MGMT20144 – Assessment 1
Business Case Analysis
Essay Business Case Analysis (Individual)
• Weighting: 30% (or 30 marks)
• This is a business case analysis essay that will be 1200 words +/- 10%
• Cover page: The essay must include a cover page that contains your name,
student ID number, campus, assessment title, and lecturer/tutor.
• Format (recommended): Word document with appropriate layout and use of
headings/sub-headings. Times New Roman, 12 size font and line spacing (1.5).
• This individual written assessment is designed to:
– Assist you to develop your knowledge of management and business contexts
– Give you the opportunity to enhance skills in research, professional
responsibility, and written communication.
• All submissions must be uploaded through the Assessment Item 1 link on the
unit Moodle site. Email submission to the Unit Coordinator is NOT accepted.
• The business case analysis can be uploaded as a word document.
• Penalties for late submission are applied according to the policy. This is 5% of the
total marks for this assessment item deducted for every day the assignment is late.
Task description – Essay topic
1. Visit 88 ENERGY LIMITED, listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
https://www2.asx.com.au/markets/trade-our-cash-market/directory
2. Conduct research on this organisation – 88 ENERGY LIMITED using the internet and library
databases for your assignment.
3. Write a business case analysis essay on the organisation using one or two of the weekly
learning topics from weeks 1-5 (read assessment guidelines slides). Ensure that you focus on
critically analysing the impact of a range of internal and/or external contextual factors on the
performance and decision making of this organisation and address the following questions:
a) What is the governance structure of your chosen organisation and how does it ensure the
effectiveness of the organisation’s corporate governance?
b) Which external environmental factors are influencing your chosen organisation’s
performance and/or decision- making?
c) What are the major risks your chosen organisation faces and how are they influencing its
performance and/or decision making?
d) What business practices does your chosen organisation adopt and how are they influencing
its performance and/or decision making?
e) What functional departments does your chosen organisation have and how are they
supporting its business activities?
Task description
3. Your business case analysis must include or cite at least eight (8) peer-reviewed journal
articles published after 2012 from reputable journals (please see a list of recommended
journals in the next page).
Referencing and written communication requirements:
• Use the APA 7 referencing style consistently in in-text citations and in the reference list
(See https://delivery-cqucontenthub.stylelabs.cloud/api/public/content/apa-referencingstyle.pdf?v=51e1aea7)
• Use an appropriate structure of the essay (with Introduction, Body, and Conclusion), and
appropriate conventions of academic writing.
• E.g., Derouiche, I., Hassan, M., & Amdouni, S. (2018). Ownership structure and investmentcash flow sensitivity. Journal of Management & Governance, 22(1), 31-54.
DOI:10.1007/s10997-017-9380-x
You could search the library databases via the online ‘advanced search’ function of the
CQUniversity library. By choosing the ‘advanced search’ function you can select the actual
journal you wish to search. Recommended to use key concepts in week 1-5, e.g., unitary
boards, PESTEL, risks, business practices etc. as search items to find the most relevant article
to incorporate.
Essay structure (See ‘Essay writing template’ file on Moodle)
• Introduction (100 words): Introduce the topic, state the
purpose of the essay and the key points (scope) to be covered.
• Case organization synopsis paragraph (100 words):
Briefly provide some background information, which is essential
and highly relevant to your analysis
• Body of the essay: (about 900 words or 4 to 5 paragraphs)
to answer the essay requirements
• Conclusion (about 100 words): Provide a summary of your
key points in the essay (avoid using same sentences). Avoid
introducing new topics (e.g., recently, the organization is
involved in a scandal…), but do highlight implications on the
management of the organisation in the future on the basis of
your analysis.
Recommended list of good journals
• Please see the 2019 Australian Business Deans
Council (ABDC) Journal Quality List (also given
on Moodle) to make sure your chosen journal is
ranked A* or A or B.
• https://abdc.edu.au/research/abdc-journal-list/
Marking criteria (rubric is available on Moodle)
Criteria 1. Introduction * 3 marks
Clearly outlines the purpose, scope, structure of the essay.
Criteria 2 Body—Theoretical knowledge * 8 marks
Demonstrated ability to define key terms and apply atleast ONE of the theories and concepts
presented in Topics 1-5.
Criteria 3. Body—Quality of Research efforts, writing and analysis * 12 marks
Level of research efforts demonstrated on the chosen company and ability to critically analyse
the impact of a range of internal and external factors on the performance and decision making
of the chosen company through addressing ONE of the five proposed topics.
Criteria 4. Conclusion *3 marks
All aspects drawn together in a brief, concise summary. Consistent with findings, no new
material introduced but highlights implications or a comment on the future of the company.
Criteria 5. Presentation *2 marks
High quality of expression, grammar, spelling, punctuation and proofreading.
Criteria 6. Referencing * 2 marks
Inclusion of an accurate reference list on a separate page listing only the sources that actually
have been used. The reference list is arranged in alphabetical order according to the authors’
last names. At least 8 relevant, recent peer-reviewed academic references have been cited,
together with numerous non-academic references (industry/news/media/websites/databases)
used to research and gather information on the company. APA 7 referencing Style.
