GA36d

LEVEL 7 ASSESSMENT SPECIFICATI

Student name:       Student ID number:

Programme: MBA

Module: International Business

Contribution to
Module code: SBLC7015 100%
Overall Module
Assessment (%): (10 credit module)

Lecturer: Dr Vincent Wee Internal Verifier: Dr. Tom Tan Teh

Assignment Title: Cross-cultural management Word count (or 3000 words

in global business. equivalent):

Submission 30/04/2020 Return date of tbc

deadline: provisional marks
& written feedback:
All written assessments, where practical and possible, must be submitted via
Submission
Turnitin unless otherwise instructed by the Lecturer. (Please DO NOT put this
method:
assessment specification into Turnitin or it will match many similarities with
other students’ submissions.)
Alternative submission method (if applicable):
Late submission of the assessment will result in a late penalty mark.
Penalties for late submission: Up to one week late, maximum mark of 50%.
Over one week late, 0%. Only the Extenuating Circumstances Panel may
approve a change to submission dates.

Academic Academic honesty is required. In the main body of your submission you must
honesty / give credit to authors on whose research and ideas your work is based.
referencing: Append to your submission a reference list that indicates the books, articles,
etc. that you have used, cited or quoted in order to complete this assessment.

Page 1 of 12
Module Learning Outcomes
(from module syllabus)

 Critically analyse and evaluate the theories, concepts and contexts which frame the
international institutional trade and multi-national investment environment including
political, economic, social, technological and environmental factors
 Analyse and critically evaluate the modes of engagement, key decision and strategy
frameworks applied within international markets and the interconnectedness between
these and the economic, legal, governmental, political, regulatory, cultural and other
environments in which international companies operate;

Page 2 of 12
 TASK DESCRIPTION – ASSIGNMENT 1 of 1
BACKGROUND /
INTRODUCTION

Effective management of the cross-cultural interface is a critical source of competitive advantage

for international or global firms.

TASKS

You are required to;

1. Select one business organisation of your choice agreed with your lecturer that is already
participating in international/global markets or wishes to do so in future.
2. Critically evaluate, through the use of relevant examples, how the potential opportunities and
risks of doing business in a high context vs low context cultural environments can be effectively
managed.
3. A robust review of the literature related to manage in global business should be clearly
demonstrated from a range of academic sources.
4. Please suggest practical and justified recommendations about how the firm selected can
achieve cross-cultural proficiency which is essential in successful international/global business
ventures.

Please note: it is your responsibility to check with your tutor if you are unclear about the
chosen company.

Please ensure that your assignment follows this structure:

 Title
 A table of contents
 Executive summary
 Introduction:
 Literature Review-& Critical Analysis:
 Discussion and analysis
 Conclusions & Recommendations:
 References
 Bibliography
 Appendices if appropriate

Prepare an academic report using the structure below;

 Title Page
 Table of Contents
 Executive summary-Not more than 200 words (does not
count towards the overall word count)
 Introduction
 Literature review
 Discussion and analysis
 Conclusions

Page 3 of 12
  Recommendations
 References
 Bibliography
 Appendix-use sparingly

LENGTH
REQUIRED
3000 words +/- 10%. Any deviation from this will be penalised.

FORMATTING AND
LAYOUT

Please note the following when completing your written assignment:

1. Writing: Written in English in an appropriate business/academic style
2. Focus: Focus only on the tasks set in the assignment.
3. Length:3000 words
4. Formatting: Typed on A4 paper in Times New Roman or Arial font 12 with at least 2.5
centimetre space at each edge, double spaced and pages numbered.
5. Document format: Report (Please do not write in the first or second person).
6. Ensure a clear title, course, and name or ID number is on a cover sheet and a bibliography
using Harvard referencing throughout is also provided.
7. Research: Research should use reliable and relevant sources of information e.g. academic
books and journals that have been peer reviewed. The research should be extensive.

The use of a range of information sources is expected – academic books, peer reviewed
journal articles, professional articles, press releases and newspaper articles, reliable
statistics, company annual reports and other company information. All referencing should
be in Harvard style.

Page 4 of 12
 GUIDANCEFOR STUDENTS IN THE COMPLETION OF
TASKS
NOTE: The guidance offered below is linked to the five generic assessment criteria overleaf.

