Recent Question/Assignment
Assessment Details and Submission Guidelines BB103 Management Principles
School Business
Course Name Bachelor of Business
Unit Code BB103
Unit Title Management Principles
Trimester Trimester 1, 2019
Assessment Author A/Prof Venkatesh Mahadevan
Assessment Type Group
Assessment Title Report and Presentation
Unit Learning
Outcomes
Addressed: a-e
a. Explain key management theories that inform contemporary practices
b. Examine contemporary issues faced by managers in different levels of an organisation
c. Analyse a management issue and justify recommendations based on new knowledge of management theories
d. Work effectively with others in diverse management contexts
e. Identify and evaluate social responsibility and ethical issues in business situations
Weight 25% (Report 15% and Presentation 10%)
Total Marks 25
Word limit 2500
Release Date Week Four
Due Date Week Eleven
Submission Guidelines • All work must be submitted on Moodle by the due date along with a completed Assignment Cover Page.
• The assignment must be in MS Word format, 1.5 spacing, 11-pt Calibri (Body) font and 2 cm margins on all four sides of your page with appropriate section headings.
• Reference sources must be cited in the text of the report, and listed appropriately at the end in a reference list using APA 6th edition for the School of Business.
Extension If an extension of time to submit work is required, an Application for Special Consideration and supporting documentation must be submitted directly to the School's Administration Officer via your MIT AMS login
[https://online.mit.edu.au/ams/default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fams%2f]. You must submit this application no later than three working days after the due date of the specific piece of assessment or the examination for which you are seeking Special Consideration.
Further information is available at:
http://www.mit.edu.au/about-mit/institute-publications/policies-procedures-andguidelines/specialconsiderationdeferment
Academic
Misconduct
Academic Misconduct is a serious offence. Depending on the seriousness of the case, penalties can vary from a written warning or zero marks to exclusion from the course or rescinding the degree. Students should make themselves familiar with the full policy and procedure available at: http://www.mit.edu.au/about-mit/institute-
publications/policies-procedures-and-guidelines/Plagiarism-Academic-Misconduct-
© MIT March 2019 T3-2018 v1
Policy-Procedure. For further information, please refer to the Academic Integrity Section in your Unit Description.
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION:
DETAILS OF ASSESSABLE TASKS
Major Assignment (to be done in groups of 3’s) = 15% Written Report & 10% In class Presentation
Due Before Class: Week 11 (Report) and Week 11 (Presentation)
This is a group assignment. The groups should consist of a minimum of three students and a maximum of four students. Then you are required to read the case scenario based on the sources given including the reference list and make sure you identify the general management issues covered by the case scenarios.
Spend time researching (Newspaper articles, Business magazines, plus any other suitable non-peer review articles and peer-review articles from library search engines like Emerald and Ebscohost) in relation to the pharmaceutical industry, and use for example Porter’s 5 Forces to analyse external environment, identify each of the retail companies (Priceline, Chemist Warehouse and Amcal’s Corporate and Strategic Business Strategies). Then research management theories, expert Blogs, write-ups (very important to put in your citations to show evidence basis proof) on suitable current management principles’ practice to help you fully discuss, analyse, evaluate and provide justifications to the case questions and prepare your answers succulently.
This assignment requires the students to write a report on the key Management unit in the pharmaceutical industry context. The students will need to use relevant topics learned in the management principles unit, analyse management practices and evaluate what actions are required to resolve major issues faced the three major competitors. You are also required to read the assignment narrative and researched information from different sources including annual reports of the companies, industry reports and other reliable resources.
The report should be structured as:
Executive Summary
Content Page
• Introduction • Major issues
• Management theories related to case scenario analysis
• Analysis of Priceline, Chemist Warehouse and Amcal’s Corporate & Business Strategies • Current Management practices
• Full discussion of the answers to case questions using appropriate theories to support your discussions and justifications
• Evaluation of suggested solutions to overcome major issues
• Recommendations with action plan and Conclusion
• References {at least 10 academic sources of information such as peer-reviewed journals, and (5 industry and/or government reports, books chapters, annual reports and other valid sources)}
• Appendices
Please discuss with your lecturer and tutor for any further clarification.
