ASSESSMENT METHODS
SIM-UB Undergraduate Program
MGG150 Business and Society
FALL 2024
Item#1: Attendance & participation
Item#2: Mid-term Quiz
Item#3: Final Quiz
Item#4: Group project report
Item#5: Group presentation
TOTAL
Instructor:
E-mail:
Document version:
File name:
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Mr. TANG Dick Shun
dickshun@buffalo.edu
Version II
MGG150_Assessment Methods_DTang_20240818.docx
Note: Instructor reserves the rights to make changes to assessment methods, syllabus, schedule and /or other materials. Changes
may be done at the discretion of the instructor.
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Summary of assessment (FALL 2024)
Week
Day
Session
Content
MON
WED
Class
Date
26-AUG
28-AUG
W1
1
2
Class Overview
Chapter 1
W2
MON
2-SEP
3
Chapter 2
W3
WED
MON
4-SEP
9-SEP
4
5
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
WED
11-SEP
6
MON
16-SEP
7
Group Project
Updates
Chapter 5
WED
18-SEP
8
Chapter 6
MON
WED
MON
WED
23-SEP
25-SEP
30-SEP
2-OCT
9
10
11
12
Chapter 7
Mid-term Quiz
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
MON
7-OCT
13
Chapter 10
WED
9-OCT
14
Chapter 11
W4
W5
W6
W7
W8
W9
MON
WED
MON
21-OCT
15
Semester break
Semester break
Chapter 12
W10
WED
MON
23-OCT
28-OCT
16
17
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
WED
30-OCT
18
MON
4-NOV
19
Group Project
Check
Chapter 15
WED
MON
WED
MON
WED
MON
6-NOV
11-NOV
13-NOV
18-NOV
20-NOV
25-NOV
20
21
22
23
24
25
Chapter 16
Content recap
Revision
Final Quiz
Special biz topic
Finale lecture
W11
W12
W13
W14
Topic
Exploring the World of Business and
Economics
Ethics and Social Responsibility in
Business
Global Business
Choosing a Form of Business
Ownership
Small Business, Entrepreneurship, and
Franchises
Understanding the Management
Process
Creating a Flexible Organization
Producing Quality Goods and Services
Attracting and Retaining the Best
Employees
Motivating and Satisfying Employees
and Teams
Building Customer Relationships
Through Effective Marketing
Creating and Pricing Products That
Satisfy Customers
Distributing and Promoting Products
Exploring Social Media and eBusiness
Using Management and Accounting
Information
Mastering Financial Management
Disclaimer: For illustration only. The instructor reserves the rights to make changes to this syllabus /
course outline.
Page 2 of 10
General expectations
Academic integrity
All acts of academic dishonesty (including, but not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication,
facilitation of acts of academic dishonesty by others, unauthorized possession of exam questions, or
tampering with the academic work of other students) are serious offences.
All work presented in class must be the student’s own work. Any student caught violating this policy
may result in the student receiving zero marks for the component assessment or a fail grade for the course.
All work presented in this class must be students’ own work, and not copied without appropriate
citation from any source, including the Internet. Any violations to academic integrity will be dealt
severely and result in disciplinary action, which may include award of zero marks for the assignment or
a fail grade for the class.
Submission of assessment
• Observe the prescribed deadlines stated in each of the assessment items. Time is of essence.
• Please check with the instructor for further details.
• Late submission work will not be marked, thus resulting in zero score.
• Submit only one and final version of assessment to the instructor. Once submitted, any subsequent
versions or amendments will not be acknowledged.
• Keep backup copies of all assessments submitted until final grading of the course is announced.
This is to safeguard students’ own interest in case of school computer system breakdown or
document loss.
• Prepare soft copies of assessment under Word or PowerPoint or pdf format. If you are using other
computer systems, please convert them into Word or PowerPoint or pdf.
Page 3 of 10
Item#1:
Attendance & participation
Description
This assessment aims to evaluate a student’s contribution to class discussion.
Topics / Instructions
The following categories will be used by the instructor when possible.
