Assessment 1
Reflective Writing exercise (individual)
Due date: Tuesday 19 August OR Friday 22 August 2014 (in class)
Worth: 10%
Word limit: 2000 words
Your first assignment is a reflective writing exercise about a specific topic pertaining to Global business and IT.
Specifically, you are required to reflect on the sessions two, three and four of this course:
• Globalisation and Business IT
• Social Media
• The Role of IT in Global Business
The above three lectures are an introduction to the whole course and once you read through the lecture notes and attended the classes, you will see that the concepts and issues of globalisation, IT, global business and social media, influences and changes all of our lives in different ways, sometimes small and at times in ways we never imagined.
Whether you are living in a developed, developing or underdeveloped country, globalisation has occurred in some fashion and this phenomenon will continue. We need to be cognisant that there is a positive and negative side to globalisation.

How to Write Reflectively
As a part of the reflective process, you are asked to make regular journal entries. (Note: a reflective journal is not a diary that merely describes events and observations). A reflective journal is a personal account of your response and deep thinking about your experiences. As such, it is important that you write in the first person.
There are many things to consider when writing a reflective piece. To enhance the process you should try to;
• understand what beliefs, values, perceptions, knowledge you have
• examine your perceptions, experiences, ideas and observations of the new experience and how they relate to you pre-conceived ideas
• describe what you found challenging, confusing, inspiring, difficult, interesting and analyse why
• provide comparison and connections between your prior assumptions and knowledge, and your new knowledge and experience and draw conclusions from these comparisons
• explain what you need to explore next in terms of thoughts and actions
• include both description (what, when, who) and analysis (how, why, what if…)
There is no one way to write a Reflective journal. You may use essay, report or journal format.
Useful Questions for Reflection
Before commencing upon reflection, ask yourself some of the following questions. These questions can assist in your reflective journal, thinking and/or discussion with your teacher or peers.
• What were you initial beliefs, values, perceptions and knowledge before the course commenced?
• Did your pre-conceived views change? If so, explain how and why.
• What were your learning goals for this course? What did you anticipate learning?
• Did you achieve these goals? If so why, and if not, why not?
• What were significant experiences for you?
• How did you respond at the time? Why?
• How could you improve on the way you responded/behaved?
• How did you feel about these experiences?
• How did you deal with challenges or problems?
• What would you do differently next time?
• What sense can you make of this experience in the light of your past experience?
• Has this changed the way in which you will do things or view things in the future?
Note: it is acceptable to pose questions in your reflection to which you may not necessary have the answers.
Submission of this Assessment
1. Submit to Turnitin by the due date
2. Submit in hard copy to your lecturer in class with a signed assignment cover sheet and the Turnitin result (%)

What is Reflective Practice?
Reflective practice is a process of thinking about new experiences with a view of learning from them. It is a form of personal response to new experiences, situations, events or information.
This process involves recording your observations and thinking deeply about your feelings and responses to situations. It also enables you to increase your understanding and to gain new insights about yourself, others and situations. A result of these new insights may lead to a change of thinking or behaviour.
How to Write Reflectively
As a part of the reflective process, you are asked to make regular journal entries. (Note: a reflective journal is not a diary that merely describes events and observations). A reflective journal is a personal account of your response and deep thinking about your experiences. As such, it is important that you write in the first person.
There are many things to consider when writing a reflective piece. To enhance the process you should try to;

• understand what beliefs, values, perceptions, knowledge you have
• examine your perceptions, experiences, ideas and observations of the new experience and how they relate to you pre-conceived ideas
• describe what you found challenging, confusing, inspiring, difficult, interesting and analyse why
• provide comparison and connections between your prior assumptions and knowledge, and your new knowledge and experience and draw conclusions from these comparisons
• explain what you need to explore next in terms of thoughts and actions
• include both description (what, when, who) and analysis (how, why, what if…)
There is no one way to write a Reflective journal. You may use essay, report or journal format.
Useful Questions for Reflection
Before commencing upon reflection, ask yourself some of the following questions. These questions can assist in your reflective journal, thinking and/or discussion with your teacher or peers.
• What were you initial beliefs, values, perceptions and knowledge before the course commenced?