The report must be uploaded (Submitted) at the start of class in Week 11 commencing. Late submission will be penalised at the rate of 10% of available marks per day or part thereof. The presentation of this report should be on power point and must be done in a professional manner in Week 11.
The following context has been created for your group assignment based on the sources given in the reference list:
API doubts Sigma plans as merger hopes end
By AAP
Mar 13th, 2019
The proposed merger between the owners of the Priceline and Amcal pharmacy chains is off after Sigma Healthcare rebuffed an approach by its rival.
Amcal owner Sigma, which is restructuring after losing a contract to supply Chemist Warehouse, said on Wednesday that October's cash-and-scrip approach by Australian Pharmaceuticals Industries had undervalued its long-term prospects.
Instead of responding with an increased offer, API questioned Sigma's plans and said it would now decide what to do with the 12.85 per cent stake it bought late last year.
-The Sigma Board has chosen a path to restructure its significantly downsized business, rather than pursue a merger to create a future that benefits consumers, pharmacists and both sets of shareholders,- API said.
Sigma said it agreed the tie-up could save the combined company $60 million a year through supply chain consolidation, but that a business review completed last month found $100 million in potential savings through cost-cutting as a stand-alone company.
It also said that a decline in API's share price also meant the offer was worth 12 per cent less than when it was made in October.
The offer was worth about $727 million when it was made public in December.
API countered by saying the cost savings that Sigma was citing were uncertain and unclear, and would mostly be offset by revenue lost by Chemist Warehouse's decision to take its business elsewhere.
It also pointed out its offer represented a 41.8 per cent premium to the average price of Sigma shares in the month before the offer was announced.
-API notes that very little information has been provided by Sigma in relation to its intended restructure,- API said.
Sigma shares slumped on the development, dropping 14 per cent to 52.5 cents by 1423 AEDT, their lowest since before the merger proposal was made public.
API shares were down 3.57 per cent, at $1.35.
Sigma is the owner of franchise brands Amcal, Chemist King, Discount Drugs and Guardian.
API owns the Priceline, Soul Pattinson and Pharmacist Advice brands.
https://finance.nine.com.au/2019/03/13/10/18/sigma-healthcare-rejects-api-merger-offer
Reference List Sources:
https://www.canstarblue.com.au/stores-
services/pharmacies/https://www.professionalpharmacists.com.au/2018-community-pharmacistsreport/
https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank/assets/corporate/industries/pharmacyinsights-report-2018.pdf
https://www.insideretail.com.au/news/sigma-hit-by-competitors-blow-201807
https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/there-are-dangers-gps-issue-warning-over-walk-in-pharmacyhealth-checks-20180630-p4zops.html
http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/rise-of-chemist-warehouse-201308212347
https://smallbusinessbigmarketing.com/jack-gance-chemist-warehouse/
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/review-pharmacy-remunerationregulation-submissions-cnt-8/$file/385-2016-23-09-peter-feros-submission.pdf
https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/pharmacy-future-vision-2023/
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS QUESTIONS:
Case Q1:
Identify major issues (two or three only) in the competitive pharmaceutical industry and provide justifiable supportive evidences.
Case Q2:
Through your business research (with proper citations), plus after reading, analysing of the case scenarios including all of the reference given websites, explain differences amongst Priceline, Chemist Warehouse and Amcal’s operations with appropriate supportive arguments and justification of management principles theories. Case Q3:
Thinking critically and futuristically explain clearly who will be the most profitable pharmaceutical company (Priceline, Chemist Warehouse and Amcal) in Australia 2022? With supportive evidences and justification.
