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Principles of Management CW7 Cohort Summative Assessment Brief

Assessment Brief

This module is assessed through one graded element worth 100%. You must achieve at least 50% to pass the module. For this assignment, you will produce a 5000-word management report on AstraZeneca plc, including a skills development plan and a reflective statement, in an academic style.

By completing this assessment, you will achieve the following learning outcomes (LOs):

LO1 – Apply knowledge and understanding of the key management theories and concepts/practices to contemporary organisations.

LO2 – Critically analyse and highlight the key principles and functions of management, including planning, organising, leading and controlling.

LO3 – Evaluate the dynamics of the global business environment, and the need for effective management as a value-adding universal activity at global, national and local levels.

LO4 – Critically reflect on their own management competencies to design a skills development plan, which is aimed at their future career aims and objectives.

Assessment Scenario

Acting as a business consultant, you are required to analyse the management functions and practices and write a business report for the senior management team of AstraZeneca plc. You must utilise the techniques and concepts you have covered in the module. You must also provide a skills development plan and a reflective statement.

AstraZeneca plc

Company information

• Date founded: 1999
• Industry: Pharmaceuticals
• Corporate headquarters: Cambridge, United Kingdom
• Type: Public

AstraZeneca Headquarters in Cambridge, UK. D Wells, [CC BY-SA 4.0 
(creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine. Gencat, [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

AstraZeneca PLC is a publicly traded multinational pharmaceutical company that researches, develops, and manufactures pharmaceuticals. The corporation was formed in 1999 when two large European pharmaceutical companies, Astra AB and Zeneca PLC, merged. AstraZeneca plc is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and it has a significant research and development operation in Sweden. The company’s main focuses have been oncology, biopharmaceuticals, cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, respiratory, and immunology treatments. The company has pioneered a number of drugs that treat lung cancer and other types of cancer. The company also helped produce a vaccine for the COVID-19 pandemic that spread around the world in 2020.

History

AstraZeneca was formed in 1999, but its parent companies were formed earlier in the twentieth century. The pharmaceutical company Astra AB was established in Sweden in 1913. The company grew throughout the 1920s, and by the 1950s, it had become one of the most successful Swedish pharmaceutical companies. The company produced mostly antibiotics and anaesthetics, such as Xylocaine. Astra AB used the profits from these drugs to conduct research and develop other types of treatments. For example, the company made the drug Losec, which was later renamed Prilosec, for gastroesophageal health issues. It also made Aptin for cardiovascular problems. The company began developing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the 1980s, though rival drugmaker Eli Lilly and Company’s release of Prozac in 1987 caused Astra AB to lose out on market share and change its focus to other types of drugs.

Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) was formed in England in 1926 and spun off ICI Pharmaceuticals in the 1950s. ICI Pharmaceuticals developed a number of important treatments. One of its researchers, Sir James W. Black, received the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1988 for his discovery of the beta-blocker. In 1993, ICI Pharmaceuticals demerged three of its businesses, including a pharmaceuticals producer called Zeneca. The company developed its name with the help of marketers. The goal was to create a company name that did not have connections to any other businesses and was not offensive in any language. Zeneca grew rapidly after it spun off from ICI. Its major focus was oncology treatments, creating drugs such as Casodex, Nolvadex, and Zoladex. In 1998, Zeneca sold off its Zeneca Specialities division in an effort to become more attractive to other companies and prepare for a possible acquisition or merger.

The European pharmaceutical industry in the late 1990s was very competitive. Many companies were choosing to be acquired or to merge to stay dominant in the field. Astra AB also began looking for merger possibilities. In December 1998, Astra AB and Zeneca PLC announced that they planned to merge to form a new company, AstraZeneca PLC. The merger created a company with a value at the time of roughly $35 billion. It also created a huge multinational corporation out of two mid-tier European pharmaceutical producers. The merger was considered a merger of equals, with both companies and leadership groups playing an important role in the resulting company. Nevertheless, the merging companies estimated that six thousand jobs would be eliminated during the three years after the merger. The newly formed company chose London as its corporate headquarters and kept its research and development headquarters in Sweden.

After its formation, AstraZeneca announced it would focus mainly on cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, oncology, and anaesthesia treatments. The company’s focus shifted slightly over time, though most of those areas remained important throughout the company’s history. One of the first major drugs released by the new company was Nexium (Esomeprazole), which was released in 2000 and treats acid reflux problems. The company also produced treatments for various types of cancer.

AstraZeneca began to focus on biotechnology in the mid-2000s. The company acquired various biotechnology companies, including the American company MedImmune, in 2007. When AstraZeneca first acquired these businesses, analysts were unsure whether the company’s investment would pay off. In the early 2010s, a new CEO, Pascal Soriot, began cost-cutting by narrowing the company’s focus and trimming jobs. In 2014, rival Pfizer attempted to acquire AstraZeneca, but the company’s leadership declined the $100 billion offer. That same year, AstraZeneca acquired the respiratory division of the Spanish pharmaceutical company Almirall, and two years later, it acquired the respiratory division of Takeda Pharmaceutical. In 2020, AstraZeneca was one of the numerous pharmaceutical companies that developed a vaccination against the SARS-COV-2 coronavirus, which caused COVID-19.

Impact

AstraZeneca has produced multiple drugs and treatments that have helped prevent and treat various diseases. In 2000, the company produced Nexium to treat gastroesophageal problems by reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach. Nexium was a popular drug and brought in approximately $14.4 billion between 2001 and 2005. However, other companies produced generic forms of the drug beginning in 2014. The company released another drug Iressa, which was used as a second-line treatment for lung cancer . In 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Iressa as a first-line treatment for some types of lung cancer.

