ASSIGNMENT BRIEF
Module title INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PRINCIPLES &
PRACTICE
Module code BUS7C7
Module leader Kayleigh Cottam
Assessment title Portfolio
Launch date 23/09/2024
Submission deadline 10/01/2025
4.30pm
Expected date for return Written feedback via Turnitin within 3 weeks of the
of marks and feedback submission date.
Module outcomes 1. Critically analyse international business practices,
assessed their management, and the environments in which
they operate.
2. Critically evaluate international business theories
and frameworks and their practical application.
3. Critically evaluate a range of international
business strategies and formulate strategic business
and management responses to opportunities and
challenges facing international businesses.
4. Critically examine global contemporary business
case studies and apply the relevant theory to
practical business issues.
5. Critically evaluate the role of data metrics and
analytical insights when it comes to decision-making
within a global business environment.
Assessment weighting 100%
Word count (if relevant) 4000 words
Assessment task details - provide a description of the task
Ensure that you choose one organisation for the portfolio and submit this
as one word document on Turnitin. This is an individual assignment.
Portfolio task 1 – Annotated Bibliography (1000 words)
You need to produce an annotated bibliography which is a list of citations
to books, articles, and documents you will be using throughout the
portfolio. Each citation needs to be followed by a brief (usually about 150
words)
Support your analysis by critically examining global contemporary
business case studies found in academic sources like journals and apply
the relevant theory to your chosen business to address any issues.
Portfolio task 2 – Report (1500 words)
Choose an international organisation of your choice and write a report to
including the following key points.
A critical analysis of international business practices, looking at how your
chosen organisation manages these, as well as in the environment they
operate in.
Evaluate international business theories and frameworks and their
practical application in relation to your chosen organisation.
Critically evaluate how data systems of measurements and analytical
insights are utilised in decision-making by your chosen organisation to
navigate the business environment and to gain competitive advantage.
Portfolio Task 3 – Poster (700 words)
Using the same organisation product an academic poster answering the
following learning outcome:
Critically evaluate a range of international business strategies and
formulate strategic business and management responses to opportunities
and challenges facing international businesses
Portfolio task 4 – Reflective practice (800 words)
Prepare a reflecting on your experience in completing this module as well as
your preparation for your report. For this task you will need to choose a reflective
model of choice. Reflect on the theory you learnt about and how that has
impacted your knowledge comprehension. Think about reflective models like
Gibbs, Kolb’s, Driscoll etc. Make sure to reflect on your own experience and how
everything you have learnt has been put into practice
Portfolio Assignment Templates
Task 1 – Annotated Bibliography
Annotated bibliographies are usually arranged in alphabetical order of
citations. Long bibliographies or bibliographies covering several topics
may be arranged into sections by theme.
Each citation should include all the key bibliographic information you
would include in an ordinary bibliography or reference list laid out in a
recognised style e.g. Harvard.
The annotations are usually indented.
The annotation is a single paragraph of 100-300 words.
You should write using the present tense and third person and active
voice and use academic vocabulary just as you would in an essay e.g.
“The author identifies significant trends.”
You may either write using full sentences or in concise phrases.
Task 2 Report
Layout of report: Your report should have the following structure:
Title page
This should normally include the title, your name and the name of the tutor to
whom it is being submitted, date of submission, your course/department, and if
applicable, the name of the person and/or organisation who has commissioned
the report. Avoid “fancy” fonts and effects and do not include any clipart.
Contents page
A clear, well-formatted list of all the sections and sub-sections of the report. Do
not forget to put the page numbers! If applicable, there should be a separate list
of tables, figures, illustrations and/or appendices after the main index. Make
sure that the headings in this list correspond exactly with those in your main
body. It is best to do your list of contents right at the end.
Introduction
This should show that you have fully understood the task/brief and that you are
going to cover everything required. Indicate the basic structure of the report. You
should include just a little background/context and indicate the reasons for
writing the report. This is where you set the scene, introduce your chosen
organisation and purpose of the report.
Main Analysis
This is the substance of your report, with headings and sub-headings used to
clearly indicate the different sections (unlike an essay).
A "situation>problem>solution>evaluation" approach may be appropriate. It is
not sufficient to simply describe a situation. We will be looking for analysis and
for a critical approach, application of project management theory, when
appropriate, charts, diagrams, tables and appropriate Harvard referencing style
can be used to reinforce your arguments, although sometimes it may be better
to include these as an appendix. Do not include opinions, conclusions, or
recommendations in this section. Think about focusing on the following areas
discussed in your lectures.
Focus on the following concepts in relation to your chosen organisation and the
global business environment.
the multinational strategy,
organising strategy,
corporate strategy and national competitiveness score
As well as a critical analysis of the following, based around the literature
discussed in the lectures and wider reading
production strategies
marketing strategies
HRM strategies
Conclusion
Your conclusion should draw out the implications of your findings, with
deductions based on the facts described in your main body. Do not include any
new material here.
Recommendation
These should follow on logically from your conclusion and be specific,
measurable, and achievable. They should propose how the situation/problem
could be improved by suggesting action to be taken or new implementation plan.
A statement of cost should be included if you are recommending changes that
have financial implications. Recommendations can be numbered if you wish.
Think about the following.
Make recommendations on how your chosen organisation can use the
analysed strategies to improve their international function.
Bibliography/Reference list
This is a list giving the full details of all the sources to which you have referred
within your text. The recommended style is the Harvard method.
