Assignment Brief Academic Year 2021-22

Module code GMDGBS202- Business Module leader: Firas Armosh

and title: Decision Making

Assignment Report Assessment 100%

No. and type: weighting:

Submission Formative submission Monday Target feedback 3 weeks from the date of final
time and date: 25.04.22 at 2pm time and date: submission

Summative submission 9th May

2022 at 2pm

Assignment task

The assignment requires a detailed written report which provides a market assessment, utilising appropriate
methodology and secondary data the report must also include relevant models, theories and concepts from which a
decision will be formed. The report will include an analysis of a specific business challenge detailing your approach
and critical analysis for the proposed recommendation to the board.

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your
achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO 1 Understand the context of business decision making and characteristics of decision-making problems;

LO 2 Identify issues involved in making complex business decisions, including relevant ethical aspects and
compare various quantitative and qualitative decision-making models;

LO 3 Appreciate the need for approaching business problem solving as an integrated critical analysis as well as
more specialist, functional approach;

LO 4 Be able to select and use appropriate methodologies, tools and techniques to analyse data and present a
professional report.

Task requirements

OVERVIEW
Report, 3000 words
As a business consultant you are required to assess the market and apply business decision making
theories, concepts and relevant models. You are required to make an informed decision about the project

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in regard to feasibility and practicability then produce a report that uses a problem-solving technique to
provide a pragmatic solution that will benefit the business.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TASK – WHAT YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO DO?

Scenario: Business decision making is an important concept which requires full consideration, correct
decision making is important so that research is conducted in an effective manner along with the related
aspects. In this report, business decision making is considered for the scenario using research findings
and analysis.

This report will focus on the business decision making for ‘posturparcel’ delivery company, the company
plans to enter the UK market, therefore research is required to identify the opportunities and challenges in
the UK market, as well as how to attract customers and the number of UK shipments.

In this scenario, you have recently been appointed as a business consultant manager and you have
essentially been asked to identify a problem the company could face in a highly competitive market
providing solutions on how to overcome the challenges and apply the types of managerial decision. Report
on the challenges and barriers which you could face as a manager and also consider the decision-
making process and its implementation in this scenario, highlighting what may be involved in the decision
making and if the project is feasible or not?   

Understand the context of business decision making and characteristics of decision-making problems;

Identify issues involved in making complex business decisions, including relevant ethical aspects and compare
various quantitative and qualitative decision-making models;

Appreciate the need for approaching business problem solving as an integrated critical analysis as well as more
specialist, functional approach;
Be able to select and use appropriate methodologies, tools and techniques to analyse data and present a
professional report.

Report Tasks

Task 1

1.1 Use an appropriate business decision making model and identify a key problem within the business to
emphasise the framework of business decision making and the key characteristics of decision-making
problems.
1.2 Create a plan for the collection of primary and secondary data for the above business issue and
discuss the issues involved in making complex business decisions.

1.3 Select and use appropriate methodology (quantitative, qualitative or mixed method) tools and
techniques to analyse the data?

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For example: you can design the method of survey in which various questions are asked from the
population in relation to the research to collect the most relevant data from the population that can be used
in the research in an effective and efficient manner.

Task 2
2.1 Analyse the data gathered for the decision-making process and consider the competitors, highlighting
the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats within the market. Provide evidence of research by
presenting your ‘Posturparcel’ competitors (courier service providers) and market trends analysis in the
format of line chart, cost, profit and anything relevant.
2.2 Use an appropriate business decision making model and evaluate the process.

Task 3
Review a problem-solving technique and the proposed solution:
Based on your research, identify a major problem occurred and state how you resolved it by utilising the
problem resolving technique?

References:

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Akdere, M. 2011, "An analysis of decision-making process in organizations: Implications for quality
management and systematic practice", Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, vol. 22, no. 12, pp.
1317-1330.
Drummond, H. & Hodgson, J. 2011;2012;2016;, Escalation in Decision-Making: Behavioural Economics in
Business, Gower, GB.
Fox, M., Tost, L.P. & Wade-Benzoni, K.A. 2010, "The Legacy Motive: A Catalyst for Sustainable Decision
Making in Organizations", Business Ethics Quarterly, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 153-185.
Iqbal, J., Shahi, A. & Khan, A. 2012, "DECISION MAKING IN ORGANIZATIONS: A REVIEW OF NINE
YEARS", Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research In Business, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 660.
Jackson, R.W., Wood, C.M. & Zboja, J.J. 2013, "The Dissolution of Ethical Decision-Making in Organizations: A
Comprehensive Review and Model", Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 116, no. 2,

You must reference all information used in the report, using the Harvard Referencing Guide.