Example of marking criteria is shown in following table. Marks are allocated as follows: Note: The marking criteria varies for each assignment
Section to be included in the report Detailed Description of the Criteria Marks
Criteria 1
Executive Summary 10
Criteria 2
Introduction: A brief outline of the background to the companies within the pharmaceutical industry n Australia Identify major issues raised 10
Criteria 3
Provide a full discussion of the answers to case questions using theories to support your discussions, with supportive arguments and justifications
35
Criteria 4
Provide recommendations for the future
directions/opportunities/options for the companies
Conclusion
20
Criteria 5
Provide at least 10 academic sources of information, and five non-peer review articles
Your case study analysis must be fully referenced using the APA style of referencing.
15
Criteria 6
Meetings and journal documentations and contribution provided in appendix OR Matrix Schedule of Group Members work at meetings and documented discussions of cooperation.
10
Total 100
Marking Rubric for Group Case Study Analysis Report: Total Marks= /15.00
Note: The marking criteria varies for each assignment
Marking
Rubric
Criteria/
Grades High
Distinction
(HD)
[Excellent]
= or 80% Distinction
(D) [Very Good]
70%-79% Credits
(C) [Good]
60%-69% Pass (P)
[Satisfactory] 50%-59% Fail (N)
[Unsatisfactory] 50%
Criteria 1 Concise and specific to the project Topics are relevant and soundly analysed.
Generally relevant and analysed.
Some relevance and briefly presented.
This is not relevant to the assignment topic.
Criteria 2 Demonstrated excellent
ability to think
critically and sourced Demonstrated excellent ability to think critically but did not source Demonstrated
ability to think critically and sourced reference Demonstrated
ability to think critically and did not source reference Did not demonstrate ability to think critically and did not source
reference
material
appropriately
reference material
appropriately
material
appropriately
material
appropriately
reference material
appropriately
Criteria 3 All elements are present and very well integrated.
Components present with good cohesive
Components present and mostly well
integrated
Most components present
Proposal structure.
lacks
Criteria 4 Logic is clear and easy to follow with
strong
arguments
Consistency logical and
convincing
Mostly
consistent
logical and
convincing
Adequate cohesion and
conviction
Argument confused
disjointed
is and
Criteria 5 Clear styles with excellent source of references.
Clear referencing style
Generally good referencing style
Sometimes
clear
referencing style
Lacks
consistency
with many
errors
T1 2019 BB103/ASESSMENT 5
With the same group formation, provide professional presentation through proper power-point referencing and interactive presentation activity to the class audiences and your tutor and perhaps any stakeholders who wishes to attend your presentation.
You need to provide clear references to all slides of your power-point. After your presentation then, you will upload your presentation and group case analysis report in the inbox within the unit’s Moodle platform in week 11.
Marking criteria:
Marking criteria is shown in following table. Marks are allocated as follows: Note: The marking criteria varies for each assignment
Student Name: MIT
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Student Name: MIT
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Student Name: MIT
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Student Name: MIT
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Criteria Possible Marks Comments Marks
Allocated
Fulfilment of the requirements of the task: Accuracy of problem identification
Content
• Introduction: A brief outline of the background to the 40%
companies within the pharmaceutical industry in Australia
• Identify major issues raised
• Relevance- based on academic theory
• Relevance- based on professional/Industry • The presentation is: o well researched o well structured o flowing o original o has a conclusion
Presentation
• Provide a full discussion of the answers to case questions using theories to support your discussions, with supportive arguments and justifications Visual representation takes the form of power point slides and includes one or more of the following: charts, graphs, statistics, pictures, photos or other graphics are used in the power point slides.
• Visual aids used (Flyers, handouts, posters, models, flip charts, artefacts, whiteboards or props). 40%
Questions/ Discussion
• Clear communication o vocal o body language o eye contact
• Questions from the audience are well answered.
• Presenter provokes interaction.
• Effective organisation of materials and timing.
• Work well as a team 20%
Total 100%
Overall Comments:
Total Marks
____/100
Marks:
Assessor’s Name: Assessor’s Signature: ______________________________________
Date: ______________________________
_____/10%