In 2020, AstraZeneca was one of several companies that developed a vaccination against COVID-19 in response to the global pandemic that killed millions of people. AstraZeneca’s vaccine was one of the first to be completed and was approved in the United Kingdom in late December 2020. However, questions about the rare but possible side effects of developing blood clots made some countries halt the use of the drug in 2021, and lawsuits were filed. AstraZeneca did not report a profit from the vaccine in the first two quarters of 2021. However, the company’s 2022 report noted a 25 per cent increase in total revenue, and in 2023, the company reported an operating profit of $8.2 billion, its highest profits since 2011.

In 2021, AstraZeneca was among the first companies awarded the Terra Carta Seal for excellence in innovation and leadership in addressing climate change. In 2022, AstraZeneca launched its Cancer Care Africa (CCA) program to support policy changes and improve cancer outcomes across Africa. The following year, the company launched a health-tech business called Evinova, designed to accelerate innovation. In 2024, AstraZeneca invested $300 million in a next-generation cell therapies facility in Rockville, Maryland, and named Shanghai its fifth global research and development centre.

Assessment Tasks

You are to critically analyse and evaluate the current management practices at AstraZeneca plc. You must recommend changes based on your evaluation that AstraZeneca plc must implement to improve its success.

Task 1 – Key Management Theories, Concepts and Practices (LO1)

For AstraZeneca plc, discuss how management theories, concepts and practices are currently adding value. Explain, with evidence, what these management practices have contributed to the success of AstraZeneca plc.

Support your arguments with reference to appropriate academic literature, case study materials and your independent research.

Task 2 – Management as a value-adding universal activity (LO3)

Evaluate the dynamics of the global business environment. Discuss how the management at AstraZeneca plc has adapted their strategies and methods, at global, national and local levels, adding value to the organisation.

Support your arguments with reference to appropriate academic literature, case study materials and your independent research.

Task 3 – Key Principles and Functions of Management (LO2)

Critically analyse the management approach taken by the management of AstraZeneca plc to address the key challenges. Highlight the key principles and functions of management (planning, organising, leading and controlling), with supporting evidence.

Support your arguments with reference to appropriate academic literature, case study materials and your independent research.

Task 4 – Critical Reflection and Skills Development Plan (LO4)

For this task, you are required to produce a Skills Development Plan and a 500-word Reflective Statement. You are required to reflect on your own management skill/competencies, in line with your career goals.

Support your arguments with reference to appropriate academic literature and your independent research.

Assessment Guidelines

Introduction:

• Introduce AstraZeneca plc and explain the context of your management report.
• Briefly discuss the current issues at AstraZeneca plc.

Task 1 – Key Management Theories, Concepts and Practices (LO1)

• Explain how management is contributing to success/adding value.
• Briefly discuss the four philosophies of the Competing Values Framework and apply the most appropriate dimension to AstraZeneca’s management approach, supported by examples. Additionally, apply one other relevant management theory that is influencing the management practices at AstraZeneca plc.
• The relevant management theory must be appropriate to your answer. You may choose to consider the following theories: Scientific Management Theory, Bureaucratic Theory, Administrative Theory, Contingency Theory, TQM Theory, etc. NOTE: Students are not limited to the theories given in this list and are expected to research others and choose the most appropriate theory. DO NOT attempt to apply all theories.

Task 2 – Management as a value-adding universal activity (LO3)

• Consider applying the LoNG-PEST framework, or Porter’s 5 forces, to evaluate what AstraZeneca plc should do differently at global, national and local levels.
• Based on the above analysis, identify and evaluate one global factor that can create opportunities and one that can pose threats to AstraZeneca plc.
• Refer to specific details of where the management of AstraZeneca plc can add value.

Task 3 – The key principles and functions of management (LO2)

• Identify and critically analyse one internal challenge faced by the management of AstraZeneca plc. In your answer, you should justify your choice of one internal challenge with reference to the appropriate application of an academic model (for example: Value Chain analysis or VRIO, Mendelow’s matrix, etc.).
• Highlight the key principles and functions of management, including planning, organising, leading and controlling, which can be applied by management to address this challenge.

Conclusion

• Provide a conclusion that summarises your recommended changes that AstraZeneca plc should implement to improve its success.

Task 4 – Critical Reflection and Skills Development Plan (LO4)

• Complete your Personal SWOT below:

My Strengths	My Weaknesses	Opportunities (what can I improve?)	Risks (what stands in the way of my improvement?)
1.
2.
3.

• Complete the following Skills Development Plan, aimed at addressing your future career aims and objectives:

Skills Development Plan
My career aims/objectives (use your personal SWOT to identify these)	Identification of the required skills/competencies (what skills do I need to develop to achieve this career goal)	What support and resources do I need? (This can include digital resources, mentor support, etc.)	How will this be achieved, and how will I measure success?	When will this be achieved? Target date for review.
1.
2.
3.

Provide a 500-word Reflective Statement on what you have learned about your own management skills/ competencies during this Module.

• This Reflective Statement should be written in the first person.
• Apply an appropriate personal reflection model such as Borton, Kolb’s Cycle, Maslow’s or GROW model.
• Focus your answer on the areas of key professional skills, including self-management, problem-solving and decision-making.
• Your personal reflection should be based on your Personal SWOT and Skills Development Plan.

