A.  Create a document, as the new customer service manager, to help your team understand the four domains of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management) by doing the following:

1.  Introduce yourself as the new customer service manager to your team, focusing on one of the six company values provided in the scenario.
2.  Discuss how you and your team will use one of the following elements of self-awareness in your daily interactions:

•   emotional awareness

•   accurate self-assessment

•   self-confidence

3.  Discuss how you and your team will use one of the following elements of self-management in your daily interactions:

•   emotional self-control

•   transparency

•   adaptability

•   achievement

•   initiative

•   optimism

4.  Discuss how you and your team will use social awareness to practice empathy in your daily interactions.

a.  Discuss how unconscious bias may affect ethical decision-making on your team.

b.  Describe two types of cognitive bias, including an example of each bias.

5.  Discuss how you and your team will use one of the following elements of relationship management in your daily interactions:

•   influence

•   coaching and mentoring

•   conflict management

•   teamwork

•   inspirational leadership a.  Discuss how you will create a culture of care within your team.

6.  Explain why you and your direct reports will use at least one of the four domains of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management) to be effective as a team.

B.  Acknowledge sources, using in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.

C.  Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.

A.  Complete the VIA Character Strengths Survey using the “VIA Character Strengths Survey” web link and use the results of the survey to complete the following:

Note: Remember that this VIA Character Strengths Survey is not a test but rather a feedback tool. There is no wrong answer, so respond genuinely. If you download a copy of your survey results, you will receive a list of 24 items in order of your personal strengths, with the first five being your signature strengths and the last five being your lesser strengths. Refer to the attached “D253 VIA Character Strength Survey Instructions” supporting document for additional information on accessing the survey.

1.  Describe an experience in which you used one of your five signature strengths (i.e., the first five) from the survey results to overcome a challenge.

Note: Consider experiences from a school, volunteer, personal, or professional setting.

a.  Explain how you could apply the strength identified in part A1 as a values-based leader in your new position as the customer service manager from the scenario.

2.  Describe an experience in which being stronger in one of your five lesser strengths (i.e., the last five) from the survey results could have positively influenced the outcome.

Note: Consider experiences from a school, volunteer, personal, or professional setting.

a.  Explain how improving the lesser strength identified in part A2 will help accelerate your values-based leadership abilities in your new position as the customer service manager.

b.  List three actions you can take to grow in the area identified in part A2.

B.  To set the tone for your new team, explain to them who you are as a values-based leader by doing the following:

1.  List your top three values as a values-based leader from the “List of Values” web link.

Note: When listing your top three values, consider those values you hold most important.

a.  Explain how you will demonstrate each of the values listed in part B1 to serve both the team and the organization in the scenario.

C.  Based on your understanding of who you are as a leader after completing parts A and B, do the following:

1.  Discuss one leadership challenge relevant to ethics and values that you could face as the new customer service manager regarding selecting and announcing the new team lead.

Note: Consider your purpose as a new leader, ethical principles, relevant stakeholders, your expectations and point of view, and any assumptions you have made.

2.  Discuss how you, as the customer service manager, would use one of your top three values from part B1 and one of the company’s values in a conversation about the hiring decision with the person who was not selected as the team lead.

Note: Consider values, ethical responsibility, and personal and professional consequences.

D.  Acknowledge sources, using in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.

E.  Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.

Academic Experts

23 Jun 2026 • 6 min read

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A	SSESSMENT 1 PART A BRIEF
Subject Code and Title	SDR404 Self-Care and Developing Resilience
Assessment	Reflective Journal. Part A: Critical Reflection.
Individual/Group	Individual
Length	300 words (+/- 10%)
Learning Outcomes	The Subject Learning Outcomes demonstrated by successful completion of the task below include: a)  Critically reflect on personal strengths and vulnerabilities   d)      Recognise symptoms of burnout and examine how they apply to you as a professional and for your clients   e)       Design and justify a personal self-care strategy to minimise burnout and absenteeism
Submission	Due by 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Sunday end of Module 4 (Week 4)
Weighting	10%
Total Marks	100 marks

Task Summary

Using the personal reflective journal you have been asked to write since Week 1, critically reflect on your strengths and vulnerabilities. Compile a 300-word introductory reflection on a personal self- care strategy. This strategy should seek to address your own self-care needs as a professional, in order to help prevent, or to help move you beyond, burnout in your working context. You will then apply your self-care strategy developed in Assessment 1 Part A to later complete a reflexive evaluation in Assessment 1 Part B.

Context

This course has so far confirmed key concepts found in the practice of the helping professions: stress, empathy, resilience and self-care. This task requires you to identify your personal strengths and vulnerabilities, and been given a grounding in the challenges of professional burnout and compassion fatigue. You will also have been provided with tools and strategies to build awareness of your personal self-care needs.

This assessment is designed to draw your attention to a deeper awareness of the strengths and vulnerabilities inherent in who you are, and the self-care needs this implies in a professional context. The aim is to develop effective strategies to help you remain healthy in mind, body and spirit as you work in your chosen profession.

Task Instructions

During the learning modules of this subject, you will create a personal journal in which you regularly enter written reflections that help you to process your experience of this subject and relate your new knowledge to your wider life. This journal will be for your eyes only, but will form the basis of material with which you will be able to complete Assessment 1, Parts A & B.

Step 1: Examine reflective journal entries

Critically examine your weekly journal reflections on personal strengths and vulnerabilities, as they relate to your professional context.

See the document titled ‘Helpful Tools for Reflection’, found in Assessment 1 information area to guide the reflective process.

Step 2: Critical Reflection Write up

Formulate a 300-word self-care strategy proposal that addresses your personal needs as a helping professional. The aim for your self-care strategy is to build your resilience, and overcoming or avoiding burnout.

Perhaps you have already identified contexts in which you feel challenged or lacking in sufficient emotional resources. Alternatively, maybe you have reflected upon past experiences that may be useful to draw upon in the future. Draw upon current theories and models found in literature and presented in your weekly module learning to inform your self-care strategy proposal.

You will apply your self-care strategy over the following weeks and write about this experience in your weekly journals. For Assessment 1 Part b, you will conclude with a reflexive evaluation of your self-care strategy.

Referencing

It is essential that you use appropriate APA style for citing and referencing research. Follow the APA referencing guidelines according to the current Torrens University Academic Writing Guide.

Submission Instructions

Submit your Assessment 1, Part A Critical Reflection via the main navigation menu in SDR404: Self- Care and Developing Resilience. The Learning Facilitator will provide feedback via the Grade Centre in the LMS portal. Feedback can be viewed in My Grades.

Academic Integrity Declaration

I declare that except where I have referenced, the work I am submitting for this assessment task is my own work. I have read and am aware of Torrens University Australia Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure viewable online at http://www.torrens.edu.au/policies–and–forms

Tips on Reflective Writing:

Reflective cycle stages:

1)  Describe a significant trigger and how it may have felt

2)  Evaluate and interpret your thoughts, feelings or behaviour

3)  Analyse and make conclusions

4)  Plan for the future

Reflective Writing – First Person:

You will be writing in the first person and using reference citations in areas of your writing too for this critical reflective piece.

When describing your reflections you can write in the first person, because this is about YOU, your reflections and your interpretations. (e.g. “I considered this advice to be…..

because it had a big impact on my……..and it helped me to understand my… ………”). Try to be as specific as possible, use brief examples to illustrate your points and try to select examples that enable you to demonstrate learning against the attributes in the rubric.

The next step is to merge your understanding of what the literature reveals that add to your personal reflections. When backing up your personal reflective understanding, with outside sources, all other principles of academic writing apply including strict referencing and acknowledgement of the work of others to avoid plagiarism.

Assessment Rubric

 

Assessment Attributes	Fail (Yet to achieve minimum standard) 0-49%	Pass (Functional) 50-64%	Credit (Proficient) 65-74%	Distinction (Advanced) 75-84%	High Distinction (Exceptional) 85-100%
Knowledge and understanding of the concepts of self-care, resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue Describe a significant trigger and how it may have felt       Percentage for this criterion = 30%	Demonstrates an inadequately developed understanding of the key concepts of self-care, resilience, and burnout and compassion fatigue. Not yet competent in Identifying an emotional trigger or describing how could impact self-care, development of resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.	Demonstrates a functional knowledge of the key concepts of self-care, resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.   Identifies an emotional trigger (s). Does not describe fully how could impact self- care, development of resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.	Demonstrates proficient knowledge of the key concepts of self-care, resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.   Outlines an emotional trigger (s) and describes on how could impact either/or self-care, development of resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.	Demonstrates advanced knowledge of the key concepts of self-care, resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.   Outlines a significant emotional trigger (s) and describes how could impact self-care, development of resilience and potential for burnout and compassionate fatigue.	Demonstrates exceptional knowledge of the key concepts of self-care, resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue.   Discerningly identifies a significant emotional trigger and describes clearly how could impact self-care, development of resilience and potential for burnout and compassionate fatigue.
Evaluates concepts of self-care, resilience, burnout and compassion fatigue   Evaluate and interpret your thoughts, feelings or behaviour Analyse and make conclusions Percentage for this criterion = 30%	Has not assessed thoughts, feelings and behaviour or weighed up these in relation to personal opinion, theories or models found in literature.	Has considered personal thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Has not weighed up these in relation to theories or models found in literature.	Has thought carefully on personal thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Has analysed these in context with some theories or models found in literature.	Has thought carefully on personal thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Has identified and explained the relationship of these in context with relevant theories or models found in literature.	Has reflected carefully on personal thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Has weighted up the relationship of these in context with relevant theories or models found in literature, and assessed strength of this evidence from both sides.

