Learning outcomes assessed within this piece of work as agreed at the programme level meeting Knowledge:
Knowledge outcome –
1. Develop in depth knowledge some of the specific issues that are currently regarded as critical to the future success of the retail sector
2. And be able to evaluate critically the tactical and strategic responses of retail organisations.
Intellectual /transferrable skill –
3. Apply a wide range of frameworks and techniques to the analysis of complex business situations to inform a range of critical business decisions facing today’s retailers.
4. And demonstrate critical, and independent thinking in the evaluation and synthesis of information.
Type of assessment: Formative Assessment – Feedback provided on one page (500 words)..
Summative Assessment – An individual 3000 words report investigating the response of a number of retailers to a current issue in the retailing industry (100%)
Formative Assessment deadline: 14.00PM, 13th November, 2021.
Instructions for Formative Assessment –
In order to provide some feedback on your work before you write the summative assignment there is a formative task to ensure that you are engaging with the topic and with good quality reading materials. The task requires to produce a draft report plan outlining:
I. The broad topic area that you plan to write your assignment on from the list of topics covered in the module (see below).
II. The key current issues/debates that face retailers in the topic area that you have selected. Your choice of a retailer that you plan to focus the discussion on as a well as a retailer (or retailers) in the same sector that you plan to compare with.
III. The key references and sources that will be used in the assignment.
IV. How you plan to present/ structure your discussion.
Note that the topic of your report must be based one of the topic areas discussed in the module, i.e. one of the issues below faced by retailers:
• Retail Branding
• E-tailing, Omnichannel Retailing, and E-loyalty
• Global Retailing
• Global sourcing
• Shopping Malls and the Future of the High Streets
• Customer Relationship Management and Loyalty
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability
• Social marketing, supply chain issues, and Fair Trade focusing on food
The draft plan must not exceed 500 words in length. The plan should demonstrate your understanding of the key concepts and issues in your topic area.
Please submit your Formative Report plan via Turnitin by 14.00 on 26th February, 2021.
How will we support you with your assessment?
• There will be an assessment briefing in Week 2.
• A formative assessment of 500 words will allow you the opportunity to show your work to date on your essay and obtain formative feedback from your tutor.
• You will receive feedback on formative plans in week 8. This will take the form of written feedback on the formative report plan.
• A dedicated seminar in week 4 to remind students of the requirements of the assessment.
• Links to the assessment throughout your seminars
• Weekly advice on scholarly and context specific resources
• FAQs on Moodle
How will your work be assessed?
Your work will be assessed by a subject expert who will use the marking grid provided in this assessment brief. When you access your marked work it is important that you reflect on the feedback so that you can use it to improve future assignments.
Referencing
You MUST use the Harvard System. The Harvard system is very easy to use once you become familiar with it. Feedback from your presentation slide in week five will identify whether sources are being acknowledged properly.
Assignment submissions
The Business School requires a digital version of all assignment submissions. These must be submitted via Turnitin on the module’s Moodle site. They must be submitted as a Word file (not as a pdf) and must not include scanned in text or text boxes. They must be submitted by 2pm on the given date. For further general details on coursework preparation refer to the online information via StudentZone http://studentzone.roehampton.ac.uk/howtostudy/index.html.
Mitigating circumstances/what to do if you cannot submit a piece of work or attend your presentation
The University Mitigating Circumstances Policy can be found on the University website – it’s important you check the regulations on mitigating circumstances if you find that you cannot submit an essay: Mitigating Circumstances Policy
Marking and feedback process
Between you handing in your work and then receiving your feedback and marks within 20 days, there are a number of quality assurance processes that we go through to ensure that students receive marks which reflects their work. A brief summary is provided below.
• Step One – The module and marking team meet to agree standards, expectations and how feedback will be provided.
• Step Two – A subject expert will mark your work using the criteria provided in the assessment brief.
