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Assessment task details and instructions
Working individually, you are required to select and investigate a recent ‘iconic’ construction project completed in the last ten years or currently progressing at site. The project could be located in any part of the world.
Considering your selected iconic project, you should write a report covering the following two tasks:
TASKS
- Briefly introduce your selected project. The selected project should be named and a brief background should be provided to introduce/describe the chosen project and to justify its iconic nature. Relevant dates and project information should be clearly specified by including relevant tables/figures.
- Describe and map, by using three IDEFO diagrams, the main processes in the pre-construction phase (i.e. all the key processes preceding the construction phase) of the selected project. The three IDEF0 diagrams should consist of a single Level 0 diagram (i.e. Context diagram), a single Level 1 diagram and one Level 2 diagram. Existing construction project life cycle frameworks (e.g. RIBA Plan of Work or CIOB Code of Practice for Project Management) should be used to identify and map the main processes/subprocesses to be included in the diagrams and other relevant information. You should also select three processes, from your Level 1 IDEF0 diagram, and describe the flow of activities within these processes by using three UML Activity diagrams.
Each diagram should be introduced and discussed in the report by clearly describing the processes/subprocesses depicted in the diagram in the context of the selected project. The description of the illustrated processes, subprocesses and activities is expected to be effectively supported by references to relevant literature. You should also make appropriate assumptions as necessary and state them accordingly.
FORMAT
Students shall work individually to produce an individual Microsoft Word or PDF report. All submissions should have a cover sheet (identifying the module, the date, the student’s name and roll number, and the total number of words included in the main body of the report) and should be clearly structured by using relevant chapters and sections. A table of contents and a reference list should be included in the report.
In-text citations and the APA 6th (Harvard) Style of referencing must be used (see guidance on blackboard). The main emphasis in referencing should be on good quality reference material such as reports, journal/conference articles and relevant books.
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Word count/ duration (if applicable)
Your assessment should be a Microsoft Word/PDF report of maximum 3000 words. Cover sheet, table of contents, reference list, bibliography (optional) and appendices (optional) are not considered in the word count. Students are expected to decide for themselves the appropriate word length of each chapter by considering the assessment criteria specified in this assignment brief.
If you submit a report which exceeds the maximum number of words stated above the exceeding words will not be marked and you may receive comments on your ability to appropriately summarise information, focus on relevant issues, etc.
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Feedback arrangements
Marks and feedback forms will be available on Blackboard 15 working days after the submission deadline. You will receive an email as soon as the marks and feedback forms will be available on Blackboard. In case you do not receive/cannot open the feedback form, you should contact the module tutor via email to request a copy of your feedback form.
Please remember that feedback is about far more than the mark you receive. The mark reflects the quality of your assignment. The comments in the feedback form, however, are designed to help you reflect upon and improve your performance more generally. Please take the time to consider your feedback carefully.
The module tutor will be available to review one assignment draft per student and to clarify any doubt related to the coursework and the module in general. On-campus students can show a draft of their work during the Coursework Consultation session, the drop-in sessions and during the module tutors office hours specified on Blackboard. Distance learning students should send their draft to the module tutor via email at least 2 weeks before the submission deadline.
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Support arrangements
On-campus students can obtain support during the Coursework Consultation session, drop-in sessions and during the module tutor office hours specified on Blackboard.
Distance learning students can receive support at the end of online sessions, during the Coursework Consultation session and by sending an email to the module tutor. A reply can be expected within three working days. As mentioned, one draft can be sent via email (distance learning students only) at least 2 weeks before the submission deadline. Please note that, depending on the number of drafts received, feedback on drafts might take longer. It is therefore suggested to send your draft well in advance of the submission deadline. More information and time for questions related to the assignment will be provided during the online sessions.
Further information is available under Assessment on Blackboard (e.g. referencing guidelines).
askUS
The University offers a range of support services for students through askUS.
Good Academic Conduct and Academic Misconduct
Students are expected to learn and demonstrate skills associated with good academic conduct (academic integrity). Good academic conduct includes the use of clear and correct referencing of source materials. Here is a link to where you can find out more about the skills which students require http://www.salford.ac.uk/skills-for-learning.
Academic Misconduct is an action which may give you an unfair advantage in your academic work. This includes plagiarism, asking someone else to write your assessment for you or taking notes into an exam. The University takes all forms of academic misconduct seriously. You can find out how to avoid academic misconduct here https://www.salford.ac.uk/skills-for-learning.
Assessment Information
If you have any questions about assessment rules, you can find out more here.
Personal Mitigating Circumstances
If personal mitigating circumstances may have affected your ability to complete this assessment, you can find more information about personal mitigating circumstances procedure here.
