A SSESSMENT 2 BRIEF
Subject Code and Title BIZ304 Business Consulting Project
Assessment 2 Project Phase II is in 2 parts
Part A: Discussion Forum
Part B: Research Report
Individual/Group Part A: Individual
Part B: Group (3-4 students maximum)
Length Part A: 400 words minimum Part
B: 2,000 words each +/- 10%
Learning Outcomes a) Identify the most important parts of a business problem/opportunity and apply a range of problem- solving skills
b) Collaborate with multiple stakeholders on a significant project managing it to completion
c) Develop high levels of Client orientation and professionalism
d) Formulate and communicate effective and innovative solutions and recommendations to business problems/opportunities
Submission For Twelve Week Delivery
Part A: By 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Sunday of Module 4 (week 8)
Part B: By 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Sunday of Module 6 (week 11)
For Six Week Delivery
Part A: By 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Sunday of Module 4 (week 4)
Part B: By 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Sunday of Module 6 (week 5)
Weighting Part A: 15%
Part B: 30%
Total Marks 100 Marks
Context:
This Recommendation Report builds on your earlier work for the Consulting Project (Assessment 1 Phase I: Research Report) where you clearly established the problem/opportunity and researched the Client’s organisation and industry. Having undertaken that research, you are now required to develop your recommendations for the Client.
Industry pays significant amounts of money for high quality consultant recommendations. This project provides a simulated, real-life case to test your ability to deliver sound recommendations that add value to an organisation.
Assessment 3 for this subject requires you to make a presentation of this report. There is a separate Assessment Brief for that undertaking.
In order to develop valuable recommendations for the Client, you will need to properly analyse the data that emerged in Phase I and develop ways to solve the Client’s problem/opportunity. As you are working in a team you will need to collaborate and at different times all members of the group will need to demonstrate leadership. By drawing on the insights and skills of the entire team, you maximise the chances of the end product being effective and innovative.
In formulating your recommendations, you will need to interact with multiple stakeholders including the Client in particular, but also with your learning facilitator, potentially with third party providers of information and with each other. As in industry, in all instances, maintaining professionalism is paramount.
Any contact with the Client (including emails) must first be approved by the Learning
Facilitator.
As Appendices to the report (not included in the word count) the group will be required to provide for each team member one page of feedback (for example, on their leadership, collaboration, professionalism, communication skills etc. during the project). Each page of feedback will be agreed and co-written by all the other team members and cannot be edited by the receiver of the feedback.
The feedback should be constructive, and must include both positive as well as developmental suggestions, with specific examples to support behavioural observations wherever possible. You are encouraged to take notes throughout the term that you can refer to, to facilitate this. Feedback can draw on your experiences in both Assessments 1 and 2.
Instructions:
You are required for Part A to:
• Regularly post your comments (identifying your specific contributions/roles to the project) to the group discussion forum in the Assessments section of Blackboard for your specific group as activities evolve
• Be clear about your personal involvement
• Your lecturer will be assessing your comments to see if you are engaged, showing leadership, encouraging your team and taking specific responsibilities
You are required for Part B to:
I. Clearly introduce the report and its purpose, as well as the key findings from Phase I
II. Acknowledge all stakeholders and data sources, as well as any other important background information or context
III. Utilise relevant theory and tools to develop justifiable, effective and innovative solutions to the Client brief
IV. Refer to specific sections of Phase I of the project where appropriate to validate assertions and generate confidence
V. Effectively communicate why each recommendation is sound and how it will contribute to solving the problem/opportunity
VI. Include relevant and defensible project management timelines, scope, resource requirements and budget for implementing the recommendations (1 page)
VII. Include a short recommended project management task sheet table indicating who from the Client would be responsible for delivering all elements of the plan (1 page)
VIII. Include a summary of key project risks, sensitivities and limitations (1 page)
IX. Include a short outline of a project communications plan as appropriate - including tactics, tools, media and budget (1 page)
X. Provide a high-level plan for measurement and evaluation of the recommendations if implemented (1 page)
XI. Provide a high-level plan for any recommended follow up or further action required (1 page)
XII. Include for each team member a 1-page Appendix of feedback
Submission Instructions:
Submit the group assessment via the Assessment link in the main navigation menu in BIZ304 by the end of week 10 (one submission per group). The facilitator will provide feedback via the Grade Centre in the LMS portal. Feedback can be viewed in My Grades. All members of one group will be awarded the same mark.
You will be assessed on your ability to:
• analyse and problem-solve issues and to develop effective and creative recommendations
• demonstrate Client orientation and a professional approach while addressing the issues/opportunities identified in the Diagnosis Report
• engage and participate collaboratively, consultatively and collegially in the team
Learning Rubric: Assessment 2 Part A
Assessment Attributes Fail (Unacceptable) Pass (Functional) Credit (Proficient) Distinction (Advanced) High Distinction (Exceptional)
Grade
Description
(Grading Scheme)
Fail grade will be awarded if a student is unable to demonstrate satisfactory academic performance in the subject or has failed to complete required assessment points in accordance with the subject’s required assessment points.
Pass is awarded for work showing a satisfactory achievement of all learning outcomes and an adequate understanding of theory and application of skills. A consistent academic referencing system is used and sources are appropriately acknowledged.
Credit is awarded for work showing a more than satisfactory achievement of all learning outcomes and a more than adequate understanding of theory and application of skills. A consistent academic referencing system is used and sources are appropriately acknowledged.
