Programme MBA – Master of Business Administration

Module Number and Name MBA7068 –

Academic Skills & Professional Practice
Assessment Title Portfolio
Assignment Number and Weight Assignment 1 - 100% (non-credit but need to
pass the module)
Assignment Length and Type 2,500-word portfolio
Submission Deadline Sunday 16th June 2024 (non-credit) via
Turnitin @23:59hrs

Learning Outcomes:

LO1: Demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of university learning and

teaching strategies and practices and their roles in the broader academic and
professional MBA context
LO2: Interpret academic assessments, identifying knowledge forms, cognitive
abilities, practical and personal skills, and communication styles needed to
successfully meet the demands of these
LO3: Critically evaluate and synthesise information, data, concepts, and theory from a
range of sources and use these to inform analysis, critique, and reflection
LO4: Identify and critically reflect on personal and professional goals and devise
strategies for their attainment

Assignment Brief:

The portfolio should address the following:

TASK 1: Identify a real-life and current business issue of your choice. Demonstrate critical
understanding of the topic in the form of a presentation ( 5 minutes) and get it approved by tutor in
week 2. No Turnitin submission is required for the presentation, and it will not be assessed.

Formulate a research topic based on it as well as the research aim, question(s) and objectives. Write
the research background/introduction and research rationale, critically discussing relevant
literature, theories and/or business models. Identify and justify which data sources to use (e.g.
primary and secondary) to address your research problem/question(s). [1,500 words]

TASK 2: Identify and conduct a comprehensive critical analysis of five personal and/or professional
skills and formulate a personal development plan (PDP) encompassing these skills. [1,000 words].
Secondary Research- It is expected that the Reference List will contain between 15 to 20 sources.
As a MINIMUM, the Reference List should include 4 refereed academic journals and 5 academic
books.
 Submission Instructions:
See Section 11 Guidelines of the Module Guide for the Preparation and Submission of written coursework, which will give you details on how to
submit your work electronically. You are required to submit only electronic copies of your written assessment and presentation.

Specific Assessment Criteria for Written Assessments MBA7068

% Relevance/ Knowledge Argument/Analysis/ Structure Format/ Written Referencing
Rationale (20%) Critical Reflection (10%) Presentation (10%) English (10%)
(20%) (20%) (10%)
85- Directly relevant to Demonstrates an Presents an exceptional Coherently Exceptional Exceptionally Sources accurately
100 title/brief. exceptional critique of key research articulated and presentational style well written cited in the text.
% Expertly addresses knowledge of theory material resulting in clear, logically & layout, answer with
the assumptions of and practice for this original and illuminating structured. appropriate to the standard spelling An extensive range
the title and/or the level. conclusions. type of assignment. and grammar. of contemporary
Exceptional Quality

requirements of the Insightfully interprets Demonstrates distinctive, An appropriate Effective inclusion Style is clear, and relevant
DISTINCTION

brief. appropriate concepts insightful and creative format is used. of figures, tables, resourceful and references cited in
and theoretical solutions to complex plates (FTP). academic. the reference list in
models. problems. the correct style.
Demonstrates Produces exceptional
originality in work that makes a
conceptual contribution to the
understanding. development of
knowledge and
understanding in the
subject area.
 70- Directly relevant to Demonstrates an Presents an excellent Coherently Excellent Excellently Sources accurately
84% title/brief. excellent knowledge critique of key research articulated and presentational style written cited in the text.
of theory and practice material resulting in clear, logically & layout, answer with A wide range of
Expertly addresses for this level. original and illuminating structured. appropriate to the standard spelling contemporary and
the assumptions of Expertly interprets conclusions. type of assignment. and grammar. relevant references
Excellent Quality

