BSS056-6 Theory into Practice Project

Assessment deadline

Marks and feedback

To be submitted Before 10 a.m. on:

20 working days after deadline (L3,4, 5,6 and 7)

15 working days after deadline (block delivery)

27/01/2025

Please note, for Exams the date is arranged centrally aligned to the academic calendar. Exams timetables will be released 6 weeks before the exam period. Please check the exams calendar regularly on this link (requires BREO login).

Key assignment details

Unit title & code

BSS056-6 Theory into Practice Project

Assignment number & title

1

Assignment type (including exams)

PR-ORAL

Weighting of assignment

20%

Size or length of assessment or exam duration

5 minute narrated Poster Presentation (Panopto) plus 1000 word project plan

Unit learning outcomes

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate the following knowledge and understanding

• Demonstrate a systematic understanding and critical appreciation of the interrelationship of diverse theories in the MBA toolkit to challenge existing preconceptions and develop positive and enquiring approaches to management and enterprise. Demonstrate an aptitude and ability to solve a defined business problem through enquiry having drawn upon your MBA studies and appreciating the interrelated nature of organisations.

2. Demonstrate the following skills and abilities

• Demonstrate intelligent practice by imaginative and critical integration of theory and practice to create a tangible deliverable through critical insightful evaluation stipulating areas of excellence and reflecting on areas for development to improve performance in contemporary organisations.

In addition, for specialist pathways:

• MBA (Finance)

A focus on strategic finance and risk management

• MBA (Hospital and Health Services Management)

A focus on hospital and health service management and including economic, political, social and environmental change and the impact of regulatory and governance trends.

• MBA (Human Resource Management)

A focus on human resource management and development in complex situations and within and across borders.

• MBA (Logistics and Supply Chain Management)

A focus on sustainability of the relationship and expectation between markets, customers, supply chain partners and other stakeholders.

• MBA (Marketing)

A focus on complex market situations taking account of the development and progression of the customer relationship and customer satisfaction.

• MBA (Oil and Gas Management)

A focus on the external context in which modern oil and gas organisations operate including economic, political, social and environmental change and the regulatory and governance trends impacting n different organisations.

• MBA (Digital Technology Management)

A focus on the management of communication and information technologies and contemporary information systems to inform and support decision making in a global knowledge-based economics

• MBA with Data Analytics

A focus on applied computing and information technology and security implications, methodologies and frameworks to safeguard data

Assignment Brief Discussion with Students

The assessment brief must be discussed during an in-class session with students within the first 2 weeks of the unit and be accompanied by a screen/podcast on the BREO shell explaining the assessment, the rubric and marking criteria. Please confirm the date this discussion is to take place:

Click or tap to enter a date.

This unit is delivered 6 times a year and Assignment 1 is discussed with students in great detail in the first 2 weeks in Group Briefings and supervisor meetings.

The assessment brief is discussed during an in-class session with students, explaining the assessment, the rubric and marking criteria.

What am I required to do in this assignment?

The unit aims to enable you to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of management and business as well as the skills essential to effective operation in a corporate, business, public sector or not for profit environment. It is a unit specifically designed to help your transition into the professional work environment through the integration of theory and practice supported by contemporary research evidence.

The project provides the opportunity for you to plan and conduct a research investigation into an area of interest drawing on the MBA toolkit developed through taught units to support the development of lifelong learning through an Evidence-based management approach where analysis, evaluation and decision making are supported by data from quality academic and practitioner sources. The emphasis is on your independent learning through the application of management education to management practice to inform and enhance problem solving and decision making and to improve organisational effectiveness and performance. You will develop an appreciation of the range of data sources and their collection and analysis in order to help you more critically assess a contemporary problem and solve a business issue. This research would normally require the collection of secondary data from quality academic and practitioner sources. You will select your own topic, subject to approval by your tutor.

Assignment 1 requires you to develop the plan for your research project and communicate this through a narrated Poster Presentation (5 minutes) to include:

• Rationale
• Potential for insightful outcomes
• Scope, aim and objectives
• Application of theory to practice
• Method of Analysis

You are permitted one single PowerPoint slide for the Poster.

A cover slide will include your name, student number, title for your proposed research and your MBA (specialism). A third PowerPoint slide should include the full bibliographic details of sources in Harvard format

A random sample of students will be called to attend a viva voce to check the authenticity of their work

What do I need to do to pass? How do I achieve a good grade?

The Unit Information Form states the Threshold Expectations that inform both you and markers what is the minimum needed to be demonstrated to pass the assessment. They should, therefore, answer the question "What do I need to do pass?”. During the assessment introductory session, you should be given the opportunity to check your understanding of the threshold statements and what you need to do to surpass them.

In order to pass Assessment 1 you will need to:

• Justify a choice of project and appraise its feasibility.
• Formulate a plan for a major project by developing aims and objectives and designing an outline method of analysis.
• Determine theories that may be appropriate for the project.

Here are some of the requirements we will be discussing in the group briefings:

• Does your choice of topic provide potential for unique insightful outcomes?
• Is your aim clear – stated concisely in a short sentence
• You need to widely extend your reading through independent research using quality academic and practitioner sources
• What is your proposed method of analysis?
• Is evidence available?
• You will apply theory in practice for critical, in-depth analysis in the context of the chosen research topic
• You must use in-text citations throughout to acknowledge others’ ideas in support of your critical analysis
• You must use the Harvard style of referencing
• Do not copy and paste from AI

How does this assignment relate to ‘my learning in this unit and help me develop knowledge and skills that I will need for my future?

