BSS021-3 Business Practice Portfolio

This document outlines Assignment 1 for the Business Practice Portfolio (BSS021-3) unit. Students are tasked with individually producing a 4-page artefact addressing a presented business problem. The artefact must utilize tools, techniques, and approaches, supported by diagrams and data, and employ Harvard referencing. The assignment emphasizes problem-solving skills, project management, and generating realistic solutions. A detailed marking rubric is provided, outlining criteria for selecting and applying frameworks, analysis, evaluation methods, and overall project completion. The assignment contributes 30% to the final grade and is due on January 13th, 2017. Resources include weekly workshops, lecture materials, and library resources.

ASSESSMENT
Business Practice Portfolio
Assignment 1
Assessment Title Assignment 1
Unit Title Business Practice Portfolio
Unit Code BSS021-3 Number of Credits 30
Unit Leader Eliot Lloyd
Assessment Weighting (%) 30%
Issue Date Unit week 1
Submission Deadline 13th January 2017
Procedure for submission Electronic copy via BREO
Expected Return Date 3 working weeks after submission
Description of
Assessment Task This is an individual assessment.
You are required to produce an artefact of no more than 4 pages. This artefact
needs to be closely referenced using Harvard referencing and must clearly
demonstrate the use of the tools, techniques and approaches that you have
used and the outcome of their use. You are expected to illustrate the artefact
with relevant diagrams and data.
You will be presented with a business problem facing a company. The problem
will be presented in weeks 1 and 2 and you will work in groups to understand
the terms of the problem and the expectations of the business partner.
You may work in groups but the submission must be individual and distinct
from any group member’s.

You will use appropriate problem solving methods to identify the key issues
and to propose a realistic solution to the problem.
You must understand what is the scope of the problem and the expectations
of the business partner.
The emphasis of this project will be on developing and demonstrating your
ability to manage the project and produce a realistic solution.
Skills developed in this assignment will help in the successful delivery of
assignment 2.
Threshold standards:
Demonstrate an ability to organise and complete a project and produce
reasonable solutions
Guidelines and Additional Information
 You may form your own study group to discuss the topic. However,
each student is required to submit an individual report, comprising
their own understanding, review, critical analysis and
recommendations regarding the issue that you will be given
 Your report will be well presented and logically organized.
 Good clear presentation using an appropriate structure demonstrating
effort to communicate effectively will result in higher grades.
 You are expected to use quality sources of evidence
 Use of the Harvard referencing style for citing references – see
http://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/guides/a-guide-to-referencing/referencing.
This not only applies to the bibliography but also to in-text references.

Submission deadline:
Submission deadline is 1000 am TBC. The report must be submitted
electronically via BREO.
Please note that no other form of submission will be accepted and failure to
meet the deadline may be regarded as a non-submission
Unit Learning Outcomes assessed: Knowledge and understanding
Demonstrate understanding of tools and techniques for analysing and
evaluating business issues through the use of academic theories and concepts
from a variety of disciplines to aid decision making.
Skills and abilities
Select and apply appropriate tools and frameworks to analyse business issues
so as to generate and evaluate potential solutions.
Word Limit 1,500 words
Format Word document
Resources/Support Available Weekly 2 hour workshops
Lecture material, case study, recommended texts, library resources
Assessment Criteria Please refer to the Assessment Criteria on the Excel Spreadsheet
Peer / Self Assessment Required NO
Details of how feedback will be
provided
BREO

Assignment 1
Marking Criteria
Category
Percentage
Selection and
application of
appropriate
frameworks with
which to
understand the
problem
Use of analysis
with which to
generate realistic
options
Use of evaluation
method with
which to select a
realistic solution
Non-submission 0 NS NS NS
Fail #1-24 No frameworks
are selected or
those that are
selected are not
appropriate for
the task
Minimal analysis,
or analysis that is
largely opinion
based. Inaccurate
or minimal
options
No use of
evaluation
methods
Fail 25-34 No frameworks
are selected or
those that are
selected are not
appropriate for
the task
Minimal analysis,
or analysis that is
largely opinion
based. Inaccurate
or minimal
options
Evaluation is
attempted but no
method is used.
Marginal Fail 35-39 Frameworks
selected are
appropriate but
are not applied
effectively
Analysis is largely
opinion based.
Options are likely
to be weakly
linked to the
analysis.
Evaluation is
attempted but no
method is used
inaccurately.
Satisfactory 40-49 Selection of
frameworks is
There is evidence
that the options
An evaluation
method is chosen

appropriate but
generic. Some
errors in the
application of
frameworks are
shown.
are derived from
the analysis and
are not solely
drawn from
opinion.
and applied but
inaccuracies
appear in its
usage.
Good 50-59 Selection of
frameworks is
appropriate and
clearly selected
after comparison
with alternatives.
Frameworks are
applied in the
correct manner
according to their
design.
Options are
drawn from the
analysis but are
likely to be
obvious or
generic.
An appropriate
method of
evaluation is
selected. Options
are evaluated and
a choice is made.
Evaluation is likely
to be generic and
lacking insight or
originality.
Commendable 60-69 Selection of
frameworks is
appropriate and
clearly selected
after comparison
with alternatives.
Frameworks are
applied in the
correct manner
according to their
design and their
usage leads to
insight
Options are
drawn from the
analysis and will
show differing
perspectives in
the analysis of
the problem.
An appropriate
method of
evaluation is
selected. Likely to
be combined with
another method
to ensure
accuracy. Options
are evaluated and
a choice is made.
Evaluation is likely
to be generic and
lacking insight or
originality.
Excellent 70-79 Selection of
frameworks is
entirely
appropriate and
clearly selected
after comparison
with alternatives.
Selection shows
understanding of
their strengths
and weaknesses
and the
Options are stem
from rigorous
analysis that
examines the
problem from
different
perspectives.
An appropriate
method of
evaluation is
selected. Likely to
be combined with
another method
to ensure
accuracy. Options
are evaluated and
a choice is made.
Evaluation is likely
to be show insight

application
reflects this.
Frameworks are
applied in the
correct manner
according to their
design and their
usage leads to
insight
or originality.
Outstanding 80-100 Frameworks are
selected based on
their
appropriateness
and are likely to
be used in
combination to
add original
insight.
Options are likely
to be incorporate
originality
stemming from
analysis that
examines the
problem from a
range of
perspectives.
An appropriate
method of
evaluation is
selected. Likely to
be combined with
another method
to ensure
accuracy. Options
are evaluated and
a choice is made.
Evaluation is
demonstrates
insight and
originality.