Assessment Submission
1. When submitting your assignment, please use the following naming convention for each assignment.
z9999999_SURNAME_[XXXX1111]_19s1_A1
Where:
• z9999999 is your student ID – please insert your Zid
• _SURNAME – please insert your Surname
• XXXX1111 is the course code
• 19s1 is the Term name (2019, Term 1)
• A1 is the Assignment number (A2 for Assignment 2)
2. You must submit your Major assignment via the Turnitin Links set up in your Moodle course site. Turnitin is similarity
detection software used at UNSW. One team member will submit on behalf of the team
You are able to submit a draft version of your assignment prior to the due date. This enables you to view the Turnitin
similarity report on your work and decide whether it complies with the guidelines regarding referencing and
plagiarism, before you submit your final version for marking. Please be aware that Turnitin will only generate ONE
similarity report every 24 hours. Nevertheless, the version of your submission available at the due date will be
deemed the final submission.
More information about plagiarism can be found here: https://student.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism.
3. Late submissions are possible but will be marked as such and will be subject to late penalties of 5% of the
assignment weighting for each day late. Submissions more than 10 working days late will not be accepted.
4. Extensions to assignment deadlines will be granted only in exceptional circumstances, and where adequate
supporting documentation can be provided. Please note that work commitments do not constitute grounds for an
extension. Requests must be made through the special consideration process. For details about this process, see:
https://student.unsw.edu.au/special-consideration.
5. Assessment tasks, other than the major final assessment, will normally be reviewed, and feedback provided, within
10 working days of submission.
6. Please ensure you keep a copy of your assignment.
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Assessment Structure
Assessment Task Weighting Length/Duration Due Date
Assignment 1A Business Pitch
Assessed Teams
10% Approx. format 12 Mins to
present then questions &
feedback
Week 5
Wednesday 9 October
In class
Assignment 1B Team Report
Assessed Teams
20% Approx. 2500-3000 words Week 7
Hard copy due at start of class
Wednesday 23 October and
soft copy via Turnitin
Hard copy to be handed to
lecturer at start of class
Wednesday 23 October
Assignment 2A Business Pitch on Netflix
Assessed individually while working in
Groups
20% (Approx. format 12 Mins to
present then questions &
feedback
Week 9
Wednesday 6 November
In class
Individual Case Study Video 50% No more than 12 minutes Week 11
Wednesday 20 November
Assessment Tasks
ASSIGNMENT 1A BUSINESS PITCH (DUE WEEK 5 IN CLASS) WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER
REQUIRED
Step 1: Students will choose any organisation that they wish to study for assignment 1A and 1B. Each team will choose a global
corporation such as Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Facebook, Tesla, Space X, Instagram, IBM, Louis Vuitton, etc.
Step 2: Choose some aspect of their MCS to share a compelling story about such as the leadership style, organisation culture
or how they attract and retain talent or a failure in management control etc.
The purpose of the business pitch is to develop skills in: 1. Telling a story to communicate your ideas and 2. To engage with an
audience. Practising story telling within this course is to ensure postgraduate students are work-ready. In contemporary business
settings, your pitch skills will constantly be put to the test and influence the ability to win jobs and progress throughout your
professional careers. This assessment is individually assessed though undertaken in teams.
The pitch must tell a story and engage an audience. For a useful resource on this go to: https://hbr.org/2013/06/how-to-give-a- killer-presentation)!
Role plays, television format and other creative pitch styles are encouraged with emphasis on creatively telling a compelling
story. For example, share a story about culture or leadership as a social control, or give an example about the failure of MCS
such as Enron. You also need to engage with an audience from the start of pitch and during the pitch.
In the October 2013 edition of In the Black Magazine titled: “What’s your Story”, it is reported that businesses have come to
realise the value of storytelling. As one US storytelling exponent puts it: “Humans simply aren’t moved to action by data dumps,
dense PowerPoint slides or spreadsheets packed with figures. They’re moved by emotion.” Motivational speakers have used
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stories for years, but only as part of their arsenal to build momentary enthusiasm. Stories are needed in the business context to
help people really understand the messages, remember them and care about them. Similarly, in the 2012 edition of the Harvard
Business Review – Nancy Duarte stated that after studying hundreds of speeches, the most effective presenters use the same
techniques as great storytellers: By reminding people of the status quo and then revealing the path to a better way, they set up
a conflict that needs to be resolved.
