Fostering Sustainable Futures

Assessment Brief, HR9691 (2022-23)

Programme:	Core module running across the Undergraduate programmes framework.
Module Code:	HR9691
Module Title:	Fostering Sustainable Futures
Distributed:	September 2022
Submission Time and Date:	12 noon 8 May 2023
Word Limit:	3,000 words
Weighting:	This coursework accounts for 100% of the total mark for this module
Submission of Assessment	It is your responsibility to ensure that your assignment arrives before the submission deadline stated on the eLP. See the University policy on late submission of work (the relevant extract is set out below). Electronic Management of Assessment (EMA): Please note that the assignment is submitted electronically and will be submitted online via Turnitin by the given deadline. You will find a Turnitin link on the module’s eLP site.

Instructions on the assessment

Submit a 3,000-word structured management report where you provide a critical analysis of the extent to which an organisation of your choice is supporting one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) or how an organisation presents broader lessons for other companies in an industry to better support an SDG.

You will make appropriate recommendations to the organisation or industry as to how they can best support a chosen SDG going forward, and the barriers it may face to doing so in practice. You must draw on at least one relevant organisation theory taught in this module in your critical analysis and to inform your recommendations.

Note: The audience of the management report is the executive board of your chosen organisation, or different managers working in a given industry. In writing the report you should assume that they are open to constructive criticism, positive ideas, and an honest and clear assessment of challenges and potential costs involved.

Guidance for writing the report

You should structure the report as follows:

• A cover page gives the title of your report, your chosen SDG and detail the organisation/industry that you are advising

• The preface to your report will comprise of a succinct reflective account of how you have used the formative feedback provided by your seminar tutor on your (unassessed but compulsory) group presentation in preparing this report. You must include a screen shot/photograph/scan of the signed formative feedback sheet that your seminar tutor provided to your group [10%]

• An executive summary will succinctly provide an overview of the key findings from the report in sentence long bullet points [10%]

• The introduction will introduce the SDG focused upon in the report and the rationale for this focus; set the context; and indicate the content that will follow [10%]

• The main body of the report will offer a coherent, well-focused, pervasive and clear critical analysis of the extent to which the organisation is currently supporting the chosen SDG, and/or how a business organisation presents lessons for other businesses in a particular industry. You will discuss the practices and behaviors of the organisation in your analysis and how this relates to the industry in which it is located. You must draw on at least one relevant organisation theory taught in this module in your critical analysis of these practices and behaviors. You must provide appropriate support and justification for your analysis [35%]

• You will draw conclusions from your analysis and make appropriate recommendations to the organisation as to how they can support the chosen SDG going forward, and the barriers it may face to doing so in practice. The recommendations must be informed by at least one relevant organisation theory taught in this module [25%]

• Reference list: Use of sources should indicate wider background reading and understanding, with appropriate use of evidence and examples that are fully relevant in support of the argument. You should cite no fewer than 5 contemporary academic journal articles that are discussed in the report. You should also cite additional references from books, textbooks, credible news outlets and professional journals. In text citations and the reference list should be formatted according to the APA 7 style (https://cragside.northumbria.ac.uk/Everyone/skillsplus/database_uploads/55389635.pdf)  [10%]

Guidance for choice of the organisation

You can select any organisation you are familiar with or an organisation you would like to work with.

You can alternatively select one of the following organisations:

• An organisation where you have previously done a placement
• British Petroleum (BP) www.bp.com
• FairPhone https://www.fairphone.com/en/
• Hiut Denim https://hiutdenim.co.uk
• Tesco, www.tesco.com
• Virgin Atlantic, www.virginatlantic.com
• Octopus Energy https://octopus.energy/

Late submission of work

Where coursework is submitted without approval, after the published hand-in deadline, the following penalties will apply.

For coursework submitted up to 1 working day (24 hours) after the published hand-in deadline without approval, 10% of the total marks available for the assessment (i.e.100%) shall be deducted from the assessment mark.

