Blog

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
1
PAPER CODE EXAMINER DEPARTMENT TEL
SMO103
Chunhou Chang
Ewout van der Schaft
Mengyuan Wang
Xinyi Zhou
Yidong Tao
SMO 6418
1st SEMESTER 2023/24
Introduction to Organisation and Management
Assessed Coursework:
Organisation Case Analysis
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
1. The assignment comprises 30% weight of the final module mark.
2. This is designed as an individual assignment. Please write a case analysis in which
you critically analyse the OB practices of an organisation.
3. The word limit of the case report should be no more than 1200 words.
4. The case analysis must be written in English.
5. The organizaiton case analysis must be submitted on Learning Mall Online by
17:00 (Beijing time), Monday 18th December.
6. The electronic copies should be in MS WORD formats.
7. University policy on late submission will be followed.
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
2
ASSESSED COURSEWORK: Organisation Case Analysis (30% of the module mark).
This assignment has been designed for the following primary purposes. It is an
opportunity for students to demonstrate your achievement of the learning outcomes in
this module. That is, in the process of completing this case analysis, students will need
to critically engage with organisational behaviours knowledge you learned and apply it
into analysing an actual case. In the meantime, during the process of completing this
assignment, students will have the chance to practice the skill of academic writing.
General Guidance:
In the case analysis, you are expected to formulate a report in which you critically
analyse an organisation. The focus of your case analysis should be critically to analyse
the OB practices of one organisation based on two of the listed topics on page 3. The
organisation being analysed in your assignment is of your selection. Remember to
choose an organisation which you are confident in terms of accessing relevant materials,
so that you can have enough resources to base your discussion and analyses on.
When searching for materials for your analysis, you will need to find information to
understand and describe the current circumstances of your chosen organisation.
Consider using the company’s website, other internet sources or other relevant materials
for this part. This information will provide important background context for your analysis.
In addition to the above mentioned, you should also critically engage with relevant
academic materials and try to apply relevant knowledge framework to your analysis. That
means you will need to review and include the discussion of academic literature that is
relevant to the chosen topics of your critical analysis. This is to encourage and provide
opportunity for you to practice evidence-based thinking and arguments. In doing so, you
will provide clear definitions, detailed explanations, and logical justification in your writing.
To facilitate this, it is required that you review at least two reliable academic sources
(preferable from handbooks, review papers, peer-reviewed academic journals, or open
access journals). You should reference and cite these resources in the text, using APA
or Harvard referencing styles.
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
3
To be more specific, you will need to demonstrate in your case analysis:
l Whether your chosen organisation have been practicing effective OB approaches
relating to the topics you choose
l Or if you have identified any issues/challenges/problems relating to the topics you
choose from an OB perspective
l Recommendations for action or change
Relevant Learning Outcomes:
A. Interpret key concepts and theories with regard to individual differences and apply
these appropriately to specific situations.
B. Examine the role and functions of groups and teams in organisations.
C. Identify characteristics of organisations in terms of structure, change and culture.
D. Explain how organisational performance can be improved through the effective use of
Topics:
Understanding and respecting diversity and individual
differences
Paying attention to employees’ job attitudes
Decision making process in the organisation
Encouraging employees’ psychological well-being
Performance management, motivation and creativity
facilitation
Groups and teams dynamic in the organisation
Ways of handling communication, negotiation, and conflict
Identifying the main leadership styles
Creating and organising job design
Looking at organisational structure and organisational culture
Adapting to change and stress
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
4
human resources.
Submission and formatting guideline:
The DEADLINE for submission is 17:00 (Beijing time), Monday 18th
December, 2023. Please complete your submission through Learning Mall
Online (LMO). Close to the deadline, there will be a section set up
exclusively for the submission of this assignment.
Please use the cover sheet for this assessment task uploaded on Learning
Mall Core (the format is also attached at the end of this task sheet) as the
first page of your report.
In the text, please set your font to size 12, and use 1.5-line spacing.
Please do abide by the deadline stated above. Late submissions will be
subjected to penalties according to the university’s late submission policy for
coursework.
Please submit this case analysis using Microsoft Word file formats so that
your assessors can see the correct formatting you set for your assignment
and directly provide feedback on the document.
