Assessment Brief Level Six Undergraduate

Module Code:

SM380

Module Title:

Doing Business Globally & Internationally

Distributed on:

Hand in Date:

To be advised

Instructions on Assessment:

In Part A, students are required to address the questions below by using

academic theory and concepts.
In Part B, students are required to apply overall learnings from the module
to their own personal development.
Students are required to research the latest co-operation between
Peugeot, the French motor manufacturer, Dongfeng, the Chinese motor
manufacturer, and the French government (initially reported in February
2014 and now underway). Research and analysis should continue until
September 2014.
Overall word limit: 3000
PART A
1. With reference to the academic literature and using your analysis of
relevant environmental factors, suggest the most important external
issues and trends which drove Peugeot and Dongfeng together. In
which areas are the expected internal benefits and synergies for
both companies involved? Why is the French government involved?
(20 marks)
2. With reference to the academic literature, explain what type of cooperation this is and what risks are associated with the partnership
in this case? Compare and contrast this with the earlier decision to
form the joint venture Dongfeng Peugeot-Citron Automobile
(DPCA).
(20 marks)
3. By applying appropriate theory and using evidence from your
research of these companies, analyse the national and corporate
cultures involved. Speculate on the impact of both on this
partnership between Peugeot and Dongfeng during the exploratory
stages and now that the co-operation is operational.
(20 marks)

/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_4/254836642.doc

Page 1 of 7

Assessment Brief Level Six Undergraduate

4. Drawing upon academic literature and theory, critically discuss the
possible effects, both positive and negative, of exchange rate
movements on the deal.
(20 marks)
PART B
5. Identify three (3) specific aspects or challenges of doing business
internationally that you have come to appreciate through the
seminars or Expert Lectures on this module. Explain why these are
significant personally and to the future of international business.
(20 marks)
Important note about ARNA regulations
The regulations specify that students must complete every assessment component contributing to the
modules on their programme. This applies to all forms of assessment as defined in the module
descriptor. Please note that:

if any assessment component is not completed, students will be failed in the module even if the
module pass mark has been achieved;
if the requirements for referral specified in section 5 of ARNA 1 are met, a resit opportunity will be
given;
if unable to complete an assessment component because of extenuating circumstances,
students should follow the procedure described in the Student Guide to Extenuating
Circumstances1.

This change was approved by Academic Board on 12 October 2009 in consultation with the Students
Union. Students should consult their Programme Leader or Guidance Tutor if they have any queries.
Independent advice and support is also available from the Students Union Advice & Representation
Centre (su.advice@northumbria.ac.uk) or from a student adviser in Student Services.
1

ARNA and the Student Guide to Extenuating Circumstances Affecting Assessed Work are available
from http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/central/ar/lts/assess/assproc/assdocstud/
Word limits and penalties for assignments
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

Glossary

Bibliography

Quotes from
interviews and focus
groups.

Appropriate tables,
figures and
illustrations

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.