For clarity: a late piece of work that would have scored 65%, 55% or 45% had it been handed in on time will be awarded 55%, 45% or 35% respectively as 10% of the total available marks will have been deducted.

The Penalty does not apply to Pass/Fail Modules, i.e. there will be no penalty for late submission if assessments on Pass/Fail are submitted up to 1 working day (24-hours) afterthe published hand-in deadline.

Coursework submitted more than 1 working day (24-hours) after the published hand-in deadline without approval will be regarded as not having been completed. A mark of zero will be awarded for the assessment and the module will be failed, irrespective of the overall module mark.

For clarity: if the original hand-in time on working day A is 12noon the 24-hour late submission allowance will end at 12noon on working day B.

These provisions apply to all assessments, including those assessed on a Pass/Fail basis.

Word limits and penalties

If the assignment is within +10% of the stated word limit no penalty will apply.

The word count is to be declared on the front page of your assignment and the assignment cover sheet.  The word count does not include:

Title and Contents page	Reference list	Appendices	Appropriate tables, figures and illustrations
Glossary	Bibliography	Quotes from interviews and focus groups.

Please note, in text citations [e.g. (Smith, 2011)] and direct secondary quotations [e.g. “dib-dab nonsense analysis” (Smith, 2011 p.123)] are INCLUDED in the word count.

If this word count is falsified, students are reminded that under ARTA this will be regarded as academic misconduct.

If the word limit of the full assignment exceeds the +10% limit, 10% of the mark provisionally awarded to the assignment will be deducted.  For example: if the assignment is worth 70 marks but is above the word limit by more than 10%, a penalty of 7 marks will be imposed, giving a final mark of 63.

Students must retain an electronic copy of this assignment (including ALL appendices) and it must be made available within 24-hours of them requesting it be submitted.

Note:   For those assessments or partial assessments based on calculation, multiple choice etc., marks will be gained on an accumulative basis.  In these cases, marks allocated to each section will be made clear.

Academic misconduct

The Assessment Regulations for Taught Awards (ARTA) contain the Regulations and procedures applying to cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct.

The full policy is available at: www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/university-services/student-library-and-academic-services/quality-and-teaching-excellence/assessment/guidance-for-students

You are reminded that plagiarism, collusion and other forms of academic misconduct as referred to in the Academic Misconduct procedure of the assessment regulations are taken very seriously by Newcastle Business School.  Assignments in which evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct is found may receive a mark of zero.

Mapping to programme goals and objectives

This assessment will contribute directly to the following Undergraduate programme goals and objectives. 

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

Students will be able to:

x		Assess knowledge of contemporary organisation and management practice informed by theory and research
x		Appraise knowledge of Organisation Theory to complex problems in professional practice in order to identify justifiable, sustainable and responsible solutions

2. Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

x		Be able to communicate effectively to diverse audiences utilising knowledge and understanding of the diverse range of perspectives on Organisation Theory and practice
x		Critique creative and critical thinking skills that involve independence, understanding, justification and the ability to challenge the thinking of self and others

3. Personal Values Attributes:

Students will be able to:

x

1.

Have the attitudes and skills to work constructively and sensitively in multi-cultural environments and teams and have an awareness of ethical considerations

