Assignment instraction
| Assessment Instructions
This essay is to be based on the application of ideas from the Resource Based View literature to the organization in the case study that will be made available. Q. Drawing on the Resource Based View literature, evaluate whether and how C-TRIP generates sustainable competitive advantage. You need to draw on ideas from the Resource Based View (RBV) literature, and appropriate evidence from the case study provided, to evaluate C-TRIP’s sustainable competitive advantage. The key to doing well is to demonstrate that you can use these theoretical ideas and apply them; as you have been doing in the seminars. Please note that your assignment MUST be written around the evidence in the case study provided. There is no need to do any additional research on C-TRIP, and we are not interested in what C-TRIPis doing now. All evidence drawn from the case study must be appropriately referenced, as should all of the academic ideas that you draw on. All citations (in text references) of the case study must include the page number from the case that you are referring to.
Assignment Learning Objective: To demonstrate your understanding and ability to apply concepts from the module to an organization or firm, to undertake a theoretically informed analysis and to draw conclusions that link the topic of study to the objective of sustaining competitive advantage. For this essay you will be required to independently investigate the academic literature on the topic and apply your knowledge of this literature to the organization. |
| Marking Criteria
A detailed breakdown of the marking criteria used by staff to assess this applied essay is provided at the end of this document. When writing your assignment it is useful to keep in mind these assessment criteria and the weightings allocated to each as well as the overview of standards provided on pages 2-3 of the module handbook. These will help to guide your efforts in writing the essay. Your essay needs to be your work and show your understanding – please note all submissions are run through a plagiarism check that includes all submissions from previous years and external sources. |
| Format
The purpose of an essay as an assignment task is to demonstrate your understanding of the topic and your ability to sustain an argument. Essays are a form of academic writing that require you to follow the general structure of introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. An essay is written in whole sentences and paragraphs. If you do not use an essay format you will lose marks. Essays do not necessarily need headings, though these are often useful for guiding the reader. Appendices are not permitted; any essential figures and tables should be included in the body of the assignment.
Document submission formats for on-line marking Please follow these guidelines in preparing your documents: • Do NOT use a cover sheet; instead just put your title at the top of the first page and begin your essay immediately beneath this. • You MUST include your student ID number at the top of every page • Page numbers MUST be included at the bottom of every page. • You should use Calibri or Times New Roman 12-point typeface with single line spacing. Please leave a full line between each paragraph for easier on-line reading. • The document you submit must be in Word (.doc or .docx) format and should be uploaded as one file. Please do not spread your assignment over multiple files – for example, do not put your references in a separate file. We will only open and mark one file per student. • Your marks will be affected if your tutor cannot open or properly view your submission (for example, if you did not follow instructions on acceptable file formats). • To minimize file size, please do NOT include pictures or photographs. Your own diagrams are OK! • All tables and diagrams must be included in the text – DO NOT use appendices as tutors will not scroll back and forth through your work to find material in an appendix. • Please number and give titles to all tables and diagrams for ease of reference in your text.
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| Word Limit
To complete this assignment you must produce a 1500 (+/- 10%) word academic essay (the word count excludes the reference list and in-text citations). |
Assessment Criteria
| Weighting | 25% | 25% | 40% | 10% |
| Grade boundaries | DEMONSTRATE RESEARCH INTO AND UNDERSTANDING OF APPROPRIATE LITERATURE | USE OF EVIDENCE FROM THE CASE TO DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ORGANIZATION | INTEGRATION OF UNDERSTANDING OF
ORGANIZATION AND APPROPRIATE LITERATURE |
PRESENTATION AND WRITING |
| 80%+ | Excellent understanding of the relevant theory as well as its limitations; and contrasting theory.
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Excellent use of evidence from the case to demonstrate understanding of the organization at a sufficiently deep level to enable analysis and evaluation. Balances understanding of organization at a broad (holistic) level with enough detail to support points made in discussion. | Excellent integration of appropriate theory, with understanding of the organization. Development of a strong coherent argument. Good use of contrasting theory to provide alternative view of case study. Different views are then synthesized to provide strong coherent conclusion. | Excellent narrative. Structure is very well organized with a clear line of thought that is easy to follow and has an obvious conclusion. Citations match references and are appropriately used. |
| 70-79% | Very good understanding of the relevant theory and its limitations. Introduces contrasting theory.
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Very good use of evidence from the case to demonstrate understanding of the organization at a sufficiently deep level to enable analysis and evaluation. | Very good integration of appropriate theory, with understanding of the organization. Development of a strong coherent argument. The insights about the case study firm that result from application of the theory to the case study are identified, discussed and conclusions drawn. Use of contrasting theory to provide alternative view of case study. | Very strong narrative. Structure is well organized with a clear line of thought that is easy to follow and has an obvious conclusion. Citations match references and are appropriately used. |
| 60-69% |
Good understanding of the relevant theory. Some recognition of its limitations. |
Good use of evidence from the case to demonstrate understanding of the organization at a sufficient level to enable analysis in depth.
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Good integration of appropriate theory with understanding of the organization. Development of a coherent argument. Addresses the purpose of the assignment. Demonstrates good judgement and support for findings. |
Strong narrative. Clear, orthodox structure. References mostly accurately cited and appropriately recorded. |
| 50-59% |
Reasonable understanding of the relevant theory. |
Reasonable use of evidence from the case to demonstrate understanding of the organization.
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Reasonable linkage of appropriate theory with understanding of the organization. Partial or incomplete argument. Generally addresses the purpose of the assignment. Reasonable judgement. Sometimes lapses into description rather than analysis. |
Reasonable narrative. Some structure to the answer, including a conclusion. References adequately recorded but may contain occasional minor errors (e.g. no page references for quotes).
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| 40-49% |
Basic understanding of the relevant theory; i.e. understanding is partial or incomplete. |
Basic use of evidence from the case to demonstrate understanding of the organization.
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Little linkage between appropriate theory and understanding of the organization. Little sense of argument – not developed. Does address the purpose of the assignment in parts, but often strays off the point. Poor judgment and some unsupported assertions. Tends to be descriptive. | Narrative difficult to follow in places. Poor structure and a weak conclusion. Occasional inappropriate expressions and poor sentence construction. Narrative difficult to follow. Referencing may contain errors. |
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30-39% |
While the essay is located in the appropriate area of theory suggesting some knowledge, it does not demonstrate understanding.
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Demonstrates little use of evidence from the case or little or no understanding of the organization. |
No linkage between appropriate theory and understanding of the organization. Fails in large part to address the task set. Unsupported assertions and value judgments. Heavily descriptive. |
Weak narrative; difficult to follow. Too frequently contains inappropriate expressions and poor sentence construction. Referencing weak and containing errors. |
| Below 30% |
The essay is not located in the appropriate area of theory. |
The essay does not include relevant evidence from the case study. |
Absence of either appropriate theory or evidence from the case (or both). Fails to address the task set. |
Little or no obvious narrative. Minimal structure, unsupported assertions and value judgements, contains inappropriate expressions and poor sentence construction, minimal or no referencing. |
