Assessment 2 is an Evidence-based analysis: This means you should support and critically analyse arguments made within your essay / assignment / report / video by providing proper justifications from academic articles and academic books (sourced via DMU library) & from other creditable sources mentioned in your Source Selection guide on your Assessment Support folder BB page. Quality sources normally include academic journals and academic books and credible reports. You must also cite and reference your sources using Harvard Referencing (Cite Them Right). There will be guidance on your DMU Learning Zone to help you to consider the credibility of your research and to help you with Harvard Referencing. For support with critical reading and writing, how to approach literature reviews, Harvard referencing, and other academic skills please visit Centre for learning and Study Support (CLaSS)
It is compulsory to use Harvard Style Referencing (Cite Them Right)
DMU will use Harvard (Cite Them Right) as the university Harvard referencing style for all students.
https://library.dmu.ac.uk/refguide/harvard
Academic assessments are SNAPSHOTS of what you know. Not “everything” that you know. So be selective, be strategic and showcase
Assessment 2 (AS2) Information – What you need to do:
2nd Assessment is an individual written essay – 2,000 words (+/- 10% allowed)
This is a traditional essay assignment with 2000 words, which will worth 60% of the overall module mark. Due to the highly contemporary nature of the module, the syllabus and its emphasis can change from year to year. The students are expected to demonstrate both theoretical and practical knowledge while answering the question. Students are expected to develop a greater understanding of the subject by continued and extensive reading using a range of sources while getting prepared for the assessment. It will not be sufficient to rely on material given in lectures only. Instead, the student should develop an awareness of diverse opinions, theoretical frameworks, and practical examples.

This is an individual essay assignment that must be submitted online before the submission deadline. The questions are based on the taught material throughout the academic year. Please follow all instructions carefully.

· You must choose only one question out of four.

· You must prepare your answer in a single word document so that it can be submitted as a single document via Turnitin.

· Word limit is 2000 words (+/- 10%) excluding references

· Please, name the document as “ CORP3543 – Pnumber”

· You must submit your essay via Turnitin on or before Friday 10th May 2024, 12:00 PM (Noon) UK Time

· You may submit your answers at any time up to the submission time.

· You are allowed to resubmit once you have uploaded a document.

Assessment 2 (AS2) Details:

· Question 1: What are the contemporary challenges and trends reshaping the retail industry?

Indicative Answer : Students are expected to explain the essence of retail, consumer behaviour, customer service and satisfaction, and some elements of marketing. They also need to clarify how digitalisation changes the shape of retail as well as consumer behaviour and expectations. Emphasis should be given to the discussion of contemporary customers’ expectations and link them to the theories of sharing economy and experience economics, which companies should take into account and adjust their business strategies accordingly. Students must provide a specific case study example(s) in their discussion: e.g., John Lewis, Thomas Cook, Deliveroo.