Distinction is awarded for work of superior quality in achieving all learning outcomes and a superior integration and understanding of theory and application of skills. Evidence of in-depth research, reading, analysis and evaluation is
demonstrated. A consistent academic referencing system is used and sources are appropriately acknowledged. High Distinction is awarded for work of outstanding quality in achieving all learning outcomes together with outstanding integration and understanding of theory and application of
skills. Evidence of in-depth research, reading, analysis, original and creative thought is demonstrated. A consistent academic referencing system is used and sources are appropriately acknowledged.
Group Discussion Little information about Some acceptable Information, evidence and Information, evidence Information, evidence
Forum your specific, individual information about your explanations are included and explanations are and explanations are
involvement in the specific, individual showing good specific, included showing very included showing
project team involvement in the individual involvement in good, specific individual proactive and supportive
100% project team the project team involvement in the collaboration with very
project team good, specific individual involvement in the project team
Learning Rubric: Assessment 2 Part B
Assessment Attributes Fail (Unacceptable) 0-49% Pass
(Functional)
50-64% Credit
(Proficient) 65-74% Distinction
(Advanced)
75 -84% High Distinction
(Exceptional)
85-100%
Grade
Description
(Grading Scheme)
Fail grade will be awarded if a student
is unable to demonstrate satisfactory academic performance in the subject or has failed to complete required assessment points in accordance with the subject’s required assessment points.
Pass is awarded for work showing a satisfactory achievement of all learning outcomes and an adequate understanding of theory and application of skills. A consistent academic referencing system is used and sources are appropriately acknowledged.
Credit is awarded for work showing a more than satisfactory achievement of all learning outcomes and a more than adequate understanding of theory and application of skills. A consistent academic referencing system is used and sources are appropriately acknowledged.
Distinction is awarded for work of superior quality in achieving all learning outcomes and a superior integration and understanding of theory and application of skills. Evidence of in-depth research, reading, analysis and evaluation is
demonstrated. A consistent academic referencing system is used and sources are appropriately acknowledged. High Distinction is awarded for work of outstanding quality in achieving all learning outcomes together with outstanding integration and understanding of theory and application of
skills. Evidence of in-depth research, reading, analysis, original and creative thought is demonstrated. A consistent academic referencing system is used and sources are appropriately acknowledged.
Integrates and applies Limited use and Adequate use and Thorough knowledge or Highly developed A sophisticated
theoretical frameworks understanding of knowledge or understanding of the field understanding of the field understanding of the
and models to address required concepts understanding of the field or discipline/s. or discipline/s field or discipline/s
problems and/or and knowledge. Key or discipline
opportunities from the components of the Supports personal opinion Well demonstrated Mastery of concepts and
Research Report assignment are not and information capacity to explain and application to new
addressed substantiated by evidence apply relevant concepts situations/further
20 % from the research/course materials learning
Demonstrates a capacity to explain and apply relevant
concepts
Formulates effective and innovative recommendations that are justifiable
40 % Demonstrates limited awareness of context and/or purpose of the assignment and/or the specific Client brief
Fails to provide
recommendations that are reasonable and/or applicable to the organisation Demonstrates adequate awareness of context and/or purpose of the assignment and/or the
specific Client brief
Provides standard, straightforward or obvious
recommendations only Demonstrates consistent awareness of context and/or purpose of the assignment and/or the
specific Client brief
Provides good recommendations that
reflect skilful analysis and some original thinking Demonstrates an advanced and integrated understanding of context and/or purpose of the assignment and/or the
specific Client brief
Provides advanced recommendations that reflect well developed analysis and original thinking Consistently demonstrates a systematic and critical understanding of context and purpose of the assignment and/or the
specific Client brief
Provides expert recommendations that reflect sophisticated analysis, original thinking and creativity
Project management Limited response to Adequate response to the Well developed response Advanced response to the Sophisticated response to
components (such as the project project management to the project management project management the project management
timelines, scope, management elements listed in the elements listed in the elements listed in the elements listed in the
budget, estimated elements listed in the Assessment Brief Assessment Brief Assessment Brief Assessment Brief
outcomes, Assessment Brief instructions instructions instructions instructions
communication plan, task sheet, risk assessment, evaluation and follow up plans etc.) are thorough, clear and contain appropriate detail
20 % instructions
Includes robust, useful, well supported feedback on each team members’
leadership, collaboration, professionalism and communication skills
during the project
10 % Does not provide useful feedback which is both positive
and developmental
Does not provide
useful, specific examples of behaviours to assist in developing understanding of the feedback
Is superficial and unhelpful to the person receiving the feedback Provides adequate feedback which is both positive and
developmental
Provides some useful, specific examples of behaviours to assist in developing understanding of the feedback
Provide comments that will have some limited usefulness to the person receiving it Provides good feedback which is both positive and developmental
Provides useful, specific examples of behaviours to assist in developing understanding of the feedback, that have good detail and are well linked
to message being made
Provide some helpful insights that will be useful to the person receiving it Provides advanced feedback which is both positive and
developmental
Provides insightful, specific examples of behaviours to assist in developing understanding of the feedback, that are highly detailed and clearly
linked to message being made
Provide multiple helpful insights that will be very useful to the person receiving it Provides expert feedback which is both positive
and developmental
Provides sophisticated, specific examples of behaviours to assist in developing understanding of the feedback, that are highly detailed and expertly
linked to message being made
Provide multiple valuable insights that will be extremely useful to the person receiving it
Professional Unprofessional Adequate presentation, Good presentation, writing Advanced presentation, Expert presentation,
presentation, well presentation, poorly writing and/or and/or referencing writing and/or writing and/or
written and meeting written and/or not referencing referencing referencing
APA guidelines for meeting the APA
referencing
10 % guidelines for referencing
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