Report Structure

Your report structure should include the following sections:

• Cover page (BPP University Administration Cover Sheet)
• Table of Contents
• List of Abbreviations (if appropriate)
• Introduction (100)
• Task 1         (1200)
• Task 2         (1200)
• Task 3         (1200)
• Conclusion      (100)
• Task 4         (1200)
• References
• Appendices (if required)

Academic Skills, Structure and References

• Work demonstrates intellectual originality, integrity, coherence, creativity and imagination.
• Professional academic standards are followed consistently.
• Structure is in line with the given instructions.
• Tasks 1, 2 and 3 must be written in 3rd person, using an academic style.
• Task 4 must be written in the first person.
• Give a professional appearance with consistent formatting.
• Spellings and grammar are correct.
• Each page has page number in the Footer.
• Any tables or figures are correctly labelled.
• Tables and figures do not cross boundaries, unless necessary
• Properly cite your sources in the text and in the list of references

Tip for Mapping the Assessment towards Module Topics and Module Learning Outcomes (LOs)

Task	Module Topic	Word Count	Module LOs
Task 1 – Key Management Theories, Concepts and Practices	Topic 1: Management Theories and Practices Topic 2: Organisational Environment and Stakeholder Management Topic 6: Leading and Motivating the Key Stakeholders Topic 8: Importance of Finance for Managers	1200	LO1: Apply knowledge and understanding of the key management theories and concepts/practices to contemporary organisations.
Task 3 – Key Principles and Functions of Management	Topic 4: Planning and Decision Making Topic 5: Organising and HR Management  Topic 6: Leading and Motivating the key Stakeholders Topic 7: Controlling and Managing Operations	1200	LO2: Critically analyse and highlight the key principles and functions of management, including planning, organising, leading and controlling.
Task 2. Management as a value-adding universal activity at global, national and local levels	Topic 3: Managing Organisations in the Global Context. Topic 7: Controlling and Managing Operations Topic 8: Importance of Finance for Managers	1200	LO3: Evaluate the dynamics of global business environment, and the need for effective management as a value adding universal activity at global, national and local levels.
Task 4: Critical Reflection and Skills Development Plan	Each Topic contains an opportunity for you to reflect on your personal strengths and weaknesses as they relate to the topic material. Personal SWOT (300) Skills development (400) Reflective statement (500)	1200	LO4: Critically reflect on their own management competencies to design a skills development plan, which is aimed at their future career aims and objectives.
Presentation and Structure	See Marking Guide in Section 3
Introduction		100
Conclusion		100
Total		5,000

The above table is an indicative word count for the planning of each section of the report. You must ensure that the final report is not over 5,000 words as indicated in the guidance.

LU3131 Law Of The ECHR Assessment Brief

YOU MUST NOT PUT YOUR NAME OR STUDENT ID ANYWHERE IN THE BODY OF THE FILE OR TITLE OR YOU MAY INVALIDATE THIS ASSESSMENT

Instructions

• Please answer ONE question from the two questions set.
• Submissions MUST NOT exceed the maximum word limit.
• Footnotes and a bibliography are NOT required for this assessment.
• If footnotes are used to cite sources, they ARE included in the word count.
• Answers MUST be submitted on Moodle BEFORE the submission box closes at the time above
  (unless you have special arrangements authorised by the Exams Office).
• Submissions MUST conform to the CLS LLB/GELLB House Style (on Moodle).
• As this is an assessment by online exam, you are NOT expected to cite your sources in footnotes
  in accordance with OSCOLA or any other formal referencing system.
• However you are expected to indicate in the main body of the text to which sources you are referring
  or paraphrasing (e.g. “As argued by [author] in [book or article title]…”,
  “The case of X v Y established that…”), including the core textbook.
• Furthermore, any verbatim quotes from sources should be in quotation marks (‘…’).
• Failure to follow these instructions may amount to poor academic practice and potentially academic misconduct.

Answer One Question Only

Question 1

Ms A is a secondary school teacher employed at a state school. She is a practising Muslim and wears a headscarf (hijab) as part of her religious observance. The school introduced a revised dress code requiring “strict religious neutrality,” which prohibits all visible religious symbols for teaching staff. Ms A refused to remove her headscarf and was dismissed. Her claim of religious discrimination and unfair dismissal was rejected by the domestic courts, which upheld the school’s policy as justified.

Following her dismissal, Ms A posted a series of comments on her personal Facebook account criticising the school’s policy as discriminatory toward religious minorities; these posts were widely shared. The school complained to the local authority, leading to her prosecution under public order legislation prohibiting “grossly offensive or disorderly expression likely to cause public disruption.” She was convicted and fined. Her appeals to the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal were unsuccessful.

Ms A’s child, who attends the same school, was required to participate in a compulsory Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education programme, including Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). The curriculum covers topics such as same-sex relationships, gender identity, and sexual autonomy, and is delivered without any possibility of parental withdrawal from certain modules. Ms A objected on religious grounds, but the school refused to grant any exemption.

At the same time, the school shared details of Ms A’s dismissal with the press, including her religious practices, her divorce, her child’s attendance at the school, and her objections to parts of the PSHE curriculum. These details were published without her consent, attracting unwanted attention.

Ms A received hostile messages on social media and was approached by journalists outside her home and her child’s school. Neighbours became aware of her situation, parents publicly questioned her suitability to teach, and her child faced teasing and exclusion. The publicity caused significant distress to Ms A and her family.

Advise Ms A on whether she can bring an application before the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the above facts, and on the prospects of success of such an application.