Excellent: The student is actively listening to seminar and demonstrates very good ability to
contribute his/her ideas to issues that are raised by the instructors. The student also shows
patience in listening to the views of his peers and relates the views of the class before making
his own contribution. It is obvious that these are contributions that reflect exceptional
preparation and reading before class. Ideas offered are always substantive and provide one or
more major insights as well as direction for the class.
Good: The student occasionally attempts to listen to seminar and contributes his/her ideas to
issues that are raised by the instructors. The student makes effort to listen to the views of his
peers and sometimes relates the views of the class before making his own contribution.
Poor: The student rarely attempts to listen to seminar and rarely contributes his/her ideas to
issues that are raised by the instructors. The student seldom listens to the views of his peers
nor tries to relate the views of the class before making his own contribution. Contributions in
class reflect little preparation and reading before class.
The above is for general illustration only. Refer to instructor for details.
Format
In-class participation and discussion
Due
•
Students are expected to contribute class discussion regularly. It is student’s responsibility to
keep and maintain evidence of contribution, if necessary.
Page 4 of 10
Item#2:
Mid-term Quiz
Description
This assessment aims to examine the understanding of major academic concepts learnt.
Topics / Instructions
This quiz will be conducted electronically, consisting of multiple choice and true / false questions (if
applicable). This is a closed-book quiz typically carried out during class hours.
To prepare for this assessment, students are advised to refer to the slides, textbook chapters and content
delivered by instructor.
Format
• Closed-book, in-class quiz
• Use of students’ laptops or electronic devices in class
• Multiple choice questions only
• Time allowed: 30 mins
Due
This assessment will be conducted in middle of the academic semester. Refer to instructor for details.
Page 5 of 10
Item#3:
Final Quiz
Description
This assessment aims to examine the understanding of major academic concepts learnt.
Topics / Instructions
This quiz will be conducted electronically, consisting of multiple choice and true / false questions (if
applicable). This is a closed-book quiz typically carried out during class hours.
To prepare for this assessment, students are advised to refer to the slides, textbook chapters and content
delivered by instructor.
Format
• Closed-book, in-class quiz
• Use of students’ laptops or electronic devices in class
• Multiple choice questions only
• Time allowed: 30 mins
Due
This assessment will be conducted towards the end of the semester.
Refer to instructor for details.
Page 6 of 10
Item#4:
Group project report
Description
This group project report aims to assess students’ ability to apply what they have learnt into a real-life
context. Students are required to form into groups to work on a group project report and to provide
recommendations for a US-based company.
All group members will be graded the same mark as awarded to the group’s submission.
Topics / Instructions
1. Research on the “Russell 2000” index and select ONE company from the index with HQ in
the United States.
2. Assume your group project team is now being engaged by this company to advise them on
strategies related to business and society. This company is now exploring opportunities to
enter a country market outside the United States.
3. Assume your team is going to help this company explore opportunities outside US. You
should recommend a country that they currently do NOT have presence.
Useful resources:
https://www.barchart.com/stocks/indices/russell/russell2000
https://money.cnn.com/data/markets/russell
Format
• Word count: approximately 5,000 to 7,000 words excluding references and appendix
• All pages must be numbered using format “Page x of y”
• Use 12-point font with 1.5 line spacing, printed on A4 papers (electronic)
• Soft or electronic copy for submission. Paper copy NOT required.
• All submissions should include a group cover page (1 page only) prepared by each team. This
one-page team cover page to be prepared by each team. It shall include: course code, course
title, academic year, topic of the report or project, each student's name, student's number
• No students are allowed to leave or switch groups without the knowledge and consent of the
instructor
• Save filename as "GroupX_ProjectReport_MGG150_(CompanyName).docx"
Due
This assessment will be due towards the end of the semester.
Refer to instructor for details.