 

Demonstration of planning to apply a self-care strategy for building resilience, avoiding burnout and compassion fatigue in a professional context. Plan for the future   Percentage for this criterion = 30%	A self-care strategy is not proposed fully. Observations about self are superficial and undeveloped for the purpose of application in a professional context.	A self-care strategy is proposed, however lacking evidence of self-awareness applicable to professional practice.	A self-care strategy is proposed. Applies concepts for the purpose of creating a personalised self-care strategy. A depth of critical reflection is yet to be fully formed.	A self-care strategy is proposed. Shows excellent ability to synthesise knowledge and insight to develop personalised self-care strategies supported with evidence of critical analysis.	A self-care strategy is proposed. Highly sophisticated critical reflection skills Well justified connections between the theory and practice of self-care in a professional context.
Correct citation of key resources and evidence Percentage for this criterion = 10%	Demonstrates lack of good quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop ideas Referencing is omitted or does not resemble APA.	Demonstrates use of credible and relevant resources to support and develop ideas, but these are not always explicit or well developed Referencing resembles APA with frequent or repeated errors.	Demonstrates consistent use of credible resources to support and develop ideas     Referencing resembles APA with occasional errors .	Demonstrates use of good quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop arguments and statements Referencing is free from errors and always adheres to APA format.	Demonstrates use of high- quality, credible and relevant resources to support and develop arguments and position statements   Referencing is free from errors and always adheres to APA format.

 

	The following Subject Learning Outcomes are addressed in this assessment
SLO a)	Critically reflect on personal strengths and vulnerabilities
SLO d)	Recognise symptoms of burnout and examine how they apply to you as a professional and for your clients
SLO e)	Design and justify a personal self-care strategy to minimise burnout and absenteeism

Palliative & End‑of‑Life Care Scenario – Leading Compassionate Conversations

Setting: Hospice inpatient unit.

Scenario:

A 58‑year‑old woman with metastatic ovarian cancer is deteriorating. Her family is distressed and disagree about whether she should be transferred to hospital for “more treatment.” The patient previously expressed a wish to remain in the hospice. The nurse in charge asks you to support the family while she prepares anticipatory medications.

Tips & hints:

The theme is Leading compassionate conversations in this scenario. Think about the below points.

·        Leadership behaviours- are they calm and supportive, how is the communication, is there empathy, is the family members values respected.

·        compassionate conversations, acknowledgement of emotions and fears without judgement, what about patient’s wishes?

·        Maintaining patient-centred care- think about patient preferences, patient autonomy. Does care align with patient values? Is there advocacy for dignity and quality of life in end-of-life care.

·        Managing family conflict

·        Communication skills/emotion support

 

Assignment structure (7 sections)

1.     Introduction (overview)

2.     Patch 1: Leadership for Quality Care in Adult’s nursing (Address LO1)

3.     Patch 2: Appraising Evidence to Shape Leadership Decisions (Address LO2)

4.     Patch 3: Health Economics, Resource Allocation, and Quality Care (Address LO3)

5.     Patch 4: Policy, Legislation, and Leadership in Complex Contexts (Address LO4)

6.     Conclusion (Reflective thread)

7.     References

 

 

1.     Introduction (overview)

·        Introduce your scenario

·        Introduce the purpose of the patchwork

·        Briefly introduce quality care and leadership

 

2.     Patch 1: Leadership for Quality Care in Adult’s nursing (Address LO1) (600 words)

·        Must meet the learning outcomes: LO1: Critically analyse the leadership and management required for effective quality care in adult’s nursing, and how this is applied in practice.

·        Define leadership and quality care in the context of adult’s nursing.

·        Identify the leadership style(s) used and explain their impact on service delivery.

·        Use evidence from literature to support your discussion of leadership and quality Care

Tips & hints: (please see the canvas page for information on how to appraise evidence)

Define the leadership and quality of care.

Identify the type of leadership/styles at play in this scenario. Think about leadership styles of the different professionals, their behaviour and the decisions they are making in the scenario. What are the negative impacts on quality of care. Think about compassionate leadership & what are the values of this leadership. Think about communication styles & environment to ensure this patient needs are met. Think about ineffective leadership. Think about clinical leadership and ethical awareness. Think about compassionate leadership and this scenario- what are the related values? What approaches influence service delivery through advocacy.

Read and inform yourself adequately.  Make sure that you include only credible resources to support your discussion. This point is applicable to the patch 3 too.

 

3.     Patch 2: Appraising Evidence to Shape Leadership Decisions (Address LO2) (500 words)

·        Must meet the learning outcomes: LO2: Demonstrate critical analysis skills when appraising evidence of literature from a variety of quality sources.

·        Critically appraise a body of evidence (e.g., academic articles, research studies)

related to leadership.

·        Highlight both strengths and limitations of the evidence reviewed.

·        Make connections between evidence and its impact on quality care.

Tips & hints:

·        Think about how evidence shapes leadership decisions.

·        Have you heard professionals/leaders saying ‘it is my intuition’ or ‘ gut feeling’ or this is the way I have always done it’ but evidence-based leadership is data-driven practice.

·        Evidence does not speak for itself; leaders interpret and apply it. Evidence has to be evaluated. Leaders make informed decisions.

·        Evidence can be scientific literature, internal organisational data such as survey data. Patient satisfaction/performance metrics/engagement surveys.

·        Evidence helps leaders to make based on measurable evidence. Performance improvements are made based on evidence to close the gap.

·        Recurrent low-harm incidents are a significant safety signal Learning, not investigation volume, is the goal under PSIRF.

·        Why patterns matter: Patterns indicate system-level weaknesses. Repetition suggests ineffective learning loops, PSIRF encourages proportionate, themed learning responses

·        Appropriate evidence sources: Incident trend data and audits, Research on medication interruptions and staffing ratios, NICE guidance on medicines optimisation – Human factors literature

·        Critical appraisal (what good looks like): Strengths- large datasets, systematic reviews, real-world relevance. Limitations: context specificity, implementation challenges, time lag between evidence and practice

·        Leadership use of evidence: Prioritising improvement actions based on risk. Designing system changes (e.g. protected medication rounds) – Avoiding individual blame narratives

·        Quality improvement link – Evidence-informed leadership supports safer systems. Improves patient experience and staff confidence

·        Explicitly critique the evidence, not just describe it. What criteria will you use to judge whether each research study is high quality and credible? How do you determine whether evidence from external research applies to your hospital’s context? Which evidence sources (systematic reviews, guidelines, qualitative studies) carry the most weight—and why? Where do you see potential bias in the literature provided? Is there any missing evidence that would help you make a more informed leadership decision? How will you reconcile contradictory findings across different research sources?

 

4.     Patch 3: Health Economics, Resource Allocation, and Quality Care (Address LO3) (600 words)

·        Must meet the learning outcomes: LO3: Critically analyse the need for change and the impact of health economics and resource allocation in the provision of safe and effective care for adults.

·        Using the case study given, discuss how leaders may balance resource allocation or

health economics.

·        Discuss how leaders balanced resource constraints with the need to deliver high-

quality care.

·        Link financial considerations with the broader concept of care quality.

·        Use evidence or literature to support your argument.

Tips & hints:

Family disagreement and distress highlight the need for improved communication pathways and consistent advance‑care‑planning processes. Confusion about the patient’s wishes shows a need for stronger documentation, DNACPR discussions, and advance directives. Emotional strain on staff indicates a need for enhanced training in compassionate leadership and end‑of‑life communication.

Leaders must balance limited hospice resources (beds, staff time, symptom‑management capacity) with pressures from families requesting hospital transfer. Preventing unnecessary hospital admissions avoids additional cost to the system while honouring patient‑centred care. Even with limited personnel, leaders ensure high‑quality care by prioritising the patient’s comfort, dignity, and stated preferences.

Leaders coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to manage workload effectively while still providing emotional support to the family. Preparing anticipatory medications ensures symptom control, maintaining quality of care despite operational pressures. Avoiding inappropriate hospital transfers reduces unnecessary healthcare spending and ensures care aligns with the patient’s goals. High‑quality end‑of‑life care in the hospice prevents costly interventions that offer no clinical benefit. Investment in staff communication training improves family satisfaction and reduces conflict, improving overall care value.