Personal Tutor/Student Progression Administrator
If you have any concerns about your studies, contact your Personal Tutor or your Student Progression Administrator.
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Assessment Criteria
You should look at the assessment criteria to find out what we are specifically looking at during the assessment. Marks for your assessment will be allocated based on the following assessment marking criteria.
- Description of the project and its iconic nature
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25%
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- Knowledge and understanding or appropriate theories of process analysis and modelling as applicable
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60%
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- Presentation of the report and appropriate use of APA 6th (Harvard) referencing style (Layout, structure, referencing style within text and reference list)
Please contact the module tutor If you need more information about the above assessment criteria
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15%
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MARKING SCALE
At Postgraduate Level 7 the following marking scale shall be used:
Outstanding 90% – 100%
Excellent 80% – 89%
Very good 70% – 79%
Good 60% – 69%
Satisfactory 50% – 59%
Unsatisfactory 40% – 49%
Inadequate 30% – 39%
Poor 20% – 29%
Very poor 10% – 19%
Extremely poor 0% – 9%
GRADE DESCRIPTORS
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Outstanding
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90% – 100%
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Assignments in this mark range will demonstrate outstanding clarity of focus, include what is important, and exclude irrelevant issues.
Outstanding understanding of the topics requested in each task with critical awareness of relevance of issues will be evident as well as exceptional expression of ideas and evidence of originality.
Outstanding ability to structure the report and to successfully allocate the available words to the requested tasks, by considering the assessment criteria, will be demonstrated.
Outstanding levels of communication and contextualisation of the discussed information as well as outstanding levels of independent secondary research, which reflect knowledge of current practices and relevant theory will be demonstrated. Discussion will be conveyed lucidly. Outstanding structure, compelling and persuasive argument will be evident. The report will be exceptionally presented and structured by using effective layouts, relevant chapters and sections, informative titles/headings, relevant tables and figures.
Appropriate assumptions will be clearly stated. Outstanding and effective use of good quality citations to support discussion and correct use of the requested reference style will be evident.
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Excellent
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80% – 89%
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Assignments in this mark range will demonstrate excellent clarity of focus, include what is important, and exclude irrelevant issues.
Excellent understanding of the topics requested in each task with critical awareness of relevance of issues will be evident as well as excellent expression of ideas and evidence of originality.
Excellent ability to structure the report and to successfully allocate the available words to the requested tasks, by considering the assessment criteria, will be demonstrated.
Excellent levels of communication and contextualisation of the discussed information as well as very high levels of independent secondary research, which reflect knowledge of current practices and theory will be demonstrated. Discussion will be conveyed lucidly. Excellent structure, compelling and persuasive argument will be evident. The report will be exceptionally presented and structured by using effective layouts, relevant chapters and sections, informative titles/headings, relevant tables and figures.
Appropriate assumptions will be clearly stated. Excellent and effective use of good quality citations to support discussion and correct use of the requested reference style will be evident.
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Very good
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70% – 79%
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Assignments in this mark range will demonstrate very good clarity of focus and include most of what is important.
Very good understanding of the topics requested in each task will be evident. The level of critical analysis might need improvements. Very good expression of ideas, potential for originality.
Very good ability to structure the report and to allocate the available words to the requested tasks, by considering the assessment criteria, will be demonstrated.
Very good levels of communication and contextualisation of the discussed information will be demonstrated, with possible minor limitations. Discussion will be conveyed lucidly. Very good structure and generally persuasive argument will be evident. The report will be very well presented and structured by using very good layouts, relevant chapters and sections, informative titles/headings, relevant tables and figures. Very good independent secondary research will be expected. A wide range of relevant sources will be evaluated and synthesized. Very good and effective use of good quality citations to support discussion and correct use of the requested reference style will be evident, with possible minor limitations. Appropriate assumptions will be clearly stated.
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Good
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60% – 69%
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Assignments in this mark range will demonstrate clear scope and focus, with some minor omissions or unnecessary issues.
Good understanding of the topics requested in each task, with some awareness of relevance of issues, will be evident. The level of critical analysis/contextualisation will need improvements. Generally good expression of ideas, with some possible minor limitations.
Good ability to structure the report and to allocate the available words to the requested tasks, by considering the assessment criteria, will be demonstrated.
Good levels of communication and contextualisation of the discussed information, with possible limitations, will be demonstrated. Discussion will be generally clearly conveyed. Good structure and convincing argument will be evident. The report will be well presented and structured by using good layouts, relevant chapters and sections, informative titles/headings, some relevant tables and figures.
Good independent secondary research will be expected, with possible deficiencies in choice and synthesis of secondary sources. Good use of citations to support discussion and generally correct use of the requested reference style. Assumptions will be generally clearly stated.