• Did your pre-conceived views change? If so, explain how and why.
• What were your learning goals for this course? What did you anticipate learning?
• Did you achieve these goals? If so why, and if not, why not?
• What were significant experiences for you?
• How did you respond at the time? Why?
• How could you improve on the way you responded/behaved?
• How did you feel about these experiences?
• How did you deal with challenges or problems?
• What would you do differently next time?
• What sense can you make of this experience in the light of your past experience?
• Has this changed the way in which you will do things or view things in the future?
Note: it is acceptable to pose questions in your reflection to which you may not necessary have the answers.
Learning and reflection
As a student and a professional you are involved in a continuous process of learning. Below are ways in which reflection might be involved in or enhance the process of this learning:
a) Reflection is involved in meaningful learning where you as a learner are seeking to make sense of new material for yourself, linking it to what you already know and if necessary, modifying prior knowledge and understandings to accommodate the new ideas. What do you know about self? What would you like to know? Or what do you know about how you relate to others? What would you like to know?
b) Reflection is associated with situations where there is no new material of learning – where we make sense of ideas (knowledge and understandings) that we have already learnt. What is your professional practice?
c) We learn from the representation of learning. When we represent learning in writing (for example), in a sense it becomes new material of learning and we can reinforce the learning or check our understanding of it, using it as a feedback system. The use of learning journals/reflection papers is an example of a method in which this mechanism is exploited.
d) Reflection also facilitates learning by enhancing the conditions that seem to favour learning. These include:
• provision of ‘intellectual space’ , it slows the pace of learning,
• development of a sense of ownership of learning which has long been recognised as an important basis of learning.
• development and improvement of the process of learning to learn. Students who achieve well are more often students who are aware of their own learning processes – their weaknesses and strengths.
• Reflective or personally expressive writing seems sometimes to be more effective as a medium for learning and problem solving.
• Reflection probably helps the emotional side of learning in a general manner. In simplified terms, it could be said to support the development and maintenance of emotional intelligence.
Assessment 2

BRW Research Report (Individual or Group)
Due date: Tuesday 23 September or Friday 26 September (submit in the class you are enrolled in)
Worth: 40%
Length: 4000 words
Group size: Maximum of 2 people
Students will select an organization of their choice and conduct one or two site visits, interview the relevant person(s) and write a magazine article regarding the organization as a whole or a department of the organization. You will need to choose a specific topic to investigate in relation to Globalization and/or Business IT.
This article should be written with the intention that it will be published in BUSINESS REVIEW WEEKLY (http://www.brw.com.au/).
Students should gain practical understanding of the key activities of global business and its 1001 facets that are part of a multinational or national organization. This task also assists in the development of interpersonal skills.
It has been said that various global cultures need to become cultures of achievement (manufacturing, upturn in productivity, successfully managed environments, productive esprit de corps, innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, excellence and pride in work). This business magazine article should encompass some of the topics, concepts and issues covered in this field of study.
This is a major piece of research that will be undertaken by a group of no more than five students.
In choosing an organizations students should carefully consider the need to address the specific requirements of the assessment. The choice of organization is very important. If in doubt please contact the lecturer. In your choice, also consider an organization, which is of manageable size and complexity for the project. When approaching an organization, it is essential that you make it clear that the project is for educational purposes only, and forms part of your assessment ISYS 2394 Globalization and Business IT
Assessment criteria
• Introduction with background
• Definitions
• Evidence of relevant concepts; Basic understanding,
• Clarity, relevance and conciseness of the discussion, integration
• Development of coherent theme (inc content)
• Relevance and integration of ideas
• Soundness of assertions and evidence
• Originality
• Conclusion
• Evidence of having read widely
• Quality & relevance of quotes/references.
• English usage & writing skill, succinctness, editing
• Visual presentation (The use of graphs, visuals and scanned photos are essential to your piece of work. Content, layout, neatness, originality of presentation are important to the overall final product).