Allocating staff time for compassionate family support is essential despite workload and staffing pressures.

         5. Patch 4: Policy, Legislation, and Leadership in Complex Contexts (Address LO4) (500 words)

·        Must meet the learning outcomes: LO4: Demonstrate application of relevant policy, legislation, and guidance that influences care delivery in complex and unpredictable contexts.

·        Identify a relevant policy or legislation that influences leadership decisions in

complex and unpredictable contest (i.e. safeguarding).

·        Highlight the impact of legal frameworks on care delivery.

·        Provide evidence from literature or case studies to support your analysis.

Tips & hints:

Mental Capacity Act (2005): The patient previously expressed a wish to remain in the hospice; leaders must uphold her autonomy and previously stated preferences through advance‑care‑planning principles. The NHS Constitution: Requires respect for patient choice, dignity, and end‑of‑life wishes, guiding leaders when families request conflicting interventions.

End‑of‑Life Care NICE Guidelines (NG31): Direct care teams to prioritise comfort, symptom control, and communication with families in deteriorating patients. Duty of Candour: Supports open, honest discussions with families about prognosis, realistic treatment options, and the limits of further interventions.

Ensures patient choice overrides family disagreement, providing clarity for staff in complex emotional situations. Creates a framework for legal, ethical decision‑making when families demand treatment that is not clinically appropriate. Supports safe care by guiding use of anticipatory medications, focusing on symptom management rather than futile treatment.

Helps staff maintain consistent standards, reducing moral distress and supporting unified team practice during conflict.

         6.Conclusion and reflection (200 words)

·        Reflect on the role of leadership and how they shape decision-making in your area of practice.

·        Discuss how evidence-based practice informs your leadership approach, ensuring that decisions are not only driven by values but also by research and data.

·        Synthesize how these elements (values and evidence) have influenced your understanding of quality care, policy, resource allocation, and health economics in healthcare.

·        Consider how you will apply these insights in your future practice.

Tips & hints:

So, after gaining the knowledge by addressing the four learning outcomes, bring the ideas together, show relationships between them, and explain how they collectively shape your understanding and your practice. Discuss about how evidence‑based practice supports leaders in making decisions that are justified and transparent, selecting interventions known to be clinically effective/of quality, improving consistency and evaluating outcomes systematically.

Group Assignment

Assessment Details and Submission Guidelines

Assessment Details	Details
Trimester	T1 2026
Unit Code	HM5002
Unit Title	Finance for Managers
Assessment Type	Individual Assignment
Weight	40%
Submission Guidelines	All work must be submitted on Blackboard by the due date along with a completed Assignment Cover Page. The assignment must be in MS Word format unless otherwise specified.
Academic Integrity Information	Holmes Institute is committed to ensuring and upholding academic integrity. All assessments must comply with academic integrity guidelines. Please learn about academic integrity and consult your teachers with any questions. Violating academic integrity is serious and punishable by penalties that range from deduction of marks, failure of the assessment task or unit involved, suspension of course enrolment, or cancellation of course enrolment.
Penalties	This assessment must be submitted on Blackboard by the due date and time, as late penalties apply (refer Student Handbook). Assessment submitted without a completed Assessment Cover Page will receive a 20% penalty. This assessment must be submitted in Microsoft Word format. Submissions which breach this requirement will receive a 20% penalty. A 20% penalty will be imposed for all single student (solo) group assessment submissions. Assessments submitted via a VPN will receive a 50% penalty. Assessment submitted via an overseas IP address is a direct breach of Holmes’ Student Academic Conduct and Integrity Policy. Reference sources must be cited using Holmes Institute Adapted Harvard Referencing method. Incorrect referencing will receive a 20% penalty.

Group Assignment Guidelines and Specifications

Part A — Statistical Analysis on Return, Risk and Correlation (20 Marks)

You are employed as a financial analyst with the responsibility of conducting a comprehensive statistical analysis of investment performance across a selection of companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Your role involves evaluating key financial metrics, including returns, risk measures, and correlations, to generate meaningful insights that support investment decision-making.

The dataset containing the ASX-listed companies assigned to your group has been provided below. Using this dataset, you are required to apply appropriate statistical techniques to assess the performance and risk characteristics of each company.

Allocation of Companies

Listed Companies (from ASX)	Industry
WDS: Woodside Energy Group Limited	Energy
STO: Santos Limited	Energy
NEU: Neuren Pharmaceuticals Limited	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
TLX: Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences

Requirements:

I. Write an overview of your allocated companies, ensuring the following details are included:

• a. Its principal business activities (main products or services)
• b. Total market capitalization (as of December 2024)
• c. Major company events in 2022–2024 which may have impacted its stock prices.

(2 marks)

II. Statistical Analysis on Return, Risk and Correlation

Using the historical price data provided in a separate Excel spreadsheet, perform the following:

a) Calculate the monthly returns and complete the table below. If there are no return values, indicate them as N.A. (4 marks)

Month	Company 1 (Name)	Company 2 (Name)	Company 3 (Name)	Company 4 (Name)
Jan-2022
Feb-2022
Mar-2022 etc…..

b) Calculate the arithmetic mean and standard deviation of monthly return and comment on the risk and return behaviour of stocks. (4 marks)

	Company 1 (Name)	Company 2 (Name)	Company 3 (Name)	Company 4 (Name)
Arithmetic Mean (%)
Standard Deviation (%)

c) Calculate the geometric mean of monthly return for each stock, and explain what these values indicate about companies’ returns. (3 marks)

	Company 1 (Name)	Company 2 (Name)	Company 3 (Name)	Company 4 (Name)
Geometric Mean (%)

d) Estimate the annual return for each company using the calculated average monthly return. (1 mark)

	Company 1 (Name)	Company 2 (Name)	Company 3 (Name)	Company 4 (Name)
Annual Return (%)

e) Calculate the holding period return for each stock. (1 mark)

	Company 1 (Name)	Company 2 (Name)	Company 3 (Name)	Company 4 (Name)
Holding Period Return (%)

f) Based on monthly returns, estimate and comment on these stocks’ correlations. (4 marks)

Please insert correlation matrix from your Excel output. The correlation matrix is obtained using CORREL(array1, array2) in Excel spreadsheet.

Note: Ensure that you attach the Excel file containing the price data and necessary calculations to your assignment submission. Assignments submitted without an attached Excel file will incur a 10% penalty.

Part B — Financial Ratio Analysis (13 Marks)

In addition to conducting the statistical analysis on return, risk and correlation for the allocated companies using the historical prices in Part A, you are also required to perform a detailed financial ratio analysis. This analysis should complement the findings from Part A by offering deeper insights into each company’s financial performance, and overall market positioning.

Requirements:

Obtain and review the Balance Sheet and Income Statement for each of your assigned companies for three financial years (FY2022, FY2023 and FY2024). Attach these financial statements in the appendix of your report. Based on this information:

a) Evaluate each company’s liquidity position by calculating and analysing key liquidity ratios, such as the Current Ratio, Quick Ratio etc. for each of the three financial years. (3 marks)

	Company 1 (Name)			Company 2 (Name)			Company 3 (Name)			Company 4 (Name)
	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024
Ratio 1
Ratio 2
Etc..

b) Comment on whether the company appears to have sufficient short-term resources to meet its obligations. (3 marks)

c) Identify and explain two key leverage ratios that would be important to creditors and/or potential investors (e.g. Debt-to-Equity Ratio, Interest Coverage Ratio, etc). Calculate and interpret these ratios for each company for each of the three financial years. (4 marks)

	Company 1 (Name)			Company 2 (Name)			Company 3 (Name)			Company 4 (Name)
	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024
Ratio 1
Ratio 2
Etc..

d) Identify and explain two key financial ratios that would be important to shareholders and/or potential investors (e.g. Return on Equity, Earnings Per Share, etc). Calculate and interpret these ratios for each company for each of the three financial years. (4 marks)

	Company 1 (Name)			Company 2 (Name)			Company 3 (Name)			Company 4 (Name)
	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024	2022	2023	2024
Ratio 1
Ratio 2
Etc..

Part C — Preparation of an Investment Proposal (7 Marks)

Finally, you are required to develop a well-structured investment strategy proposal. In this proposal, you must select and recommend two out of the four allocated companies, ensuring that one company is chosen from each industry represented in your dataset.

Your recommendations should be clearly justified and grounded in the findings from your earlier analyses, including both the statistical evaluation (returns, risk, and correlation) and the financial ratio assessment. You are expected to integrate these insights to explain why the selected companies offer stronger investment potential, considering factors such as performance consistency, risk profile, growth prospects, and competitive positioning within their respective industries.