Please set the filename according to the following format when you submit:
The file name should begin with the module code, then your student ID,
followed by organisation case analysis. For example, SMO103_1234567_
organisation case analysis.docx
Plagiarism of any form will not be tolerated. For more guidelines regarding the
issues of plagiarism and relevant penalties, please refer to the University policy
and the module handbook. Before you submit, please utilize Turnitin anti
plagiarism software to check the originality of your work against plagiarism.
Word Limits:
Please make sure to manage the word counts of your case report to 1200 words
(+/– 10% is allowed). The word limits are exclusive of the cover/title page as well as
footnotes, graphs, tables, appendices, and reference lists. Please be reminded to
arrange your writing with consideration of the suggested weighting of each section (See
the next section “Structure Guide” for more information). Especially for the
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
5
Introduction part where you need to illustrate the background of your chosen
organisation, try to keep this within 250 words. It is strongly recommended that you focus
your effort on critically analysing the case.
Please state clearly on the title page an honest and accurate total word count. Both
exceeding the word limit or having less content than the word limit will result in deduction
of 5% of your coursework mark. Please know that this could substantially affect the mark
you receive. So please make sure to manage the word limit well J
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
6
Structure guide:
The table below shows a suggested exemplar on how you may consider structuring your
case analysis. The following proposed structure should be seen as a general guide.
Remember to adapt it flexibly and incorporate individual sections or sub-sections according
to your need for more clarity.
Section Potential contents and some suggestions
Cover and Title Page l Cover sheet including the Title of the report, Student name,
Student ID, Department details…etc.
Introduction (15%) l Provide the background and context of your chosen
organisation.
l Introduce the motivation and relevance of your chosen
topics in the OB field.
l In this section you can explain and justify why you choose
to analyse these two aspects/topics of an organisation.
l Another function of the introduction is to signpost your
reader. A brief overview of the structure of your report here
would help to inform your reader of what is to come.
Literature
Review (25%)
l Demonstrate your understanding of the current body of
knowledge relating to the two topics you chose and how
that relates to your analysis of the chosen organisation.
l Strive to incorporate and summarize what is already known
about the topic, provide clear definitions of key concepts
and terms, outline key findings, and explain key theory that
inspire your analysis…etc.
Analysis of the
Practices of Your
Selected Organisation
(40%)
l From the OB perspective, apply your understanding of two
topics to critically analyse the relevant OB practices in the
organisaiton you choose.
l According to the materials you collected, write analytically
about the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation’s
approach:
1. If any, the OB practices in the organisation that
matches you understanding of effective OB
approaches.
2. If any, the issues/challenges/problems you identify for
the organisation
l Please remember to develop a critical analysis by providing
your own arguments and evaluations, and preferably
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
7
support them by referring to the academic resources you
found.
Recommendations
and Conclusions
(15%)
l Describe what are the potential and intended contributions
of your analysis.
l Based on your analysis, try to give some recommendations
to the managers of your chosen organisation.
1. What practices and approach are worthy of
maintaining
2. What can be done to overcome the organisational
challenge(s) and help them move forward
l Provide a brief overall summary of what has been
discussed in your case analysis.
References (5%) l Formulate a bibliography to list all the references you have
cited in the text using APA or Harvard style of referencing.
Other components to pay attention to:
l You are encouraged to structure your writing through using section and sub_xfffe_section headings.
l According to University marking criteria, partial marks of this assignment will be
determined by the clarity of presentation, organisation and structure of the
report, writing style and ease of reading, grammar and spelling, correctness of
referencing and the persuasiveness of your overall arguments (so please try
your best to demonstrate clear and logical reasoning, coherence and precision
in your writing.)
Grading: The organisation case analysis will be marked according to the University marking
criteria attached in the next pages. The indicative total marks available for each section of the case
analysis are listed above.
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
8
Knowledge and
Understanding Intellectual Skills Transferable Skills
100% The best answer that could reasonably be expected from a student at that level of
study under the prevailing conditions (i.e. exam or coursework)
90-99%
‘Outstanding’
Total coverage of the task
set. Exceptional
demonstration of
knowledge and
understanding
appropriately grounded in
theory and relevant
literature.
Extremely creative and
imaginative approach.
Comprehensive and
accurate analysis. Well argued conclusions.
Perceptive self assessment.
Extremely clear
exposition. Excellently
structured and logical
answer. Excellent
presentation, only the
most insignificant errors
80-89%
‘Excellent’
As ‘Outstanding’ but with
some minor weaknesses or
gaps in knowledge and
understanding.