/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_4/254836642.doc

Page 2 of 7

Assessment Brief Level Six Undergraduate

If this word count is falsified, students are reminded that under ARNA page 30 Section 3.4 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 are advised that they may be asked to submit an electronic version of their assignment.
Time limits and penalties for presentations
The time allocated for the presentation must be adhered to. At the end of this time, the presentation
will be stopped and will be marked based on what has been delivered within the time limit.
Submission of Assessment:
All assignments must be submitted via the Undergraduate Programme Office. Each assignment must
be accompanied by an Assessed Work Form which must be completed in full. The assignment will not
be accepted by the Undergraduate Programme Office unless the form is completed correctly.
Marked assignments will be returned to students. It is advisable to retain a copy of your assignment
for you own records. Your mark will be returned on the Assessed Work Form via the Undergraduate
Programme Office.
Referencing your work
The APA method of referencing uses the author's name and the date of the publication. In-text
citations give brief details of the work you are referring to in your text. References are listed at the end
of the text in alphabetical order by the author's name. The general format of an electronic journal
reference in the APA style is shown below:
Coutu, D. (2009). Why Teams Don't Work. Harvard Business Review, 87(5), 98-105. Retrieved 29th
April 2012 from EBSCO http://searchebscohost.com
Author/s name and initials are listed first, followed by year of publication in brackets. Then there is the
title of article and the journal where the article appears, which is in italics. Then state the volume and
issue number (in brackets) along with the pages where article can be located. Finally add the date the
article was retrieved and then the name of the database, followed by the web address. Wherever
possible use the homepage URL rather than the full and extended web address.
For further information on why it is important to reference accurately go to the Referencing and
Plagiarism topic in Skills Plus available from the Library website:
www.northumbria.ac.uk/skillsplus
You will find other useful help guides on Skills Plus to help you with the skills involved in writing your
assessments and preparing for exams.
For further information on the APA style of referencing see the Concise Rules of APA style and the
APA website http://www.apastyle.org/learn
Plagiarism and Cheating
Your attention is drawn to the Universitys stated position on plagiarism. THE WORK OF OTHERS,
WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE ASSIGNMENT MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO ITS SOURCE (a
full bibliography and/or a list of references must be submitted as prescribed in the assessment
brief).

/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_4/254836642.doc

Page 3 of 7

Assessment Brief Level Six Undergraduate

Please note that this is intended to be an individual piece of work. Action will be taken where a
student is suspected of having cheated or engaged in any dishonest practice. Students are referred to
the University regulations on plagiarism and other forms of academic irregularity. Students must not
copy or collude with one another or present any information that they themselves have not generated.
For further information on Plagiarism, see the Referencing and Plagiarism topic on Skills Plus.
www.northumbria.ac.uk/skillsplus
Mapping to Programme Goals and Objectives:
This assessment will contribute directly to the following Undergraduate programme goals and
objectives. (Insert an X in boxes where applicable, referring to Undergraduate Programme
Specification Appendix X for mapping details)
1. Knowledgeable about the theory and practice of international business and management
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
X

1.

2.

3.

Demonstrate current knowledge and understanding of the major functional areas of

business.
Demonstrate current knowledge and understanding of specialist areas of business.
Demonstrate, through the application of knowledge to business contexts and scenarios,
their abilities of analysis and synthesis.

2. Skilful in the use of personal, professional and managerial techniques and processes
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
X

1.

2.

3.

Demonstrate the application of the following transferable skills: numeracy, literacy,

communication and time management.
Demonstrate the managerial skills of customer needs recognition, problem solving and
critical thinking.
Apply managerial and leadership techniques of team building, decision making and
leadership.

3. Employable as graduates
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
1.
2.
3.

In the context of securing graduate employment, demonstrate the skills of self presentation
(through CVs, interviews and assessment centre testing).
Demonstrate an active awareness of the graduate employment market.
Demonstrate an active engagement with a range of graduate employers and professional
bodies.

4. Aware of ethical issues impacting on business and professional practice

Objectives:
Students will be able to:
1.

2.

Demonstrate an understanding approaches to Corporate Social Responsibility and their

impact on organisations and individuals.
Demonstrate a personal response to an ethical or governance business dilemma.

3.

Demonstrate an understanding of different perspectives towards business ethics including

/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_4/254836642.doc

Page 4 of 7

Assessment Brief Level Six Undergraduate

shareholder, stakeholder and critical approaches.

/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_4/254836642.doc

Page 5 of 7

Assessment Brief Level Six Undergraduate

Assessment Criteria (NBS)
General Assessment Criteria
Trait
Knowledge and
Understanding

0 - 29
Poor grasp of topic
concepts or of
awareness of what
concepts are.

30 39
Minimal
awareness of
subject area.

40 49
Knowledge is
adequate but
limited and/or
superficial.

50 - 59
Sound
comprehension of
topic.

Structure and
Alignment

Failure to apply
relevant skills.
Work is inarticulate
and/or
incomprehensible.

Communication
of knowledge
frequently
inarticulate
and/or
irrelevant.

