Example assessment & marking criteria
Assessment type:
Scaffolded research & analysis
Subject:
MGT100 Organisations and management
The subject offers an overview of management approaches and methods, and principles of organisational
behaviour. This subject will build students' appreciation that there can be a variety of understanding surrounding
organisation activities and events and that there will rarely be a single "right way" in responding to any
organisational situation. It examines various key management theories and models in the areas of planning,
organising, communication, teamwork, ethics, corporate social responsibility, leadership, decision making,
motivation and controlling. Students will apply theoretical concepts and models to management problems and
issues in the context of the global business environment.
On successful completion of this subject, students will be able to:
 research and compare various sources of information about management;
 compare and contrast the work of influential management thinkers and researchers;
 explain their personal values and experience in relation to management theory;
 express opinions on management issues with clarity, from both personal and more objective positions that
are backed up with sound evidence and analysis; and
 apply management theory in order to analyse management dilemmas and problems, and provide
recommendations for action.
Subject learning
outcomes:
Assessment task:
Value & length:
Task description:
2. Research & analysis
20% 950 words
2A: ARTICLE ANALYSIS (10%)
Go to the CSU Library and access the academic article: Williams, J. C. (2014). Hacking tech's diversity problem.
Harvard Business Review, 92(10), 94-100.
Answer the following five questions separately.
1. In your own words*, explain and discuss the main argument (also known as a thesis or line of reasoning)
presented in this article. (50 words +/- 10% = 1%)
2. In your own words, explain and discuss the assumptions and limitations that readers of this article need to
be aware of when they read it. (50 words+/- 10% = 1%)
3. In your own words, explain and discuss the research methodology and research methods the author uses to
examine this issue. (50 words+/- 10% = 1%)
4. In your own words, explain and discuss the main findings and/or conclusions of this article. (100 words+/-
10% = 2%)
5. In your own words, discuss what managers can learn from this article. Include the practical implications for
real life managing and your personal view on what can be learned from this article. (250 words+/- 10% =5%)
*For information on how to write in your own words see OWL from Purdue University (Accessed September 29,
2104)
2B: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS (10%)
First read your textbook for information about Contingency thinking p. 48 and Management across cultures pp. 110
- 113. Although we are not directly studying Chapter 4, you may also like to read it for greater insight into this field
of management study. Then go to the CSU Library to find and read the academic article: Hout, T., & Michael, D.
(2014) A Chinese approach to management. Harvard Business Review, 92(9) 103-107.
Answer the following seven questions separately.
1. In your own words, explain and discuss what Hout and Michael (2014) mean by the statement “China Inc.
might appear to be an improbable source of fresh management thinking” p. 103 (100 words +/- 10% = 2%)
2. In your own words, explain and discuss what a critical thinker would say about the relevance of the historical
foundations of management for managing non-Western organisations. (100 words+/- 10% = 2%)
3. In your own words, explain why Hout and Michael (2014) suggest “The future of management lies
somewhere between the top-down reform of Western corporations and the bottom-up maturation of Chinese
companies. They have much to learn from each other” (p. 107) (100 words +/- 10% = 2%)
4. In your own words identify the practical implications of this article for real life managing and your personal
view on what can be learned from this article. (100 words+/- 10% = 2%)
5. Identify 5 search terms that you could use to find peer reviewed journal articles to assist you explore and
examine your thesis statement identified in Q4 (directly above). (5 terms = 0.5%)
6. Find two peer reviewed journal articles that may be relevant to further examine this question. Show them
using APA referencing style. (No word limit = 0.5%)
7. Provide two sentences. In the first sentence provide one indirect quote from one of the peer reviewed
journal article shown in Q6 (directly above). In the second sentence provide one direct quote from the other
peer reviewed journal article shown in Q6 (directly above). (50 words +/- 10% = 1%)
Rationale:
The aim of this assessment is to assist you begin to develop and practice the essential research and thinking skills
you will need for the study and practice of management in this subject as well as your future studies and work as a
manager. This assessment will assist you begin to explore some of the Modules presented in Modules 1-5 in a
greater depth than is provided by the text.
In particular, Assessment 2 (A &B) meets the subject Learning Outcomes by requiring you to learn and apply the
skills required to research and compare various sources of information about management, contrast the work of
influential management thinkers and researchers, express opinions on management issues with clarity, backed up
with sound evidence and analysis; and apply management theory in order to analyse management dilemmas and
problems, and provide recommendations for action.
Marking criteria & standards of performance
Developed by Wendy Webber
ASSESSMENT 2A: ARTICLE ANALYSIS RUBRIC (10%) – APA citations and referencing required
Marking criteria
HD
DI
CR
PS
FL
1. Explain and discuss the
main argument (thesis or line
of reasoning) in article. (50
words = 1%) [meets subject
LO2]
Explains and critically
evaluates main argument
and answers well in own
words.
Explains and analyses
main argument and
answers well in own
words.
Explains and examines
main argument and
answers in own words.
Explains and discusses
main argument and
answers in own words.
Poor explanation and/or
discussion and/or evidence of
recognition of main argument.
Answer expressed poorly or not
in own words.
2. Explain and discuss the
assumptions and limitations
readers need be aware of. (50
words = 1%) [meets subject
LO1]
Explains and critically
evaluates main
assumptions and limitations
and answers well in own
words.
