Coursework 1 SEMESTER 2 2018/19 MODULE CODE: 7BDIN001W MODULE TITLE: Business Process Integration…
Coursework 1
SEMESTER 2 2018/19
MODULE CODE: 7BDIN001W
MODULE TITLE: Business Process Integration with SAP
DATE AVAILABLE:
SUBMISSION DATE: Thursday 4 th April by 13.00 hours
This assessment is worth 50% of the marks for this module
Submit coursework by the due time and date as instructed on the module blackboard site. You are strongly advised not to leave your hand-in until the deadline as this can result in lateness penalties due to many unforeseen circumstances including queues, PC problems, file problems etc.
Feedback dates are given in the module handbook
THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT. READ THE UNIVERSITY GUIDELINES ON PLAGIARISM TO MAKE SURE YOU COMPLY.
Learning Outcomes addressed
Primarily Learning Outcomes 3 and 4 are addressed in this assignment.
critically appraise the implications of the way in which Enterprise-Wide Systems affect people, processes, structures and operational management, and be able to identify and define potential problems and solutions.
identify and explain the major objectives, critical success factors and characteristics of Enterprise-Wide Systems and their implementation.
Word Count 2000 maximum (as specified by the Coursework length protocol)
A Critical Literature Review
You are required to carry a critical review of peer-reviewed academic articles choosing one of the following areas. Note that the term Supply Chain Management (SCM) here means that if you want to focus on Procurement, this is possible as Procurement may be viewed as part of SCM.
Enterprise wide Systems and Supply Chain Management;
Business Intelligence/Analytics and Supply Chain Management;
Big Data and Supply Chain Management
Information Management and Supply Chain Integration;
Information Management and Change Management (Business Transformation).
Information Management and Supply Chain Management.
New Technology impact on Supply Chain Management
This task requires the selection of a minimum of five (5) articles taken from at least three (3) different journals and different editions where the same journal is selected. THREE of these articles should be original research articles. The other two may be either/both Conceptual papers or Literature Reviews. The length of these articles should be a minimum of eight (8) pages, excluding the references or diagrams. Shorter journals can still be used to support your position or arguments but cannot be included as one of the five core articles.
Within the area of your choice, you will need to focus your Review. For example, New Technology impact on SCM could have a focus on use of automation in warehousing OR a focus on use of IT systems in transport logistics. Business Intelligence and SCM could focus on a new technology such as Block Chain. Do not attempt to cover several areas, choose your focus first.
Students who wish to choose another technology related area and develop a topic from this are welcome to BUT they must get approval from the module leader to ensure the topic relates to the learning outcomes.
It is recommended that when writing on use of technology in Supply Chain, references should be no more than five years old. Where older, you need to show that the source you have cited remains current, for example by showing newer sources are using the older work.
See below page 7 for detailed guidance to conduct a critical review.
Word Count
The length of paper should be between 1500 and 2000 words, exceeding this limit will be penalised, see below, it will be difficult to achieve good marks if below this limit.
Marking Schema
Introduction; 15%
An overview of the topic chosen and the articles chosen, justification, relevance, coherence.
Presentation of Findings 30%
These should be presented as a TABLE showing sources used, Summary of the findings, Methodology (if applicable), Strengths of the Source, Weakness of the Source and a column stating overall relevance of the source.
Critical Analysis; 40%
Gaps in research,
Strengths of the papers,
Weaknesses of the papers,
Value of arguments/findings,
Where should future research focus?
General 15%
Full bibliographic details for each of the core articles
Referencing
[this is separate to the bibliographic details of the core articles]
Structure and Presentation – including use of UK English
Word Count omission/over limit
The length of paper should be between 1500 and 2000 words.
No statement of word length
Deduct 2 marks (an estimate of the word length will be made and if it is over the limit further deductions will be made as below)
1-100 excess words
Deduct 1 mark
101 or more excess words
Deduct 1 mark per 50 words started after the first excess 100
Seriously incorrect statement of word length
Deduct 5 marks and other penalties as above appropriate to the estimated word length.
Format Style layout
Layout Style
The assignment should be presented as a paper of between 1500 and 2000 words in length, excluding appendices and reference list. It should be of a professional academic journal standard and have the following elements:
Front Title Page: with Paper Title, Task, Full Name, Student Number, and Word Count.
Core Literature Review: see also earlier instructions for content and layout;
Reference List: giving details of any sources, in Harvard format, you have used in your research (do not separate the types of sources, and include full details for ALL sources).
Appendices: as required – containing any relevant supplementary material supporting your paper. Note: Appendices do not attract marks and are rarely used in academic papers.
Format to be used:
The paper should be presented in Ariel or Calibri font, 12 point.
Footnotes should be avoided they are not suitable for referencing.
A digital copy of this assessment must be submitted, detailed instructions of how to perform this task will be given on BB and in class.
Notes
‘Text book’ style information may be necessary, but there are no marks for text book quotes, only for your interpretation (and referencing) of such items in the specific context of this case. Marks are given for ability to complete the requirements indicated in the stated Task and the insights you provide, and an appropriate argument with the necessary support and evidence used as proof of your research and analysis.
Electronic Submission of Coursework
Unless explicitly stated otherwise in writing by the module leader, all coursework on this module is submitted via Blackboard only. It will automatically be scanned through a text matching system (designed to check for possible plagiarism).
YOU MUST include your name and student ID on the first page of your assignment.
