Further information about general assessment criteria, ARNA regulations, referencing and plagiarism can be found on the module’s site on the e-Learning Portal. Students are advised to read and follow this information.

Instructions on Assessment:

‘The value of a student’s international experience goes beyond purely the acquisition of language – it lies in the ability to see business and personal issues from other than your own cultural perspective’ Charles MacLeod, Head of UK Resourcing, Price Waterhouse Coopers 2008

Title: An analysis of the culture of an organisation

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PUT YOUR SEMINAR TUTOR’S NAME ON YOUR ASSIGNMENT FRONT HAND IN SHEET

Your report will apply ONE theoretical framework used in the study of organizational culture to conduct an analysis of an organization’s culture.

The analysis will illustrate the culture by focusing on EITHER

1. an issue (something which the organization has responded to) OR
2. a particular organizational practice (something the organization does) OR
3. an event (some particular incident or series of incidents inside the organization) OR
4. a sub – unit (an organizational department department/division) .

You will be able to choose from ONE of seven organizations:

• South West Airlines http://www.southwest.com/
• The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation http://www.hsbc.com/1/2/home
• Unilever www.unilever.co.uk
• John Lewis www.johnlewis.com
• L’oreal www.loreal-paris.co.uk
• Ikea http://www.ikea.com/
• Traidcraft http://www.traidcraft.co.uk/
(The web sites are provided as somewhere to consult but will only be the start of your research)
This module is studied in many overseas locations. The lists of organizations available to choose are amended slightly to take into account greater suitability for the part of the world they study in. Whilst not giving you too much choice! We think it only fair to allow all students to choose from the entire list, so have included these as well and you can choose one organisation from this list as well if you wish, however normally UK based students choose from the list of seven organizations above and so please speak to your seminar tutor for guidance before choosing from the list below:

Huawei, Olympus, Alibaba, General Electric, Victorinox and
Cathay Pacific Airlines and Air Asia

Your report will not exceed 3000 words (excluding appendices) and must use the following format:

• A brief background to the organization and its environment
• An Introduction to the focus of the report (the practice, issue, event or sub-unit)
(NOTE: WITHIN THIS SECTION YOU MUST INCLUDE A SENTENCE STATING YOUR FOCUS CLEARLY AND SIMPLY)
• A brief argument which explains/justifies why you have chosen a particular theoretical framework instead of 1 other alternative that you considered but have rejected.
• An explanation of your chosen theoretical framework that you will use to analyse the organization, including its main concepts
• An analysis of the practice, issue, event or sub-unit which uses the chosen theoretical framework and concepts
• Conclusions (including recommendations if necessary).

Reading/Resources

Please see the TLP for this module for suggested reading. Other reading and resources will be suggested by your seminar tutor as you discuss your ideas with them.

For specific and more detailed guidance you will be able to discuss in the first instance with your seminar tutor or any member of the module team.
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 • Appropriate tables, figures and illustrations
• Glossary • Bibliography • Quotes from interviews and focus groups.

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.

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.
Mapping to Programme Goals and Objectives:

This assessment will contribute directly to the following Undergraduate programme goals and objectives

1. Knowledgeable about the theory and practice of international business and management
Objectives:
Students will be able to:

1. Acquire knowledge of functional areas of business and management.
2. Acquire knowledge of specialist areas of business.

X 3. Apply their knowledge to business and management contexts.

4. Conduct contemporary research into business and management.
2. Skilful in the use of professional and managerial techniques and processes
Objectives:
Students will be able to:

1. Provide evidence of self reflection as a means of informing personal development planning.

2. Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work in a team.

X 3. Demonstrate critical thinking skills .

4. Demonstrate problem solving skills.
3. Aware of ethical issues impacting on business and professional practice
Objectives:
Students will be able to:

1. Identify an ethical dilemma in a business situation
2. Suggest ethical solutions to this dilemma

4. Employable as graduates
Objectives:
Students will be able to:

1. In the context of securing graduate employment demonstrate the skills of self presentation.

Assessment Criteria (NBS) This will form the major part of the module matrix assessment sheet which you receive as feedback when your work is returned

Trait 0 – 29 30 – 39 40 – 49 50 – 59 60 – 69 70 – 79 80 – 100
Demonstrate, through the application of knowledge to business contexts and scenarios, their abilities of analysis and synthesis. No clear choice of issue, practice, event or sub-unit.

Theoretical framework not identified or not understood.

Attempt to analyse the case may be made but incoherent, inconsistent or inappropriate to a discussion of culture in an organization. Choice of issue, practice, event or sub-unit may have been made and theoretical framework chosen but little integration with relevant evidence and/or appropriate use of concepts to describe the culture of the organization Choice of issue, practice, event or sub-unit made and theoretical framework chosen.

Some use of evidence to support arguments.

Some integration between the theoretical framework and the case.

Attempts to apply relevant concepts to describe the culture of the organization. Choice of issue, practice, event or sub-unit appropriate to the
theoretical framework.

Reasonable use of evidence to support arguments.

Accurate application of relevant concepts to describe the culture of the organization but little attempt to analyse the organization using concepts and theory.

There may be an attempt to show the effects of the culture and to conclude with relevant recommendations.(where appropriate) Choice of issue, practice, event or sub-unit appropriate to the
theoretical framework.

Good use of evidence to support arguments.

Concepts drawn from the theoretical framework are used to analyse the case and locate the organizational culture within the framework.

Prepared to be critical in its evaluations.

Analysis clearly demonstrates the effects of culture.

Concludes with appropriate recommendations.(where appropriate) Choice of issue, practice, event or sub-unit appropriate to the
theoretical framework.

Excellent use of evidence from a range of sources to support arguments.

Good evidence of creativity.

Critical analysis both differentiates and integrates arguments and evidence at the level of organizational practice and at different levels of theoretical abstraction.

Provides a convincing account of the effects of culture.

Concludes with appropriate recommendations (where appropriate) drawing on evidence and similar cases. Choice of issue, practice, event or sub-unit appropriate to the
theoretical framework.

Excellent use of evidence from a range of sources to support arguments and draw comparisons with other cases and studies.

Significant creativity throughout.

Critical analysis differentiates and integrates arguments and evidence at the level of organizational practice and at different levels of theoretical abstraction.

Provides an astute account of the effects of culture.

Convincing conclusions and recommendations(where appropriate)