Explains and analyses
main assumptions and
limitations and answers
well in own words.
Explains and examines
main assumptions and
limitations and answers
in own words.
Explains and discusses
main assumptions and
limitations and answers
in own words.
Poor explanation and/or
discussion and/or identification
of relevant assumptions and
limitations. Answer expressed
poorly or not in own words.
3. Explain and discuss the
research methodology and
research methods used to
examine issue. (50 words =
1%) [meets subject LO1]
Explains and critically
evaluates distinctions in
both research methodology
and methods and answers
well in own words.
Explains and analyses
critical distinctions in both
research methodology
and methods and
answers well in own
words.
Explains and examines
distinctions in research
methodology and/or
methods and answers in
own words.
Explains and discusses
distinctions in research
methodology and/or
methods and answers in
own words.
No meaningful/few relevant
aspects of the research
methodology. Answer
expressed poorly or not in own
words.
4. Explain and discuss the
main findings and/or
conclusions of this article.
(100 words = 2%) [meets
subject LO4]
Explains and critically
evaluates main findings
and/or conclusions and
answers well in own words.
Explains and analyses
main findings and/or
conclusions and answers
well in own words.
Explains and examines
main findings and/or
conclusions and
answers in own words.
Explains and discusses
main findings and/or
conclusions and answer
in own words.
Poor explanation, discussion,
or evidence of understanding of
main findings and/or
conclusions. Answer expressed
poorly or not in own words.
5. Discusses the practical
implications of ideas in article
for real life managing. (250
words = 5%) [meets subject
LO5]
Explains and critically
evaluates implications of
ideas in article and
answers well in own words.
Explains and analyses
implications of ideas in
article and answers well in
own words.
Explains and examines
implications of ideas in
article and answers in
own words.
Explains and discusses
implications of ideas in
article and answers in
own words.
Poor explanation and/or
discussion and/or evidence of
understanding practical
implications of ideas. Answer
expressed poorly or not in own
words.
ASSESSMENT 2B: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS RUBRIC (10%) - APA citations and referencing required
1. Explain and discuss the
authors' statement. (100
words = 2%) [meets subject
LO2]
Explains and critically
evaluates the authors'
statement using own
words.
Explains and analyses the
authors' statement using
own words.
Explains and links the
authors' statement using
own words.
.
Explains and describes
the authors' statement
using own words.
Poor explanation and/or
discussion of the authors'
statement. Poorly expressed or
not in own words.
2. Explain and discuss what
critical thinker would say
about relevance of historical
management theory for nonWestern organisations. (100
words = 2%) [meets subject
LO4]
Explains and critically
evaluates what a critical
thinker would say and
answers well in own words.
Explains and analyses
what a critical thinker
would say and answers
well in own words.
Explains and examines
what a critical thinker
would say and answers
in own words.
Explains and discusses
what a critical thinker
would say and answers
in own words.
Poor explanation and/or
discussion and/or of what a
critical thinker would say.
Answer expressed poorly or not
in own words.
3. Explain and discuss
authors' suggestion that
Western and Chinese
companies have much to
learn from each other.
(100 words = 2%) [meets
subject LO4]
Explains and critically
evaluates authors'
suggestion and answers
well in own words.
Explains and analyses
authors' suggestion and
answers well in own
words.
Explains and examines
authors' suggestion and
answers in own words.
Explains and discusses
authors' suggestion and
answers in own words.
Poor explanation and/or
discussion of authors'
suggestion. Answer expressed
poorly or not in own words.
4. Identify the practical
implications of this article for
real life managing and your
personal view on what can be
learned. (100 words = 2%)
[meets subject LO5]
Identifies insightful and
highly relevant practical
implications for real life
managing and well
considered personal view
on what can be learned
using own words.
Identifies highly relevant
practical implications for
real life managing and
highly informed personal
view on what can be
learned using own words.
Identifies relevant
practical implications for
real life managing and
informed personal view
on what can be learned
using own words..
Provides acceptable
practical implications for
real life managing and
limited personal view on
what can be learned
using own words.
No meaningful Identification of
practical implications for real
life managing or personal view
on what can be learned.
Expressed very poorly.
5. Search words for Q4. (5
terms 0.5%)
5 outstanding search
terms.
5 very good search terms.
5 good search terms.
5 satisfactory search
terms.
>5 satisfactory search terms.
6. Two relevant peer reviewed
journal articles presented in
APA referencing style. (0.5%)
2 highly relevant peer
reviewed journal articles
presented in perfect APA
style.
2 very relevant peer
reviewed journal articles
presented in perfect APA
style.
2 relevant peer reviewed
journal articles
presented in APA
referencing style.
2 potentially relevant
peer reviewed journal
articles presented in
near-perfect APA
referencing style.
>2 relevant peer reviewed
journal articles, and/or not in
perfect APA referencing style.
7. Two sentences. One with
direct quote and one with
indirect quote. (50 words = 1%)
Perfect quotation and
citation techniques.
Very good quotation and
citation techniques.
Good quotation and
citation techniques.
Satisfactory quotation
and citation techniques.
Unsatisfactory sentences
and/or poor attempt at
quotation citation.
*Penalties for: 10% over word limit/failure to cite sources/referencing errors/omissions/ plagiarism (see Handbook – this carries a large penalty and is to be reported if Plagiarism)
MARK