Method of Submission:
Any submitted after 16:00 on the deadline date will be subject to the standard University late penalties (see below), unless an extension has been granted, in writing by the Senior Tutor, in advance of the deadline.
This assessment relates to the following module learning outcomes:
A. Knowledge and Understanding
A1. A selection of the latest developments and emerging trends in strategy;
A2. A selection of the latest developments and emerging trends in innovation management.
B. Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
B1. Understand and apply appropriate theoretical concepts, models, tools and techniques of strategy and innovation management;
B2. Evaluate alternative approaches to strategy and innovation management;
B3. Identify potential new opportunities for commercial exploitation, emerging from new trends in strategy and innovation;
B4. Understand the latest trends in strategy and innovation management;
B5. Evaluate the intellectual value and practical relevance of the latest trends in strategy and innovation management;
B6. Apply insights from the latest research on strategy and innovation management to specific management situations;
B7. Appreciate the nature, format and limitations of latest research in strategy and innovation management.
C. Transferable and Generic Skills
C1. Recognize that in many situations there is a range of alternatives which should be evaluated;
C2. Self-manage the development of learning and study skills;
C3. Apply the research skills to synthesise, analyse, interpret and critically evaluate information from a range of sources.
Coursework Brief:
The coursework will be carried out on an individual basis.
You are asked to write an individual research report (3000 words max) on a topic of your choice. The starting point of the report should be based on a newspaper or specialized magazine article (e.g. Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Wired, The Economist, Forbes, Harvard Business Review and the like) that addresses a new trend in strategy and innovation management. The article may report a new study or may discuss issues of interest in or around the topics of interest.
A definition of ‘Current Trend’ as used in this brief is: keyword (or theme) related to Business Strategy and/ or Innovation, which returns at least 1,000 hits from a title-only search (of the keyword) in Google (not necessarily Scholar), for articles written within the past 24 months. To check your keyword, you may follow the steps set out at the end of this section.
Your task is to research the topic more fully, and to write a report that contains a valid argument relating to the new trend. Your report must review the selected article in the light of current trends in strategy and innovation management you know, or captured in this module. Take a clear stance regarding the argument
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of the article. You may agree or disagree, establishing your position with theories and academic references. For example you may decide to disagree with the interpretation of a study presented in a newspaper (e.g. it may state that holacracy is detrimental to innovation, but you disagree. You may also agree, thus arguing further than the article did, you must support your argument with evidence).
It is important for the report to have a scientific structure. Your report must have a main thesis (a central argument it pursues (which you can summarize in one sentence)) and you should be able to defend it appropriately. You would do that by supporting your thesis building up valid arguments that add up, supporting each with evidence or information you have been able to collect while researching for your report.
You must start with the original study that the article refers to, indicate where it is located, then review and critically evaluate it. You must then state your position/ arguments in relation to it. You will then use the rest of your report to establish your position/ argument, supporting your argument with data/ evidence from other studies on the topic.
You may agree with what the article says, if you do you must build it further, using theories and further evidence from research studies to support why this may be true and then establish your new (enhanced) position on the subject. You may also oppose the article, and again you must use theories and further evidence from research studies to support why your position is valid.
You have a great deal of freedom in how you prepare the report and in what you write about, but there must be an obvious structure and ‘story line’. The report will have to include among other references, a minimum of five peer-reviewed journal articles (3* and 4* in the ABS ranking which will be made available on Blackboard). It is also important that these five are validly used to support clear arguments (rather than being merely mentioned).
To check if your area of research qualifies as a ‘current trend’, you may follow the following steps:
1. In Google search bar, type “allintitle: (your title).
(Eg. allintitle: sustainable city).
2. Hit enter.
3. Click on ‘tools’, pull-down on ‘Anytime’ and select custom range.
4. In the ‘from’ date range enter a date that is 24 months from your date of search, leave ‘to’ date range blank.
5. Select ‘go’ or hit ‘enter’ (to search)
6. Click on tools again
This should display the number of hits. Hits of 1,000 and above qualifies.
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Nature of Assessment: This is a SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT. See ‘Weighting’ section above for the percentage that this assignment counts towards your final module mark.
Word Limit: +/-10% either side of the word count (see above) is deemed to be acceptable. Any text that exceeds an additional 10% will not attract any marks. The relevant word count includes items such as cover page, executive summary, title page, table of contents, tables, figures, in-text citations and section headings, if used. The relevant word count excludes your list of references and any appendices at the end of your coursework submission.
You should always include the word count (from Microsoft Word, not Turnitin), at the end of your coursework submission, before your list of references.
Title/Cover Page: You must include a title/ cover page that includes: your Student ID, Module Code, Assignment Title, Word Count. This assignment will be marked anonymously, please ensure that your name does not appear on any part of your assignment.
References: You should use the Harvard style to reference your assignment. The library provide guidance on how to reference in the Harvard style and this is available from: http://library.soton.ac.uk/sash/referencing
Submission Deadline:
Submission deadline for Southampton Business School is for ALL assessments.
Turnitin Submission: The assignment MUST be submitted electronically via Turnitin, which is accessed via the individual module on Blackboard. Further guidance on submitting assignments is available on the Blackboard support pages.
It is important that you allow enough time prior to the submission deadline to ensure your submission is processed on time as all late submissions are subject to a late penalty. We would recommend you allow 30 minutes to upload your work and check the submission has been processed and is correct. Please make sure you submit to the correct assignment link.
You will know that your submission has completed successfully when you see a message stating ‘Congratulations – your submission is complete…’. It is vital that you make a note of your Submission ID (Digital Receipt Number). This is a unique receipt number for your submission, and is proof of successful submission. You may be required to provide this number at a later date. We recommend that you take a screenshot of this page, or note the number down on a piece of paper. You should also receive an email receipt containing this number, and the number can be found after submitting by following this guide. This method of checking your submission is particularly useful in the event that you don’t receive an email receipt.
You are allowed to test submit your assignment via Turnitin before the due date. You can use Turnitin to check your assignment for plagiarism before you submit your final version. See “Viewing Your Originality Report” for guidance. Please see the Module Leader/lecturer on your module if you would like advice on the Turnitin Originality report.
The last submission prior to the deadline will be treated as the final submission and will be the copy that is assessed by the marker.
It is your responsibility to ensure that the version received by the deadline is the final version, resubmissions after the
deadline will not be accepted in any circumstances.
Late Penalties:
Further information on penalties for work submitted after the deadline can be found here.
Special Considerations:
If you believe that illness or other circumstances have adversely affected your academic
performance, information regarding the regulations governing Special Considerations can be accessed via the Calendar: http://www.calendar.soton.ac.uk/sectionIV/special-considerations.html
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Extension Requests: : Extension requests along with supporting evidence should be submitted to the Student Office as soon as possible before the submission date. Information regarding the regulations governing extension requests can be accessed via the Calendar: http://www.calendar.soton.ac.uk/sectionIV/special-considerations.html
Academic Integrity Policy: Please note that you can access Academic Integrity Guidance for Students via the Quality Handbook: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/quality/assessment/academic_integrity.page?. Please note any suspected cases of Academic Integrity will be notified to the Academic Integrity Officer for investigation.
Feedback: Southampton Business School is committed to providing feedback within 4 weeks (University working days). Once the marks are released and you have received your feedback, you can meet with your Module Leader / Module Lecturer / Personal Academic Tutor to discuss the feedback within 4 weeks from the release of marks date. Any additional arrangements for feedback are listed in the Module Profile.
Student Support: Study skills and language support for Southampton Business School students is available at: http://www.sbsaob.soton.ac.uk/study-skills-and-language-support/.