Assignment Structure

The assignment should include the following components:

• The assignment cover page (group members’ names, student numbers, and all other required details)
• Abstract (one paragraph)
• Table of contents
• A brief introduction or overview of what the assignment is about
• Body of the assignment with appropriate section headings
• Conclusion
• List of References (follow the Holmes Adapted Harvard Referencing guidelines)

Marking Criteria

Marking Criteria	Weighting
Part A: Risk, Return and Correlation Analysis
Overview of companies	2
II. a) Calculation of monthly return	4
Calculation of arithmetic mean and standard deviation of monthly return	4
Calculation of geometric mean of monthly return and explain what these values indicate about the companies’ returns	3
Estimation of annual return	1
Estimation of holding period return	1
Correlation analysis	4
Part B: Financial Ratio Analysis
a) & b) Liquidity analysis	6
c) Leverage ratio analysis	4
d) Profitability and market value ratio analysis	4
Part C: Investment Proposal	7
Total	40

Student Assessment Citation and Referencing Rules

Holmes has implemented a revised Harvard approach to referencing. The following rules apply:

• Reference sources in assignments are limited to sources that provide full-text access to the source’s content for lecturers and markers.
• The reference list must be located on a separate page at the end of the report and titled: “References”.
• The reference list must include the details of all the in-text citations, arranged A-Z alphabetically by author surname with each reference numbered and each reference MUST include a hyperlink to the full text of the cited reference source. For example:

Hawking, P., McCarthy, B. & Stein, A. 2004. Second Wave ERP Education, Journal of Information Systems Education, Fall, http://jise.org/Volume15/n3/JISEv15n3p327.pdf

• All assignments must include in-text citations. These must include the surname of the author/s or name of the authoring body, year of publication, page number of the content, and paragraph where the content can be found. For example: “The company decided to implement an enterprise-wide data warehouse business intelligence strategy (Hawking et al., 2004, p3(4)).”

Non-Adherence to Referencing Rules

• For students who submit assignments that do not comply with all aspects of the rules, a 20% penalty will be applied.
• Late penalties will apply each day after the student/s have been notified of the due date.
• Students who comply with rules BUT their citations are ‘fake’ will be reported for academic misconduct.

Academic Integrity

Holmes Institute is committed to ensuring and upholding academic integrity, as it is integral to maintaining academic quality and the reputation of Holmes’ graduates.

Table 1: Six Categories of Academic Integrity Breaches

Category	Description
Plagiarism	Reproducing the work of someone else without attribution. When a student submits their own work on multiple occasions this is known as self-plagiarism.
Collusion	Working with one or more other individuals to complete an assignment, in a way that is not authorized.
Copying	Reproducing and submitting the work of another student, with or without their knowledge. If a student fails to take reasonable precautions to prevent their own original work from being copied, this may also be considered an offence.
Impersonation	Falsely presenting oneself, or engaging someone else to present as oneself, in an in-person examination.
Contract cheating	Contracting a third party to complete an assessment task, generally in exchange for money or other manner of payment.
Data fabrication and falsification	Manipulating or inventing data with the intent of supporting false conclusions, including manipulating images.

Marking Rubric

	Excellent (80–100%)	Very Good (66–79%)	Good (56–65%)	Satisfactory (41–55%)	Unsatisfactory (0–40%)
Part A
I. Overview of companies (2 marks)	Highly insightful and well-researched. Covers all aspects thoroughly.	Detailed and relevant company information; clearly explained.	Adequate overview with key information included.	Basic overview; some important details missing or underdeveloped.	Incomplete or inaccurate overview; lacks essential or correct information, or is confusing.
II. a) Calculation of monthly return (4 marks)	Accurate calculations and fully completed.	Correct calculations with minor inaccuracies or omissions.	Calculations mostly correct; some errors or omissions.	An attempt is made, but key calculations are missing or mostly incorrect.	Incomplete or largely incorrect, or is confusing.
b) Arithmetic mean and standard deviation (4 marks)	Accurate calculations with insightful analysis of risk-return.	Correct calculations with basic analysis of risk-return.	Mostly correct calculations with limited analysis.	Errors in calculations, basic or incomplete analysis.	Incorrect calculations, no meaningful analysis, or is confusing.
c) Geometric mean (3 marks)	Accurate calculation with clear, insightful explanation of what the geometric mean indicates about the companies’ returns.	Correct calculation with relevant commentary, though lacking some depth.	Reasonable calculation and interpretation, but with minor errors or general analysis.	Basic calculation with limited insight into the companies’ returns.	Incorrect or missing calculation with no meaningful explanation, or is confusing.
d) Estimation of annual return (1 mark)	Accurate and well-presented.	Correct with minor errors.	Mostly correct with some errors.	Attempted with significant errors.	Incorrect or unclear, or is confusing.
e) Estimation of holding period return (1 mark)	Accurate and clearly shown holding period return.	Correct estimation with minor errors.	Mostly correct but with some significant errors.	Attempted with major errors.	Incorrect or missing estimation, or is confusing.
f) Correlation analysis (4 marks)	Accurate correlation matrix analysis, clearly presented and effectively used in overall analysis.	Correct correlation matrix analysis with clear presentation; minor issues in interpretation or integration.	Mostly correct correlation matrix analysis; limited use or basic presentation.	Attempted correlation matrix analysis with errors or unclear formatting.	Correlation matrix analysis not included or entirely incorrect, or is confusing.
Part B
a) & b) Liquidity analysis (6 marks)	Financial statements correctly attached. At least two liquidity ratios calculated and interpreted well.	Financial statements attached. Two liquidity ratios calculated with good interpretation.	Statements attached. One or two ratios calculated with basic analysis.	One ratio calculated. Limited interpretation. Financial statements may be incomplete.	No meaningful analysis. Ratios missing or incorrect. No statements provided.
c) Leverage ratio analysis (4 marks)	Correct identification and calculation of at least two ratios for each company. Strong analysis and interpretation.	Correct identification and calculation of two ratios for each company. Good analysis and interpretation.	At least two ratios calculated. Analysis may lack depth or clarity.	One ratio calculated. Weak or unclear analysis and interpretation.	Incomplete or incorrect calculations. Unclear interpretation.
d) Profitability and market value ratio analysis (4 marks)	Correct identification and calculation of at least two ratios for each company. Strong analysis and interpretation.	Correct identification and calculation of two ratios for each company. Good analysis and interpretation.	At least two ratios calculated. Analysis may lack depth or clarity.	One ratio calculated. Weak or unclear analysis and interpretation.	Incomplete or incorrect calculations. Unclear interpretation.
Part C: Investment Proposal (7 marks)	Well-structured, coherent argument, recommendation is justified and well-grounded in the findings from earlier analyses.	Well-structured, coherent argument, recommendation is justified and mostly grounded in the findings from earlier analyses.	Coherent argument, recommendation is justified and mostly grounded in the findings from earlier analyses.	Recommendation is weakly grounded in the findings from earlier analyses.	Recommendation is not grounded in the findings from earlier analyses.

Note: This sample is for guidance purposes only and should be used as a reference to assist with understanding the assignment requirements.

HM5002 Finance for Managers – Sample Solution (Guidance Only)

Note: This sample solution is provided for learning and guidance purposes only. Students must perform their own calculations using the Excel dataset provided by their lecturer and prepare original analysis in accordance with academic integrity requirements.

Abstract

This report analyses the return, risk, correlation, and financial performance of four ASX-listed companies: Woodside Energy Group Limited, Santos Limited, Neuren Pharmaceuticals Limited, and Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited. Statistical analysis was conducted using monthly stock returns from 2022–2024. Financial ratio analysis examined liquidity, leverage, and profitability indicators. Based on the findings, an investment recommendation is provided by selecting one company from the energy sector and one company from the biotechnology sector.

1. Introduction

Investment decisions require an understanding of both market performance and financial strength. This report evaluates four ASX-listed companies from the Energy and Biotechnology industries through return analysis, risk assessment, correlation measurement, and financial ratio evaluation. The findings are used to formulate an investment proposal.

Part A – Statistical Analysis on Return, Risk and Correlation

2. Company Overview

2.1 Woodside Energy Group Limited (WDS)

Principal Activities

• Oil and gas exploration
• LNG production
• Energy development projects

Market Capitalisation (Dec 2024)

Approximately AUD 50 billion.

Major Events (2022–2024)

• Merger with BHP Petroleum assets.
• Strong LNG demand due to global energy shortages.
• Progress of Scarborough Energy Project.

2.2 Santos Limited (STO)

Principal Activities

• Natural gas production
• LNG exports
• Oil exploration

Market Capitalisation (Dec 2024)

Approximately AUD 25 billion.

Major Events (2022–2024)

• Increased LNG exports.
• Expansion of Barossa Gas Project.
• Higher commodity prices supporting revenue growth.

2.3 Neuren Pharmaceuticals Limited (NEU)

Principal Activities

• Development of neurological disorder treatments.
• Commercialisation of Rett Syndrome therapies.

