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

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 countrys
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 worlds 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
Bangladeshs 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.

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.

The body including a brief overview analysis of ethical consumerism, how

the sourcing companies can help and a detailed review of one company

claiming to operate ethically. Discuss the approaches they have used to

become a more socially conscious business, linking this with ethics, values
and how environmentally friendly the company is.

Conclusion which includes a critical evaluation of ethical consumerism.

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

GRADING BANDS
Distinction

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
independent research.

of

well-executed

Excellent evaluation and synthesis of source

material.
Relevant data and examples, all properly
referenced.

Merit

69-60%

High standard of critical analysis

appropriate conceptual frameworks.

using

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.