You can see the related solution of this brief:

 

SPM22104 Sustainable Project Management Project Brief

Project Brief

This project brief applies knowledge acquired from “Sustainable Project Management” to a practical, real-world scenario. This provides an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of project management theories and concepts, apply them to a hypothetical case, and develop essential professional skills in report writing.

Part One: Report for ESF project

You are a project manager planning the delivery of a new environmentally sustainable building/product/service. The building/product/service emphasises Environmental, Social, and Financial (ESF) criteria throughout its delivery, development, and life cycle. You will produce a report showing how your project meets aspects of ESF, including: Stakeholder Analysis, Life Cycle Analysis, Financial Sustainability, Supplier Assessment Matrix and Risk Matrix.

The report must be written using Times New Roman font (size 12) and double-spaced, with incorporation of images/diagrams/tables where appropriate, with a limit of 2,000 words (excluding title page and references). Harvard Referencing citations are required.

The assignment must be submitted in Microsoft Word format. Please conduct a preliminary plagiarism check using Turnitin software before the final submission on Canvas.

Part 2: Process Map Video Presentation

Students should develop a detailed and comprehensive process map using a digital project management tool such as MS Project. The process map should visually represent project workflows, resource selection, waste reduction, community engagement, and sustainability within project management. The process map explains the individual product/service/building and shows how it contributes to sustainability, and efficient project management should be uploaded as a YouTube link at the end of the report. The video presentation should be no longer than 10 minutes.

The following guidelines can be used to develop the presentation:

• Select a digital project management tool that supports process mapping.
• Outline the project’s objectives, deliverables, and sustainability goals.
• Break down the project into its core processes and sub-processes that need to be managed sustainably.
• Use the digital tool to visually represent the sequence and interaction of processes.
• Identify areas within the process where sustainability can be integrated, such as resource allocation, stakeholder engagement, waste management, and others.

Identify where digital tools and technologies can enhance the sustainable management of the project.

Assess the process map for comprehensiveness and consistency, ensuring it captures all aspects of sustainable project management.

Conclusion:

This project enables you to apply appropriate digital tools for project management and for the specific project processes. To assess sustainability (Environmental, Social, Financial) criteria with a focus on the creative businesses. To analyse and assess the project needs, appraise, and apply the appropriate strategies to integrate sustainability into the core functions of a project. Good luck!

Assessment and tutor feedback date

Students will receive feedback and assessment in accordance with deadlines, subject to the registry timetable.

Students who miss the deadline or fail this project may be required to complete a retrieval project, which demonstrates that the learning outcomes have been achieved. Students should be aware that retrieval submissions are capped at a bare pass grade, unless the extenuating circumstances panel uphold an evidenced application. The deadline for retrieval submissions will be determined at an Assessment Board.

Module Learning Outcomes

• LO1: Create and critically analyse the process map of a supply chain for a project and/or the whole project applications in the creative businesses
• LO2: Assess the available digital tools for project management and the available tools for the specific project processes in creative businesses, as well as in other public and private large-scale projects.
• LO3: Understand and critique the sustainability credentials of a project, assessing the required and suitable sustainability initiatives with a focus on the creative businesses
• LO4: Analyse and assess the project needs; appraise, apply, and manage the correct procurement strategies; and supplier relation strategies with special focus on the creative industries

Assessment Methods and Tasks

Assessment Tasks 

Project Report (2000 words)
Reflection Video Presentation (10 minutes)

 

 

MKTG802 Assignment 3 Brief

Course: MKTG802 Strategic Marketing – Brands, Products and Services

Due: 4.00pm, Thursday 4^th June 2026 (soft copy submission through Moodle only)

Learning Outcomes

As set out in your Course Outline, this assignment requires you to:

LO1 Formulate ways to improve a company’s performance through an accurate diagnosis of its competitive advantage and brand strategy adopted; and

LO2 Conclude why profitability may be compromised and determine ways to improve company performance; and

LO3  Create appropriate and suitable reports with marketing plans to achieve success.

Assignment Tasks

As an aspiring consultant, choose a company (to be approved by your lecturer in class) and comprehensively analyse the company from a strategic marketing perspective. Consideration may include but are not limited to evaluating the effectiveness of the company’s market positioning, social media / SEO metrics, product range, promotion, pricing, distribution and segmentation / targeting.

Prepare a Business Development Report containing the following elements:

(1) Executive Summary

Summarise the challenges from the diagnosis phase and outline the plans for improving the company’s performance.

(10 marks)

(2) Analysis

Diagnose the current unsatisfactory performance and compromised profitability of the client’s company using tools, techniques and measures that are justified and appropriate

(35 marks)

(3) Action Plan

i. Create a Marketing Plan for the company for the next 18 months based on the conclusions that you could reasonably expect from the analysis phase. This should contain specific actions to be initiated, timelines, and how effectiveness in improving company performance will be monitored.

(35 marks)

ii. Formulate two ideas the company could improve performance and achieve more success. Discuss in some detail and make a compelling pitch why these will be effective.

(15 marks)

(4) Research

Reputable sources to support your arguments spanning various mediums, such as peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, well-regarded books, and authoritative websites.

(5 marks)

MKTG802 Assignment 3 Marking Rubric

BMGT8004 Assessment 3

Total Weight : 30%

Group Task: Case Study Report (100 marks)

Word Count: approx. 3000 words (10% +-) Mention total word count on assignment cover page along with your name and ID.

All sources of information must be referenced using APA 7th style formatting.

1. Introduction & Company Overview (20 Marks)

• Provide a concise introduction: purpose, scope, and limitations of the report.
• Provide a clear overview of the company:
  products/services, industry, sales, competitors.

