new l5 student term paper guideline - Colbourne College

NORTHAMPTON MASTER IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (TOP-UP) MBA
Mode of study: Online Learning
Duration: 24 MONTHS
Entry requirements: Admission to our Distance Learning MBA (Top-up) is based on applicants passing the Pearson
Edexcel BTEC HND Level 7 Diploma in Management Studies and/or Business delivered at Colbourne College, and
having the required 2 years appropriate full time work experience prior to starting the course.
The programme has been designed to enhance your knowledge and skills developed in previous postgraduate study. The
MBA enables you to consider issues in an organisation wide or total business context. Skills in analysing business and
organizational problems are emphasised. The focus of the programme is in developing holistic strategic thinking within
an organisation.
The ability to recognise and exploit opportunities and the development of strategies and plans to cope with managing
change are addressed. You will be instructed in management research techniques appropriate to Master’s degree level
learning to enable you to fulfil the demands of the programme assessment scheme and in particular, satisfactorily
completion of a dissertation.
*This course is a 10 credit introductory module followed by a 50 credit project.
WORCESTER BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (TOP-UP) BA (HONS) DEGREE
Mode of study: In-class OR Online Learning
Duration: 24 MONTHS University of Worchester Duration: 39 MONTHS Northampton Or Monroe College
Entry requirements: Admission to the Distance Learning BA (Hons) Business and Management is based on
applicants passing the NCC Education Level 5 Diploma in Business OR the Pearson Edexcel BTEC HND Level 5
Diploma in Business delivered at Colbourne College. The programme builds upon the vocational approach of HNDs
and encourages you to take a critical and analytical approach to your understanding of business (particularly in the
Strategic Management and Business Dissertation areas). The programme is challenging and hard work but you will gain
a real sense of achievement, an improved skill set and increased career opportunities. It enables you to combine your
business and management work with online learning study and give you the confidence to progress to Master’s level
study.
Students who complete the required Pearson Edexcel/NCC courses would also be eligible to come
on to campus. Applications will be considered by The University of Northampton or NCC/ University of Worchester
on an individual basis and will be subject to the normal entry requirements of the University such as English language
proficiency.
1
COLBOURNE UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS PROGRAM SPECIFICATIONS
NAME OF INSTITUTION:
Colbourne College
ADDRESS:
6 Hillview Avenue, Kingston, Jamaica / 1110 Brickell Avenue, Suite 430, Miami, FL 33131
TELEPHONE NO:
876-906-8085/ 876-857-5911 / 954-793-0424
FACSIMILE NO:
876-906-8401
ADMINISTRATOR’S E-MAIL:
STUDENT SERVICES EMAIL
DEPARTMENT MANAGING
PROGRAM:
TITLE OF PROGRAMME:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Faculty
SPECIFICATION AND
ACCREDITATION CODE:
AWARDING BODY:
PROGRAMME
IDENTIFICATION:
SPECIALIZATIONS
DETAILS OF
ACCREDITATION AND
APPROVALS:
Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Business &
Edexcel Level 7 Professional Diploma in Strategic Management & Leadership
L5: 500/8239/5
&
L7: 501/0998/4
www.ofqual.uk.gov
Pearson Edexcel (of Pearson College, London)
Colbourne Undergraduate Program – Business And Management
• Accounting
• Health And Social Care
• Human Resources Management
• Hospitality, Travel And Tourism (with Cabin Crew
Training For Flight Attendants) Management
Colbourne College is registered by Ministry Of Education in Jamaica as a private tertiary
institution and is a duly Appointed Representative for University Of Northampton, UK & Monroe
College, NYC for Final Year(s) Degree Progression for BTEC holders.
Colbourne College is an International School and Approved Pearson Edexcel Centre for the UK
BTEC suite of management and business undergraduate and post-graduate programs which are
generally acceptable internationally onto final year(s) of the Bachelor’s and
Master’s Degrees. Pearson Edexcel also known as just Edexcel, is one of England, Wales and
Northern Ireland's five (5) main examination boards. Pearson BTECs are accredited by the UK
Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulations (Ofqual) at www.ofqual.uk.gov.