Market Capitalisation (Dec 2024)

Approximately AUD 2 billion.

Major Events (2022–2024)

• Positive drug trial outcomes.
• Increased royalty income from approved therapies.
• Significant share price appreciation.

2.4 Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (TLX)

Principal Activities

• Radiopharmaceutical products.
• Cancer imaging and treatment solutions.

Market Capitalisation (Dec 2024)

Approximately AUD 8 billion.

Major Events (2022–2024)

• Strong growth in Illuccix sales.
• Expansion into global markets.
• Regulatory approvals supporting growth.

3. Monthly Return Analysis

Formula

Monthly Return=Pt−Pt−1Pt−1\text{Monthly Return} = \frac{P_t – P_{t-1}}{P_{t-1}}Monthly Return=Pt−1​Pt​−Pt−1​​

Sample Return Table

Month	WDS	STO	NEU	TLX
Jan-22	N.A	N.A	N.A	N.A
Feb-22	4.5%	3.8%	8.2%	5.1%
Mar-22	3.2%	2.9%	7.6%	4.7%
Apr-22	-1.8%	-2.0%	5.5%	3.6%
…	…	…	…	…

(Complete using Excel data provided.)

4. Arithmetic Mean and Standard Deviation

Company	Arithmetic Mean	Standard Deviation
WDS	1.45%	6.20%
STO	1.30%	5.80%
NEU	2.85%	12.40%
TLX	2.35%	10.10%

Discussion

• NEU generated the highest average monthly return.
• WDS and STO delivered more stable returns.
• Biotechnology stocks exhibited greater volatility than energy stocks.
• Higher returns were associated with higher risk.

5. Geometric Mean Return

Company	Geometric Mean
WDS	1.30%
STO	1.15%
NEU	2.50%
TLX	2.10%

Interpretation

The geometric mean represents the average compounded return earned by investors over time. NEU and TLX produced stronger long-term growth, while WDS and STO provided steadier performance.

6. Annual Return

Formula:

(1+Monthly Return)12−1(1+\text{Monthly Return})^{12}-1(1+Monthly Return)12−1

Company	Annual Return
WDS	16.8%
STO	14.8%
NEU	40.0%
TLX	31.5%

7. Holding Period Return

Formula:

PEnd−PBeginningPBeginning\frac{P_{End}-P_{Beginning}}{P_{Beginning}}PBeginning​PEnd​−PBeginning​​

Company	Holding Period Return
WDS	48%
STO	42%
NEU	130%
TLX	95%

Interpretation

NEU achieved the highest overall return during the investment period, indicating exceptional growth performance.

8. Correlation Analysis

Sample Correlation Matrix

	WDS	STO	NEU	TLX
WDS	1.00	0.82	0.21	0.18
STO	0.82	1.00	0.25	0.20
NEU	0.21	0.25	1.00	0.68
TLX	0.18	0.20	0.68	1.00

Discussion

• WDS and STO have strong positive correlation because both operate within the energy sector.
• NEU and TLX show moderate correlation due to similar biotechnology industry influences.
• Low correlation between energy and biotechnology stocks suggests diversification benefits.

Part B – Financial Ratio Analysis

9. Liquidity Analysis

Current Ratio

Current Ratio=Current AssetsCurrent LiabilitiesCurrent\ Ratio=\frac{Current\ Assets}{Current\ Liabilities}Current Ratio=Current LiabilitiesCurrent Assets​

Quick Ratio

Quick Ratio=Current Assets−InventoryCurrent LiabilitiesQuick\ Ratio=\frac{Current\ Assets-Inventory}{Current\ Liabilities}Quick Ratio=Current LiabilitiesCurrent Assets−Inventory​

Sample Results

Company	2022	2023	2024
WDS Current Ratio	1.60	1.75	1.82
STO Current Ratio	1.45	1.52	1.58
NEU Current Ratio	5.20	5.85	6.10
TLX Current Ratio	3.10	3.45	3.80

Interpretation

• NEU and TLX possess strong liquidity positions.
• WDS and STO maintain adequate liquidity.
• All companies appear capable of meeting short-term obligations.

10. Leverage Analysis

Debt-to-Equity Ratio

Debt/Equity=Total DebtTotal EquityDebt/Equity=\frac{Total\ Debt}{Total\ Equity}Debt/Equity=Total EquityTotal Debt​

Interest Coverage Ratio

Interest Coverage=EBITInterest ExpenseInterest\ Coverage=\frac{EBIT}{Interest\ Expense}Interest Coverage=Interest ExpenseEBIT​

Sample Results

Company	D/E 2024	Interest Coverage 2024
WDS	0.42	12.5
STO	0.55	9.8
NEU	0.05	N.A
TLX	0.12	15.2

Interpretation

• NEU and TLX maintain very low debt levels.
• WDS and STO employ moderate leverage.
• Lower debt reduces financial risk for biotechnology companies.

11. Shareholder Ratios

Return on Equity (ROE)

ROE=Net IncomeShareholders EquityROE=\frac{Net\ Income}{Shareholders\ Equity}ROE=Shareholders EquityNet Income​

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

EPS=Net IncomeShares OutstandingEPS=\frac{Net\ Income}{Shares\ Outstanding}EPS=Shares OutstandingNet Income​

Sample Results

Company	ROE 2024	EPS 2024
WDS	18%	2.65
STO	14%	0.72
NEU	24%	0.65
TLX	20%	0.58

Interpretation

• NEU generated the highest shareholder return.
• TLX demonstrated strong profitability growth.
• WDS provided stable returns supported by strong cash flows.

Part C – Investment Proposal

Individual Assignment Assessment Details and Submission Guidelines Field Details Trimester T1 2026 Unit Code HH2002 Unit Title Food and Beverage Management Assessment Type Individual Assignment Weight 40% Word limit (if applicable) 8 slides with dialogue entered on the bottom of the slide Submission Guidelines • This assignment must be submitted on Blackboard by the published due date along with a completed Assignment Cover Page. • This assignment must be in Microsoft PowerPoint format unless otherwise specified. Academic Integrity Information Holmes Institute is committed to ensuring and upholding academic integrity. All assessments must comply with academic integrity guidelines. Please learn about academic integrity and consult your teachers with any questions. Violating academic integrity is serious and punishable by penalties that range from deduction of marks, failure of the assessment task or unit involved, suspension of course enrolment, or cancellation of course enrolment. Penalties • This assessment must be submitted on Blackboard by the due date and time, as late penalties apply (refer Student Handbook). • Assessment submitted without a completed Assessment Cover Page will receive a twenty percent (20%) penalty. • This assessment must be submitted in Microsoft PowerPoint. Submissions which breach this requirement will receive a twenty percent (20%) penalty. • Assessments submitted to Blackboard via a Virtual Private Network will receive a fifty percent (50%) penalty. • Assessment submitted to Blackboard via an overseas IP address is a direct breach of the Holmes’ Student Academic Conduct and Integrity Policy and will be reported for academic misconduct with associated penalties imposed. • Reference sources must be cited in the text of the report and listed appropriately at the end in a reference list using Holmes Institute Adapted Harvard Referencing method. The use of an incorrect reference method, and/or missing/incorrect citations will receive a twenty percent (20%) penalty. • For all other penalties, please refer to the Assessment Instructions listed on Blackboard. Individual Assignment Guidelines and Specifications Assessment Task Brief: Operational Diagnostic Presentation

Field Details Unit Code HH2002 Unit Title Introduction to Hospitality Management Purpose This is an opportunity to address the commercial aspects of the hospitality industry. Task type Oral Presentation & Slide Deck Duration of performance 10 minutes presentation Weighting 40% Slide limit Minimum of 6 and maximum of 8 Responsibility Individual presentation Task Overview You, as an individual, are an external consultant hired by Urban Eats Café & Bistro (UECB). It is a mid-sized inner-city business struggling with declining revenue and profits, inconsistent customer satisfaction, high food and beverage wastage, and a confusing and out of date food and beverage menu. Additionally high staff turnover has been a result of minor accidents in food preparation when staff were using old equipment without safety guards. These accidents have caused the premises to be investigated by Occupational Health and Safety staff and have caused bad feelings among the staff.

Your task is to deliver a professional 10-minute presentation analysing their operational issues (using Weeks 1–6 concepts) and making clear solutions to the owners.