• Step Three – A moderation meeting takes place where all members of the teaching and marking team will review the marking of others to confirm whether they agree with the mark and feedback
• Step Four – Work at Levels 5 and 6 then goes to an external examiner who will review a sample of work to confirm that the marking between different staff is consistent and fair
• Stop Five – Your mark and feedback is processed by the Office and made available to you.
Grading Criteria
0-19
Fail 20-29
Fail 30-39
Marginal Fail 40-49
Weak 50-59
Competent 60-69
Good 70-79
Excellent 80-100
Outstanding
Content, breadth and relevance of research 35% Little of merit… Unsatisfactory level of knowledge demonstrated.
Content used irrelevant / not appropriate/ to the topic. Very Weak… Limited content / knowledge. Limited or muddled understanding of the topic/question.
limited/ dated range of sources
Some basic knowledge of topic evident. Limited content. Limited/ dated range of sources
Incomplete content / level of knowledge of the topic. Addresses part of the task. Some errors / omissions in content. May benefit from further research Satisfactory… Grasp of the topic & some of its implications presented.
Knowledge & understanding is demonstrated. Minor errors / omissions in content Good… Level of knowledge & understanding demonstrated.
Covers most relevant points & issues.
Few errors / omissions in content. Very good … Level of knowledge & understanding demonstrated.
Evidence of appropriate reading. Covers all relevant points & issues. Excellent… Exploration of topic showing excellent knowledge & understanding through thorough & appropriate research. Impressive choice and range of appropriate content
Level of analysis/application of theory 35%
Little of merit… No analysis evident. Unsatisfactory level of discussion/analysis/critical evaluation &/or reflection
Very poor analysis. Little or no use of theory Relevant issues poorly identified, little use of theory Basic evidence of analysis/ critical evaluation &/or reflection but some points superficially made so need further development. Satisfactory… Level of discussion/analysis/ critical evaluation &/or reflection but more ideas/points could be addressed /developed further Good… Level of discussion/analysis/ critical evaluation &/or reflection & a few ideas/points could benefit from further development &/or evaluation/comparison. Very good level of discussion/analysis/ critical evaluation &/or reflection clearly developing points in the appropriate way with thorough consideration of all possibilities. Excellent… Level of discussion/analysis/ critical evaluation &/or reflection.
Highly developed/ focused work
Conclusion/ Discussion/ policy recommendations 20%
Little of merit… No evidence of appropriate business/policy application & insight Little evidence of business/policy application & insight
Work needs to show better links between practical application & theory. Displays some weak evidence of business/policy application & insight
Work needs to show better links between practical application & theory. Limited business/policy insight & application. Limited integration with theory/ data.
Satisfactory… Grasp of the topic & some of its implications presented.
Knowledge & understanding is demonstrated. Minor errors / omissions in content Good… Level of knowledge & understanding demonstrated.
Covers most relevant points & issues.
Few errors / omissions in content/calculations. Very good … Level of knowledge & understanding demonstrated.
Evidence of appropriate reading.
Covers all relevant points & issues. Excellent… Business/policy insight & application.
Breadth, depth & integration of literature into work.
Presentation-Clarity, structure, grammar, correct referencing 10%
Poor presentation & formatting
Numerous spelling & grammatical errors
Poor structure
Failure to cite references correctly in the main text
No reference list Poor presentation & formatting in most areas
Many spelling & grammatical errors
Poor structure
Inconsistent use of referencing in the main text
Incorrect reference list Inadequate presentation & formatting throughout
A number of spelling and grammatical inaccuracies. Failure to cite all references in the main text. Incomplete reference list Adequate presentation & formatting throughout
Few spelling & grammatical errors
Most references are presented appropriately in the main text
List of references is correct Satisfactory presentation throughout
Few errors in spelling & grammar
Few errors in the referencing of others Good presentation throughout
Good standard of spelling & grammar
Minor errors in the referencing of others Very good presentation throughout
High standard of spelling & grammar
Very good referencing throughout the assignment Excellent presentation throughout
Excellent spelling and grammar
Faultless referencing throughout the assignment