Assessment 2– Business Report (in 3 Parts)
Due Date
1. Brief Report Overview (5%) and Annotated Bibliography of 6 references (10%) due week 6 by
th
midnight Monday 28 March uploaded to vUWS = 15%
th
2. Draft Report due week 11 by midnight Friday 6 May uploaded to vUWS = 10%
th
3. Edited Final Report due week 14 by midnight Sunday 29 May uploaded to vUWS = 15%
Aims/Objectives
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To research and investigate the impact of a communication issue to illustrate how theories and issues
studied in the unit can be applied within a real context
To develop an understanding of argumentation, reasoning and persuasion as factors in written
communication
To use primary and secondary academic research skills to gather material
To present the research and make conclusions and recommendations using professional business report
format
To demonstrate professional writing, editing and written presentation skills in a professional document
Assessment Description
Background: You are the employee of a company who has been asked to evaluate the impact of a technology or
issue on aspects of communication within the organization. You need to do this research and present your
findings in a business report (please note, this is NOT an essay), justifying your proposal/outlining your research
and decisions.
In weeks 1-2, your tutor will discuss this assignment with you and ask you to consider selecting from list of
possible topics which are set out below, all of which relate in some way to the themes of this course. The aim is to
research how this issue impacts on a real organization, using some real research plus background reading on the
subject.
Part 1: Annotated Bibliography and Brief Project Overview = 15%: As an initial step, you need briefly
describe the problem and the organisation that your report will address. What is the website/technology you will
be evaluating? How is it used and what kinds of problems does it aim to address? How do you know there is a
problem with the current system/website? How do you think you will go about investigating this: what method(s)
will you use? You will write this up in half-three quarters of a page and include a screenshot of the website or
graphic of the technology.
In order to have some references to help you with your evaluation, you will be instructed on how to use the
Western Sydney University library to gather these. You will complete an Annotated Bibliography of six (6)
references that you could use (see separate details of this in a handout in Week 3). If your summary, selection
of references, writing or bibliographic layout is not done well, you may be asked to revise and resubmit.
Part 2: Draft Report = 10%. You must initially submit a Draft of your report that will be marked and returned to
you with feedback.
Part 3: Final Report = 15%. You must then revise your draft along the lines suggested and resubmit the edited
version.
Assessment Requirements
NOTE 1: This report is not addressed to your tutor but to an appropriate Manager of the organisation
NOTE 2: This is an individual assignment and cannot be done with another student. Plagiarism and collusion will
be subject to academic misconduct action.
NOTE 3: Both your draft and final reports must be uploaded into Turnitin before they are submitted.
Failure to do this will result in your assignment not being marked.
Choose from one of the two scenarios below and apply this to a real organisation. In each case, you will
need to have read about the broader, background issues that relate to this problem.
SCENARIO 1: You are considering introducing a new technology or implementing a major software upgrade for
your company. Research the pros/cons, costs/benefits and compare a range of different product/system options.
Also consider issues such as training, technical implementation etc. and any other factors that you feel are
appropriate. Write a report to your manager outlining your findings and make a recommendation justifying your
decision.
SCENARIO 2: Your company website has been in place for several years now and the boss feels it needs a
facelift. You have been asked to prepare a report examining its effectiveness. Do some background research on
general principles of web design, aesthetics, usability etc. How effective is your company website? What is it
mainly used for and for what audience. Look at its design, layout, functionality, cultural appropriateness, usability
etc. What is good, what is poor, how might it be improved? Prepare a report to your manager, outlining your
findings and making recommendations. You must do some background research from recent literature about what
makes a good website and the particular elements that it should include. You must refer to this background
research to support your analysis and findings.
Your report must include the following parts:
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Title page,
Table of contents
Executive summary
Page numbering
Headings, subheadings and a decimal numbering system e.g.