Meaning of words
• Contextual factors: are characteristics of the internal and external
environment; such as structure, functions, environmental forces, risks, etc.
• Key terms: words that are being used in this unit such as sole trader, structure,
SWOT analysis, benchmarking etc.
• Concept: this is an abstract idea that someone has named and defined. For
example, the concept of employee engagement is defined as the extent to
which employees feel passionate about their jobs, are committed to the
organisation, and put discretionary effort into their work. It has a cognitive,
affective, and behavioural component.
• Theory: is a principle or a system of ideas intended to explain something. For
example, increasing employee engagement will increase performance,
customer satisfaction, profitability and productivity, and reduce employee
turnover.
• APA 7 referencing system: you must only use this referencing system in the
body of the essay and in the reference list at the end. Ensure you familiarise
yourself with it!
Appropriate writing conventions
• Must be within the word limit (first word of introduction to last word of
the conclusion).
• Write in paragraph form with full sentences. A paragraph is more
than one sentence.
• Introduce a new topic in a new paragraph, don’t write overly long
paragraphs.
• Make the first or last sentence the topic sentence of the paragraph.
• Write using formal academic language and specific Management
and Business Context words, theories, concepts and terms.
• Avoid using casual conversational language. For example, instead of
writing “it’s a good idea to think about . . .” write “an important
consideration is . . ”
• Write in the third person not using “I”, “we”, “one”, “he/she”.
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Common types of Plagiarism and Misconduct Cases
• Purchased assessment written by other people e.g.
freelance writers
• Copying text from various sources without proper
referencing or paraphrasing. Sources may include books,
journals, websites etc.
• Copying text from another student’s assessment. It could
be a former student or currently enrolled in the same unit
of study. This could have taken place with one or group of
students who have access to other students work
• Cheating in the exam
• Using fraudulent medical certificate
Plagiarism
• Plagiarism is the intentional use of someone else’s ideas, words or
concepts in your assignment without appropriate acknowledgment. It is
considered serious misconduct at university and should be avoided at
all times.
• Committing plagiarism can carry very serious penalties for students,
including expulsion from the university.
• Past penalties include zero marks or a reduction of marks for an
assignment. This reduction of marks on one assessment item has even
lead to failure of the entire unit!
• Turnitin is the first place that we look for when assessing plagiarism.
This score may increase even after you submit your assignment as more
comparisons are made between your work and other students’ work,
journal articles or information on the www.
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Academic Integrity
• CQUniversity has a policy on plagiarism and you are
strongly encouraged to familiarise yourself with it.
• Not having read the policy is no excuse when you are
reported for plagiarism.
• The following URL will lead you to CQUniversity’s policy
repository where you can search for plagiarism
procedures and policy. https://www.cqu.edu.au/policy
• There is also information on the unit Moodle site about
plagiarism and academic misconduct. You should read
this information and watch the video.
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What could students do to avoid such cases?
• Being honest: assessment play an important role in maintaining the
integrity of the course. Assessments are used to assess the extent to
which students have achieved the learning outcomes. Submitted
assessment must be student’s original work. If your assessment is done
by someone else, then you must question if what you are doing is ethical
right
• Seek help: if you are new student and you are not sure about how to cite
or reference in essays, reports etc, then seek help from Academic
Learning Centre (ALC)
• Read academic journals: all academic publications use different
referencing styles. Regular reading of academic papers published in
journals will help in understanding how references are cited in the body of
the essay and also in the reference list
• Originality: producing your own work is important. Organisations /
employers are looking for graduates who are innovative and creative.
Originality comes from your ability to think critically and recommending
solutions to workplace problems. It is not hard for teaching staff or
employers to find out if students or graduates are not producing original
work
Uploading your assignment
• Please ensure you upload the correct assignment to
Moodle.
• You will not have the opportunity to have your assignment
removed and replaced because you:
– Received a high Turnitin score or
– Accidently uploaded an assignment from another unit or
student or
– Submitted the assignment without the reference list or
– Submitted the wrong copy of your assignment.
• Please ensure you do not leave your assignment in draft
form after the due time and date.
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Assessment1 – Submission & other issues
• Refer Moodle submission link or Unit profile for
assessment due dates and time.
• Aim to submit your assessments early
– Because the closer you are to the deadline, the longer will be
the queue and processing wait times.
Video on how to Upload assignment submission in Moodle
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bfa2utgQkA&feature=youtu.be
Extensions (avoid)
• Only the unit coordinator can approve extensions on
assignments; but, do not email the unit coordinator directly.
• All extensions must be applied for via the Assessment
Extension Request system on Moodle.
• Criteria for deciding assessment extension requests incudes:
– The extension request is in writing and includes sufficient details,
such as relevant grounds and supporting documents, to enable an
informed decision;
– When the extension request was received
– Any other relevant circumstances.
• The act of applying for an extension is no guarantee that it will
be granted. Late penalties apply when an extension is not
granted. (5% of the possible marks = 1.5/day)
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Questions?
• If you have any questions about any of the assessment items you
are encouraged to ask your Lecturer during the Workshops or
over email.
• You can also post your question on the Q&A Forum on Moodle.
MGMT20144 – Assessment 1
Thank you!