2. Supply Chain Performance Analysis (40 Marks)

• Describe the current supply chain structure and key partners.
• Analyse sourcing decisions (make/buy/outsource) and sourcing strategy.
• Identify ONE major supply chain challenge the company experienced recently.
• Evaluate how the company responded and how effective the response was.

Note: Support your analysis with context-specific and verifiable evidence linked directly to the selected company (e.g., company website, reports, or industry sources) and avoid generic descriptions.

The analysis must demonstrate critical evaluation by assessing:

• How effective the company’s response was.
• How this effectiveness can be determined.
• Why the company may have chosen this response over alternatives.

The discussion should be supported by clear and logical reasoning,
explaining why the recommended or evaluated approach is appropriate or limited, instead of making unsupported claims that a strategy was “good” or “effective”.

3. Inventory Management Analysis (20 Marks)

• Select ONE fast-moving product from a physical retail store
  (e.g., supermarket or large retail outlet) based on a store visit.
• Estimate the annual demand for the selected product using a reasonable method.
• This may include estimating average daily sales from shelf stock levels
  and replenishment frequency, and then calculating annual demand using
  the number of days the store operates
  (assume 362 days, excluding Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday).
• Using the estimated annual demand, calculate EOQ
  (how many units per order and how many orders per year).
• Where exact ordering and holding cost data are unavailable,
  you are expected to use reasonable assumptions based on:
  product context, store operations, and relevant assumptions.
• Interpret operational implications of the calculated result of EOQ.

Note: Select a clearly identified specific product and provide evidence of a physical store visit. Annual demand estimation must be explained transparently and based on observed data rather than hypothetical figures.

AI Declaration (Mandatory)

Note: This section does not carry marks but is mandatory.

Append with the report and submit one declaration per group. For any permitted AI use:

• Include an AI Use Appendix with:

You can see the related solution of this brief:

 

ANS600 Sustainable Food and Fiber Production Info Slides S1

Introduction to ANS600

• What is this unit?
• How is this unit taught?
• How is it assessed?
• How do I maximise my assessment mark?
• How do I book an assessment?
• When are the deadlines?

What is this Unit?

• This unit enables students to increase their knowledge and expertise in various specialisations of their choosing
• Choice of student-centred learning modules (study guides)
• Need 3 modules to complete the unit
• Modules related to sustainable agriculture using an ESG lens

But Not for Everyone

Assessment

What Modules Are Available?

Oral Exams (Viva Voce)

• Online interview (exam) – MS Teams
• Camera on, recorded
• Closed-book exam.
• We need to be able to see your eyes.
• If the examiner is concerned you are reading from a screen, you will be asked to redo the assessment with in-person invigilation
• 5 questions from the study guide – random selection
• Graded on depth of understanding and use of appropriate examples – not just memorising study guide content
• Spoken communication skills (e.g. interview skills)

Each question /10

Example

Sheep welfare – use of pain relief for husbandry procedures

Strategy

• The modules you complete won’t appear on your academic record/transcript
• You cannot retake an oral exam
• You can’t ask for an alternative question.
• Giving excess additional information won’t get you more marks. We will mark the first item of supporting/additional information you give in your answer.
• Don’t try to memorise an answer word for word. We just need the correct content in the answer.
• Don’t worry about the pronunciation of scientific terms
• Don’t leave all your assessments till the final weeks. The final weeks will be busy, so don’t expect the flexibility to change the assessment
• You will not get an extension because of poor time-management (only with reliable medical information or a recommendation from the Equity office)

Booking Oral Exam Assessment

• Online unit booking sheet
• Which 3 weeks you choose is up to you, but the day and time in that week has to be organised with the examiner
• Don’t book until you are ready.
• Select the module you want to be assessed – only one module to be assessed at a time.
• Staff will contact you after bookings close at 4 pm Thursday to organise a date and time for the assessment in the FOLLOWING week.
• Check your email for the calendar invitation
• When you receive a Teams meeting request, “accept” it (or propose a new time) so the timeslot and link are in your calendar

Reflective Report

• The reflective report provides a critical self-reflection based on your overall learning experience.
• Reflective writing involves looking back on your experiences, analysing what happened, evaluating what worked or didn’t, and considering how you will apply your learning in the future.

156.756 Assessment 2 : Digital Marketing Strategy 

Assessment Client: Three Sisters Brewery (https://threesistersbrewery.store)

Due Date: Monday 8 June 2026, 11:55am

Weighting: 50% of course mark

Word count: 4,000 words

Assessment Brief 

This assessment requires you to act as a digital marketing consultant to the marketing team for Three Sisters Brewery.

For this assignment, you can choose the target market of EITHER New Zealand OR China.  The focus is on business to consumer marketing (i.e. the consumer market).

The social media channels for Three Sisters Brewery are:

Three Sisters Brewery https://threesistersbrewery.store/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/threesistersbrewery/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/threesistersbrewery/?hl=en

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/three-sisters-brewery/

Note: If you choose China, you should look at their Chinese website and social channels.

In Week 2, a representative from Three Sisters Brewery will attend class and brief you on their aims for the marketing strategy, providing detail about their objectives, previous marketing campaigns (if applicable) and the information on Three Sisters Brewery’s target market.

Please note – throughout your assessments on this company, you will also be marked on your adherence to this verbal briefing and the company’s conception of the brand. Knowing the company’s understanding of their segmentation, brand and brief and responding to this is a critical part of working in digital marketing.