Presentation & Structure (Max 8 Slides) To stay within the 10-minute limit, structure your presentation into four core parts:

Part 1: Business Overview (1 Slide)

Define UECB’s operational model (daytime café vs. evening bistro) and target markets. Theory link: Industry structures and business types (Week 1). Part 2: Operational Analysis (3–4 Slides)

Analyze the problems occurring at Urban Eats by grouping them into three clear pillars:

Customer Service & Experience: Identify customer service failures and complaint-handling issues. Evaluate how these impact customer satisfaction (Week 2). Menu, Pricing, & Beverages: Evaluate the menu structure and pricing strategies. Identify problems hurting profitability, and assess food and beverage consistency and upselling (Weeks 3 & 5). Compliance & Cost Control: Identify food safety/HACCP risks. Analyze financial drains, specifically focusing on food waste and labour inefficiencies (Weeks 4 & 6). Part 3: Actionable Recommendations (1–2 Slides)

Provide realistic, cost-effective solutions for the key issues you identified. Theory link: Every solution must be justified using concepts from Weeks 1–6 and standard industry practice. Part 4: Learning Reflection (1 Slide)

Briefly state which key concepts you applied and which lecture topics from Weeks 1–6 were most useful for your analysis. Presentations There will be two kinds of presentations:

Presentation over BlackBoard, and “Live in class.” Please note, even if you have been selected to present in class you must also upload your presentation onto BlackBoard.

So, to confirm “all students must upload their work over BlackBoard”. Additionally 10% of students, selected randomly, will be expected to make live presentations in the classroom in front of their peers.

Assignment Requirements The 10-minute and 8 slide limit must be strictly observed. Additionally, students are expected to:

Use BlackBoard to upload their presentations. Ensure that each slide has no more than 6 points. Enter the dialogue that is spoken in the presentation into the bottom of the slides for assessment by the lecturer. Additionally, during the presentation, it is important that students speak in a clear and engaging voice with eyeline aimed at the camera. Students must speak mostly from memory, not read from notes. It is very important for students to connect with the audience and speak with a strong voice and pitch, maintain a slow speed of speech, and dress in a professional manner.

Students who wear baseball caps, hoods and do not wear acceptable presentation clothing will be marked down.

Marking Guide & Rubric Part Marks Part 1: Business Overview 8/40 marks Part 2: Operational Analysis 8/40 marks Part 3: Actionable Recommendations 8/40 marks Part 4: Learning Reflection 8/40 marks Part 5: Presentation 8/40 marks All three tables above are fully copy able. Let me know if you need anything else, such as help structuring the actual presentation!

Note: This sample is for guidance purposes only and should be used as a reference to assist with understanding the assignment requirements.

HH2002 – Food and Beverage Management Operational Diagnostic Presentation Urban Eats Café & Bistro (UECB) Slide 1: Business Overview Urban Eats Café & Bistro (UECB) Mid-sized inner-city hospitality business Operates as café by day and bistro by night Targets office workers, students, tourists, and local residents Offers food, coffee, beverages, and dinner services Faces declining revenue and profitability Requires operational improvements Speaker Notes Good morning. As an external hospitality consultant, I have been engaged to assess the operational performance of Urban Eats Café and Bistro. UECB operates as a daytime café serving coffee, breakfast, and lunch, while transforming into an evening bistro offering dinner and beverages. Its target market includes office workers, students, tourists, and local residents. Despite its strong location, the business is experiencing declining revenue, lower profits, customer dissatisfaction, food waste issues, and workplace safety concerns. This presentation analyses these operational challenges and recommends practical solutions.

Slide 2: Customer Service & Experience Analysis Key Customer Service Issues Inconsistent customer service standards Slow complaint resolution Long waiting times during peak periods Poor communication between staff Negative customer reviews increasing Reduced customer loyalty Speaker Notes Customer satisfaction is essential in hospitality. UECB currently experiences inconsistent service quality due to insufficient staff training and high employee turnover. Customers face long waiting times during busy periods and complaints are not managed effectively. According to hospitality service principles, poor service experiences reduce repeat business and damage the business reputation. Negative online reviews can also discourage potential customers, resulting in declining sales.

Slide 3: Menu, Pricing & Beverage Analysis Menu and Pricing Problems Outdated and confusing menu design Too many low-profit menu items Weak beverage promotion Lack of menu engineering Inconsistent food quality Limited upselling opportunities Speaker Notes The current menu is difficult for customers to understand and contains items that generate low profits. Menu engineering principles suggest highlighting high-profit items and simplifying choices. Beverage sales are underperforming because staff rarely suggest premium drinks or add-on purchases. Inconsistent food preparation further reduces customer satisfaction. These issues directly affect profitability and operational efficiency.

Slide 4: Compliance & Cost Control Analysis Operational Risks High food and beverage wastage Poor inventory control Old equipment without safety guards Workplace injuries increasing OHS investigations affecting morale High labour turnover costs Speaker Notes Food waste represents a significant financial loss for the business. Poor stock management and inaccurate forecasting contribute to excessive wastage. Furthermore, old equipment without safety guards has resulted in workplace accidents. These incidents have attracted Occupational Health and Safety investigations and negatively affected staff morale. High employee turnover also increases recruitment and training costs.

Slide 5: Recommendation 1 – Improve Customer Experience Service Improvement Strategy Implement customer service training Develop complaint handling procedures Establish service standards Introduce staff performance monitoring Improve communication processes Reward excellent service performance Speaker Notes To improve customer satisfaction, UECB should implement structured customer service training programs. Standard operating procedures for complaint handling should be introduced to ensure consistency. Performance monitoring and recognition programs can motivate employees to provide better service. Improved communication between staff members will also reduce service delays and mistakes.

Slide 6: Recommendation 2 – Menu & Profitability Improvement Menu Enhancement Strategy Conduct menu engineering analysis Remove low-performing items Highlight high-profit dishes Improve beverage promotions Introduce upselling techniques Standardise recipes and portions Speaker Notes Menu engineering can help identify which products are profitable and popular. Removing underperforming items simplifies operations and improves customer decision-making. Staff should receive upselling training to increase beverage sales and average transaction values. Standard recipes and portion controls will ensure consistency while reducing food costs.

Slide 7: Recommendation 3 – Safety & Cost Control Operational Improvement Plan Replace unsafe equipment Install safety guards immediately Implement HACCP procedures Improve inventory management Monitor food waste regularly Enhance staff retention initiatives Speaker Notes Management should immediately replace unsafe equipment and install appropriate safety guards. HACCP food safety systems should be strengthened to ensure compliance and reduce operational risks. Inventory management software can improve stock control and minimise waste. Better workplace safety and employee engagement initiatives can reduce staff turnover and improve morale.

Slide 8: Learning Reflection Key Concepts Applied Hospitality business structures Customer service management Menu engineering principles Beverage management strategies HACCP and food safety systems Cost control and operational efficiency Speaker Notes This case study allowed me to apply several concepts from Weeks 1 to 6. The most useful topics included hospitality business structures, customer service management, menu engineering, beverage operations, HACCP compliance, and cost control techniques. These concepts helped identify operational weaknesses and develop practical recommendations to improve customer satisfaction, profitability, and workplace safety at UECB.

References (Holmes Harvard Style) Australian Government. (2025) Food safety standards and hospitality operations.

Hayes, D. & Ninemeier, J. (2022) Restaurant Operations Management. 4th ed. New York: Wiley.

Walker, J.R. (2023) Introduction to Hospitality Management. 9th ed. Pearson Education.

National Safety Council. (2024) Workplace Safety in Hospitality Operations.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). (2025) Food Safety Standards Guide.

Individual Assignment Assessment Details and Submission Guidelines Trimester T1 2026 Unit Code HI5031 Unit Title Professional Issues in IS Ethics and Practice Assessment Type Individual Assignment Weight 50 % Word limit (if applicable) 2500 words Submission Guidelines All work must be submitted on Blackboard by the due date along with a completed Assignment Cover Page. The assignment must be in MS Word format unless otherwise specified. Academic Integrity Information Holmes Institute is committed to ensuring and upholding academic integrity. All assessments must comply with academic integrity guidelines. Please learn about academic integrity and consult your teachers with any questions. Violating academic integrity is serious and punishable by penalties that range from deduction of marks, failure of the assessment task or unit involved, suspension of course enrolment, or cancellation of course enrolment. Penalties All work must be submitted on Blackboard by the due date and time, along with a completed Assessment Cover Page. Late penalties apply. Your answers must be based on Holmes Institute syllabus of this unit. Outside sources may not amount to more than 10% of any answer and must be correctly referenced in full. Over-reliance on outside sources will be penalised Reference sources must be cited in the text of the report and listed appropriately at the end in a reference list using Holmes Institute Adapted Harvard Referencing. Penalties are associated with incorrect citation and referencing. Individual Assignment Guidelines and Specifications HI5031 Professional Issues in IS Ethics and Practice

Individual Case Study Report – Submission Structure

You need to submit the final version of your assignment in Week 5.

Case Study Optus Data Breach, 2022

Students should use the 2022 Optus data breach as the main case study. The breach exposed the personal information of millions of Australian customers, including names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, addresses, and identity document details. The incident raised major concerns about cybersecurity governance, privacy protection, data management, corporate accountability, and ethical responsibility.

Case Study Topic Optus Data Breach: Privacy, Cybersecurity Governance, and Organisational Accountability

Read the case study on the 2022 Optus data breach, then prepare an individual analytical report using the structure below.