• References

Submission of this Assessment
1. Submit to Turnitin by the due date
3. Submit in hard copy to your lecturer in class with a signed assignment cover sheet and the Turnitin result
Assessment 3
Take Home Final Examination (Individual)
This will take place between
5pm on 17 October – midnight 24 October 2014
Worth: 50%
Length: 3 answers of 1500 words each

This is a take home exam, testing you on the globalization and business IT issues discussed each week in class and based on both readings given in class and the list of references above. You will be given a range of questions, of which you are required to select three to answer. Each answer should include references and a reference list and be no more than 1500 words each (excluding the reference list).
This assessment task will be discussed in class during Week 12.
All assessment tasks must be submitted and completed in order to pass the course.
Assessment aims
- Write and present reports for a global business, which explains the importance of IT to resolve change issues and noting the extent to which IT skills and competencies play a key role;
- Define and analyse the impact of globalization on world business
- Apply concepts of change and change management to global business and IT scenarios; - Write reports on the role of IT on the impact and diffusion of globalization on business.
The aim of assessment tasks 1 and 2 are to test the following learning outcomes:
- Develop an understanding of basic research skills applicable to the resolution of global business issues and trends;
- Write reports on the role of IT on the impact and diffusion of globalization on business;
- Design a global business model to resolve a business problem arising from the impact of both IT and globalization;
- Use research methods and analysis together with project management techniques to plan implementation of that the business solution;
- Design a research project to measure the impact of IT adoption in a global business;
- Design a research project to measure the effectiveness of IT adoption in a global business; &
- Write and present reports for a global business, which explains the importance of IT to resolve change issues and noting the extent to which IT skills and competencies play a key role.
Submission of this Assessment
Instructions will be issued on the exam paper.
Course Grades Available
High Distinction (HD) 80 – 100%
Exceptionally clear understanding of subject matter and appreciation of issues; well organised, formulated and sustained arguments; well thought out and structured diagrams; relevant literature referenced. Evidence of creative insight and originality in terms of comprehension, application and analysis with at least some synthesis and evaluation.
Distinction (DI) 70 – 79%
Strong grasp of subject matter and appreciation of key issues, perhaps lacking a little on the finer points; clearly developed arguments; relevant and well structured diagrams; appreciation of relevant literature. Evidence of creative and solid work in terms of comprehension, application, analysis and perhaps some synthesis.
Credit (CR) 60 – 69%
Competent understanding of subject matter and appreciation of some of the main issues though possibly with some gaps; clearly developed arguments; relevant diagrams and literature use, perhaps with some gaps; well prepared and presented. Solid evidence of comprehension and application with perhaps some analysis.
Pass (PA) 50 – 59%
Some appreciation of subject matter and issues; work generally lacking in depth and breadth and with gaps. Often work of this grade comprises a simple factual description (i.e. basic comprehension) but little application or analysis. Work of this grade may be poorly prepared and presented. Investment of greater care and thought in organising and structuring work would be required to improve.
Fail (NN) 0 – 49%
Evidence of lack of understanding of subject (minimal or inadequate comprehension and little or no application) and inability to identify issues. Often inadequate in depth and breadth. Sometimes incomplete or irrelevant.
Borderline failure
If a student obtains a score of 45-49% for their overall score: A second examiner examines all the relevant written assessment pieces that students have not had returned to them for feedback during the course. Presentations are not eligible to be examined by a second examiner
Presentation of Written Work
A very high standard of presentation is always expected; poorly presented work will be refused. All work must be word processed. Photocopies of originals are not acceptable for assessment and will be returned unmarked. However, a copy should always be kept.
All references and quotations must be correctly referenced using the RMIT College of Business referencing guide.
The format of your document must have the following:
1.5 spacing
Font size: minimum 12
Margin of 2.5cm on all 4 sides
Single page only
Page numbers, e.g. (1 of 15)
Name and student number on every page
These requirements can all be set using Format in Word.
Paragraphs
A reference list (and in-text referencing) using the Harvard system. Your mark will be severely affected if you do not do this correctly.
When handing your work in it must:
Be stapled (or spiral bound for larger documents)
Have the Turnitin result attached (front page with the %)
Not be in a folder
Sign and attach the cover sheet for submission of work for assessment
Ensure that the cover sheet has the correct name (first and family name) of your lecturer AND the day and time of your tutorial.
Academic Administration Procedures
TurnitIn (Tii)
The originality verification software Turnitin (http://www.turnitin.com) will be used for the Research Report and the Take home exam assessments in this course.