1. Engagement with Literature Skills

Your work must be informed and supported by scholarly material that is relevant to and focused on the
task(s) set; you should make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources, as appropriate (for example,
refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to the discipline). You should provide
evidence that you have accessed a wide range of sources, which may be academic, governmental and
industrial; these sources may include academic journal articles, textbooks, current news articles,
organisational documents, and websites. You should consider the credibility of your sources; academic
journals are normally highly credible sources while websites require careful consideration/selection and
should be used sparingly. Any sources you use should be current and up-to-date, mostly published within
the last five years or so, though seminal/important works in the field may be older. You must provide
evidence of your research/own reading throughout your work, using correctly a suitable referencing system,
including in-text citations in the main body of your work and a reference list at the end of your work.

Guidance specific to this assessment: Please see page 7

2. Knowledge and Understanding Skills

At level 7, you should be able to demonstrate systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical
awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of
your academic discipline, field of study or area of professional practice, with a comprehensive
understanding of techniques applicable to your own research or advanced scholarship. Your work must
demonstrate your growing mastery of these concepts, principles, current challenges, innovation and
insights associated with the subject area. Knowledge relates to the facts, information and skills you have
acquired through your learning. You demonstrate your understanding by interpreting the meaning of the
facts and information (knowledge). This means that you need to select and include in your work the
contemporary concepts, techniques, models, theories, etc. appropriate to the task(s) set. You should be
able to explain the theories, concepts, etc. meaningfully to show your understanding. Your mark/grade will
also depend upon the extent to which you demonstrate your knowledge and understanding; ideally each
should be complete and detailed, with comprehensive coverage.

Guidance specific to this assessment: Please see page 7

3. Cognitive and Intellectual Skills

You should be able to: evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline;
evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses;
deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively to make sound judgements in the absence of
complete data. Your work must contain evidence of logical, analytical thinking, evaluation and synthesis.
For example, to examine and break information down into parts, make inferences, compile, compare and
contrast information. This means not just describing what! But also justifying: Why? How? When? Who?
Where? At what cost? At all times, you must provide justification for your arguments and judgements.
Evidence that you have reflected upon the ideas of experts within the subject area is crucial to you
providing a reasoned and informed debate within your work. Your choice of methodologies to gather data
and information must be rigorously defended. Furthermore, you should provide evidence that you are able
to make sound judgements and convincing arguments using data and concepts. Sound, valid, persuasive
conclusions are necessary and must be derived from the content of your work. Where relevant, alternative
solutions and recommendations may be proposed.

Guidance specific to this assessment: Please see page 7

Page 5 of 12
4. Practical Skills
At level 7, you should be able to demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a
practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and
interpret knowledge in the discipline. This includes acting autonomously in planning and implementing
tasks at a professional or equivalent level, originality in tackling and solving problems, and decision-making
in complex and unpredictable contexts or situations.

You should be able to demonstrate mastery of the leading edge subject-related concepts and ideas as they
relate to real world situations and/or particular contexts. How do they work in practice? You will deploy
models, methods, techniques, and/or theories, in those contexts or circumstances, to assess current
situations, perhaps to formulate plans or plausible, justifiable recommendations to solve problems, or to
propose new models, or to create artefacts, which may be innovative and creative, thereby demonstrating
your understanding of how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research and/or application.
This is likely to involve, for instance, the use of real world artefacts, examples and cases, the application of
a model within an organisation and/or benchmarking one theory or organisation against others.

Guidance specific to this assessment: Please see page 7

5. Transferable Skills for Life and Professional Practice

Your work must provide evidence of the qualities and transferable skills necessary for postgraduate-level
employment in circumstances requiring sound judgement, personal responsibility and initiative in complex
and unpredictable professional environments. This includes demonstrating: the independent learning
ability for continuing professional development to advance existing skills and acquire new competences of
a professional nature that will enable you to assume significant responsibility within organisations; that you
can initiate and complete tasks, projects and procedures, whether individually and/or collaboratively, to a
professional level; that you can use appropriate media to effectively communicate information, arguments
and analysis in a variety of forms for a variety of audiences; fluency of expression; clarity and effectiveness
in presentation and organisation. Work should be coherent and well-structured in presentation and
organisation.