BTECs are also recognized in the United States for final year(s) university progression by
NACES approved agency A2Z Evaluations, LLC. NACES agencies are recognized by the US
Department Of States for evaluating foreign credentials for verification for US higher education
and immigration purposes at state.gov/m/dghr/flo/125147.html
Maxine Samuels, PgD, MBA, CMgr FCMI
Executive Director Of Programs & CEO, Colbourne College
HEAD OF FACULY
(QUALITY
ASSURANCE AND VERIFIER)
• Antioch University, USA (2014 – present) PHD In Leadership And Change Program –
Organizational Management (COHORT 14)
• Chartered Management Institute of London, UK (2013) Fellow And Chartered Manager
• University Of Sunderland, UK (2013) Masters Of Business Administration (MBA)
• Colbourne College, JA (2012) Pearson, UK L7 Postgraduate Diploma In Strategic
Management And Leadership
• Colbourne College, JA (2011) UK L4 & L5 Diploma In Business
• Colbourne College, JA (2003) University Of Cambridge International Examinations, UK L3
Diploma In Business
2
ASSIGNMENTS REQUIREMENTS EFFECTIVE SUMMER 2015
Two written examinations are administered as midterm and final papers: 30%
1. Mid-semester consists of 60 questions - multiple choice and short answer and values 10% of the
course grade.
2. The Final Paper consists of two parts:
(i) Multiple choice and short answer paper comprising of 60 questions valuing 10% of the
course grade.
(ii) Oral Presentation – Group Activity: 10%. This takes place week 12 of the semester.
The above information applies only to courses without a practicum component. Courses with a Practicum
Component:
a. Practicum/lab 50 marks
b. Written Component 50 marks
Colbourne stresses performance-based assessments. Our written assessments are so structured primarily
with essays, multiple choice and case analysis, based on the assumption that performance assessments are
pedagogically valuable and reliable reflections of student achievement. Specifically, in context of the
achieving of our desired students’ outcome, performance based assessments have the following values to
the students’ evaluation processes:
•
Performance assessments support the teaching and the learning of problem-solving skills, criticalthinking skills, and multidisciplinary understanding--all of which are essential for enhancing the
students’ achievements.
•
Performance assessments provide an effective measure of student strengths and weaknesses. In
addition, performance assessments are more interesting for students, and, therefore, engage students
in the assessment process, stimulating enhanced students’ achievements.
Case Study And Individual Presentation: 70%
Term Paper 1- 4 is a research based project with written report and individual presentation. The Term
Paper values 60% of the course grade. The Term Paper has three primary sections;
Section one: Introduction
Section two: Findings And Discussions
Section three: Recommendations And Conclusion
To pass a course the students must demonstrate the ability to apply theory and practice to produce results.
Students are assigned field study as a part of the research component of the course that supports the
teaching and learning of problem-solving skills and critical thinking skills, essential for enhancing the
students’ achievements. In turn the student must show evidence including but not limited to identifying
and applying concepts, analyzing and solving problems, estimating and interpreting results, and stating
results and appropriate conclusions using correct terminologies. The faculty provides initial and midpoint
support to the student to assist and assess learning outcomes.
TERM PAPER DEFENSE: Each student is required to orally defend each term paper presented. The
Presentation values 10% of the coursework grade. Students must pass the oral defense of the Term
Paper to be awarded a PASS on the Term Paper. A Student who fails to successfully defend the Term
Paper will FAIL the Term Paper. Oral Defense are conducted the first week of April, August and
December.
3
TERM PAPER RESEARCH WRITING CRITERIA FOR L5 & L7 PROGRAMS
A sample Question (AC) is answered on page 7-9 (Student’s Exemplar)
All Term Papers are task based on and assessed in the work context. It requires you to:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Conduct Research
Link Research to a work-case.
Benchmark.