Appendices
An appendix (plural=appendices) is detailed documentation of points you outline
in your findings, for example, technical data, questionnaires, letters sent, tables,
sketches, charts, leaflets etc. It is supplementary information which you consider
to be too long or complicated or not quite relevant enough to include in your
main body, but which still should be of interest to your reader. Each appendix
should be referred to in your text. You should not include something as an
appendix if it is not discussed in the main body.
Task 3 – Academic Poster
The title of your academic poster is: ‘Develop a critical overview of international
business strategies can advance an organisation’s competitive advantage?’
This piece of work will test the following learning outcome:
Critically evaluate a range of international business strategies and
formulate strategic business and management responses to opportunities
and challenges facing international businesses
This piece of work is based on creating international business strategies that
your chosen business will use to gain competitive advantage in an international
business environment. Please focus on one strategy for your academic poster.
Your strategy needs to align to your chosen organisation but explain via your
poster how this strategy can advance an organisation’s competitive advantage.
In other words, how can strategy be best used by an organisation, to aide or
give a greater competitive advantage.
It is important that you can demonstrate your knowledge and understanding and
application of the learning outcome in your poster presentation. Watch the You
Tube video on how to develop an academic poster on BUS7C7 Moodle site,
under Assessment and Feedback.
Task 4 - Reflective
Use a reflective model of your choice for this.
Reflect on your experience in completing this module as well as your
preparation for your report and the guest speaker
Reflect on the theory you learnt about and how that has impacted your
knowledge comprehension.
Once you completed your PowerPoint, you will need to convert it to word
document and add it to the report and submit as one document on
Turnitin.
Submission instructions - What should be the format of the submission? / Where
should it be submitted?
Submit the portfolio on Turnitin on Moodle under assessment and feedback.
To be submitted as a single Word document only (not PDF), Arial Font size 12,
1.5 line spacing, containing all your tasks for this assignment and a reference
list.
Combine all documents as one word document for submission on Turnitin.
Templates are provided on the module Moodle space under Assessment and
Feedback, which must be followed. Please submit online via the appropriate
Turnitin Submission on the module Moodle space.
Hints and tips
Your report should follow the template provided with this brief and on Moodle.
You must analyse and clearly present the data using any of the statistical
methods learnt in the module content, showing your understanding of why and
how to use them.
All submitted work is expected to observe academic standards in terms of
referencing, academic writing, use of language etc. Failure to adhere to these
instructions may result in your work being awarded a lower grade than it would
otherwise deserve.
All submitted work must be correctly referenced following Wrexham University’s
Harvard Referencing requirements. Any work that is not correctly referenced
may be subject to the University’s Academic Integrity procedure. Please talk to
your module lecturer or book an appointment with the Academic Skills Team if
you are uncertain about how to reference.
Marking and moderation
All assignments will be marked by the Module Lecturer, unless advised
otherwise. Second marking will be undertaken by a Lecturer within the North
Wales Business School and externally to quality requirements.
Employability Skills Applied
On successful completion of this module, a student will have had opportunities to
demonstrate achievement of the following Employability Skills.
CORE ATTRIBUTES
Engaged x
Creative x
Enterprising x
Ethical x
KEY ATTITUDES
Commitment x
Curiosity x
Resilient x
Confidence x
Adaptability x
PRACTICAL SKILLSETS
Digital fluency x
Organisation x
Leadership and team working x
Critical thinking x
Emotional intelligence x
Communication x
Marking criteria
See below.
Poor fail Fails to Pass Good Pass Very Good Excellent to 70- Outstanding 90-
0-19 meet 90% 100%
40-49% 50-59% 60-69%
pass
criteria
20-39%
Understanding Little Did not Understanding Good Very good Inciteful Exemplary
and attempt underst of the understanding of understandin understanding and Critical analysis
addressing the and the question, the question, g of the commentary on over and above
question, question addressed addressed with question, fully the question, excellent
(35%) , failed adequately some examples addressed comprehensively
to and some with a addressed all
address discussion number of issues with a
the examples detailed and
issues and detailed pertinent examples
discussion and detailed
discussion
Application of Little Few Adequate Fair number of Numerous Extensive Extensive and
Knowledge, attempt referenc references, references, references in references in well selected
Strategy and es, indicative 10 in indicative 10-15 number, number, indicative references, full
Theory/tools barely number, in number, indicative 20- 25-30 in number, synthesis central
(35%) relevant partially relevant to case 25 in number, fully relevant to to flow
to case relevant to study and fully relevant case study and
study case study evidence of to case study clear evidence of
synthesis and clear considered and
evidence of critical synthesis
synthesis
Research, Extremely Little Satisfactory – Good – compliant Very good – Excellent – fully
reading and poor referenc adequate Harvard fully compliant Harvard
referencing, ing referencing compliant
referencing with referencing with no
Presentation with some Harvard
or minor inconsistency,
(30%) inconsistency,
evidenc inconsistency, referencing
extensive
e of some evidence with no
strong evidence
wider of wider inconsistency evidence of wider
of wider reading
reading reading and , reading, and
and research,
and research, research of
quality Frequent
researc acceptable academic articles,
h. layout with care evidence of exemplary quality
layout with
Poorly taken and wider of
some care
laid out, evident. reading, and
taken. layout with
little research of
care mastery of style
academic
taken or throughout.
articles, high
evident. quality
layout with
evident care
taken
throughout.