Guidance specific to this assessment: Please see page 7

Page 6 of 12
 STUDENT FEEDBACK FORM
This section details the extent to which the assessment criteria are demonstrated by you, which in turn determines
your mark. The marks available for each category of skill are shown. Lecturers will use the space provided to
comment on the achievement of the task(s), including those areas in which you have performed well and areas that
would benefit from development/improvement.

awardedMarks
available
Marks
Generic Assessment Criteria

1. Engagement with Literature Skills

.

A critical review of contemporary academic literature; the concepts and frameworks of

globalisation from a range of academic sources;
25
2. Knowledge and Understanding Skills

The level of; demonstration of knowledge; the grasp of these concepts/theories or models 25
and their use in relation to the case study selected;

3. Cognitive and Intellectual Skills

20
A critical analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of the relevant concepts/frameworks of
globalisation to the case study selected;

4. Practical Application Skills

20
Critical application of the relevant tools; frameworks and global/ international business
strategies to provide solutions to the potential challenges or take advantage of available
opportunities for the case study selected;

5. Transferable Skills for Life and Professional Practice

Presentation and coherent structure of the assignment including referencing of sources as 10

per the Harvard style of referencing;

Late Submission Penalties (tick if

Assessment Mark (Assessment marks are subject to ratification at the appropriate)
Exam Board. These comments and marks are to give feedback on module work Up to 1 week late (50% Max)
%
and are for guidance only until they are confirmed. ) Over 1 week late (0%)

Page 7 of 12
GENERIC ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Level 7
In accordance with the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, at the end of Level 7 students should be able to demonstrate: a systematic
understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their
academic discipline or area of professional practice; a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced
scholarship; originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are
used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline; conceptual understanding that enables the student to evaluate critically current research and
advanced scholarship in the discipline to evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses. They
will be able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their
conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences. They will demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act
autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level to continue to advance their knowledge and understanding, and to
develop new skills to a high level. They the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of initiative and personal
responsibility; decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations/professional environments; and the independent learning ability required for
continuing professional development.