To submit your assignment:
Log on to Blackboard at http://learning.westminster.ac.uk;
Go to the relevant module Blackboard site;
Click on the ‘Submit Coursework’ link in the navigation menu on the left-hand side, or as advised by the module teaching team;
Click on the link for the relevant assignment;
Follow the instructions.
You will be given details by the module teaching team about how and when you will receive your marks and feedback on your work.
REMEMBER:
It is a requirement that you submit your work in this way. All coursework must be submitted by 13.00 (1pm) on the due date. If you submit your coursework late but within 24 hours or one working day of the specified deadline, 10% of the overall marks available for that element of assessment will be deducted, as a penalty for late submission, except for work which is marked in the range 50 – 59%, in which case the mark will be capped at the pass mark (50%). If you submit your coursework more than 24 hours or more than one working day after the specified deadline you will be given a mark of zero for the work in question. The University’s mitigating circumstances procedures relating to the non-submission or late submission of coursework apply to all coursework.
RUBRIC USED IN MARKING
What is a Critical Literature Review
The literature review should not merely state what has been published but a critique should be carried out. Controversies or disagreements among academics should be spotted and the student should endeavour to take a stand that is logically argued out. Gaps in knowledge, ideas not fully tested and areas for further research can also be spotted from study of existing literature. Used in this way, academic underpinning from literature review can provide question, a research hypothesis or problem to be investigated. Academic underpinning can at so enlighten your investigation, support your methods (including measuring instruments) and provide criteria for evaluating your findings.
Reviewing the Literature
The literature review is very important as a means of establishing what is already known about the topic you are researching, what gaps there are, and what sorts of theoretical frameworks and concepts are currently being used by researchers in the area. Your search and review of the literature should also enable you to refine, and maybe reformulate, the questions that you posed at the outset, and perhaps to identify new ones that can be incorporated. While it is important not to be overawed by the literature, it is also essential to ensure, as far as possible, what is already known.
The process of searching the relevant literature is a means to an end. That end is more than a comprehensive and extensive listing of already published theoretical work and research that is pertinent to your topic or research methodology. These sources need to be related to one another and analysed and evaluated in a critical way (note that’ critical’ does not imply only negativity but rather an evaluation of both strengths and limitations). On any issue of significance views being expressed you will find contrasting seemingly, conflicting evidence being cited and different theoretical perspectives being called in to play. Invariably, it is just these existing contrasts, conflicts and differences which prompt the questions which researchers seek to answer.
One key feature of a critical literature review is to attempt to impose an order on these differences to identify the main protagonist and how they relate to one another and to show which research evidence contributes to which arguments, and why. A further important part of the review process is the scrutiny of the research methodology employed and the form of analysis of the data collected. Do different positions on an issue derive from the nature of the evidence on which they are based and the ways in which that evidence was gathered? Are the conclusions justified on the basis of the evidence available?
In summary, your Literature Review should be:
relevant : to one or more of the research papers each can be seen topics being considered; each text discussed to bear in some significant way upon these questions/hypotheses;
coherent : the discussion of the different texts makes clear their relationships to each other;
forward looking : indicating any gaps in the literature areas for further and/or potential exploration;
analytical and critically reflective : not just a listing and description.
It is important that students do NOT write an essay and the review MUST cover the following in a suitable manner:
The parameters of the research and the inclusion criteria;
The key questions to be pursued;
The keywords to be used (including any modifications during the search period);
Which sources were searched;
The record for each item covered should include:
a description of the research design, methods and purpose (including any missing evidence) and an assessment of its likely reliability
a summary of the research findings (the crux of this approach) of the research
The relevant research should be grouped by question and by type of research (with, for example, survey-based projects grouped and considered together) and the answers to the questions should then be offered;
Final Considerations:
What gaps remain?
Which questions have not been answered or have only been partially answered?
Where should future research be looking?
Achieving your Potential
To achieve a Pass with a mark of 50% to 59%, you must:
Paper Structure
Write a clear literature review;
Demonstrate in writing a basic understanding of the topic;
Include in your paper appropriately selected and arranged reference material;
Quotes and reference sources to an accepted standard.
Paper Content
Presents a suitable literature review;
A good range of sources;
An analysis of the literature reviewed.
To achieve a mark of 60- to 69%, you must:
Satisfy the above plus:
Paper Structure
Write a clear literature review with evidence of analysis;
Demonstrate a depth of understanding of the topic;
Critically analyse and evaluate relevant source material.
Paper Content
Answer the question set, identify issues and propose or develop solutions;
Well structured with all the expected elements;
A critical and well structured review.
To achieve a mark of 70% to 79%, you must:
Satisfy the above plus:
Paper Structure
Bring all of the elements of the answer together into a coherent and critical whole;
Show clear evidence of insight into the topic, to support and act as justification;
Considered and supported for further research opportunities.
Paper Content
Active and critical analysis
Justified and innovative examples projecting the research into the future.
To achieve a mark over 80%, you must
Satisfy the above plus:
Paper Structure
All of the elements must form an appropriately and well presented coherent and critical whole.
Paper Content
Show real insight into the issues, with clear evidence of analytical thinking. e.g. originality in thinking or an innovative approach or proposed solution.
Note that REFER marks (40 – 49) normally indicate either failure to achieve at 50- 59 standard throughout the report OR failure to complete all sections of the report causing loss of marks.
Fail marks (Below 30) are normally awarded for non-submissions or where the standard of work is not achieving refer standard, normally because several of the coursework requirements have not been met.
