Faculty of Graduate Studies

University of Colombo

Master of Business Studies (Online) - Semester I - 2024

MBSO 6102 - MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS

Analytical Report (Individual)

This assignment is based on Analysis of Market Structures:

1. Select any branded good or service (preferably in the Sri Lankan context) from the consumer
market which is narrowly identified and defined.
Ex: Anchor full cream milk powder 400 g pack
2. Identify the main determinants of demand with valid economic justification and evidence.
3. You are required to identify the conduct of the selected product in the consumer market in
the following aspects with evidence and justifications.
a. The nature of the product (homogeneous, standard, or differentiated)
b. Entry barriers (structural, strategic, or institutional where applicable)
c. Non-price competitive practices (Ex: advertising and other promotions) and strategic
behaviour
d. Firm’s control over price and output determination
e. Nature of the competition and the market power
4. Based on (3) above, determine the most suitable market structure which defines the
product in the consumer market.

Other instructions/specifications:
 As no presentations on this assignment, you are required to justify/validate the arguments
and finding through economic reasoning and the support of literature.
 Refer to the annexure for evaluation criteria.
 Submit the assignment online (LMS) on or before 31st March 2024
 Late submissions are accepted up to five (05) days subject to a penalty of one (01) mark per
day.
 Avoid plagiarism and academic misconduct of any kind. University Examination
regulations will be applied in the event of academic misconduct.
 The word limit is 3,000 (+/- 10%) excluding appendixes and references.
 Marks allocated will be 20% from the final grading.
_____
Dr. Sajitha Dishanka (Course lecturer)
sajitha@dbe.cmb.ac.lk

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CRITERIA POOR AVERAGE MERIT DISTINCTION
(Report only) (0% - 39%) (40% – 59%) (60% – 79%) (80% - 100%)

SURVEY OF Limited, weak selection. Appropriate range and choice Good selection of key texts with critical Excellent, wide range of well selected
LITERATURE AND Uncritically presented. of literature but limited analysis and good exposition of issues reading. Good critical analysis and
CRITICAL critical presentation. implicit in literature. Critical evaluation of evaluation including original and
REVIEW significant issues for the professional perceptive observations.
context.
EVIDENCE/DATA Minimal data to support The focus of the assignment The focus of the assignment is well The method of data collected may show
& the focus of assignment. is clearly supported by the supported by the data collected. an element of originality (new
METHODOLOGY/ Methodology data collected and the Methodology used is appropriate and information should be being offered) and
METHODS inappropriate or poorly methodology used is sound. alternative methods to those used, offer a high level of support for the focus
carried out and no Some consideration of considered. of the assignment. Alternative methods
consideration of alternatives. to those used, considered thoroughly
alternatives.
ANALYSIS Makes limited use of Makes good use of Makes very good use of established Demonstrates a strong grasp of relevant
established techniques of established techniques of techniques of analysis relevant to the analytic techniques, and the ability to
analysis, relevant to the analysis relevant to the discipline and applies these effectively. apply these to new and / or abstract
discipline. discipline. Shows developed ability to appraise information and situations. Shows a
alternative theories / analytic approaches developed appreciation of the limits /
(where relevant). appropriate uses of analytic approaches.

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RELATIONSHIP Limited use of theory.
OF THEORY TO Lack of / limited
PRACTICE awareness of the
relationship between
theory and practice. Little
integration or critical
analysis of the
articulation between
theory and practice.
KNOWLEDGE Knowledge
AND CLARITY OF circumscribed.
REASONING Sense of argument but
poorly expressed lines of
thought.
Conclusions do not
always arise from
premises.
ORGANISATION Poorly organized,
OF MATERIAL incoherent structure.
Poor presentation and
referencing. Appropriate
supporting material not
given / disorganized.
Bibliography is limited.
Clear articulation of the
relationship between and
critical analysis / evaluation
of the significance of relevant
theory to specific context.
Awareness of how each may
be informed by the other.
Appropriate knowledge of
current, relevant issues.
Argument reasonably
expressed. Logical
development of arguments
where lines of thought are
clearly discernible. Relevant,
limited conclusions arising
from premises
Organization and structure
are sufficient to support and
not obscure the work.
Appropriate presentation.
All supporting material
present. Referencing is sound
and appropriate. Bibliography
is adequate.
_________________________
Very good, critical analysis/ evaluation of
the relationship between
theoretical/conceptual perspectives and
specific context. Some use of multiple
theoretical frameworks to evaluate
context and managerial practice.
Demonstrable synthesis to show how
each is informing the other. Some
evaluation of their usefulness.
Sound knowledge. Ability to discriminate
and justify key issues. Arguments are
confidently expressed through clear,
logical lines of thought. Conclusions are
firmly articulated, comprehensive, and
relevant and arise directly from the
premised arguments.
The organization is comprehensive and
structure coherent.
Well presented, facilitating
comprehension. Supporting material is
well presented and ordered. Accurate
referencing. Bibliography is good.
An excellent understanding of the
relationship between
theoretical/conceptual perspectives and
the context and a clear articulation of this
relationship. Excellent, creative use of
multiple frameworks for evaluation.
Evidence of originality in applying and
adapting theory for use in practice.
Excellent, comprehensive knowledge
base. Ability to discriminate key issues
and relate them to the wider context.
Lines of thought are transparent, and the
arguments are confidently expressed to
develop and synthesize compelling
conclusions. Evidence of original thought.
Excellent coherent organization and
structure which enhances
comprehension. Excellent presentation of
all material. Referencing is accurate to a
high degree. The bibliography is
impressive.
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