Assignment Instructions In this assessment, you are required to critically analyse the Optus data breach from a professional, ethical, legal, and organisational perspective. Your report should demonstrate your understanding of information systems ethics, cybersecurity responsibility, professional conduct, privacy protection, and ethical decision-making.

Your discussion must be supported by academic research and relevant professional sources.

You must use at least ten quality references, including journal articles, cybersecurity standards, privacy regulations, government or regulatory reports, and professional codes of conduct.

You must apply:

one professional code of conduct, such as ACS, ACM, or IEEE; and at least two ethical theories, such as utilitarianism, deontology, contract theory, or virtue ethics. Report Structure

1. Executive Summary — 200 words

Provide a brief overview of the Optus data breach, the main cybersecurity and ethical issues, the key findings of your analysis, and the main recommendations.

2. Background of the Case — 300 words

Briefly explain the Optus data breach

3. Stakeholder Identification and Impact Analysis — 350 words

Identify the key stakeholders involved in or affected by the breach

4. Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Governance Issues — 450 words

Analyse the major cybersecurity, privacy, and governance issues in the Optus case

5. Professional Conduct Analysis — 400 words

Choose one professional code of conduct: ACS, ACM, or IEEE.

Use the selected code to analyse the responsibilities of:

Optus leadership; IT and cybersecurity professionals; data governance and privacy officers; employees responsible for handling customer information. Your analysis should consider professional duties such as:

acting in the public interest; protecting privacy and confidentiality; maintaining professional competence; ensuring security of information systems; being honest and transparent; accepting accountability for professional decisions. 6. Ethical Theory Application — 500 words

Apply at least two ethical theories to the Optus data breach. You may choose from:

Utilitarianism — evaluating overall harm and benefit to customers, Optus, regulators, and society; Deontology — assessing duties and obligations to protect customer data regardless of business cost; Contract theory — examining the trust relationship between Optus and its customers; Virtue ethics — evaluating whether Optus demonstrated integrity, responsibility, honesty, and care. Explain how these theories help evaluate the decisions and actions of Optus, its employees, regulators, and other relevant stakeholders.

7. Legal and Regulatory Accountability — 250 words

Discuss the legal and regulatory implications of the Optus data breach

8. Recommendations — 250 words

Provide practical and justified recommendations for preventing similar incidents and improving ethical organisational practice.

9. Conclusion — 100 words

Summarise your overall findings and explain why the Optus data breach is an important case for understanding privacy protection, cybersecurity ethics, professional responsibility, and organisational accountability in information systems practice.

10. Reference List

Use Adapted Harvard referencing style.

All references must be cited in-text in the body of your report. You must include at least ten quality academic or professional references.

Important Notes Word Count: 2500 words, excluding references. Submission Format: Single MS Word document. Do not submit as PDF or Pages. Headings, citations, references, and appendices do not count towards the word limit. Student Assessment Citation and Referencing Rules Adapted Harvard Referencing Rules

Holmes has implemented a revised Harvard approach to referencing. The following rules apply:

Reference sources in assignments are limited to sources that provide full-text access to the source’s content for lecturers and markers. The reference list must be located on a separate page at the end of the essay and titled: “References”. The reference list must include the details of all the in-text citations, arranged A-Z alphabetically by author surname with each reference numbered (1 to 10, etc.) and each reference MUST include a hyperlink to the full text of the cited reference source. For example:

1. Hawking, P., McCarthy, B. & Stein, A. 2004. Second Wave ERP Education, Journal of Information Systems Education, Fall, http://jise.org/Volume15/n3/JISEv15n3p327.pdf All assignments must include in-text citations to the listed references. These must include the surname of the author/s or name of the authoring body, year of publication, page number of the content, and paragraph where the content can be found. For example, “The company decided to implement an enterprise-wide data warehouse business intelligence strategies (Hawking et al., 2004, p3(4)).” author   year    page

(Hawking et al., 2004, p3(4))

paragraph

Non-Adherence to Referencing Rules Where students do not follow the above rules:

For students who submit assignments that do not comply with the rules, a 10% penalty will be applied. As per the Student Handbook, late penalties will apply each day after the student/s has been notified of the due date. Students who comply with rules and the citations are “fake” may be reported for academic misconduct. HI5031 Individual Assignment T1 2026

Assignment 2

Advanced Marketing Analytics Team Assignment

The assignment has three questions.

Question 1

Suppose you are the marketing analyst for a skincare company. The company owns brand 1 in this category. The company wants to grow this brand market share by 5 percentage points next year. You have been given a data set of 2500 shoppers, which reports for each shopper his/her purchases of a set of brands over one year (data for Q1). Complete the tasks below:

Calculate market share, penetration, and purchase frequency for each brand. Comment on the patterns of brand growth in this category.

Fit the Dirichlet model to the data and discuss the overall fit of the model.

What can you tell about consumer buying behavior in this category?

How does your brand perform compared to the Dirichlet model estimations?

What would be reasonable targets of penetration and purchase frequency if you want to increase your brand market share by 5 percentage points?

Discuss potential marketing activity that you can use to achieve the targets.

Question 2

Suppose you are the marketing analyst for an online cookware store. Your store manager has recently looked at the aggregate purchasing data in two periods and found that there is an increase in sales from previous non-buyers of the brand, from 0 units to 105 units (16% of the total sales). However, there is no increase in the total sales from period 1 to period 2. She believes that this is due to a poor performance in sales from existing buyers, especially the heavy buyers. She therefore suggests that the online store should invest more in customer loyalty activity, in order to retain the heavy buyers. She also believes that the 16% increase in sales from previous non-buyers is a success, hence there is no need to invest more in customer acquisition activity.

As the marketing analyst you know that there is always some natural variation from period to period in purchases. Apply the conditional trend analysis to the full data set (data for question 2). Present your findings to the store manager. Advise her if her beliefs are supported by your analysis. Discuss the managerial implications of the findings.

Question 3

Suppose you are the marketing analyst for a grocery retailer selling almond milk.  The retailer wants to find out the consumer preference of different attributes of an almond milk product including product type, brand type and price. The retailer also wants to introduce to the market a new almond milk product which is a combination of these attributes.

Your research team has already conducted a Choice-Based Conjoint study from 1400 respondents for three attributes, each has two levels:

Product type: Regular and Organic

Brand type: Store brand and National brand

Price: $3 and $5

Your team needs you to do some analysis (data for Q3).

Undertake a conjoint analysis, completing all the tasks below.

Calculate the partworths for changing product type from Regular to Organic (b1), changing brand type from Store brand to National brand (b2), and changing price from $3 to $5 (b3).

Convert the partworths to dollar values for Organic product, and National brand. Interpret the results.

Calculate the choice probabilities for all eight alternatives. Discuss the limitations of this method to estimate market shares.

In the current market, only four alternatives, 2, 4, 7 and 8, are available.

Re-estimate the market shares for these four alternatives.

The retailer is considering adding into this market with one of the remaining alternatives (1, 3, 5 or 6). Determine which alternative is the best for the retailer to add to the market by calculating the new market shares after the addition of each new alternative. Discuss the potential impact of the new alternative on the existing market shares.

***
The maximum length of the report (including tables) is 3,000 words. Front cover page and back reference page are not included within this limitation.

All data sets for the assignment are in the file named “Assignment data” on the course website

When completed, you must include the following statement:

BM632 Managing & Developing Innovation & Creativity

BM632 assignment guide highlighting innovation management concepts, creativity techniques, organisational innovation, key theories, recommended report structure, and tips for achieving higher grades.

BM632 PR1: Film presentation (10 minutes) with a written report (1200 words) Assignment Brief: Local Innovation Challenge (Individual Challenge). For BM632 Assignment, You are required to explore and propose an innovative idea that supports the growth, sustainability, or impact of a local independent organisation within your town centre. This could involve an existing small business, a charity, a not-for-profit organisation, or a completely new venture that you design.

The objective is to identify a clear gap, challenge, or unmet need within the local market and develop a creative, practical solution that demonstrates both originality and commercial or social viability. Your final submission (presentation video) should clearly communicate and “pitch” your idea, showcasing both your innovation thinking and professional communication skills.

Note: You must focus on independent organisations, local initiatives, or your own original idea. Large chains or franchises are not permitted.

What You Need to Do

Define the Opportunity Identify and clearly explain a specific local issue, customer need, or business opportunity. This may relate to:

Supporting independent local businesses through new offerings Addressing sustainability or environmental concerns Improving customer experience or accessibility Creating a new start-up concept Enhancing ethical or community-focused practices etc.  Conduct Research Support your idea with relevant evidence, including:

Secondary (desk) research such as reports, articles, or market data Primary research where appropriate (e.g. surveys, interviews, observations) This research should justify the need for your proposed solution.

Generate and Select Ideas Use creative thinking techniques to develop multiple potential solutions.

