MGTM32 Management in Practice Assignment Brief 2024-25 | UoS

Assessment Brief

The assessment for this module is a Case Study Report made up of two tasks, which will test all the module learning outcomes. 
The word limit of the assessment is 3500 words +/-10%.

The learning outcomes are:

• Demonstrate an appreciation of several different theories of management to enable the application of the principles of management within a given context.
• Critically understand the impact of an organisation’s financial and HRM development planning on its ethical, value-based management and leadership strategy(ies) and how it affects the relationship on the staff welfare environment.
• Apply appropriate cognitive skills in critical thinking and analysis when evaluating different management/marketing/project management approaches/tools in a specific context.

There are two tasks for the assessment.

Task 1: Write a report on a Case Study.

Task 2: Prepare your Professional Identity Profile as a Manager in Practice. The word limit for both tasks in total is 3500 +/- 10%.

Task 1: Case Study 

The Case Study

You are a newly trained Manager in a Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) called ‘BestRiskControl’ (a fictitious company). The company specialises in Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality Consultancy. It is a family-run business that has been operating very successfully and profitably for over 50 years. During which time it has developed an excellent reputation for being trustworthy, reliable and good value for money.

BestRiskControl has two offices in Scotland and is now seeking to invest in developments in England. You have recently completed your management training with the company, and so you have been tasked with your first major management project. You are responsible as the Project Manager to manage the opening of a new office or presence in Sunderland in the

North-East of England. Your role is to research and plan the project and get the operation up and running. As part of your specific role, you are to target the correct businesses with the right level of consultant, whom you will also need to recruit.
You will need to consider the fundamental parameters of the business. There is a large and diverse area of businesses in the North-East, but for this task are going to target the Chemical industries in the area around Sunderland.

You will be expected to manage several complex activities leading to successful conclusions. You are also expected to report back to head office with your feasibility study, supported by the reasons why you have selected your specific options.
You must ensure you remain within budget and forecast how you will be in profit by the end of the financial year.

Task 2

Drawing on management, leadership theories, the case study and the issues examined in the module, explain your Professional Identity as a manager in practice.

Guidance on how you might approach the Two Tasks

You will decide the word length for each task, but you may find you need most of the word limit for Task 1 (3300 words) and 500 words for Task 2.

Task 1

You will need to check back on your notes on HSE compliance.  

Questions you need to ask and answer  before you can plan the report:
Q. What is your budget (imagine what you would need for this project).
Q. What is the timeline for the project?
Q. What do you need to do first?
Q: How are you going to market the business in Sunderland?
Q: What level of HSEQ consultancy are you going to offer?

For example, a basic HSEQ Officer would hold a NEBOSH qualification, at least at certificate level.  An Officer with the NEBOSH certificate can audit sites, give recommendations and improvements, and construct Risk Assessments, or a more advanced consultant, e.g. Intermediate HSEQ manager (would hold a higher qualification such as the NEBOSH Diploma) can write out detailed reports, safety operating instructions, detailed emergency plans and would have good knowledge in CDM Regulations and understanding of COMAH. 

You will need to research these specialisms and other more experienced grades and decide how to promote the consultancy services.

Q: How will you recruit the consultants, and to what level?
Q: Do you need a physical office?

Writing up your report.

Choose a simple, formal report style: e.g. executive summary, introduction, findings, recommendations, conclusion.  Number paragraphs.
Write in the third person.
Please remember it is an academic report, so you need in-text citations and a reference list in the Harvard Style.

Task 2: Professional Identity

Imagine you have been successful in your management training. What knowledge and skills have you drawn on to complete the Case Study project, and how can this development support your professional identity?  Think of it in terms of a personal statement and write it in the first person. Ensure you have the evidence and can support what you say about yourself. There are plenty of bland professional identity/personal profile statements – what can you write that makes an interviewer keen to meet you? Perhaps consider a table of how you will plan to develop your skills?

Some Tips on Writing Up the Assessment

• Please remember! The importance of keeping a couple of copies of your work as a backup; the time taken to process the checking of your work should not be underestimated.
• At this level of study, the final assessment will require several edits.
• This process normally takes a few days; firstly, checking for clarity of expression/argument, then reading to ensure the English expression is correct and finally, ensuring that you have adhered to the Harvard system of referencing and all references are correct.
• Ensure you cite the core texts, but we expect you to find other up-to-date journal references – plenty of them on consultancy, the chemical industry and health and safety. Try for at least 3 specific references, preferably more.
• Make sure you follow the referencing guidelines for in-text citations, and the reference list is also correct in the Harvard style.
• You may decide to review your draft online only, but a hard printed copy may help you see what requires editing.
• We always recommend working to a deadline a couple of weeks before the submission date to allow for unforeseen issues that may arise at the last minute.
• Remember to keep checking your notes that you have kept throughout the module, the case studies, and the role plays. Everything you need is in the module materials.
• Ensure you have time to edit and reflect and read again, and all will be well!

Report Structure 

The report must be within a 3,500-word limit (+/- 10%). Below is a proposed structure you may follow for this report. Please note that the recommended indicative word limits are for your guidance only.

1. Introduction (250 – 300 words guide only)

• An overview of your business and the key contextual features of your business.

2. Part 1

• Body (1500 Words guide only)

3. Part 2

• Body (1500 Words guide only)

4. Conclusion (250 – 300 Words guide only)

5. References (Not included in wordcount)

• You must use Harvard Style for your citations and references.

6. Appendices (Not included in wordcount)

• This may include any additional information to support your argument.

Assessment Guidance:

Referencing, Structure and Format

Referencing 

1. As part of the report process, you are expected to cite core textbooks, journal articles and trusted internet-sourced information

2. These must ALL be correctly referenced within the main body of the report and listed in full at the end of the report under ‘References’
3. You must use the HARVARD    referencing system    –    see ‘Cite them right

Format 

Make your assignment easy to read – some guidelines:

• Make all general typeface 12pt Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, Tahoma
• Alignment must be ‘Justify’
• You should use a line spacing of 1.5
• All pages should be numbered
• Include a Table of Contents (TOC)
• Use informative and clear headings and subheadings

Please note 

• Correct spelling, punctuation and grammar are also expected
• Grammar/spell check and proofread your work

Submission Details

YOU MUST SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY BY THE DEADLINE through the PGBM127 Canvas module
page for checking with ‘Turnitin’

a) Accessible in the assessment section
b) Students may submit drafts before submission and generate reports.
c) The last submission before the deadline is deemed to be the final submission for assessment purposes

Non-submission through Turnitin: Students who do not submit their work through Turnitin will automatically receive a 0%