Question 2: Has the COVID19 pandemic disrupted the landscape of standard supply chain management concept and how?
Indicative Answer : Students must discuss the standard theories and models of the supply chain and lean management. They are also expected to examine how current pandemic challenges these existing models and debate whether businesses (and scholars) should rethink them. Specific emphasis should be given to a particular case study example of the industry sector: for instance, car manufacturing (e.g., VW, Toyota), clothing (textile) industry (e.g., Nike), technology production (e.g., HP), maritime transportation, etc. Students must demonstrate the ability to apply theories in their discussion of real-life examples.
Question 3: Mission impossible? What are the motivating factors and challenges to businesses being sustainable and how effective are contemporary sustainability strategies?
Indicative answer: Students must discuss some of the motivating factors to business being sustainable (such as consumer/NGO pressure, legislation, SDGs, climate change and threats to long-term business survival as a result of inaction) as well as the challenges to businesses being sustainable (e.g., cost, consumer apathy, shareholders, weak legislation, ‘unreachable’ parts of the supply chain etc.) Students must also discuss the effectiveness of sustainability strategies such as making changes to supply chain or manufacturing practices, adopting the SDGs or a certification system (such as ISO26000, Fairtrade etc.) and how effectiveness can be ascertained/measured. The analysis must include real-life case study examples and practical recommendations for businesses.
Question 4: Critically discuss the challenges and opportunities for businesses within Industry 4.0.
Indicative Answer : Students must assess and debate the changing landscape of the world economies and the impact of technologies on the labour market. Good answers should include the critical discussion of how digitalisation has created new types of jobs and now requires new skills of potential employees. Students should also provide how digitalisation influenced other spheres of doing business and how technologies are being implemented there: supply- chain, sales, customers service, and public, private sectors, in general. Students must provide a specific case study example(s) in their discussion by examining a particular industry sector or a company: e.g., financial industry, deliveries (e.g., Deliveroo), or streaming services (Netflix vs Blockbuster).
Assessment 2 (AS2) Tips: How to improve your 2nd assessment (AS2):
Cover page, list of contents, list of tables, list of figures and the end Harvard Reference list are not included in your final word count.
1- PLEASE check the Rubric before starting your assignment 2. This will help you to identify the key and important factors for each marking criteria.
2- You MUST use main titles and sub-titles to divide your arguments/ chapters/ assignments to a number of clear sections. This will help the examiner/moderator to follow your arguments better.
3- You MUST use academic sources such as academic text-books and academic articles from academic journals and credible sources to support your arguments.
4- DO NOT use only one or a very limited number of sources as your citations. You need to use a good mixture of sources. Please check your BB / Assessment Briefs Folder / Source Selection Guideline.
5- Your Rubric shows “Depth of Academic Knowledge 30%”. This means you need to show how you could develop your Academic Knowledge. Depth of Academic Knowledge will be developed by reading academic sources. Reading and citing ONLY ordinary non-academic sources will NOT add value into your assignment.
6- Your Rubric shows “Application of Theory and Critical Evaluation 30%”. This section will be developed by reading and citing academic sources (academic text-books and academic articles). You can use official websites or credible sources to gain numbers and figures to support your main arguments. Please check your BB / Assessment Briefs Folder / Source Selection Guideline.
7- Make use of your tutors, we are here to help and advise you through this assignment.
8- You need to answer the question and apply your academic knowledge to support your arguments.
9- Word count for each section: The below mentioned word counts are only suggestion. It is NOT compulsory to follow the mentioned word counts for each section. Please remember 2,000 words (+/-10%) is your final word count for your 2nd assessment:
Title Page (not included in the word count)
1. Introduction (200-250 words)
Introduction into the topic
Problem statement / background of the problem / Relevance
Research aims and objectives
2. Theoretical discussion of the topic (750-800 words)
Discuss relevant theoretical frameworks and models related to your case study problem: for example, retail, digitalization, consumer behavior, international trade theories, regional integration, agency theory, stakeholder theory, supply chain and lean management, etc.
This is a literature review section; hence, the use of academic sources is compulsory.
3. Example / Case study (750-800 words)
Students must provide a specific case study example(s) in their discussion by examining a particular company or an industry sector.
Students must demonstrate the ability to apply theories in their discussion to the real-life examples.
Demonstration of the figures, graphs, and tables with secondary data will be beneficial.
4. Conclusion (200-250 words)
Provide a summary of your work
Cover the key findings and points as the result of your work
Bibliography list (not included in the word count)
How to Submit your Assessment 2 (AS2):
The assessment must be submitted by Friday 10/05/2024 at 12:00 PM (Noon) – UK Time. No paper copies are required. You can access the submission link through the module web.
Your coursework will be given a zero mark if you do not submit a copy through Turnitin. Please take care to ensure that you have fully submitted your work.
Please ensure that you have submitted your work using the correct file format, unreadable files will receive a mark of zero. The Faculty accepts Microsoft Office and PDF documents, unless otherwise advised by the module leader.
All work submitted after the submission deadline without a valid and approved reason will be subject to the University regulations on late submissions.
If an assessment is submitted up to 14 days late the mark for the work will be capped at the pass mark of 40 per cent for undergraduate modules or 50 per cent for postgraduate modules
If an assessment is submitted beyond 14 calendar days late the work will receive a mark of zero per cent
The above applies to a student’s first attempt at the assessment. If work submitted as a reassessment of a previously failed assessment task is submitted later than the deadline the work will immediately be given a mark of zero per cent
If an assessment which is marked as pass/fail rather than given a percentage mark is submitted later than the deadline, the work will immediately be marked as a failure.
The University wants you to do your best. However, we know that sometimes events happen which mean that you can’t submit your coursework by the deadline – these events should be beyond your control and not easy to predict. If this happens, you can apply for an extension to your deadline for up to two weeks, or if you need longer, you can apply for a deferral, which takes you to the next assessment period (for example, to the re-sit period following the main Assessment Boards). You must apply before the deadline. You will find information about applying for extensions and deferrals here.
Students MUST keep a copy and/or an electronic file of their assignment.

Checks will be made on your work using anti-plagiarism software and approved plagiarism checking websites.

Return of Marked Work Assessment 2 (AS2):

You can expect to have feedback returned to you on 04/06/2024 at 12:00 PM (Noon) UK Time. If for any reason there is a delay you will be kept informed. If for any reason there is a delay you will be kept informed. Marks and feedback will be provided online on your Turnitin. It is important that you access the feedback you receive as this will help to make improvements to your later work, you can request a meeting with your Module Leader or Personal Tutor to discuss your feedback in more detail.

Marks will have been internally moderated only, and will therefore be provisional; your mark will be formally agreed later in the year once the external examiner has completed their review. More information on assessment and feedback can be found here .