Level 7 GOODto VERY

SATISFACTORY EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL FAIL MARGINAL FAIL GOOD
(Pass) (Distinction) (Distinction)
(Merit)
Category 0-29% 30-44% 45-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%
Engagement Little or no Poor Engagement Engagement Engagement Engagement Exceptional
with literature evidence of engagement with a very with an with a wide with an engagement
(including current reading and/or with essential limited range of appropriate range of extensive range with an
research, reliance on reading. No relevant and range of research- of relevant and extensive range
referencing, inappropriate evidence of credible sources. research- informed credible of relevant and
academic sources. wider reading. Some omissions informed literature, literature, credible
conventions and Views and Reliance on and minor literature, including informed by the literature,
academic findings mostly inappropriate errors. including sources latest research. informed by the
honesty) unsupported and sources, and/or Referencing sources retrieved Consistently latest research.
non- indiscriminate conventions retrieved independently. accurate High-level
authoritative. use of sources. evident though independently. Selection of application of referencing skills
Referencing Heavily reliant not always Some over- relevant and referencing. consistently and
conventions on information applied reliance on texts. credible sources. professionally
used gained through accurately or Referencing may Very good use of applied.
incoherently or class contact. consistently. show minor referencing, with
largely absent. Inconsistent and inaccuracies or no/very few
weak use of inconsistencies. inaccuracies or
referencing. inconsistencies.
Knowledge Major gaps in Gaps in Limited Knowledge is Knowledge has Excellent Exceptional
and knowledge and knowledge, with knowledge and accurate and a well-defined mastery of a mastery of a
Level 7 GOODto VERY
SATISFACTORY EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL FAIL MARGINAL FAIL GOOD
(Pass) (Distinction) (Distinction)
(Merit)
Category 0-29% 30-44% 45-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%
understanding understanding of only superficial systematic reasonably focus, which is complex and complex and
(A systematic, the subject systematicunder understanding of detailed. A reasonablyexten specialised area specialised area
conceptual matter is not standing. Some the concepts systematicunder sive, coherent of knowledge. A of knowledge.
understanding of systematic. significant and principles standing of the and detailed, systematic, An exceptionally
knowledge, and a Substantial inaccuracies within the field of study with a critical excellent critical
critical awareness inaccuracies. and/or irrelevant subject area, informed by, to awareness of understanding of awareness of
of current
Noawareness of material. No which to some some extent, current problems theconcepts of current problems
problems and/or
new insights, current critical marginal extent, current research and/or new the subject and/or new
much of which is problems, awareness of is informed by and scholarship, insights. informed by insights. An
at, or informed by, insights or the current current research A critical Exhibits good current research outstanding
the forefront of latest research problems, and scholarship. awareness of understanding of and scholarship. understanding of
the discipline; a and/or advanced insights, or latest Some critical current problems the breadth and Highly critical the concepts of
comprehensive scholarship research within awareness of and/or new depth of awareness of the subject, well-
understanding of within the the discipline. current problems insights though contemporary current problems informed by
techniques discipline. and/or new this may be and established and/or new current research
applicable to their
insights, but under-developed views, and the insights. A and scholarship.
own research)
often under- occasionally. work is, at least critical, A critical,
developed. in part, well- awareness of sophisticated
informed by how the and nuanced
current research boundaries of awareness of
and scholarship. knowledge are how the
advanced boundaries of
through knowledge are
research. advanced
through
research.
Cognitive and Wholly or almost Largely Limited Some critical Sound critical Excellent critical Exceptional
intellectual wholly descriptive work, attemptat evaluation/ evaluation/ evaluation/ critical
skills descriptive work. with superficial criticalevaluation critique of critique of critique of evaluation/
(Critical Little or no use of critical / critique of current research current research current research critique of
evaluation of evaluation or evaluation of current research and and and current research
current research critique or research and and methodologies, methodologies, methodologies, and
and attempt at a methodologies. methodologies, though slightly Proposes new Proposes methodologies,
methodologies systematic Absent or weak tending towards underdeveloped hypotheses, innovative Proposes
and develop
approach. development of description. in places, where hypotheses, innovative
critiques of them
and, where Failure to hypotheses and Limited attempt Proposes appropriate. Can where hypotheses,
appropriate, to develop judgements. to propose new adequate but deal with appropriate. Can where
propose new arguments, Information hypotheses. Can limited new complex issues synthesise appropriate.
hypotheses; make leading to accepted deal with hypotheses, systematically complex issues Exemplary
sound illogical or invalid uncritically, uses complex issues where relevant. and with some systematically systematic and
Level 7 GOODto VERY
SATISFACTORY EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL FAIL MARGINAL FAIL GOOD
(Pass) (Distinction) (Distinction)
(Merit)
Category 0-29% 30-44% 45-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%
judgements in the judgements. generalised but not Can deal with creativity. Ability and creatively. creative
absence of Unsubstantiated statements systematically or complex issues to make sound Ability to synthesis of
complete data.) generalisations, made with scant creatively. Some but not fully judgements investigate complex issues.
made without evidence and evidence to systematically or based on contradictory or Ability to
use of credible unsubstantiated supportemerging creatively. Ability data(that may be incomplete investigate
evidence. opinions. Ideas judgements but to make incomplete) information and contradictory or
sometimes these may be judgements make strong, incomplete
illogical and underdeveloped based on data persuasive, information and
contradictory. or with a little (that may be arguments make strong,
inconsistency / incomplete) but andsophisticated persuasive,
mis- with some judgements. arguments and