As ‘Outstanding’ but slightly
less imaginative and with
some minor gaps in
analysis and/or conclusions
As ‘Outstanding’ but
with some minor
weaknesses in
structure, logic and/or
presentation.
70-79%
‘Very Good’
Full coverage of the task
set. Generally very good
demonstration of
knowledge and
understanding but with
some modest gaps. Good
grounding in theory.
Some creative and
imaginative features. Very
good and generally accurate
analysis. Sound
conclusions. Some self assessment.
Generally clear
exposition. Satisfactory
structure. Very good
presentation, largely
free of grammatical and
other errors.
60-69%
‘Comprehensive’
As ‘Very Good’ but with
more and/or more significant
gaps in knowledge &
understanding and some
significant gaps in grounding
As ‘Very Good’ but analysis
and conclusions contain
some minor weaknesses.
As ‘Very Good’ but with
some weaknesses in
exposition and/or
structure and a few more
grammatical and other
errors.
50-59%
‘Competent’
Covers most of the task
set. Patchy knowledge
and understanding with
limited grounding in
literature.
Rather limited creative
and imaginative features.
Patchy analysis containing
significant flaws. Rather
limited conclusions. No
self-assessment.
Competent exposition
and structure.
Competent
presentation but
some significant
grammatical and
other errors.
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
9
40-49%
‘Adequate’
As ‘Competent’ but patchy
coverage of the task set and
more weaknesses and/or
omissions in knowledge and
understanding. Just meets
the threshold level.
As ‘Competent’ but
probably without much
imagination. Shows barely
adequate ability to analyse
and draw conclusions. Just
meets the threshold level.
As ‘Competent’ but with
more weaknesses in
exposition, structure,
presentation and/or
errors. Just meets the
threshold level.
35-39%
‘Compensatable
fail’
Some parts of the set task
likely to have been omitted.
Major gaps in knowledge
and understanding. Some
significant confusion. Very
limited grounding. Falls just
short of the threshold
level.
No creative or imaginative
features. Analysis and
conclusions rather limited.
Falls just short of the
threshold level.
Somewhat confused
and limited exposition.
Confused structure.
Some weaknesses in
presentation and
some serious
grammatical and other
errors. Falls just short
of the threshold level.
20-34%
‘Deficient’
As ‘Compensatable Fail’
but with major omissions
and/or major gaps in
knowledge and
understanding. Falls
substantially below the
threshold level.
As ‘Compensatable Fail’
but analysis and/or
conclusions may have
been omitted. Falls
substantially below the
threshold level.
As ‘Compensatable Fail’
but with more serious
weaknesses in
presentation and/or
grammar. Falls
substantially below the
threshold level.
0-20%
‘Extremely weak’
Substantial sections of the
task not covered.
Knowledge &
understanding very limited
and/or largely incorrect. No
grounding in theory.
No creative or imaginative
features. Analysis
extremely weak or omitted.
No conclusions.
Largely confused
exposition and structure.
Many serious
grammatical and other
errors.
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
10
XI’AN JIAOTONG-LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY
西 交 利 物 浦 大 学
ORGANISATION CASE ANALYSIS SUBMISSION: COVER SHEET
Student ID
Student Name
Module Title Introduction to Organisation and Management
Module Code SMO103
Assignment Title (write the title you have chosen for your report here)
Submission Deadline 17:00 (Beijing time), Monday 18th December
Examiners Chunhou Chang, Ewout van der Schaft, Mengyuan Wang, Xinyi Zhou,
Yidong Tao
By uploading or submitting this coursework submission cover sheet, I certify the following:
I have read and understood the definitions of PLAGIARISM, COLLUSION, and the FABRICATION Of
DATA, as outlined in the Undergraduate Student Handbook of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
and as posted on the University Website.
This work is my own, original work produced specifically for this assignment. It does not
misrepresent the work of another person or institution as my own. Additionally, it is a
submission that has not been previously published, or submitted to another module.
This work is not the product of unauthorized collaboration between me and others.
This work is free of embellished or fabricated data.
I understand that PLAGIARISM, COLLUSION and the FABRICATION OF DATA are serious
disciplinary offences. By uploading or submitting this cover sheet, I acknowledge that I am
subject to disciplinary action if I have been found to have committed such acts.
Signatures: (Please sign or type your name here as agreement to the above declaration)
Date:
For Academic Office
use only :
Date Received Days Late Penalty
Word count:
Please use this cover sheet as the first page of your report.