Module Specific Assessment Criteria

Criteria	Scales
	0-30% Poor	30-40% Inadequate	40-50% Adequate	50-60% Good	60-70% Very Good	70-80% Excellent	80-100% Outstanding
Preface   10 marks	No, or completely insufficient, preface.	The preface is insufficient.	The preface provides an adequate reflective account the formative feedback provided on the group presentation has been used in preparing the report.	The preface provides a good reflective account the formative feedback provided on the group presentation has been used in preparing the report.	The preface provides a very good reflective account the formative feedback provided on the group presentation has been used in preparing the report.	The preface provides an excellent reflective account the formative feedback provided on the group presentation has been used in preparing the report.	The preface provides outstanding reflective account the formative feedback provided on the group presentation has been used in preparing the report.
Executive summary   10 marks	No, or completely insufficient, executive summary.	The executive summary is insufficient.	The executive summary provides an adequate overview of the key findings from the report in sentence long bullet points.	The executive summary provides a good overview of the key findings from the report in sentence long bullet points.	The executive summary provides a very good overview of the key findings from the report in sentence long bullet points.	The executive summary provides an excellent overview of the key findings from the report in sentence long bullet points.	The executive summary provides outstanding overview of the key findings from the report in sentence long bullet points.
Introduction   10 marks	No introduction to the report. Completely insufficient discussion of the rationale for choice of SDG.	The introduction is not effective. Insufficient discussion of the rationale for choice of SDG.	Adequately effective introduction to the report. The discussion of the rationale for choice of SDG is adequate.	Good introduction to the report, which includes a good discussion of the rationale for choice of SDG.	Very good introduction to the report, which includes a very good discussion of the rationale for choice of SDG.	Excellent introduction to the report, which includes an excellent discussion of the rationale for choice of SDG.	Outstandingly effective introduction to the report, which includes an outstanding discussion of the rationale for choice of SDG.
Critical analysis of the extent to which the organisation is currently supporting the SDG 35 marks	Little or no critical analysis of the practices/behaviours in the organisation. Completely insufficient use of organisation theory in this critical analysis.	Insufficient critical analysis of the practices/behaviours in the organisation. Insufficient use of organisation theory in this critical analysis.	The practices/behaviours in the organisation have been adequately analysed. The discussion could be more critical Adequate use of organisation theory in this critical analysis.	Good critical analysis of the practices/behaviours in the organisation. Good use of organisation theory in this critical analysis.	Very good critical analysis of the practices/behaviours in the organisation. Very good use of organisation theory in this critical analysis.	Excellent critical analysis of the practices/behaviours in the organisation. Excellent use of organisation theory in this critical analysis.	Outstanding critical analysis of the practices/behaviours in the organisation. Outstanding use of organisation theory in this critical analysis.
Recommendations and conclusions   35 marks	Little or no evidence of recommendations and conclusive remarks. Little or no evidence of organisation theory being used to inform the recommendations.	Insufficient recommendations and conclusive remarks. Insufficient evidence of organisation theory being used to inform the recommendations.	The recommendations and conclusive remarks adequately highlight key implications for the organisation. Adequate use of organisation theory to inform the recommendations.	Good recommendations and conclusive remarks which appropriately highlight the key implications for the organisation. Good use of organisation theory to inform the recommendations.	Very well related recommendations and conclusive remarks which appropriately highlight the key implications for the organisation. Very good use of organisation theory to inform the recommendations.	Excellent and relevant recommendations and conclusive remarks which appropriately highlight the key implications for the organisation and are excellently informed by organisation theory.	The report concludes with outstanding recommendations and conclusive remarks which appropriately highlight the key implications for the organisation. Outstanding use of organisation theory to inform the recommendations.
Structure, argumentation and reference quality     10 marks	Presentation is completely insufficient. Numerous spelling and grammatical errors. Failure to cite references correctly in the main text.  No reference list. Completely insufficient quality of references.	Presentation is not sufficiently professional. Many spelling and grammatical errors. Referencing throughout and in the reference list is insufficiently correct as per the APA 7 style. Insufficient quality of references.	Presentation is adequate, with few spelling and grammatical errors. Most citations, and the reference list, are presented appropriately in compliance with APA 7 style. The contemporary and academic references have been adequately discussed.	Good presentation throughout. Spelling and grammar of a good standard. Very good APA 7 referencing throughout the main text. Accurate list of references. The contemporary and academic references have been discussed appropriately.	Very good presentation throughout. Spelling and grammar of a high standard. Very good APA 7 referencing throughout the assignment. Good discussion of the cited contemporary and academic references.	Excellent professional presentation throughout.  Excellent spelling and grammar. APA 7 referencing used throughout the main text and list of references. Excellent discussion of the cited academic and contemporary references.	An outstandingly crafted piece of work which is professionally presented throughout. APA 7 referencing used throughout the main text and for the list of references. Outstanding discussion of the cited academic and contemporary references.