See attached grid for grade descriptors.

Referencing and research requirements

Please reference your work according to the Harvard style; you can access guidance on this here:
https://libguides.uos.ac.uk/academic/referencing/Harvard

How your work will be assessed

Your work will be assessed on the extent to which it demonstrates your achievement of the stated learning
outcomes for this assignment (see above) and against other key criteria, as defined in the University’s
institutional grading descriptors. If it is appropriate to the format of your assignment and your subject area,
a proportion of your marks will also depend upon your use of academic referencing conventions.

This assignment will be marked according to the grading descriptors for Level 5

Submission details

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This assignment should be submitted electronically via Moodle (module tutors will discuss this process with
you during class time).

 Please ensure that your work has been saved in an appropriate file format (Microsoft Word, Excel
or PowerPoint, or PDF are the most widely used; Google Docs is also accepted). Your file must
also contain at least 20 words of text, consist of fewer than 400 pages and be less than 40MB in
size.

 You can submit your work as many times as you like before the submission date. If you do submit
your work more than once, your earlier submission will be replaced by the most recent version.

 Once you have submitted your work, you will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission, which
will be sent to your forwarded e-mail address (provided you have set this up). Please keep this
receipt for future reference, along with the original electronic copy of your assignment

 You are reminded of the University’s regulations on academic misconduct, which can be viewed on
the University website: https://www.uos.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Academic-Misconduct-Policy.pdf. In
submitting your assignment, you are acknowledging that you have read and understood these
regulations

Submission date and time

This assignment should be submitted before 14:00 UK time on 9th may 2022

You should submit all work for summative assessments by the above deadline. Work submitted up to three
working days after the deadline will be accepted and marked, but the mark will be capped at the pass mark
(40%) unless there is a valid reason for the late submission (i.e. having been granted an extension to the
deadline or a deferral under the terms of the Extenuating Circumstances Policy).

Work submitted more than three working days after the deadline without a valid reason will not be
accepted and will be recorded as 0% RN (refer, no work submitted).

For more information please refer to:

http://studenthandbook.uos.ac.uk/index.php/student-guides/assessment-the-basics-undergraduate

Feedback and marks for this assignment will be available in three weeks from the deadline.

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General Grading Criteria

Level 4

In accordance with the FHEQ, at the end of Level 4 students will be expected to have a sound knowledge of the basic underlying concepts and principles
of a subject, and an ability to evaluate and interpret these within the context of that area of study. They should be able to present, evaluate and interpret
qualitative and quantitative data in order to develop lines of argument and make sound judgements in accordance with basic theories and concepts of
their subject(s) of study. They will have learned how to take different approaches to solving problems, and will be able to communicate the results of their
study/work accurately and reliably, and with structured and coherent arguments.

Pass mark, demonstrating achievement of all associated learning outcomes Marginal fail Fail
Assessment
category 1st: 70% – 100% 2:1: 60% – 69% 2:2: 50% – 59% 3rd: 40% – 49% 35% – 39% 20% – 34% < 20%

Knowledge and High quality work Work of solid Adequate work Simple factual Weak work Unsatisfactory Highly
understanding showing detailed quality showing showing approach showing showing limited, work showing unsatisfactory
of the basic understanding of competent and understanding of limited fragmentary weak and flawed work showing
underlying the basic consistent the basic understanding of understanding of understanding of major gaps in
underlying understanding of underlying the basic the basic the basic understanding of
concepts and concepts and the basic concepts and underlying underlying underlying the basic
principles of principles of the underlying principles of the concepts and concepts and concepts and underlying
the subject(s) subject(s). concepts and subject(s), but principles of the principles of the principles of the concepts and
principles of the lacking depth and subject(s). Narrow subject(s). Work subject(s), for principles of the
subject(s) breadth. or misguided characterised by example through subject(s).
selection of inaccuracies, serious Inclusion of largely
material, with irrelevant material inaccuracies, irrelevant material,
elements missing and/or absence of inclusion of a absence of
or inaccurate. appropriate significant amount appropriate
information. of irrelevant information and

