Coursework Assignment Brief Semester: A15 Module Code: PM204

Coursework Assignment Brief
Semester:
A15
Module Code:
PM204
Module Title:
Business Organisation and Policy
Programme
BSc (Hons) Programmes
Level:
Level 5
Awarding Body:
University of Plymouth
Module Leader
Christopher Ngwasiri
Format:
Individual Report
Presentation:
No
Any special
All work should be submitted on the Student Portal
requirements:
along with an acceptable Turnitin Report
Word Limit:
2000 words (+/- 10%)
Deadline date for Week 7, Friday 27th March 2015 (23:59)
submission:
Learning outcomes To successfully complete this assessment, students
to be examined in should be able to:
this assessment

Demonstrate the influence of environmental and
behavioural factors on corporate size, structure and
strategy.

Understand the processes of business planning and
policy making and the reason for change over time.
Percentage
of This assignment is worth 50% of the total marks for
marks awarded for the module
module:
Assessment criteria
Explanatory comments on
the Maximum marks
assessment criteria
Content,
for each section
style, Clear demonstration of rigorous 50%
relevance,
research
originality
authoritative
from
recognised
sources.
Audience
focus.
Format,
Harvard
10 %
referencing,
bibliography
Constructive critical Demonstration
of
a
clear 40%
analysis,
understanding of the issues. Use
introduction,
of academic models.
conclusion
Candidates must clearly label their ID Number on additional separate reference,
formula or answer sheets.
Assignment Task
On April 24 2013, 1134 people were killed and 2,500 were injured when the Rana
Plaza building in Savar, Bangladesh collapsed on top of garment workers inside its
factories. It would be known as the worst accident in the garment industry anywhere.
This happened only five months after a horrific fire at a similar facility prompted
leading multinational brands to pledge to work to improve safety in the country’s
booming but poorly regulated garment industry.
Labour groups, Western clothing companies, the Bangladeshi government and
others have made some progress toward preventing similar tragedies, but more still
needs to be done.
There was never any doubt that improving working conditions in Bangladesh, one of
the world’s poorest countries, would be incredibly difficult. The collapse of Rana
Plaza was just one, though by far the worst in a series of industrial accidents in
Bangladesh’s garment industry, which has become one of the biggest exporters of
clothes to the United States and Europe because of its low wages.
It was later discovered that 28 brands that sourced clothes from the plaza included
Primark, Bennetton, Mango, Matalan and Bonmache, prompting public concern
about the working conditions of garment factories around the world which contribute
to western high street fashion stores.
Ethical consumerism encourages people to think about how the products they buy
are sourced and produced which are not harmful to the environment and society.
This can be evidenced through simply purchasing eggs that are free-range or
boycotting goods/companies which promote child labour or unsavoury working
conditions.
Ethical consumerism is a growing market. A recent report from the Co-operative
Bank showed a third of UK consumers claiming to be concerned about ethical
consumption, with a large number of the public willing to challenge and boycott
companies which do not comply with ethical standards.
You are required to write an analytical business report that covers the
following tasks:
Task 1
Discuss the ways in which companies, like the ones mentioned in the extract above,
that sourced clothes from the Rana Plaza can help improve business practices to
prevent recurrence of events of this nature.
Task 2
Choose any company, research and evidence how they operate ethically, taking into
account their approach to consumerism, values and environmental friendliness.
ASSIGNMENT GUIDANCE
Structure of report
Your report (which must be written in business report format), should comprise of
the following sections:

An executive summary which gives a brief overview of the argument in your
report including key findings and conclusions

An introduction which explains what the report is all about and highlights on
what is to be covered in the report i.e. the Ethical practices, why this is
important and what needs to be done?
Task1
Discuss the ways in which companies, like the ones mentioned in the extract
above, that sourced clothes from the Rana Plaza can help improve business
practices to prevent recurrence of events of this nature.

Students are required to discuss the concept of business ethics and
ethical consumerism.

Students should discuss how companies like Rana Plaza improve their
practices in order to avoid reoccurrence of any similar situations. Mainly
what business should do in order to enhance their CSR practices?
Students can discuss the concept of accountability, responsibility,
transparency, fairness, sustainability and so on.

Such issues normally happen due to poor strategy, lack of clear vision, poor
organisational culture, poor compliance, poor working environment,
organisational values and so on.
Task 2
Choose any company, research and evidence how they operate ethically,
taking into account their approach to consumerism, values and
environmental friendliness.
In the second part, students should select any organisation that they believe to be
ethically operating. You should explain how the chosen organsiation is operating
ethically. Focus should be on the ethical consumerism, values and environmental
friendliness.
Ethical consumerism: Ethically produced products
Values-
Employee
engagement
and
development,
fairness,
positive
working
environment, safety, diversity, integrity, customer focus, accountability and so on.
Environmental friendliness: 3Rs concept (Reduce, reuse, recycle), eco-friendly
business, sustainability, triple bottom line concept and so on.

Conclusion which includes a critical evaluation of ethical consumerism.
Students may want to give an overall critical analysis on the research which
they have just undertaken.

Recommendations to businesses that source to clothing manufacturers.

Bibliography showing all sources of references.
MARKING TEMPLATE
Business Organisation and Policy (PM204)
Assignment
Marking Criteria
% of total
Task 1
Evaluation and
analysis:
How a repeat of the 40
Rana Plaza disaster
can be prevented
by sourcing
companies
Task 2
Evaluation and
analysis:
Ethics, Values and
40
environmentally
friendly aspects of
any chosen
company
Conclusion and
10
Recommendations
Structure,
Presentation and
Referencing
10
Total Marks
100
Marks
Overall comments
Standard marking system for use when marking coursework assignments – for
all programmes at GSM London
Indicative
Grade
Distinction
UK% marks
Characteristics.
70%+
Very high standard of critical analysis using appropriate
conceptual frameworks.
Excellent understanding and exposition of relevant
issues.
Clearly structured and logically developed arguments.
Good awareness of nuances and complexities.
Substantial evidence of well-executed independent
research.
Excellent evaluation and synthesis of source material.
Relevant data and examples, all properly referenced
Merit
69-60%
High standard of critical analysis using appropriate
conceptual frameworks.
Clear awareness and exposition of relevant issues.
Clearly structured and logically developed argument.
Awareness of nuances and complexities.
Evidence of independent research.
Good evaluation and synthesis of source material.
Pass
59-50%
Relevant data and examples, all properly referenced.
Uses appropriate conceptual frameworks.
Attempts analysis but includes some errors and /or
omissions.
Shows awareness of issues but no more than to be
expected room attendance at classes.
Arguments reasonably clear but underdeveloped.
Insufficient evidence of independent research.
Insufficient evaluation of source material.
Pass
49-40%
Some good use of relevant data and examples but
incompletely referenced.
Adequate understanding of appropriate conceptual
frameworks.
Answer too descriptive and or any attempt at analysis is
superficial containing errors and omission.
Shows limited awareness of issues but also some
confusion.
Arguments not particularly clear.
Limited evidence of independent research and reliance
on a superficial repeat of class notes.
Relatively superficial use of relevant data sources and
examples and poorly referenced.
PASS MARK
E
40%
39-30%
Weak understanding of appropriate conceptual
frameworks. Weak analysis and several errors and
omissions.
Establishes a few relevant points but superficial and
confused exposition of issues.
No evidence of independent research and poor
understanding of class notes or no use of relevant data,
sources and examples and no references.