Assignment brief for the report
Module Code:
Module Title: Sustainable Business
Submission Deadline:
Assessment Component: Coursework essay
Assessment Weighting: 50 per cent of total module mark
Marking and feedback deadline within (20 working days):
NB. If you use a grace period or extension, this will be adjusted to reflect the end of that grace/extension period)
Assessment Instructions
Title: Business Model for Sustainable Development Case Study
The aim of this assignment is to apply business model theory to a case study and to assess sustainability and suggest business model changes for sustainability. We want you to try and demonstrate and explore understanding the theory and sustainability. We shall also be looking for you to develop your writing, critiquing, presentation and referencing skills.
This is an individual coursework and is to be presented in a report format.
Task/question
Tasks: 1.) Outline the current business model strategy of your case study business applying the framework of Baden-Fuller and Mangematin 2013. 2.) To what extent is the current business model sustainable? And 3.) How could the business model be changed/reconceptualised to make it substantially more sustainable (i.e. we are not looking for incremental change)?
(100 marks) (Relevant learning outcomes: MO1; MO2; MO3; MO4; MO5; MO6)
Marking Criteria
You will be assessed on the following criteria:
Marking Criteria
The following criteria will be used in evaluating this assessment:
Would students please note that achievement of the learning outcomes for this assessment is demonstrated against the assessment criteria shown below (which are not necessarily weighted equally). Your assignment is marked as a whole and your grade is more than a summation of your performance as rated below.
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Assessment Criteria |
Use the five-point scale* below and insert ratings for all criteria. |
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1 Literature incorporated |
A B C D E F |
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2. Theoretical framework and methodology |
A B C D E F |
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3. Data collected/diversity of sources to support or business case |
A B C D E F |
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4. Analysis of data/sources to reach conclusion |
A B C D E F |
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5. Critical and reflective approach |
A B C D E F |
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6. Completeness of specified task and quality of presentation |
A B C D E F |
The case study will require the use of secondary data. This report will summarise your research and findings. It should cover the background (business context, case study and sustainability), an explanation of your methodology and theoretical framework, data collection to support the case study, data analysis, findings and conclusion. Supportive material (or data) if used can go in the appendix outside the word limit. The conclusion should include a brief reflection on the strengths and weaknesses of the research and proposals.
Apart from the first criteria (as literature will mainly be in the introduction/background), the criteria apply to all tasks. In total these criteria will be used to assess your attainment of the module learning outcomes.
Further information about this assessment is available on the Blackboard site for this module and includes:
See module handbook.
Formatting
Please use the following file format(s) (Word, .pdf etc.). We cannot ensure that other formats are compatible with markers’ software and cannot guarantee to mark incorrect formats.
All work should be word processed in 12-point font Times New Roman or Arial and single spaced.
The first page of your coursework must include:
Your student number
The module name and number
Your word count
The coursework question or title
Word Limit
The maximum word limit for this coursework is a maximum of 2500 words.
There is no +/- 10% on word count and anything after the maximum word count will not be marked, in line with UWE Bristol’s Word Count Policy.
In line with UWE policy, this word count includes everything in the main body of the text (including headings, tables, citations, quotes, lists, etc.).
The references, bibliography and footnotes (provided footnotes only include references) are NOT included in this word count.
Referencing and Assessment Offences
Please ensure you reference all sources used when developing your assessment, using the UWE Harvard approach to referencing. Failure to properly reference your work to original source material can be grounds for the assessment offence of plagiarism and may result in failure of the assessment or more serious implications. Further guidance on correct referencing is available on UWE’s Study Skills referencing pages.
UWE’s Assessment Offences Policy outlines potential offences and it is your responsibility to understand this policy and avoid potential offences. Details of what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it can be found on UWE’s Study Skills pages about avoiding plagiarism.
Text-matching software (e.g. SafeAssign) is used to check every submission against other submissions made at the same time, previous submissions to UWE and other universities, and internet sources. We may also manually search for matches. When submitting your work, you will be required to confirm that the work is your own.
It is an assessment offence to:
copy work from any source, including your own previous assessments, and present it as your own work for this assessment, or to provide your own work to others
to work with others on the assessment in any way, or for anyone to make amends on your work (including proofreaders, who may highlight issues but not edit the work)
change individual words but keep, essentially, the same sentences and/or structures from other sources: this will be detected by text-matching software. Please write in your own words and style to convey your own learning.
Instructions for submission
You must submit your assignment before the stated deadline by electronic submission through Blackboard. Notification that the electronic submission portal is open for your assignment is displayed (usually two weeks before the submission date) in the Coursework tab in myUWE, the Coursework tab in Blackboard and via an announcement in the Blackboard course.
Please allow sufficient time to upload your assignment, as the system becomes busier and slower as the deadline approaches. Only your final upload will be counted. Ensure all your information is submitted at one attempt to avoid overwriting your intended submission. Always check and retain your receipts.
Late submission in the 24 hours following the deadline will be accepted but the assignment mark will be capped at a pass. Submissions after 24 hours will not be accepted. For full guidance on online submission through Blackboard, see UWE’s Academic Advice pages on Assignments.
Submissions of coursework by any other method (including a paper copy, on disk or by email) are NOT permissible for this module unless specifically agreed in advance of the submission date.
Before submitting your work, please ensure that:
You have proof read you work thoroughly to ensure your work is presented appropriately
You have addressed all the required elements of the assessment
You have referenced in accordance with the guidance provided
You have addressed each of the marking criterion
The submission is in the correct format
This assessment has a three day grace period in which students can submit their work without penalty. While students are expected to plan their work so that they are not impacted by minor illness or delay, if you experience difficulties which affect your ability to submit your work at the published deadline the University allows a three day grace period in which you can submit your work without penalty for this type of assessment. Please note that the submission deadline at the conclusion of the three day grace period is absolute and based on UWE server time, therefore you are strongly advised to submit work well ahead of the deadline dates to avoid your work not being accepted for marking. For full information please see; Assessment support options – Academic information | UWE Bristol
Final feedback and marks release
Students will normally receive marks and feedback on their submission within 20 working days of the submission deadline (not including public holidays or university closure days). Any delay in returning students’ work will be communicated by the module leader via Blackboard.
Feedback on this module is not limited to the written comments you will receive on individual written assessment submissions.
Feedback and marks for this module will be available by the date specified at the top of this document. For further guidance on feedback, please refer to the module handbook.
Further guidance and support
There are a number of sources of support to improve your study skills, including:
The UWE Library Study Skills pages – for online support and bookable workshops
The Faculty of Business and Law’s Academic Success Centre for bookable workshops
Guidance on using UWE’s Library.
Specific study skills pages relating to this module include:
How to plan and structure your writing
Further research skills / techniques
For further guidance on UWE assessment regulations and terminology see UWE’s Academic Advice pages.
Personal Circumstances
If you are experiencing difficulties in completing a piece of assessment on time due to unexpected circumstances (for example illness, accident, bereavement), seek advice from a Student Support Adviser at the earliest opportunity. Appointments can be made via an Information Point or online via the Student Support Pages.
Student Support Advisers can advise as to whether you should submit an application for ‘Personal Circumstances (PCs)’, how to do so and what evidence is required to support the application. Further details on PCs can be found on the Student Support Pages.
The module leader cannot grant personal circumstances or extensions.