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Satisfactory
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50% – 59%
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Assignments in this mark range will demonstrate evident and satisfactory scope, with some omissions and unnecessary issues.
Satisfactory understanding of the topics requested in each task, with some awareness of relevance of issues, will be evident. The level of analysis will need improvements. Generally adequate expression of ideas and satisfactory levels of communication, with possible limitations in terms of contextualisation and clarity of discussion, will be demonstrated.
Adequate ability to structure the report and to allocate the available words to the requested tasks, by considering the assessment criteria, will be demonstrated. The report will be adequately presented and structured. Although, some deficiencies in terms of layouts, relevant chapters and sections, informative titles/headings, relevant tables and figures might be evident.
Limited independent secondary research, with deficiencies in choice and synthesis of secondary sources. The use of citations to support discussion and/or reference style will need improvements. Some assumptions will be stated.
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Unsatisfactory
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40% – 49%
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Assignments in this mark range will not be appropriately scoped, with significant omissions and/or unnecessary issues.
Unsatisfactory knowledge and understanding of the requested topics, with little awareness of relevance of issues will be evident. The level of analysis will need major improvements. Lack of adequate expression of ideas and/or unsatisfactory levels of communication, with limitations in terms of contextualisation and clarity of discussion, will be demonstrated. Discussion will not show adequate awareness of relevance of issues. Vague discussion displaying lack of focus. Although some relevant elements discernible
The report will show evidences that structure as well as clarity and precision of communication need to be strengthened. Insufficient ability to allocate the available words to the requested tasks might be demonstrated. The presentation and structure of the report will need major improvements. Deficiencies in terms of layouts, relevant chapters and sections, informative titles/headings or relevant tables and figures might be demonstrated.
The report will demonstrate lack of satisfactory independent secondary research, with major deficiencies in choice and synthesis of secondary sources. The use of citations to support discussion and/or reference style will need major improvements. Relevant assumptions might be missing or not clearly stated.
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Inadequate
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30% – 39%
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Assignments in this mark range will be inadequately scoped and focused, with major omissions and unnecessary issues.
Relevant discussion will tend to be very brief with no adequate analysis. Inadequate knowledge and understanding of the discussed topics, lack of awareness of relevance of issues will be evident.
Unsatisfactory levels of communication will be demonstrated, discussion will lack clarity and adequate contextualisation. Discussion will be generally vague, displaying lack of focus. Although, some relevant elements might be discernible. The report will show evidences that structure as well as clarity and precision of communication need to be strengthened.
Lack of ability to allocate the available words to the requested tasks will be generally demonstrated. The presentation and structure of the repost will need major improvements. Deficiencies in terms of layouts, relevant chapters and sections, informative titles/headings, relevant tables and figures might be demonstrated.
The report will show inadequate levels of secondary research, with major deficiencies in number, choice and synthesis of secondary sources. Inadequate use of citations and/or reference style will be evident as well as major omissions or unnecessary issues.
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Poor
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20%– 29%
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Assignments in this mark range will demonstrate poor knowledge and understanding of the requested topics, with no awareness of relevance of issues.
Relevant discussion will be very brief with some significant misunderstandings which prevent coherent discussion. Extremely limited and largely unsuccessful attempt at analysis. Poor levels of communication will be demonstrated, discussion will lack clarity and contextualisation. Discussion will be generally vague, displaying lack of focus.
The report will be poorly structured and will demonstrate lack of ability to cover all requested tasks. Major deficiencies in terms of layouts, relevant chapters and sections, informative titles/headings, relevant tables and figures will be evident.
The report will demonstrate poor/no research or inclusion of irrelevant/inappropriate sources. Poor use of citations and/or reference style. Major omissions or unnecessary issues will be evident.
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Very poor
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10%– 19%
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Assignments in this mark range will show significant misunderstandings which prevent coherent discussion and analysis of relevant topics. Discussion will be irrelevant or extremely brief and vague with various contradictions/errors/omissions. Very poor knowledge and understanding of the discussed topics, with relevant elements omitted, will be evident.
The report will be very poorly structured and will demonstrate lack of ability to cover all requested tasks. Extremely limited communication skills will be demonstrated. Discussion will be difficult to understand and will demonstrate no meaningful use of any secondary source material. The report will be very poorly organized and presented.
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Extremely poor
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0% – 9%
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Assignments in this mark range will show no awareness of scope of topic or any relevant issues. The report will show significant misunderstandings which prevent coherent discussion and analysis of the requested topics. Extremely poor knowledge and understanding of the requested topics, with major relevant elements omitted will be evident.
No ability to discuss all the requested tasks will be demonstrated. Lack of communication skills. Discussion will be extremely brief or difficult to understand and will demonstrate no meaningful use of any secondary source material. No attempt to present work in acceptable format.
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