You should be actively taking notes during this briefing, and you should repeat the brief in your assessments and how you will respond to it. In a commercial environment, not knowing the brief could mean losing the client.

You will then provide a step-by-step digital marketing strategy that they can implement, with the aim of convincing your client that this is the correct approach. A digital marketing strategy is one that integrates all of your digital activities under a single theme (e.g. to “increase brand awareness and conversions by promoting the lifestyle of Lululemon using User Generated Content of people living the Lululemon life”).

Your assignment should consider the following: 

• How the strategy ties in with and complements the company’s business objectives

(look at the big picture – are you going for the right target market?)

• A strategy that can be summarised in an elevator pitch
• How the tactics (specific marketing actions) feed into this overall marketing strategy
• How the recommended channels complement this strategy
• You may also consider how this complements their offline experience (e.g. in store)
• A review of the existing channels
• A time period for the campaign
• Suggested hashtags
• Suggested posts or themes (it can be good to screenshot examples of other brands using content that would be good)
• KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for measurement (e.g. conversions, engagement, reach, fans)^[1]
• A buyer persona
• A customer journey
• A solid consideration of how you get people to move from one place to the next (e.g. if you are using Facebook Live, how do you then get those people to move across to your website/ Facebook group? How do you capture their information for remarketing/ contact them again?)
• A marketing calendar
• A budget (note: you are not being marked on how accurate your budget is – you are not allowed to contact suppliers for this assignment. Rather we want you to begin considering a budget and get in this habit). Note: this budget must respond to the amount that you were briefed on.
• An introduction and conclusion that summarises your strategy

Please see the end of this document for the breakdown of the composition of these parts.

Individual / Group: You may complete this assignment as an individual or a group (maximum number of 4). Please note that having more students in your group does not mean that you write less, it actually means that you will be expected to produce a larger and more comprehensive report.

It is expected you will integrate a minimum of two different digital marketing channels into your overall strategy. Three people = three channels, etc. If you are completing the assignment as an individual you should include at least two channels so you have an opportunity to demonstrate strategy and an omnichannel approach.

Please note: 

• Your assessment may be shared: Your assessments may be shared with these companies, so you are to write in a business style that is confident, clear, forthright and direct.
• Write with purpose: You should write as if you are writing for a busy person, and clearly lay out your argument. This assignment is much more about laying out a clear strategy than discussing theory, but you should reference where you have included theory so that the client knows that you understand digital marketing.
• Justify your decisions: You will find when recommending strategies there are often advantages and disadvantages to each recommendation, so you will need to justify

why your recommendation is the correct choice. Quote benefits, reasons why, state statistics, and all ideas must be referenced back to digital marketing “best practice” (a successful website, a peer reviewed article, a case study on the subject, recent statistics, a text book, a quote by the guest speaker etc). You will often find there are multiple ways to achieve a goal – just go with what you think is the best and say why.

• Be specific: When giving ideas to your client, it is important to give specific examples and be detailed in your explanations. Your client’s marketing team would prefer you only provided two or three well thought out detailed specific strategies, rather than an exhaustive list of ideas that just ‘skim the surface’. This means rather than providing large chunks of theory, it is better to detail the specific strategies of how you will achieve the desired result (sample keywords, ideas for content pillars in social media marketing, etc.). Note: this is particularly important if you use Artificial Intelligence to brainstorm your ideas. AI is prone to providing aggregate information, or information that has a bias towards the average. This means that it is likely to throw up a lot of information that is general about Search Engine Marketing, but no specific information that is actionable or that a client would actually pay for. You must check that it is both on-brand and not exactly the same as the marketing for their competitors. You are looking to provide differentiation that would make someone choose your product over competitors.
• Pretend it is real: Pretend you are going to actually implement your strategy(s) and have to justify why and how to implement it. Therefore, include everything necessary for your strategies to be fully implemented, and fully communicate your intention. For example; provide a sample selection of tweets/postings, PPC adverts, landing page, articles, topics or themes to be used, indicate frequency and timing, etc. Use screen shots of similar ideas to evidence how you will do this. This will help you evidence the tone.
• Think ‘mobile first’ and ‘journey driven design’: How do people engage with the company on and offline, and how do these modes intertwine?
• Balance: Provide suggestions your client can practically use, matched to academic and industry researched justifications. You will need to use all your knowledge of digital strategy, business models, website design and relationship marketing to successfully complete this assignment.
• Appendix: All appendix items must be referenced within the assignment.

Please remember to fill out the peer review component too – if this is not submitted, 3% of your grade will be deducted. This can be found on the Assessment 2 page on Stream.

In this assignment, AI planning is allowed. This means that you may use AI for planning, idea development and research.

You must produce the original content. You must review, fact-check, and evaluate the suggestions AI provides.

Please consult the guidelines in your course Stream site. You must submit all prompts and outputs to AI in your appendix and your AI Declaration. You must also keep a OneDrive copy evidencing the development of your assessment. 

Assessment Breakdown

Note. Some of these may be difficult, but focus on the ones that you can do (e.g. doing Customer Lifetime Value might be too hard for this assignment) and rough ballpark estimates. A good list of digital marketing metrics is available here: https://www.klipfolio.com/resources/kpi-examples/digital-marketing

MG5674 Assessment:

Part 1: Report on Strategic Analysis and Evaluation (2200 Words 10%+).

Scenario:

The article published in Financial Times below provides a snapshot of the impact on the Airline industry.

