2012, "DECISION MAKING IN ORGANIZATIONS: A REVIEW OF NINE
YEARS", Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 660.
Jackson, R.W., Wood, C.M. & Zboja, J.J. 2013, "The Dissolution of Ethical Decision-Making in
Organizations: A Comprehensive Review and Model", Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 116, no. 2.

You must reference all information used in the report, using the Harvard Referencing Guide.

See attached grid for grade descriptors.

Referencing and research requirements

Please reference your work according to the Harvard style; you can access guidance on this here:
https://libguides.uos.ac.uk/academic/referencing/Harvard

How your work will be assessed

Your work will be assessed on the extent to which it demonstrates your achievement of the stated learning
outcomes for this assignment (see above) and against other key criteria, as defined in the University’s
institutional grading descriptors. If it is appropriate to the format of your assignment and your subject area,
a proportion of your marks will also depend upon your use of academic referencing conventions.
This assignment will be marked according to the grading descriptors for Level 5

Submission details

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This assignment should be submitted electronically via Moodle (module tutors will discuss this process with
you during class time).

 Please ensure that your work has been saved in an appropriate file format (Microsoft Word, Excel
or PowerPoint, or PDF are the most widely used; Google Docs is also accepted). Your file must
also contain at least 20 words of text, consist of fewer than 400 pages and be less than 40MB in
size.

 You can submit your work as many times as you like before the submission date. If you do submit
your work more than once, your earlier submission will be replaced by the most recent version.

 Once you have submitted your work, you will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission, which
will be sent to your forwarded e-mail address (provided you have set this up). Please keep this
receipt for future reference, along with the original electronic copy of your assignment

 You are reminded of the University’s regulations on academic misconduct, which can be viewed on
the University website: https://www.uos.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Academic-Misconduct-Policy.pdf. In
submitting your assignment, you are acknowledging that you have read and understood these
regulations

Submission date and time

This assignment should be submitted before 11:59 PM UK time on 14th November 2022

You should submit all work for summative assessments by the above deadline. Work submitted up to three
working days after the deadline will be accepted and marked, but the mark will be capped at the pass mark
(40%) unless there is a valid reason for the late submission (i.e., having been granted an extension to the
deadline or a deferral under the terms of the Extenuating Circumstances Policy).

Work submitted more than three working days after the deadline without a valid reason will not be
accepted and will be recorded as 0% RN (refer, no work submitted).

For more information, please refer to: http://studenthandbook.uos.ac.uk/index.php/student-

guides/assessment-the-basics-undergraduate

Feedback and marks for this assignment will be available in three weeks from the deadline.

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General Grading Criteria

Level 5

In accordance with the FHEQ, at the end of Level 5 students will be expected to have a sound knowledge of the basic underlying concepts and principles
of a subject, and an ability to evaluate and interpret these within the context of that area of study. They should be able to present, evaluate and interpret
qualitative and quantitative data in order to develop lines of argument and make sound judgements in accordance with basic theories and concepts of their
subject(s) of study. They will have learned how to take different approaches to solving problems, and will be able to communicate the results of their
study/work accurately and reliably, and with structured and coherent arguments.

Pass mark, demonstrating achievement of all associated learning outcomes Marginal fail Fail
Assessment
category 1st: 70% – 100% 2:1: 60% – 69% 2:2: 50% – 59% 3rd: 40% – 49% 35% – 39% 20% – 34% < 20%

Knowledge and High quality work Work of solid Adequate work Simple factual Weak work Unsatisfactory Highly
understanding showing detailed quality showing showing approach showing showing limited, work showing unsatisfactory
of the basic understanding of competent and understanding of limited fragmentary weak and flawed work showing
underlying the basic consistent the basic understanding of understanding of understanding of major gaps in
underlying understanding of underlying the basic the basic the basic understanding of
concepts and
concepts and the basic concepts and underlying underlying underlying the basic
principles of principles of the underlying principles of the concepts and concepts and concepts and underlying
the subject(s) subject(s). concepts and subject(s), but principles of the principles of the principles of the concepts and
principles of the lacking depth and subject(s). Narrow subject(s). Work subject(s), for principles of the
subject(s) breadth. or misguided characterised by example through subject(s).
selection of inaccuracies, serious Inclusion of largely
material, with irrelevant material inaccuracies, irrelevant material,
elements missing and/or absence of inclusion of a absence of
or inaccurate. appropriate significant amount appropriate
information. of irrelevant information and

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Pass mark, demonstrating achievement of all associated learning outcomes Marginal fail Fail
Assessment
category 1st: 70% – 100% 2:1: 60% – 69% 2:2: 50% – 59% 3rd: 40% – 49% 35% – 39% 20% – 34% < 20%

material and/or significant

absence of inaccuracies.
appropriate
information.

