Posted: April 16th, 2015

EBD Summative Assignment 2: The Individual Report (weighting 60%)

EBD Summative Assignment 2: The Individual Report (weighting 60%)

This assignment assesses learning outcomes (a), (b), (e), (h) and (i) from the module specification (these are on page 6 of the module handbook). It focuses on business enterprise in a changing business environment and gives you the opportunity to reflect on the development of your personal enterprise skills. The task is to write a report consisting of the following:

 

1. Skills Analysis

• Compare and contrast the skills required for a placement with the personal enterprise skills you have developed during the EBD module.
• Comment on the difference between personal enterprise skills and an entrepreneurial mind-set. Using information about the placement you have selected, explain how having an entrepreneurial mind-set would be an important factor in doing well in the post.

 

2. The Enterprising Organisation and its Context

• Applying appropriate theory,

1. Assess the extent to which the organisation offering the placement can be considered enterprising.
2. Suggest how innovation and entrepreneurship have contributed or could in the future contribute to their competitive advantage.

• What external factors (including ethical and sustainable dimensions) may have influenced the development of your chosen organisation, either by benefiting or constraining their development?

 

Note that you must choose and use a placement opportunity as the basis for this assignment even if you are NOT intending to undertake a placement.

 

Report structure

The report should have the following structure:

• Front Page – including module title and number, student number (do not include your name), assignment title, word count.
• Contents page
• Main body of the report with side headings,
• A list of references (using Harvard Referencing)

The absolute maximum word-count for the report is 1500 words (excluding appendices). The report should be in the range of 1350 to 1500 words. Everything in the main body of the text (including citations and quotes) is to be included in the word count except for:

• Title page
• Contents page
• List of references
• Appendices

 

Your report must be supported by relevant academic literature and Harvard referencing should be used throughout.

 

Submission

The submission deadline for this summative assessment is 12 noon on Monday 20^th April 2015. Submission will be via an electronic dropbox on NOW and a hard copy handed in at the submissions desk on the 7^th floor Link Lounge of the Newton Building.

A completed submission sheet from the 7^th floor Link Lounge should be attached to the hard copy of your report.

 

Guidance on completing the assignment

Producing a good report entails effective investigation and preparation. This includes:

Placement Research

Use the online placements facility (In-Place, accessible via NOW) to find a placement that interests you. Your EBD seminar in week 31 will give you an opportunity to do this.

Drawing on the information about your chosen placement complete the Placement Opportunity form. This must be attached to you report as an appendix so make sure you keep it.

Organisation Research

Use the information on In-Place about the organisation offering your chosen placement and search the web for further information about it. Note that you must NOT contact the organisation directly. (We have good relationships with these organisations and they expect to deal with us directly only about placements.)

Completing the Skills Audit

Complete your enterprise skills audit. Use this as a basis to reflect on the development of your enterprise skills during the EBD module. You must attach your skills audit to your report as a second appendix.

Compile a list of the knowledge and skills that the employer offering your chosen placement opportunity requires for the post.

Compare you own knowledge and skills with those the employer requires. Identify the specific knowledge and skills requirements that you currently do not have and suggest how you might develop your knowledge and skills to meet the requirements for the placement.

    Using Harvard Referencing

An alphabetical list of sources you have referred to in your report. Harvard referencing is a MUST. For guidance on referencing please see following page on the Library services site:

 

 

Library services link

http://www.ntu.ac.uk/library/developing_skills/referencing_plagiarism/referencing_support/index.html

 

Student Learning Room (via your NOW home page): Visit the Academic skills content section to find further guidance on referencing including:

• Citing References: a guide to NTU Library Harvard style.
• Harvard Referencing Ferret: A self-assessment tool that will test your knowledge of referencing;
• RefWorks guide.

Referencing queries should be directed to the Liaison Librarian for your subject area, who can provide tailored help, support and training.

The library events programme includes training sessions about referencing which you can sign up to attend.

 

Avoiding Plagiarism: Assignments may be checked by software in terms of similarity and plagiarism. Visit here for more information:

 

http://www.ntu.ac.uk/library/developing_skills/referencing_plagiarism/index.html

 

Exploring the literature

 

Core Text

Carter, S. and Jones-Evans, D. (2012) Enterprise and Small Business: Principles, Practice and Policy, 3/E, Pearson Education Ltd

Other (available via the module area on NOW)

Galloway, G., Anderson, M., Brown, W., and Wilson, L. (2005) Enterprise skills for the economy. Education + Training 47 (1) 7-17

Gibb, A. (2007) Enterprise in Education: Educating Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs. Durham University

Henry, S. (2006) Good Practice in Business Development Services: How do We Enhance Entrepreneurial Skills in MFI Clients? Alterna Savings

Jusoh, R., Ziyae, B., Asimiran, S., and Kadir, S.A. (2011) Entrepreneur Training Needs Analysis: Implications on the Entrepreneurial Skills Needed For Successful Entrepreneurs. International Business & Economics Research Journal. 10 (1) 143-148

Ward, A. (2004) Enterprise Skills and Enterprise Learning. Foresight. 6 (2) 104-109