Allocation of marks
Individuals are assessed as such and therefore you must each attend your pitch. It is up to individuals to work collectively in
order present a story innovatively and elicit active audience involvement. For example, your pitch will incorporate multi-media (a
combination of strategies such as role play, quizzes, relevant videos downloaded from u tube, and other creative methods). It is
essential to employ strategies for eliciting audience involvement and telling a powerful story.
Allocation of marks
Marks will be allocated on the ability to tell a story and for being able to demonstrate that
you can engage with an audience.
ASSIGNMENT 1B: TEAM REPORT (DUE WEEK 8 SOFT COPY IN TURNITIN BY WEDNESDAY 23
OCTOBER & HARD COPY HANDED TO LECTURER AT START OF CLASS
Background
Using the same organization investigated in Assignment 1A answer the questions below. This is a
research based
assignment. For purposes of engaging with industry and to ensure students are better prepared for the workforce, this
assignment question has been set in conjunction with personnel from industry so to ensure that you as postgraduate students
are engaging with authentic industry issues. Use 1.5 spacing an d12 point times, ariel or times new roman.
REQUIRED:
(Approximately 2500 – 3000 words maximum, excluding synopsis, bibliography and footnotes. This word limit is
an approximation only)
a) Briefly outline the history, strategy, and key operations of your case organisation.
Also outline the rationale for selecting the
case organisation (such as high performance citing consistent profitability and other financial/non-financial indicators (reputation,
high brand name worth etc).
You should provide substantiating evidence of this.
(10 marks)
b) Undertake research to describe and discuss the elements of the Management Control System and the suitability of the MCS
given the context in which your case organisation operates. Critique the Management Control System with a view to identifying
strengths and weaknesses.
(40 marks)
c) From your analysis in part (b) above, make a set of at least six comprehensive recommendations to the Senior Executive team.
(40 marks)
d) Structure and presentation
(10 marks)
You will also be asked to write an individual self-reflection statement. More information will be provided closer to the time.
Additional Information
• The body of the assignment should not exceed approximately 2500 - 3000 words, excluding table of contents, abstract,
and list of references. Use Appendices and footnotes sparingly. Please note this is a suggested word limit only.
• The answer to each section must be identified clearly by the use of sub-headings. In addition to the requirements
outlined above, your answer should include a brief introduction and conclusion.
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• ‘Dot points’ should not be used sparingly.
• You must acknowledge all sources of information cited in your assignment using Harvard referencing.
Allocation of Marks to Individuals
Marks will be allocated to individuals using the weighting procedure outlined below. This weighting scheme involves the use of
peer evaluation to assess the relative contribution of each syndicate member (use the form provided).
Peer Evaluation Marking Scheme
In order to provide an opportunity for substantial individual contributions to team performance to be rewarded, the following
marking scheme is proposed.
STEP 1: The case will be marked and awarded a mark out of 20 (for illustrative purposes only).
STEP 2: Each student will provide their seminar leader with a rating of their own contribution and their assessment of the
individual contribution of each of the other members of their syndicate. This will be a score out of 10 that reflects the amount and
quality of the effort made by each of the syndicate members.
STEP 3: The ratings provided by each team member will be collated, averaged and converted to a percentage out of 100 to
determine the proportionate contribution of each team member to the team result.
STEP 4: Half of the total mark will be credited to each student in the group.
STEP 5: The other half of the total mark will be multiplied by the number of members in the team and placed in a pool.
STEP 6: The pool will be allocated back to each team member based on the calculation of the proportionate contribution made
by each team member.
STEP 7: The two marks determined in STEPS 4 and 6 will be added to give each student’s grade for the Case. However, NO
student’s grade will exceed the mark assigned by your seminar leader. This will represent the UPPER CAP placed on the
adjustment of your mark.
The following example will illustrate the calculation of marks.
STEP 1: A five-member group receives a mark of 14 out of 20 for the case.
STEP 2: (For steps 2 to 6 all calculations will be rounded to 1 decimal place). The individual ratings (out of 10) from each member