Executive Summary
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Method
3.0 Discussion (with relevant sub sections)
4.0 Conclusions
5.0 Recommendations
6.0 References (or similar headings)
Text citation of quotations and paraphrases e.g. Smith (2012)
Bibliography using APA style (see APA Style Guide in both the website and vUWS homepage)
Properly referenced and annotated graphs, pictures and/or diagrams
Professionally formatted – assignments should be word processed and set out professionally
Assessment Criteria
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Depth and appropriateness of research – you must have at least six (6) references from a variety of
sources – books, journals, newspapers, web, company publications etc. Those using only internet
references will have marks deducted. All information must be properly referenced using APA conventions
Depth and appropriateness of analysis of the problem/issue. In your analysis/discussion, you must make
reference to your background sources to support your conclusions and recommendations.
Writing style – clarity, language choice, appropriateness, succinctness
Structure and layout – appropriate descriptive headings, professional layout, appropriate use of white
space, readable font, numbering system, page numbers
Appropriate use of the report writing conventions listed above
Editing – punctuation, grammar, spelling. You are encouraged to have someone read through your
assignments before you submit them
Professional layout and formatting
Marking Criteria
Business Report
Part 1: Annotated Bibliography and Brief Project Overview
Research
FAIL/RESUBMIT
PASS
HIGH PASS
CREDIT
DISTINCTION
HIGH DISTINCTION
Background references
are either inappropriately
chosen (no use of
academic databases),
insufficient in number or
do not include the
required reference type
criteria (at least 1 book or
book chapter, 1 academic
journal, 1 newspaper and
1 internet reference).
Annotations are either
missing, too short, poorly
written or not original.
Background references
meet the criteria. Choices
acceptable but may be
either too old or only
basically relevant and
useful. Student
demonstrates only basic
ability to use databases.
Annotations may be very
short and/or not
sufficiently describe the
text and its relevance to
the project.
Background
references mostly well
chosen from credible
sources including
academic databases.
Annotations clearly
describe the text and
its relevance to the
project.
Background
references well
chosen from credible
sources including
academic databases.
Annotations clearly
describe the text and
its relevance to the
project.
Project overview is
reasonable and mostly
well written with few
expression or editing
errors.
Project overview is
well thought out and
well written with very
few expression or
editing errors.
Background references
are extremely well
chosen from highly
credible and timely
sources. There may be
more than the required
minimum number.
Annotations clearly
describe the texts and
their relevance to the
project.
Choice of background
references is
outstanding and
shows a sophisticated
ability to use the
databases. There are
more than the
required minimum
number. Annotations
clearly describe the
texts and their
relevance to the
project.
APA style is very well
used with relatively
few minor errors.
APA style is very well
used with only one or
two minor errors.
Project overview is
missing, too brief or
poorly thought out. Poorly
written with an
unacceptable number of
expression and/or editing
errors.
Use of APA
referencing
style
conventions
APA style is either not
used or is extremely poor
with an unacceptable
number of errors.
Project overview is very
basic, and may be either
inappropriate and/or not
well written with elements
of poor expression and/or
editing.
APA style is reasonably
well attempted but there
may be several minor
errors.
Project overview
demonstrates a well
thought out project that
is relevant and
achievable. Extremely
well written with only
minor expression or
editing errors.
No errors in APA style
Project overview
demonstrates an
extremely well
considered and
relevant project. No
errors of expression
or editing.
No errors in APA
style.
Parts 2 & 3:
Draft and Final Report
FAIL
PASS
HIGH PASS
CREDIT
DISTINCTION
HIGH DISTINCTION
Research
Very little, if any,
primary research
completed.
Secondary research
is either missing or
not used to support
analysis and
conclusions.
Methods are based
on opinion rather
than any primary or
secondary research.
Only the bare
minimum amount of
research and only
minimal use of
secondary research to
back up analysis and
conclusions. The
research methods
used are basic and the
data gathered basic
and obvious. For the
most part relies on
opinion rather than
evidence gathered
from primary research.
A good amount of
research and a
satisfactory understanding
of the problem the report
is aiming to discuss. A
satisfactory amount of
data from a good range of
sources has been
gathered. Research
contains the potential for
insights beyond the
obvious. Frequently,
however, there is not
enough research and too
much personal opinion.