First-class shake-up in the skies: the leisure takeover of premium cabins

Looking to the scenario and context given in the FT article above, as a head of strategy in one of the leading airlines (choose a global airline), the board of directors of your chosen airline has asked you to carry out a strategic review of the airline and provide a report that assesses its recent strategic developments, current strategic position and future strategic options aligned with the UNSDGs. The report must address the following key aspects:

1. RECENT PAST (5-10 years): Strategic developments

Research and critically analyse the strategic developments of the chosen airline within the context of the industry to which it belongs over the past 5 to 10 years. Choose the duration of time for the study most appropriate for understanding the key strategic developments that have influenced the long-term direction of the airline to the present day. Identify any changes in the strategy that the airline has made during the period in question, critically analyse and evaluate how and why these changes were made (600 words 10%+).

2. CURRENT: Strategic situation

Building on your analysis undertaken in section 1, provide a critical analysis and evaluation of the airline’s current strategic situation at the time of writing which relates to the previous section.

3. FUTURE: Strategic choices

Based on your research and analysis undertaken for tasks 1 and 2 above, recommend a limited range of distinctively different strategic choices of your own creation available to the airline for the future. Critically evaluate and assess the choices available leading to recommendations for the airline’s strategic direction forward. Make clear the assumptions you have made as a basis for the strategic choices and ensure that they take account of potential uncertainties and strategic changes (700 words 10%+).

Part 2: Poster/Brochure and Portfolio (300 Words 10%+)

After completing part 1 of MG5674, you need to develop a one-page poster providing succinct analysis and evaluation of the strategic developments (past), strategic situation (current) and strategic choices (future) of the chosen airline. The poster must be included as an appendix in the report.

Reference

Georgiadis, P. (2024). ‘First-class shake-up in the skies: the leisure takeover of premium cabins’, FT, May 27, 2024. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/fcda8eec-8cf1-4059-a1c7-9c79b519aef3 (Accessed October 23, 2024)

PROP385 Assignment Brief

Grouping, Length & Format

Number of group members: Minimum 2, Maximum 5 Self-assign on Canvas -> People -> Groups for Assignment at
https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/144873/groups#tab-27531 by 17 March 2026.

Written Report

• 3,500 – 5,000 words
• Word Count Exclusions:
  • Title page
  • Executive Summary
  • Table of Contents
  • References
  • Appendices
  • Tables and Figures
• Structured into six chapters (see below)
• APA 7th edition referencing required
• Submit as .docx or .pdf via Canvas

Presentation Video

• 8–10 minutes
• 8–10 presentation slides recommended.
• focusing on Chapters 4 and 5.
• Submit as an .mp4 video via Canvas.
• the video is a group submission, but it will be assessed individually.
  Make sure all members have made their presentations.

Assignment Overview

This group assignment requires students to produce a rigorous, evidence-based investigation into housing affordability issues in New Zealand. Housing affordability remains one of the most significant socio-economic challenges facing New Zealand. Over the past decade, housing prices and rents have experienced substantial volatility, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Policy responses have ranged from large-scale urban upzoning initiatives to restrictions on foreign purchases and substantial interest rate adjustments.  Has New Zealand’s housing become more or less affordable? Why?

This assignment requires students to:

• Distinguish between perceptions and measured affordability outcomes
• Analyse primary and secondary datasets
• Evaluate policy effectiveness using evidence
• Propose well-justified solutions grounded in economic and institutional reasoning

The emphasis is on evidence-based reasoning, not opinion. Arguments must be supported by empirical data, credible literature, and clear analytical logic.

Exemplars And Professional Context

Several New Zealand institutions have produced influential evidence-based
reports on housing affordability that serve as strong exemplars for this assignment.

For example, Auckland Council (2014) analysed land supply and planning
constraints in Auckland, while The Treasury (2013) evaluated patterns and
trends of house prices, expenditures and home ownership over time and across groups based on two surveys.

These reports demonstrate clear problem framing, transparent data use,
critical policy evaluation, and evidence-based conclusions. They reflect the
professional standards expected of property and policy analysts.

However, they are all very outdated (published more than 10 years ago).

This assignment mirrors such real-world consultancy practice, requiring
students to produce structured, data-driven analysis comparable to professional reports on housing affordability issues.

Data Provided

1. Survey Data – mainly for Chapter 2

(available here, and guest presented in week 3)

About 100 raw data from a recently completed survey of young New Zealanders examining:

• Perceptions of housing affordability
• Current housing status
• Anticipated housing pathways over the next five years
• Views formed after pandemic-era housing volatility

2. Stats NZ Customised Census Dataset – mainly for Chapter 3

(available here and presented in week 4)

• House mortgage-to-household income ratios* (five quintiles)
• Rent-to-household income ratios (five quintiles)
• Census data covering approximately the past decade

Students are expected to analyse these datasets independently and integrate findings into the report.

Required Report Structure

Chapter 1: Introduction and Literature Review

• Background of housing affordability issues in New Zealand
• Conceptual definition(s) of housing affordability to be used
• Review of key academic and policy literature
• Explanation of why distinguishing perception from measured affordability matters
• Explanation of the approaches to be used in Chapter 4 and Chapter 5
  on the causes and the solutions of housing affordability issues.

Chapter 2: Public Perceptions of Housing Affordability

Using the provided survey data to discuss, but not limited to, the following:

• Analyse young New Zealanders’ views on affordability
• Examine expectations regarding housing pathways
• Identify patterns across demographics (if relevant)
• Compare findings with other opinion-based sources (e.g., surveys, reports)

This chapter should critically discuss how perceptions may differ from objective affordability metrics.