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Pass mark, demonstrating achievement of all associated learning outcomes Marginal fail Fail
Assessment
category 1st: 70% – 100% 2:1: 60% – 69% 2:2: 50% – 59% 3rd: 40% – 49% 35% – 39% 20% – 34% < 20%

material and/or significant

absence of inaccuracies.
appropriate
information.

Cognitive and Excellent Good presentation, Adequate A limited use of Largely descriptive Descriptive work Work is largely
intellectual presentation, interpretation and presentation, concepts or work, with limited with no effort made irrelevant or
skills interpretation and evaluation of interpretation and evidence to support effort made to use to use concepts or inaccurate,
evaluation of concepts or evaluation of emerging concepts or evidence to develop characterised by
concepts or evidence, facilitating concepts or judgements or evidence to develop judgements or descriptive text and
evidence, a logical and evidence, facilitating arguments, although judgements or arguments. Views unsubstantiated
facilitating a highly coherent a largely logical and not always logical or arguments. expressed are often generalisations.
logical, coherent development of coherent coherent and with Information illogical, invalid or Complete lack of
and balanced judgements or development of inaccuracies. accepted irrelevant. Minimal evidence to back up
development of arguments that judgements or uncritically, with or no use of views.
judgements or shows awareness of arguments. An unsubstantiated evidence to back up
arguments. Strong other stances. emerging awareness opinions evident. views.
awareness of other of other stances.
stances.

Application of Excellent Sound application of Consistent and Relevant theoretical Limited Weak Very weak
theory to application of theory to practice, accurate application knowledge and understanding of the understanding of theoretical
practice (for theory to practice, with the student of theory to understanding application of theory the application of knowledge and
courses with a with the student making appropriate, practice, with the applied in practice, to practice, with the theory to practice, understanding, with
professional making highly well-developed and student making but with students student often not with only occasional no evidence of
practice appropriate, articulated links appropriate links not always making making appropriate evidence of the appropriate
developed and between the two. between the two. logical links between links between the student making application in

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Pass mark, demonstrating achievement of all associated learning outcomes Marginal fail Fail
Assessment
category 1st: 70% – 100% 2:1: 60% – 69% 2:2: 50% – 59% 3rd: 40% – 49% 35% – 39% 20% – 34% < 20%

element) articulated links the two. two. appropriate links practice.

between the two. between the two.

Reading and Critical engagement Engagement with a Engagement with an Evidence of reading, Poor engagement Limited evidence of No evidence of
referencing with a wide range wide range of appropriate range of largely confined to with essential texts reading and/or reading or
of relevant reading, relevant reading. reading beyond essential texts, but and no evidence of reliance on engagement with
including research- Sound application of essential texts. mainly reliant on wider reading. inappropriate taught elements.
informed literature referencing, with no Referencing may taught elements. Heavily reliant on sources. Limited Absent or
where relevant. inaccuracies or show minor Referencing may taught elements. engagement with incoherent
Consistently inconsistencies. inaccuracies or show inaccuracies Inconsistent and taught elements. referencing.
accurate application inconsistencies. and/or weak use of Very poor use of
of referencing. inconsistencies. referencing. referencing.

Presentation, Highly effective Competent Work is structured in Ordered Work is loosely, and Work is poorly Work is extremely
style and presentation of presentation of a largely coherent presentation in at times presented in a disorganised, with
structure * work that is work in terms of manner and is for which relevant ideas incoherently, disjointed and much of the
coherently structure and clarity the most part clearly / concepts are structured, with incoherent manner. content confusingly
structured and of expression. expressed. reasonably information and Information and expressed. Very
clearly expressed expressed. ideas often poorly ideas are very poor English and/or
throughout. expressed. poorly expressed, very inappropriate
with weak English style.
and/or
inappropriate style.
* Work that significantly exceeds the specified word limit may be penalised .

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