A good amount of
research and a more
than satisfactory and an
above average
understanding of the
problem the report is
aiming to discuss. More
than satisfactory amount
of data from a good
range of sources has
been gathered.
Research contains the
potential for insights
beyond the obvious, but
this has not quite been
achieved.
A superior use of
primary and secondary
research overall which
is used effectively to
support the analysis
and conclusions. A
sophisticated
understanding of the
problem the report is
aiming to discuss.
Initiative shown in your
research and
interesting and
insightful data has
been gathered. Still
some minor areas of
improvement needed
such as a minor need
for additional research,
or an additional
method(s).
Outstanding primary
and secondary
research. A
sophisticated
understanding of the
problem the report is
aiming to discuss.
Initiative shown in
the research and
interesting and
insightful data has
been gathered. The
research contains
the potential for
genuinely innovative
insights.
Content and
analysis
Analysis is either
missing, brief or
unsubstantiated.
Recommendations
are either missing or
inappropriate to the
specific problem or
Analysis is basic and
conclusions and
recommendations are
obvious, not well
argued, convincing or
supported by the
relevant theories or
Analysis is satisfactory but
overall does not
demonstrate much
thought beyond the
obvious. Mostly general
recommendations or
many suggestions could
Analysis is insightful and
above average.
Evidence is used to
support
recommendations, but
still needs more
sophisticated and
Analysis is detailed
and recommendations
are based on a
sophisticated use of
evidence and are
appropriate to the
stated aim of the
Outstanding
analysis that is
detailed and
supported by both
primary and
secondary research
and demonstrates a
Organisation &
Writing
organisation. For
example it may be
the case if your
report is about a
website your
recommendations
are out of step with
industry accepted
best-practice
guidelines.
background research.
apply to a range of issues.
Evidence used
occasionally to support
recommendations, but still
too simplistically.
Recommendations are
reasonable but not
convincing.
innovative ideas.
Recommendations are
useful but need more
thought.
report. There is room
for some improvement;
for instance, perhaps
some
recommendations
need some more
critical thought, or you
overlook some
potential for genuine
insight, or you could be
more detailed at times.
As a result your
recommendations
could still be more
convincing.
well- considered
report. Your content
shows a
sophisticated
understanding of the
theoretical issues.
Recommendations
are both appropriate
to the aim of the
report and also
demonstrate real
insight. A thoroughly
convincing set of
recommendations.
You have not written
in the report format
and/or the
organisation of the
report is illogical or
missing required and
important elements.
The writing is poor,
hard to follow and/or
is not clear. It
contains too many
expression and
editing errors.
Material not
referenced using
APA style or has a
substantial number
of errors.
Organisation and
writing is satisfactory.
You have satisfactorily
followed the report
format and have
mostly used the
required elements
correctly maybe with
occasional errors. The
organisation is
reasonably logical but
could perhaps be
developed. It is likely
that your writing, while
readable and easy
enough to follow,
contains expression
and editing errors. It
Organisation and writing
is of a satisfactory
standard. There are minor
errors in the use of the
report format. The writing
is mostly logical and
mostly easy to follow with
some room for
improvement; for
example, perhaps some
headings need to be
added or more clearly
expressed. A few errors in
APA referencing still
included.
Organisation and writing
is of a more than
satisfactory standard.
Report format used well
The writing is logical and
mostly easy to follow
with still some room for
improvement. Some
minor errors in APA
referencing.
Superior organisation
and writing. You follow
the report format very
well and your writing is
clear, uses
professional style and
is mostly error free. It
is logical and easy to
find all the information
needed. Minor
moments of confused
or weak expression, or
one or two minor typos
or mistakes in your
referencing. With some
work your report would
be good enough to use
in a professional
Outstanding
organisation and
writing. Your report,
theoretically, is good
enough to be used
in a professional
context.
mostly follows the
principles of simple
English outlined in the
unit. Some errors in
APA referencing.
context. No errors in
APA referencing.