the title and/or the appropriate concepts Demonstrates insightful An appropriate Effective inclusion Style is clear, cited in the
requirements of the and theoretical and creative thinking format is used. of figures, tables, resourceful and reference list in the
brief. models. solutions to complex plates (FTP). academic. correct style.
Demonstrates problems.
originality in Produces excellent work
conceptual that makes a contribution
understanding. to the development of
knowledge and
understanding in the
subject area.
60- Directly relevant to Demonstrates a sound Presents a cohesive For the most part Very good Well written Sources accurately
69% title/brief. knowledge of theory critique of key research coherently presentational style with cited in the text.
and practice for this material resulting in clear articulated and & layout, standard spelling A range of
Addresses the level. and original conclusions. logically appropriate to the and grammar. contemporary and
assumptions of the Comprehensively Demonstrates creative constructed. type of assignment. Style is clear relevant references
MERIT

title and/or the interprets appropriate solutions to complex Effective inclusion and academic. cited in the
requirements of the concepts and problems. An appropriate of FTP. reference list in the
brief well. theoretical models. Produces superior work format is used. correct style.
Good Quality

Demonstrates that makes a contribution

originality in to the development of
conceptual knowledge and
understanding understanding in the
subject area
 50- Generally addresses Demonstrates an Presents some critique of Adequate attempt The presentational Competently Key contemporary
59% the assumptions of adequate knowledge key research material at articulation and style & layout is written with and relevant
the title and/or the of theory and practice resulting in original logical structure. largely correct for minor lapses in academic sources
requirements of the for this level. Some conclusions. Loss of focus the type of spelling and are drawn upon.
Satisfactory Quality

brief. minor omissions. in places. An acceptable assignment. grammar.

Satisfactorily Demonstrates some format is used. Most sources are
interprets some creativity in solving Inclusion of FTP but Style is legible accurately cited in
PASS

Minor irrelevance in appropriate concepts complex problems. lacks selectivity. and mainly the text and
places. and theoretical Produces satisfactory academic. reference
models. work that makes some list/bibliography.
Demonstrates some contribution to the Minor weaknesses
originality in development of evident.
conceptual knowledge and
understanding. understanding in the
subject area.
45- Some implications Some omissions A limited amount of Limited attempt at Some weaknesses in Intermittent Limited number of
49% of issues explored. evident in knowledge critique of key research articulation and the presentational lapses in contemporary and
of theory and practice material with description problems with style & layout. grammar and relevant sources
Some irrelevant at this level. in places. Lacks structure. spelling. cited. Weaknesses
Borderline Fail

and/or superficial Insufficient creativity. Some original Some inappropriate in referencing

arguments. understanding of conclusions. Some formatting use of FTP. Style hinders technique.
appropriate concepts errors. clarity in places
and theoretical and is not
models. academic
Demonstrates some throughout.
FAIL

conceptual
understanding in
places.
Significant degree Demonstrates A basic argument is Poorly structured. For the type of Deficiencies in Inappropriate
30- of irrelevance to the weaknesses in presented, but too Lack of assignment the spelling and sources and poor
44% title and/or brief. knowledge of theory descriptive or narrative in articulation. presentational style grammar make referencing
and practice for this style. Format deficient. &/or layout is reading difficult technique.
Fail

Issues are addressed level. Limited originality and lacking. in places.

at a superficial level Limited creativity.
and in understanding and Conclusions are not FTP ignored in text Simplistic or
unchallenging application of clearly stated. or not used where repetitious style
terms. concepts. clearly needed. impairs clarity.
 Relevance to the Demonstrates a lack Severely limited Unstructured. For the type of Poorly written An absence of
<30 title and/or brief is of basic knowledge of arguments. Descriptive or Lack of assignment the with numerous academic sources
% intermittent or either theory or narrative in style with no articulation. presentational style deficiencies in and poor
missing. practice for this level, evidence of critique and &/or layout is grammar, referencing
with little evidence of originality or creativity. Format deficient. lacking. spelling, technique.
The topic is reduced conceptual Conclusions are sparse. FTP as above. expression and
to its vaguest and understanding. style.
least challenging
terms.