In the most part,

description/
assertion rather
than argument
or logical
reasoning is
used.
Insufficient
focus is evident
in work
presented.

Reasoning and
argument are
generally relevant
but not necessarily
extensive.
Awareness of
concepts and
critical appreciation
are apparent, but
the ability to
conceptualise,
and/or to apply
theory is slightly
limited.

30 - 39
Sparse
or
inaccurate use of
theoretical
concepts,
framework
or
theory.
Purely
historical
description and /
or speculation.

40 49
Minimal use of
some
single
theoretical
concepts,
frameworks
or
theory.
Some
errors
in
application.
Much description

60 - 69
Knowledge
base is up-todate and
relevant, but
also may be
broad or deep.
Higher order
critical
appreciation
skills are
displayed. A
significant
ability to apply
theory,
concepts, ideas
and their interrelationship is
illustrated.

70 - 79
Knowledge and
understanding is
comprehensive
both as to
breadth and
depth.
A mature ability
to critically
appreciate
concepts and
their interrelationship is
demonstrated.
Clear evidence
of independent
thought.
Presentation of
work is fluent,
focused and
accurate.

80 - 100
Exceptional
scholarship for
subject.

Outstanding
ability to apply,
in the right
measure, the
skills necessary
to achieve
highly
sophisticated
and fluent
challenges to
received
wisdom.

Module Specific Assessment Criteria

Trait
Application
Theory
Produce
Analysis

of
to

0 - 29
No
use
of
theoretical
concepts,
framework
or
theory.
Purely
historical
description.
Generic.

/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_4/254836642.doc

Page 6 of 7

50 - 59
Some use of the
taught
theory,
applied
with
varying
skill.
Produces
acceptable
analysis of the
case in question
but still relies on

60 - 69
A good use of
appropriate
theories,
sometimes
applied together,
applied correctly
to
produce
analytical
conclusions

70 - 79
Very good use of
a
range
of
combined
theories
and
concepts,
applied well to
produce
high
quality analysis
of the case.

80 - 100
Excellent use of
a wide range of
combined
theories
and
concepts, some
not taught in the
lectures, applied
in
a
sophisticated

Assessment Brief Level Six Undergraduate

Mostly general.

and
assertion
but
focusing
mostly on the
case.

description.

entirely focused
on the case.

Minimal use of a
narrow range of
easily available
sources with no
critical
awareness
demonstrated eg
relies
on
corporate
websites.
Unoriginal
learnings
identified in a
general manner.
Minimal relation
to the module.

Some use of a
range of different
sources
to
investigate and
analyze
the
case.

A
good
and
appropriate use
of a range of
sources to help
explain
and
analyze
the
case. Evidence
of criticality in
the
use
of
information.
Relevant
and
appropriate
learnings applied
to the individual
student
and
clearly derived
from the module.

Research of a
Case

Vague
superficial.
Irrelevant.

and

Insufficient
research
has
been conducted.
Understanding of
the
case
is
incomplete.

Self Awareness
and Awareness
of International
Business

Nothing learned
or unable to
appreciate what
has
been
learned.

Some superficial
learnings
identified. Rather
generic.
Little
relation to the
module.

Note:

Evidence
of
some
general;
and
specific
learnings
from
the course and
some evidence
that these are
personal rather
than generic.

Very good range

of sources used
in an intelligent
and
critical
manner
to
develop a very
good analysis of
the case.
Very
good
personal
learnings
identified
and
explained,
relevant to the
module. Shows
self-awareness
and
good
knowledge
of
todays
international
business.

manner
to
produce original
analysis of the
case
and
beyond.
Sophisticated
use of a wide
range of (types
of) sources and
some
critical
appreciation of
their value in
analyzing
the
case.
Original,
analytical
and
personalized list
of learnings from
the
module
demonstrating
high levels of
self-awareness
and an ability to
speculate in an
informed
way
about
future
international
business.

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.
Students must retain an electronic copy of this assignment and it must be made available within 24 hours of them requesting it be submitted.

/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_4/254836642.doc

Page 7 of 7