UMPDN6-15-1 Contemporary Business Issues Assessment Brief - 2025

UMPDN6-15-1 Module learning outcomes assessed by this task:

On successful completion of this module students will achieve the following learning outcomes. 

• MO1 Critically evaluate the impact of various contemporary business issues on businesses and their employees
• MO2 Place individual topics of study within the broader context of business management research
• MO3 Engage in researching topics and developing perspectives and synoptic accounts 
• MO4 Understand the existence of a series of continuing debates with which students will become familiar
• MO5 Have started to develop critical thinking skills - constructively critiquing the research of others, identifying strengths and weaknesses in technique, analysis and conclusions MO6 Be able to produce different types of written and oral work appropriate tothe programme of study and observing the conventions of academic writing

Completing your assessment 

What am I required to do on this assessment? 

There are two taks for the assessment for this module: Poster Presentation and Portfolio Activities. 

Poster Presentation (60%) 

You will be assessed on the basis of your knowledge of undertaking a basic research project. You will be required to complete in groups a 10 week research project on the topic of your choice, but falling into one of the key themes presented in this module.

You will complete and present an academic Poster presentation. You will receive an examination known as a viva voice, an oral defence of your research - this will take place in the week 9/10 workshops. Each presentation must last at least 15 minutes plus 5 minutes for questions. Each student will be asked about their presentation.

Portfolio Activities (40%) 

Throughout the term, you will complete a Portfolio of 1600 wordswhich consists of four learning activities, focusing on the knowledge and skills required to address the contemporary issues faced by businesses.

It will also include a reflective commentary in which you will reflect on the experience and processes of the module and how these may inform your understanding of your future career. Each task will have a clear brief for you to address and will be submitted by May 3rd 2023 at 2pm. The 5 day grace period applies. The focus will be on ensuring you demonstrate your understanding of the distinctive features of studying business as a broad, comprehensive degree programme and recognise the potential future professional pathways available to you. 

The portfolio will consist of the following four areas: 

• Inequalities in Society 
• Globalisation 
• New forms of recruitment 
• New Forms of Work

UMPDN6-15-1 Portfolio Activities:

Portfolio Activity Assessment Criteria of UMPDN6-15-1:

• There is evidence that student has failed to properly engage with the activity and has demonstrated a poor understanding as a result of limited effort to attend lectures and complete additional reading. 0-3 marks
• The activity is completed to a standard that allows the student to demonstrate limited understanding of the topic and shows evidence of reading (albeit from inappropriate sources). 3-5 marks
• he activity is completed to a standard that demonstrates a good level of critical engagement with the topic and it is clear that the student has grasped the topic area effectively. Some wider academic reading has been completed. 5-7 marks
• The student has fully engaged with the topic and shows excellent critical analysis of the subject. There is evidence of significant additional reading or research and this comes from reliable academic sources (evidenced through referencing). 7-10 marks