This is an independent project and you are supported through scheduled group briefings. Leading up to the Poster Presentation you will have a unit introduction in Welcome Week, a group Study Hub support workshop and two group briefings. In these sessions you will be encouraged to plan your Theory into Practice Project.

Assignment 1 General Guidelines

1. Choose a topic which is concerned with the contemporary application of theory into practice.
2. Interpret this as meaning that the topic should investigate the practical issues involved in making decisions, solving organisational problems or exploring opportunities, achieving change or managing the implementation of strategy.
3. This will integrate different areas of the MBA including your pathway specialism, if applicable.
4. You must start with a clear rationale, scope, aim and well–defined objectives
5. You must include directly relevant theory to inform the research
6. You must consider the method of analysis and availability of evidence (data) to meet the aim and objectives
7. You will need to demonstrate the relevance and feasibility of your project
8. Referencing must be complete and in the Harvard format.

You will be allocated a Supervisor for guidance. Supervision is through the Online Journal on Breo which is private and can only be viewed by you and your supervisor.

Within the University of Bedfordshire, graduate competencies refer to the skills, knowledge, attributes, and abilities that individuals are expected to possess upon completing their education at the graduate level. Our graduate competencies are the fundamental building blocks in preparing you for the future world of work. They form the foundation for learning outcomes within and beyond your course. They are relevant for every subject and you can work towards them in different ways, so that you can attain and benefit from them even if you have lots going on outside university. These competencies will be integrated across your course and units.

The table below indicates graduate competencies gained relevant to this assessment.

Graduate competencies; Tick (✔) ones relevant to this assessment (further guidance for staff

Graduate competencies | University of Bedfordshire (beds.ac.uk)

Digital Literacy

✔

Collaboration and Communication

✔

Problem solving and critical thinking

✔

Creativity and Entrepreneurship

✔

Adaptability and Resilience

✔

Global Citizenship

✔

Course specific competencies.

Equality Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI)

Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME)

✔

What should I be aware of when preparing my and how and where should I submit my work? (May need wiseflow info for exams)

When submitting work for assessment, you must ensure that it is all your own work. Failure to do this could result in sanctions, including removal from your course. The Academic Integrity Resource (AIR) has been designed to introduce you to academic integrity and how to demonstrate this during your studies.

The University provides access to Studiosity that connects students with a team of writing specialists who are here to help you with writing and core skills - anytime, anywhere. Studiosity provides you with two online services: Writing Feedback and Connect Live. Their Writing Feedback gives feedback on referencing, choice of language, structure and spelling/grammar within 24 hours. If you are not sure how to use the feedback to enhance your work before making a final submission, you can arrange to discuss this with a member of the Study Hub team. Connect Live also offers live support in areas such as basic English, maths and stats, science and generic study skills. Both services are available 24/7, 365 days of the year, and you can access them for FREE via BREO.

For exams, you should familiarise yourself with the guidance information available here: https://www.beds.ac.uk/exams/ Practice exams can be taken for all exam types before exams week. Please see section Prepare for your exam.

Ethical use of generative AI is allowed to help you to develop your ideas and understanding but copying and pasting to written work or presentation is treated as third party work, a serious academic issue. Access this link, to a student site on BREO for more detailed information on AI.

Self-plagiarism, a student copying material from another assignment they have submitted, is generally not considered as an offence.

How will my assignment be marked?

The assessment marking criteria listed below show how your work is assessed. The assessment criteria are informed by the unit’s learning outcomes and the assessment task. Choose a topic which is concerned with the contemporary application of theory into practice.

Carefully reading the assessment criteria should help you understand the aspects that will be used to judge your progress and achievement of the learning outcomes and offer guidance on “how do I achieve a good grade”. You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit.

70%+

(Distinction)

60-69%

(Commendation)

50-59%

(Pass)

40-49% (Pass)

Threshold Standard

30-39% (Fail)

0-29% (Fail)

Theory in Practice

Justifies a precisely relevant choice of project and clearly appraises its feasibility.

Insightful critical evaluation of appropriate and recent theory (ies) and with good evidence of independent reading.

Justifies a good choice of project and clearly appraises its feasibility. Insightful and critical evaluation of recent theory (ies) and with some evidence of independent reading.

Justifies a reasonable choice of project and appraises its feasibility. Critical evaluation of recent theories but with limited evidence of wider reading

Justifies a choice of project and appraises its feasibility.

Critical evaluation of appropriate recent theories.

Weak justification of project. Limited evaluation of appropriate recent theories

Fails to justify a feasible project. No attempt to evaluate recent theories

Aim, Objectives, Scope

Formulates a plan for a major project by developing aims and objectives and designing an outline method of analysis. The strategic issues regarding implementation issues are rigorously linked. Clear evidence of originality

Formulates a plan for a major project by developing aims and objectives and designing an outline method of analysis. The clarity of argument is clear although perhaps with less evidence of originality.

Formulates a plan for a major project by developing aims and objectives and designing an outline method of analysis. No real originality or organisation

Formulates a plan for a major project by developing aims and objectives and designing an outline method of analysis.

Some gaps in reasoning

Fail to formulate a project plan. Aim, objectives and method of analysis are unclear

Fail to formulate a project plan. No attempt to develop aim, objectives

Method of Analysis

Very clear identification of appropriate sources of evidence and method of analysis. Excellent alignment to aim and objectives

Clear identification of appropriate sources of evidence and method of analysis. Aligned well to aim and objectives

Identification of sources of evidence and method of analysis. Aligned to aim and objectives.

Identification of sources of evidence and method of analysis. Alignment to aim and objectives is not entirely clear

Fails to justify an appropriate method of analysis

No method of analysis