Critically assess the strategic impact of Supply Chain Management, and organization competitiveness in different industrial contexts

Module Title:

Supply Chain Management Strategy

Assignment Number

CW1

Module Code:

364SAM

Assignment Title

Course Work 1

Module Leader:

Assignment Weighting

50%

Critical analysis of business environment

20

Critical internal analysis of firm’s supply chain strategies

20

Relevant supply chain strategic approaches and recommendations

20

Justification/rationale, and research-informed content

25

Structure, clarity, and presentation of report

15

Total

100

Mark range

Guidelines

70 – 100%

In order to secure a mark in this range, a candidate must submit an outstanding answer that could hardly be bettered. In addition to the criteria identified below for a mark between 70-85%, an answer scoring a mark of 85-100% would show an excellent level of understanding and critical/analytic skills and originality. For example, such an answer would include new insights into Supply Chain Strategy which are not drawn from the literature but from the student`s own critical thinking, and which add something to the existing literature.

A report in this range will demonstrate a strong understanding of theories, concepts and issues relating to Supply Chain Strategy. There will be evidence of wide-ranging reading from a variety of valid sources (as described and presented in the marking criteria for 60-69%).

The assignment must be written in a clear, well-structured way with a coherent and seamless flow and show evidence of independent, critical thought. It must show extensive relevant reading on the subject and intelligent use of the material to present a well-balanced and well-argued assignment. For example, the student will have considered a range of relevant issues and be able to assess the strength and weaknesses of various approaches/arguments and put forward a confident and articulate view of their own.

60 – 69%

A report in this mark range will demonstrate a good understanding of the requirements of the assignment and of theories, concepts and issues relating to Supply Chain Strategy. An assignment in this percentage range will include a balanced discussion of issues central to the question, how these are addressed by different authors or sources and some critical thinking into their relative merits or shortcomings.

The answer will contain few errors and little, if any, irrelevant material. It will show evidence of reading from a variety of sources, but not so many sources that the discussion loses focus and becomes unclear or irrelevant. All sources should be of some academic merit (e.g. books, journals, reports, media publications). Unreferenced material from non-credible internet sources MUST be avoided.

All sources must be included and properly referenced in the references. The assignment will be well-organized and clearly written/presented overall.

50 – 59%

The answer will demonstrate some reasonable understanding of relevant theories, concepts and issues relating to Supply Chain Strategy but also some minor errors of fact or understanding.

The assignment will not be based on an extensive range of sources (for example few references are included), or much evidence that they have been read closely or well-understood. For example, the assignment will retell sources rather than analyze them.

The assignment may be quite general in part. Some errors may be present, and some irrelevant material may be included.

The report may not be particularly well-structured, and/or clearly presented and contain some spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. A few sentences may be unclear.

40 - 49%

A mark within this percentage range will be given to a report which:

-       shows some limited basic understanding of the subject but is incomplete. For example, if it answers one part of a question but not the rest.

-       makes only very general statements

-       includes some factual errors or misunderstandings e.g. confusion between different companies or misuse of certain key terms.

-       shows limited use of material with limited reading/research on the topic and includes only a very small number of references, not all of which are included in the references

-       includes spelling mistakes, is poorly structured with no clear argument and grammar mistakes making it difficult to understand.

-       includes some irrelevant material.

35 – 39%

A mark within this percentage range will be given to an assignment which:

-     includes only a limited amount of relevant material.

-     shows little evidence of reading or research on the topic. For example, the report includes only very few references, and relies only on material or case studies used during the course.

-     shows only a very basic understanding of the subject.

-     is poorly presented with bad grammar, some spelling mistakes and an incomplete reference list.

-     has a poor structure and does not flow e.g. if there is no conclusion or new facts are introduced in the conclusion rather than introduction or main discussion.

-     contains some fundamental errors.

20 – 34%

A poor fail on this assignment means the assignment submitted:

-     bears little relation to the assignment topic.

-     is poor and suggests that the student has spent very little time on it

e.g. if the answer is considerably under the word requirement and/or presented in note form rather than as a fully written up report.

-     shows a poor understanding of theories, concepts and issues relating to Principles of Strategy and to the learning outcomes detailed in this document.

-     contains some or many fundamental errors and misunderstandings of the academic or other material used. For example, many of the facts cited are incorrect.

-     uses literature or other material which is largely irrelevant or has no academic value

-     is poorly structured and poorly presented. For example, sentences may be hard to understand and contain many spelling or grammatical mistakes.

-     contains no references.

0 - 19%

Work within this mark range shows a complete failure to meet the requirements of the assignment. A mark in this range will be given for a report which:

-     is below 1000 words in length.

-     bears no link to the question chosen and shows very little or no knowledge or understanding of any of the theories, concepts and issues relating to Principles of Strategy. The answer may be fundamentally wrong or trivial.

-     contains no references and/or evidence of relevant reading.

-     shows little understanding of the requirements of the assignment and only a vague knowledge of the subject area.