All assignments must be uploaded to Turnitin prior to submission. You are able to upload drafts of your work to check issues of citation, quoting, and plagiarism prior to the due date.
Note you must complete a hardcopy of the RMIT coversheet with your assessment submissions (available on the blackboard) but DO NOT upload it to Turnitin.
To support you with issues associated with the honesty and full referencing of external work presented in assignments, please visit the University website for Academic Integrity: http://www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity
Specifically, support resources for yourself as a student to ensure that your submitted assessment accurately represents your work are provided at: http://www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity/students
To access the Turnitin software and register your account you will need to follow the instructions available at http://mams.rmit.edu.au/zdrig5rjsxnqz.pdf
This guide on how to use Turnitin is also uploaded to the blackboard under the menu heading Assignments.
The originality report must not exceed 10%
All students need to submit their assignment through TurnItIn by the respective due dates.
If you are having difficulties submitting your work via TurnItIn, please contact your lecturer as soon as possible.
Late Submission
Assessments are due on the given date and at a specific time.
Penalties:
Assessments not submitted at the given date and time through to:
24 hours late = deduct 10% of final score
24 to 48 hours late = deduct 20% of final score
48 to 72 hours late = deduct 30% of final score
After 72 hours = a zero mark will be allocated

The above refers to the hard copy AND Tii submission. In the event that a student only turns in the assignment to Tii (or only as a hard copy) they will still be penalized as stated above. In other words, you must submit both assignments at the given due date and time as instructed by your lecturer.
Extensions are not normally granted. However, in cases of genuine hardship, limited extensions may be given. If you feel that you have a ground for extension you must contact your lecturer before the due date for submission.
You may be asked to furnish a medical certificate or other relevant documentation and to complete an application form as required by the School of Business IT and Logistics. This form is available on the blackboard under Assignments.
Grounds not generally considered sufficient for an extension include:
• inconvenience
• clash with social engagement
• poor planning
• pressure of other course work
Resubmissions:
There are no assessment resubmissions for this course. You will need to “do your very best” the first time.
Seeking an extension:
You may request an extension for an assignment by completing a form that can be obtained from your Course Co-ordinator. This request for an extension must be completed in advance of the due date and be accompanied by documentary evidence (egg. A medical certificate) supporting the request. It should be submitted to the Course Co-ordinator. We recommend that you complete your assignments in plenty of time to allow for unforeseen circumstances.
Satisfactory Progress:
Students are required to perform satisfactorily in each area to achieve a pass.
Special Consideration:
You may apply for Special Consideration if you believe that your academic performance has been severely affected by illness or other serious cause outside your control. This is done by submitting a Special Consideration form with documentary evidence at the Student Hub no later than 48 hours after the due date or scheduled assessment. Students will be notified via their student email account of the outcome of the application, which, if approved, can include alternative assessment or an extension of time.
The RMIT Special Consideration in Assessment policy is found at http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y
Referencing
• Referencing means acknowledging someone else’s work or ideas. It is sometimes called ‘citing’ or ‘documenting’ another person’s work.
• Referencing is a basic university requirement.
• It is mandatory for all students to cite or acknowledge information that has come from other sources.
• Without appropriate referencing students are in effect “stealing” the work of others - this is tantamount to academic fraud.
There are consequences if students fail to reference their assignments. These may include:
• Reduction in marks for assessment tasks.
• Failure in a course of study.
• Expulsion from a program.
Why do we reference?
• To draw on the ideas, language, data, and/or facts of others. (You are expected to read and research widely).
• To provide depth and support to academic work through citation of theories or key writers whose work supports your answer, argument, or contention.
• To support academic writing, essays, business reports and oral presentations.
• To demonstrate your ability to synthesise and analyse ideas sourced through your research.
• To acknowledge work from others that you have quoted, summarised, paraphrased, synthesised, discussed or mentioned in your assignments.
• To provide a list of the publication details so that your readers can locate the source if necessary.
• To demonstrate the level and breadth of research undertaken by a student.
• References used correctly will benefit your work and add to your final grade.
Which referencing method do I use?
RMIT Business uses a particular Harvard Style of referencing.