interpretation. tendency to sophisticated,
May assert assert/state nuanced,
rather than opinion rather judgements.
argue a case. than argue on Potential for
the basis of journal
reason and publication or
evidence. doctoral
research.
Practical skills Limited or no Rudimentary An awareness An appropriate A very good An advanced Exceptional
(Originality / use of methods, application of and mostly application of application of a application of application skills
creativity in the materials, tools methods, appropriate standard range of knowledge, in complex,
application of and/or materials, tools application of methods, methods, methods, unpredictable,
knowledge, tools techniques. and/or well-established materials, tools materials, tools materials, tools contexts,
and techniques Little or no techniques but methods, and/or and/or and/or drawing skilfully
and in tackling appreciation of without materials, tools techniques. techniques. techniques. on the latest
and solving
problems in the context of consideration and/or Clear Very good The context of research within
complex and the application. and techniques, with appreciation of consideration of the application is the discipline.
unpredictable Limited competence. occasional the context of the context of well considered, Can identify
professional understanding of Flawed errors. the application. the application, and insightful. complex
situations; the application of appreciation of Basic Mainly with perceptive Can identify problems and
practical use of theory to the context of appreciation of consistent, insights. Can complex propose
established practiceormakin the application. the context of accurate and identify problems problems and sophisticated,
techniques of
g appropriate Weak the application. logical and propose propose original
research and
enquiry to create links between understanding of Theoretical application of appropriate excellent solutions.
and interpret the two. the application of knowledge and theory to solutions in solutions. An An outstanding
knowledge in the Very weak theory to understanding practice, making complex and excellent grasp application of
discipline.) problem-solving practice, with applied in appropriate links unpredictable of techniques techniques
skills in complex only occasional practice, but not between the two. contexts. applicable to applicable to
and evidence of always making Can identify Evidence of own research or own research or
Level 7 GOODto VERY
SATISFACTORY EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL FAIL MARGINAL FAIL GOOD
(Pass) (Distinction) (Distinction)
(Merit)
Category 0-29% 30-44% 45-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%
unpredictable making logical links problems and originality and advanced advanced
contexts. appropriate links between the two. propose mostly creativity. scholarship. scholarship.
between the two. Can identify appropriate Shows originality Shows originality
Weak problem- problems and solutions in in application of in application of
solving skills in propose basic complex and knowledge and knowledge and
complex and solutions without unpredictable techniques, and techniques, and
unpredictable fully appreciating contexts, with of how of how
contexts. the complexity of elements of established established
unpredictable originality. techniques of techniques of
contexts. enquiry create enquiry create
and interpret and interpret
knowledge in the knowledge in the
discipline. discipline with
assimilation and
development of
cutting edge
processes and
techniques.
Transferable Communication Communication Can Can Can Can Can
skills for life medium is medium is poorly communicate in communicate communicate communicate communicate
and inappropriate or designed and/or a suitable effectively in a well, confidently professionally with an
professional misapplied. not suitable for medium but with suitable format, and consistently confidently and exceptionally
practice Work is poorly the audience. some room for but may have in a suitable consistentlyin a high level of
(Exercise of self- structured, Work is poorly improvement. minor errors. format. suitable format. professionalism.
direction, disorganised presented in a Mostly ordered Mostly coherent, Work is Work is Work is
autonomy and and/or disjointed presentation and organisedwork, coherent, fluent, coherent, very remarkably
personal confusingly manner. It is structure in in a suitable well-structured fluent and is coherent, very
responsibility; expressed. Very loosely, and at which relevant structure and is and organised. presented fluent and is
plan and
weak use of times ideas / concepts for the most part Can work very professionally. presented
implement tasks
at a professional language and/or incoherently, are reasonably clearly well Can work professionally.
level; independent very structured, with expressed. expressed. Can autonomously autonomously Can work
learning; use inappropriate information and Workmay lack work effectively and/or as part of with initiative. outstandingly
appropriate media style. Little or no ideas often coherence in independently a team, with a Where relevant well and
to evidence of poorly places. Can and/or as part of good can work professionally
communicateeffec autonomy (or expressed. work as part of a a team, with contribution to professionally within a team,
tively and collaboration, Weak use of team, but with clear group activities. within a team, showing
professionally to a
where relevant) language and/or limited contribution to Demonstrates showing advanced
variety of
audiences; in the completion inappropriate involvement in group activities. comprehensive leadership skills leadership skills.
fluency of of tasks. Little or style. Weak group activities. Demonstrates professional, as appropriate, Demonstratesex
expression; no evidence of independent Demonstrates the skills postgraduate managing emplary
Level 7 GOODto VERY
SATISFACTORY EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONAL
FAIL FAIL MARGINAL FAIL GOOD
(Pass) (Distinction) (Distinction)
(Merit)
Category 0-29% 30-44% 45-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-84% 85-100%
systematic the skills initiative (or some but not all required in employment conflict and professional,
approach; clarity required in collaboration, if of the basic skills professional, skills. meeting postgraduate
and effectiveness professional, relevant).Limited required in postgraduate obligations. employment
in presentation postgraduate evidence of the professional, employment, Demonstratesex skills and a
and organisation.)
employment. skills required in postgraduate with some areas cellent strong appetite
professional, employment, of strength and professional, for further
postgraduate with some areas some of minor postgraduate development.
employment. of minor weakness. employment
weakness. skills and a
strong appetite
for further
development.