Chapter 3: Measured Housing Affordability Trends

Using the customised Stats NZ dataset to discuss, but not limited to, the following:

• Analyse and plot graphs of mortgage-to-income ratios* (by quintile)
• Analyse and plot graphs of rent-to-income ratios (by quintile)
• Identify and explain the identified affordability trends over the past decade
• Compare findings with alternative affordability indicators where relevant

This chapter presents the actual affordability trajectory and examines
distributional differences across income groups.

Chapter 4: Causes of Affordability Changes

Identify and evaluate drivers of housing affordability changes, supported by evidence.

These may include:

• Housing supply dynamics
• Land use regulation and upzoning
• Credit conditions and interest rates
• Construction costs
• Migration flows
• Investor behaviour
• Macroeconomic factors

Arguments on at least ONE core cause must be supported by empirical evidence
(quantitative or qualitative).

Chapter 5: Evaluation of Policy Measures and Proposed Solutions

Critically assess at least ONE policy intervention attempted in the past decade, including:

• Large-scale upzoning in Auckland (increased housing supply)
• Overseas Investment Act (restrictions on foreign buyers)
• Ultra-low interest rate environments during the outbreak of the pandemic
  and subsequent high interest rate tightening

For each policy considered:

• Did it materially affect affordability?
• Why?
• What is the supporting evidence?

Students must also propose ONE alternative solution.

Proposal must include:

• Clear economic logic – why it can solve the problem better than the attempted ones
• Institutional feasibility – what are the conditions that can empower the proposal viable?
• Evidence or theoretical justification for effectiveness

Chapter 6: Conclusion

• Summarise key findings
• Distinguish between perception and measured reality
• Reflect on policy implications
• Highlight future research directions

Learning Objectives

By completing this assignment, students will be able to:

• Apply evidence-based reasoning to complex housing market issues
• Analyse and interpret housing affordability datasets
• Distinguish public perception from empirical measurement
• Evaluate policy interventions using data
• Develop structured, professional reports suitable for property-sector analysis
• Communicate analytical findings effectively in written and oral formats

References

1. Auckland Council (2014). Housing supply, choice and affordability – Trends,
   economic drivers, and possible policy interventions, by Chris Parker,
   Chief Economist, Auckland Council, New Zealand.
   https://knowledgeauckland.org.nz/media/2nyf2bg0/housing-supply-choice-and-affordability-october-2015_parker-c.pdf
2. The Treasury (2013). Housing Affordability in New Zealand: Evidence from
   Household Surveys (WP13/14), by David Law and Lisa Meehan,
   New Zealand Productivity Commission, New Zealand.
   https://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/wp/housing-affordability-new-zealand-evidence-household-surveys-wp-13-14#abstract

* updated on 28 April 2026 from price-to-income ratios to mortgage-to-income ratios.

Marks Distributions Of The Written Report (30%)

Marks Distributions Of The Presentation Video (10%)

Academic Integrity

This is a group project. Collaboration within groups is expected; however:

• All sources must be properly cited
• Data analysis must be original
• AI tools are ONLY allowed to be used for language editing.

PROPERTY 385 Assignment Rubric

6N4169 Assessment Brief

The assessor is required to devise assessment briefs and marking schemes for the Portfolio/Collection of Work and Project. In devising the assessment briefs care should be taken to ensure that the learner is given the opportunity to show evidence of achievement of ALL the learning outcomes. Assessment briefs may be designed to allow the learner to make use of a wide range of media in presenting assessment evidence, as appropriate. Quality assured procedures must be in place to ensure the reliability of learner evidence.

Assignment 1 – Portfolio/Collection Of Work50%

(Tasks x 2 @ 25% each)

Task 1

25%

The task is designed to enable the learner to

• Evaluate the role of administration in organisations
• Assess the relationships between administration practices and organisations policies
• Manage a range of systems to maintain a diary, messaging and mail processing
• Use a range of office equipment and information technology applications to perform administrative tasks
• Prioritise tasks in the performance of administrative services.

Evidence for this assessment technique may take the form of written, oral, graphic, audio, visual or digital evidence, or any combination of these. Any audio, video or digital evidence must be provided in a suitable format.

All instructions for the learner must be clearly outlined in an assessment brief.

Task 2

25%

This task should be completed in a period of 4-6 weeks

The internal assessor will devise a brief to enable the learner to research and investigate Administration Practice topics in detail and produce documentation appropriate to two or more of the following:

• Data and workflow management using communications skills
• Organise a meeting/event
• Devise procedures for the procurement and issuing of business resources and supplies
• Organise business and travel accommodation

Assignment 2 – Project – 50%

Project will be carried out over a period of 4 weeks 

The project will take the form of designing an Administration Management Programme for a designated workplace, together with a detailed description of the procedure implemented from start to finish.

It should reflect the requirements of the current legislation and good practice guidelines on areas relevant to administration to include health and safety, data protection corporate governance, employment and equality

It should identify the Research issues relevant to administration to include security, facility management and environmental issues, confidentiality and Freedom of Information requests.

The project should also include other information on the means by which you can deliver administrative services through developing working relationships with relevant stakeholders and to reflect the ability to organise administrative support services to develop and maintain customer relationships.

And finally, it should identify the role that Administration Management can play in the overall strategic management of the workplace.

Evidence for this assessment technique may take the form of written, oral, graphic, audio, visual or digital evidence, or any combination of these. Any audio, video or digital evidence must be provided in a suitable format.

All instructions for the learner must be clearly outlined in an assessment brief.

Learning Outcomes And Assessment Criteria