Evaluate these options and select the strongest idea based on:

Feasibility Potential impact Alignment with the identified problem/opportunity Provide clear justification for your final choice.

Apply Innovation Frameworks Demonstrate your understanding of innovation processes by applying at least one recognised model, such as:

Innovation funnel models (Tidd and Bessant, 2020) Design thinking frameworks (Utley and Klebhan, 2021) Show how your idea evolves through this process.

Use Problem-Solving Tools Incorporate appropriate techniques to analyse and refine your idea, such as:

Brainstorming or mind mapping Cause-and-effect analysis Creative modification tools (e.g. SCAMPER) Explain how these tools contributed to your development process.

Implementation Plan (12 Months) Develop a structured plan outlining how your solution could be introduced over the next year. Include:

Key milestones and stages Required resources (financial, human, physical) Stakeholder involvement and collaboration A clear timeline Strategic and Project Considerations Demonstrate your ability to think like a project manager or junior executive by including:

Basic business or operational planning Stakeholder mapping and engagement strategies Strategic considerations relevant to your idea Risk and Innovation Audit Evaluate potential risks and barriers to success. Consider:

Market demand and readiness Legal or regulatory factors Resource constraints Community acceptance or participation Suggest ways to mitigate these challenges.

1.1 Explain the phases of Management Consultancy STUDENT ASSESSMENT BRIEF: DISTANCE LEARNING Unit Number and Title:

Unit 2: Security Consultancy Process

Assessment

A security consultancy paper and a project team briefing

Assessment tasks Background information before you start Further details, a description of the organisation, its activities and its current Security Risk Management framework can be seen at Annex A and B. Please also see Annex D for Task 2. Read these first in line with this assignment as they add contextual background and important information relevant for these two tasks.

Identify situations when the organisation (Annex A & B) may find it helpful to use the services of a consultant, explaining the benefits this approach offers to the organisation, and how a consultant can add value. Consider the importance of using a consultant to help support the client’s needs and overcoming potential barriers when initiating change.

Task 1: Understanding Management Consultancy Phases and Core Skills Situation Analysis (Consultancy Report): Scenario: You work as a Security Consultant Team Leader for a UK-based NGO that operates globally, often in challenging environments.

Objective: Identify when the organisation might benefit from hiring a consultant and explain how consultants add value.

Elements to Consider Explain the phases of Management Consultancy.

Describe the skills needed for successful Management Consultancy.

Discuss strategies to overcome risks and challenges during a consultancy intervention.

Explain how security consultants enhance an organisation.

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria LO1 AC 1.1, 1.2, 1.3,1.4. Task 2: Understanding the Consultancy Life Cycle in a Security Context Project Briefing: Context: You lead a team in a Security Consultancy Project Intervention.

Client Request: The client wants a change management program to establish a security-conscious culture across the organisation.

Your Task: Create a brief analysing the consultancy life cycle that best suits the project outlined in Annex D. Show the expected deliverables at each stage.

Elements to Consider: Analyse the consultancy life cycle and its stages.

Discuss how the consultancy cycle applies in a security context.

Explain how consultancy projects are planned, controlled, and delivered.

Evaluate data sources for security consultancy projects.

Discuss effective ways to present consultancy findings and conclusions to the client.

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria LO2 AC 2.1, 2.2

LO3 AC 3.1, 3.2, 3.3

Delivery Format Deliver the brief to your team using one of the following methods:

Written document Presentation e.g. PowerPoint (with supplementary notes) Recorded presentation (with accompanying handout) Remember, the key is to meet the specified requirements while ensuring clarity and relevance.

Structure and Guidance The brief should have:

An introduction – explaining what you will cover and why

A main body covering the task contents

A summary and conclusion with recommendations for the client

The brief is to be written and delivered in a format suitable for reading by organizational management.

Information and Guidance Template – A template has been provided to assist with the structure of your written assignments. This can be found alongside this brief and should be used when completing your work.

References – All diagrams, quotations and sources of information and content are to be fully and correctly Harvard referenced.

General – The word count for task 1 should be between 1500 – 2500 words, not including your reference list, tables or figures included. Your introduction and conclusion should take approx. 10% of your word count and the rest should be balanced between the other learning outcomes. If you choose to use a written document for task 2, the above word count and guidance applies.

This is a formal piece of work that could be used by an organisation and therefore, it should be written in a way that the reader understands. No jargon or acronyms please without explaining them in full the first time you use them.

Proofread and spell-check your work. It can be helpful to ask someone else to read and check for errors before you submit.

Formatting – Your work should be 1.5 spaced and font should be in Calibri, Ariel or Times Roman, font size 12.

This assessment uses the following Unit learning outcomes: LO 1

Understand management consultancy phases and core skills

LO 2

Understand the consultancy life cycle in a security context

LO 3

Understand the management of a consultancy project

Submission details Assessment drafts should be sent to your designated tutor via email before the final version is submitted.

Once the final version is ready, the assessment should be submitted electronically. Please use the relevant submission point in the Unit area named SRMC Level 6 – Unit 2 Assignment.

Submit using the link that looks like this:

Please upload your Unit 2 assignment below for marking. Please do NOT date your assignments as your work will only be submitted for marking once all tasks are complete.

Submit your Unit 2 assignment here

Please save your Unit 2 assignment as a single word document not PDF using the naming convention:

Surname_Unit 2_SRMC 6

 

Y/N

POINTS TO CHECK – HAVE YOU?

 

Read and understood all of the Assignment Brief?

 

Read and understood the assessment criteria?

 

Met the learning outcomes and used the titles and annotations?

 

Used an academic tone throughout your work? Is your work formal, focused, and clear without slang or jargon?

 

Checked that the referencing in your work is correct?

 

Proof-read and checked your spelling and grammar?

 

Confirmed that the work submitted is your own and not plagiarised?

STUDENT ASSESSMENT BRIEF: CONTENT GUIDANCE Marketing Criteria LO1 – Understand management consultancy phases and core skills

The learner must discuss and explain situations when the organisation may require the use of a consultant. The benefits of the chosen approach must be discussed and evidenced. Reasons for the use of a consultant must include the following:

Unique solutions that reflect the circumstances and aspirations of the client.

Speed, because the consultancy team (unlike the in-house management) isn’t distracted by other tasks.

Knowledge of ‘best practice’ and effective solutions from within the client’s industrial/commercial sector. SME experience.

Exposure to expertise derived from other industries and sectors.

Provision of specific technical skills that are non-existent or in short supply in-house, and often the transfer of such skills to in-house staff.

Change management skills enhanced by the consultant’s position as independent and objective.

There are many frameworks for management consultancy. Here we are asking the learners to explain and evidence the use of the ‘phases of Management Consultancy’. It must reference the following phases and provide examples of the information the consultant would expect to gain at each stage:

Audit and scoping phase

Detailed analysis and evaluation

Implementation phase

Follow up and feedback phase

Assessment Criteria

Pass

Fail

1.1 Explain the phases of Management Consultancy

This topic is discussed clearly within the task with an appropriate degree of depth of research. The distinct phases/stages of management consultancy have been well summarised and evaluated. Each phase is broken down in detail with an appropriate amount of research to support findings which is fully referenced from reliable and current sources, with use of resources from beyond those provided in the

Unit being important. Effective use of diagrams, tables and matrices effectively explained and relevant to the task.

The topic discussed is poorly expressed with insufficient depth of referenced research and using only limited sources from the Unit pages. There is little or no clarity in evaluation.

Overused and irrelevant/poorly referenced diagrams, tables and matrices.

Referencing has not been conducted to standard and work has not been constructed in accordance with the Assignment Brief/Unit Guidance.

1.2 Describe the skills required to successfully engage in Management Consultancy

A good range of evaluation and identification of skills used to support the analysis with a focus on those required to succeed as a consultant, particularly in line with the organisation’s context (Annex A & B).

An appropriate amount of research to support findings which is fully referenced from reliable and current sources, with use of resources from beyond those provided in the Unit being important. Effective use of diagrams, tables and matrices effectively explained and relevant to the task.

Ineffective and weak evaluation of skills requirements requiring further depth of research to meet the assessment criteria.

Overused and irrelevant/poorly referenced diagrams, tables and matrices.

Referencing has not been conducted to standard and work has not been constructed in accordance with the Assignment Brief/Unit Guidance.

Use of weak references from consultancy pages on the internet

1.3 Discuss the strategies used to overcome risks and challenges which may occur during a consultancy intervention

Thorough and effective analysis and evaluation of key consultancy intervention risks, with the potential challenges that are likely to be faced identified. An appropriate amount of research to support findings which is fully referenced from reliable and current sources, with use of resources from beyond those provided in the Unit being important. A well thought out strategy for managing risks has also been well crafted with reference to the organisation (Annex A & B)

Ineffective and weak evaluation of strategy for the management of risk that will require further expansion and further depth of research to meet the assessm

Overused and irrelevant/poorly referenced diagrams, tables and matrices.