• Each reference is indicated in-text by the author’s name and the date of the publication.
• Footnotes are not used as the citation is written in the actual text.
• Full details of how to reference are in the Written reports and essay: guidelines for referencing and presentation in RMIT business.
When do I reference?
You reference whenever you have used a piece of information that comes from
• Text books
• Journals
• Published papers, (e.g. conference or working paper)
• Newspapers
• Websites
• TV/Radio interviews
• Personal communication
• Others
You must cite the origins of the information you are using, whether you have copied the words directly or whether you have paraphrased.
If in doubt----REFERENCE!
For further information and a detailed guide to referencing please refer to:
http://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/bus/public/referencing/index.html
Clarity and conciseness in the use of the written work is expected. Your spelling, grammar and punctuation should be critically examined before submission. Organise someone else to read and comment on your work; can they understand what you are trying to say? If not, rewrite it. Seek the assistance of the Study and Learning Centre (http://www.rmit.edu.au/STUDYANDLEARNINGCENTRE).
If you have any difficulty coping with the style of learning required at university, you will find the library has many books on note taking at lectures, researching and writing. One useful book is:
Marshall, L & Rowland, F 1993, A Guide to Teach Independently, Longman Cheshire, Melbourne.
Course Evaluation and Feedback
How can I let you know about my experience of this course?
The teaching team is very interested in how you are finding the course and how useful it is in supporting your learning. We really value creative suggesting for improvements. You can make comments or suggestions anytime and anonymously if you choose. Comments relating to this course will be referred to the co-ordinator.
Mid-semester there will be a short staff/student consultative meeting and a second will occur at the end of the semester. Course evaluations are distributed in the second last class of the semester and we welcome your comments thoughts and ideas on how the course might be improved.
Academic Misconduct
In preparing your assignments you should read and draw on the work of other authors. However in writing (or orally presenting your assignments), you should take extreme care that you have:
(1) acknowledged words , data, diagrams, models, frameworks and/or ideas of others you have quoted (ie directly copied), summarised, paraphrased, discussed or mentioned in your assignment through the appropriate referencing methods, and
(2) provided a reference list of the publication details so your reader (or listener) can locate the source if necessary. This includes materials taken from Internet sites.
If you do not acknowledge the sources of your material, you may be accused of plagiarism because you have passed off the work and ideas of another person without appropriate referencing, as if they weer your own.
RMIT University treats plagiarism as a very serious academic offence constituting misconduct. The University Regulation 6.1.1 on Student Discipline states:
A student will have committed academic misconduct if the student cheats or attempts to cheat by: (b) plagiarism or otherwise submitting the work of another person as the student’s own work.
Plagiarism can mean any of the following:
• Direct copying of phrases and/or passages without a reference and /or quotation marks.
• Paraphrasing another writer’s work in your written work without citing the reference.
• Making a direct reference to an author/authors you have not read although you may have read about them. (you should reference the secondary source you have actually read rather than referencing the original that you have not read.
• Copying another student’s work, in part or in whole.
• Writing your work in conjunction with other students without prior permission. (This does not mean you should not meet with other students initially to discuss the report topic and/or analyse the question).
• Submitting written work that has already been submitted for assessment in another course.
The possible penalties for plagiarism under RMIT regulations include:
• recording of a failure for the assignment or course
• cancelling of any or all results
• suspension from the program
• expulsion from the program
Request and Complaint Handling Procedures
Students should see the Course Co-ordinator regarding any requests and complaints. The operating procedures of the University and the Faculty of Business will be adhered to.
University Plagiarism Statement
Plagiarism: the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data and oral presentations. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited.
Example of plagiarism include:
Copying sentences or paragraphs word for word from one or more sources, whether published or unpublished, which could include but is not limited to books, journals, reports, theses, websites, conference papers, course notes, etc. without proper citation;
Closely paraphrasing sentences, paragraphs, ideas or themes without proper citation;
Piercing together text from one or more sources and adding only linking sentences;
Copying or submitting whole or parts of computer files without acknowledging their source;
Copying designs or works of art and submitting them as your original work;
Copying a whole or any part of another student’s work; and Submitting work as your own that someone else has done for you.
Enabling plagiarism: the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work.