Cognitive and Excellent Good presentation, Adequate A limited use of Largely descriptive Descriptive work Work is largely
intellectual presentation, interpretation and presentation, concepts or work, with limited with no effort made irrelevant or
skills interpretation and evaluation of interpretation and evidence to support effort made to use to use concepts or inaccurate,
evaluation of concepts or evaluation of emerging concepts or evidence to develop characterised by
concepts or evidence, facilitating concepts or judgements or evidence to develop judgements or descriptive text and
evidence, a logical and evidence, facilitating arguments, although judgements or arguments. Views unsubstantiated
facilitating a highly coherent a largely logical and not always logical or arguments. expressed are often generalisations.
logical, coherent development of coherent coherent and with Information illogical, invalid or Complete lack of
and balanced judgements or development of inaccuracies. accepted irrelevant. Minimal evidence to back up
development of arguments that judgements or uncritically, with or no use of views.
judgements or shows awareness of arguments. An unsubstantiated evidence to back up
arguments. Strong other stances. emerging awareness opinions evident. views.
awareness of other of other stances.
stances.

Application of Excellent Sound application of Consistent and Relevant theoretical Limited Weak Very weak
theory to application of theory to practice, accurate application knowledge and understanding of the understanding of theoretical
practice (for theory to practice, with the student of theory to understanding application of theory the application of knowledge and
courses with a with the student making appropriate, practice, with the applied in practice, to practice, with the theory to practice, understanding, with
professional making highly well-developed and student making but with students student often not with only occasional no evidence of
practice appropriate, articulated links appropriate links not always making making appropriate evidence of the appropriate
element) developed and between the two. between the two. student making

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Pass mark, demonstrating achievement of all associated learning outcomes Marginal fail Fail
Assessment
category 1st: 70% – 100% 2:1: 60% – 69% 2:2: 50% – 59% 3rd: 40% – 49% 35% – 39% 20% – 34% < 20%

articulated links logical links between links between the appropriate links application in
between the two. the two. two. between the two. practice.

Reading and Critical engagement Engagement with a Engagement with an Evidence of reading, Poor engagement Limited evidence of No evidence of
referencing with a wide range wide range of appropriate range of largely confined to with essential texts reading and/or reading or
of relevant reading, relevant reading. reading beyond essential texts, but and no evidence of reliance on engagement with
including research- Sound application of essential texts. mainly reliant on wider reading. inappropriate taught elements.
informed literature referencing, with no Referencing may taught elements. Heavily reliant on sources. Limited Absent or
where relevant. inaccuracies or show minor Referencing may taught elements. engagement with incoherent
Consistently inconsistencies. inaccuracies or show inaccuracies Inconsistent and taught elements. referencing.
accurate application inconsistencies. and/or weak use of Very poor use of
of referencing. inconsistencies. referencing. referencing.

Presentation, Highly effective Competent Work is structured in Ordered Work is loosely, and Work is poorly Work is extremely
style and presentation of presentation of a largely coherent presentation in at times presented in a disorganised, with
structure * work that is work in terms of manner and is for which relevant ideas incoherently, disjointed and much of the
coherently structure and clarity the most part clearly / concepts are structured, with incoherent manner. content confusingly
structured and of expression. expressed. reasonably information and Information and expressed. Very
clearly expressed expressed. ideas often poorly ideas are very poor English and/or
throughout. expressed. poorly expressed, very inappropriate
with weak English style.
and/or
inappropriate style.
* Work that significantly exceeds the specified word limit may be penalised .

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BDM Module 5 Assignment Guidelines:

Task 1
1.1 After the introduction, the students must adopt an appropriate decision-making model and evaluate the key problems within the
business, such as entering a new market (UK) or competing with FDI (Foreign Direct Investment).

You must demonstrate how the different business decisions making models which are going to be used by the company are likely to
produce an effective impact, via the process of strategic decision-making analysis. You must also show how they will achieve the
objectives. Management must demonstrate by their use of the models, how that will help them to provide better results.

1.2 The plan you will follow will focus on secondary data as opposed to the collection of primary data. The reason being are ‘time-
constraints’. The problems would for example include data gathering, access to data, or any problem the students encounter during
the writing process,

1.3 Emphasis must be given to the decision-making framework (see assignment tasks for details) and the business decision-making
process, e.g. 5, 6 or 7 step process. or it can be a problem facing the Company itself such as lack of information, market research,
entry modes (FDI, partnership, collaboration, merger or acquisition). Ideally, in the business world,

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Planning the research plan: ‘Space-for-Rent’ is lacking competitive advantage while entering a new market. Collecting valuable
information and creating sources from both primary and secondary data can help the business to understand the business
environment and make an effective solution that can foster growth and expansion.

Secondary data is the data that is already present and there are a number of online available sources. Examples include ‘You-tube’
videos; Data will be collected from industry reports, relevant journals, market research data

Task 2

2.1 You will be required to do a SWOT analysis, or any other analytical model, for evaluating the competitors and analysis of the
current market trends. such as a PESTEL, Porter’s 5 forces, etc. for this section

This section in the report should include an analysis of data that has been collected from various resources. These data might be
represented through current market analysis, line chart, etc to showcase the data effectively for making an effective decision and
better understanding.

If appropriate, you may choose to use ‘Simons’ decision-making model.

2.2

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Analyses the activities of problem-solving technique and the proposed solution. The problem-solving technique contains four steps process
that helps to analyze the current problem of the business and take the right measurement to solve it. See the models suggested in the
Assignment

Defining the problem: for example, ‘Space-for-Rent’ business-main problem is the market competitor. As ‘Space-for-Rent’ is
entering in the UK market, they have to face the existing market competitors, unknown market(s) etc

Look at: 1. Alternative solution: 2. Evaluate and select the alternative: 3. Implement

4. Make a Recommendation

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