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Document structure
1. GROUP COVER PAGE
2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (~ 300 words)
4. COMPANY PROFILE
4.1. Company basic information e.g. company name, stock code, street address, website, industry
4.2. Organization set-up e.g. number of full-time employees, CEO name, form of ownership,
existing offices outside the United States
4.3. Business description e.g. key products or services, competitors
5. BACKGROUND ANALYSIS
5.1. SWOT analysis (related to expanding beyond the US market)
5.2. Top two reasons to expand beyond the US market
6. COUNTRY SELECTION
6.1. Country profile e.g. climate, population size, economic indicators
6.2. PEST analysis
6.2.1. Political
6.2.2. Economic
6.2.3. Socio-cultural
6.2.4. Technological
7. MODE OF ENTRY
7.1. Recommended mode of entry (Licensing / Exporting / JV / Totally Owned Facilities / Others)
7.2. Justification on the mode of entry
7.3. Target customers & positioning
7.4. Major party involved (1 only)
7.5. Other parties involved (optional) e.g. chamber of commerce, industry association
8. PRODUCT AND PRICING
8.1. Product / service details
8.2. Product life cycle (in target country)
8.3. Pricing objectives (Survival / Profit Maximization / Target Return on Investment / MarketShare Goals / Others)
9. PROMOTION
9.1. Advertising
9.2. Personal Selling
9.3. Sales Promotion
9.4. Public Relations
9.5. Others, if applicable
10. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS (~ 700 words)
11. REFERENCES
12. APPENDIX 1: BASIC PROJECTIONS e.g. revenue projection (3 years), cost of goods sold,
operating expenses, net income
13. APPENDIX 2 etc: (others if applicable)
Marking criteria (Report)
1
CRITERIA
Identification of company issues
2
Analysis of country dynamics
/10
3
Practicality of proposed business ideas
/10
4
Linkage across sections
/10
5
Use of academic concepts
/10
6
Use of examples
/10
7
Use of data & statistics
/10
8
Use of visual materials
/10
9
Formatting and readability (ease for readers to understand)
/10
10
Sequential inclusion of all required report areas
/10
Page 8 of 10
MARKS
/10
Item#5:
Group presentation
Description
This assessment aims to evaluate students’ abilities in organizing and presenting key learnings related
to the project they embarked on.
Not every single group member needs to do the presentation. It is up to each group’s coordination. All
group members will be graded the same group mark.
Topics / Instructions
Each group will undertake an oral presentation of their group project demonstrating lessons learnt in
the project as well as in the semester.
Format
• Submit slides to instructor 24 hours before start of presentation
• Save slides as "GroupX_PresentSlides_MGG150_(CompanyName).ppt"
• Save video as “mp4”
• Duration: Refer to instructor for details
Due
This assessment will be due towards the end of the semester.
Refer to instructor for details.
FAQ (Frequently asked questions)
Q1: What is the main objective of this presentation?
A:
The main objective is to share with fellow students your research and lesson learnt during the
group project.
Q2: What is the ideal approach in structuring this presentation?
A:
You can imagine that you are presenting to a “senior business leader from your Client” who sit
in the class on the presentation date. This guest never reads the report you submitted and never
attends any class session.
Given the time limit, your job is to brief this leader on the essential points from your project
and make recommendations.
This presentation shall NOT be a direct duplicate of the report.
Marking criteria (Presentation)
1
CRITERIA
Clear articulation of business issues
2
Suitable visual materials
/20
3
Smooth transition flow
/20
4
Attempt to engage the class
/20
5
Subject knowledge
/20
Page 9 of 10
MARKS
/20
Grading information
Grading:
Please find below a list of typical grading and interpretation.
UB
Letter Grade
% Equivalent
A
93.0 – 100.0
A90.0 – 92.9
B+
87.0 – 89.9
B
83.0 – 86.9
B80.0 – 82.9
C+
77.0 – 79.9
C
73.0 – 76.9
C70.0 – 72.9
D+
67.0 – 69.9
D
60.0 – 66.9
F1
00.0 – 59.9
F2
00.0 – 59.9
F3
00.0
Interpretation
High Distinction
High Distinction
Superior
Superior
Superior
Average
Average
Average
Minimal Passing Grade
Minimal Passing Grade
Failure*
Failure**
Failure, no participation
*participated after the 60% of the session
**started participating but stopped before the 60% point of the session
Disclaimer: For illustration only. Please refer to university for latest official grading information.
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