Be working or be on an internship with access to the organization (L7 Students) OR
To design two organizations (L5 Students):
I. The Management Firm - in which you will work as a management consultant (your employer)
AND
II. The New Enterprise - which you will base your research on (your client’s company) – this can
be the company in which you are now employed.
What you MUST do before you start the Term Papers:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
Research Skills Pdf Worksheet (Induction).
Research Skills Online Test (Induction) – You must score over 90% on the test.
Submit your research score to [email protected].
Online Grammar Quiz – You must score over 70% on the test.
Attend a Research Writing Session online or face-to-face.
Attend a Term Paper help session with the faculty advisor online or face-to-face.
Attend an iTutor help session with the library assistant online or face-to-face.
Construct the two companies outlined in the assignment term paper task (L5 Students).
 Fully complete the company background template and submit to
[email protected].
 Download the company background template and the Referencing Hand-outs on iTutor.
 Download the iTutor Search Help Page on iTutor front Page.
(9) Create your Company Outline and its Leadership Construct (L7 Students).
Resources, Knowledge and Skills you will need to start the assignments:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Essay-writing Skills.
Grammar and Syntax Skills.
Harvard Referencing Style.
Research skills: how to cite from different sources; how to use Harvard referencing; how to
collect data; how to discuss and compare the data collected; how to make recommendations; and
how to write a conclusion.
5) Knowledge of Plagiarism.
6) Syllabus: Course Content.
7) Lecturer’s Score Sheet.
Skills you will develop completing the term paper:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
Analytical Skills.
Critical Thinking Skills.
Business and Management Skills.
Communication Skills.
Interpersonal Skills.
Referencing Skills: practice summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting directly from source.
Review of Literature.
Interviewing Skills.
Data Collection Skills.
4
FOLLOW THESE RULES CAREFULLY TO PASS THE TERM PAPER
Your work will not be assessed for a PASS if you do not observe the following rules meticulously
and apply them to your work:
RESEARCH WRITING GUIDELINES




Read your question thoroughly.
Research and gather the information using the key words in the questions for literature search.
Start writing.
Do correct referencing. Always have your hand-out on - Harvard Referencing Style - at hand before
you start writing.
 Reference all the ideas in-text and end-of-text from the various sources you cite in your work.
 Plagiarized work will be awarded a FAIL grade immediately upon detection.
 Avoid direct quotations. Limit this only to definitions and unique phrases. Use the rules for direct
quotations when you cite directly, that is, use someone’s word-for-word in your work.
RESEARCH WRITING
The following guidelines are standard for ALL research and essay writing submitted for a grade:
(1) PARAGRAPH 1: Theses Statement Evaluation, Definition of key terms.
(2) PARAGRAPH 2: Answer the Questions through 'listing' the answers only and referencing the
Sources. Use an opening paragraph, then take SIX of the most suited researched answers into your
work. Cite the work, list the answers, do not discuss in this paragraph. These citations are the sources
you researched that MUST directly answer the research question / topic. Do thorough research to
find many answers available on the topic to choose from.
(3) PARAGRAPH 3, 4, 5 etc.: Explain/Describe/Rationalize/Evaluate/Analyze/Compare your findings
through discussion. This requires you to take the points you listed in paragraph 2 and one-by-one
discuss them in the following paragraphs.
(4) FINAL PARAGRAPH: Link the main points of your findings as discussed in paragraph 3 etc. with
your Case (organizational study). This can also be a concluding paragraph. You can use references
in all paragraphs of your work - to the list, to the analysis and to the case application. CITE! CITE!
CITE! The more you cite, the more marks you get.
(5) Your answer for each question should be 450 – 600 words (L5 Students) OR 550 -1000 words (L7).
(6) All draft of your work MUST be submitted for assessment must have the Reference Page.
NOTE!
* Markers’ objective is to determine the degree of research you have done.
* Your objective is to do thorough research and prove that you have done sufficient research.
* Include your Reference Page in ALL submission of your work.
 Use this format consistently for ALL your Writings.
This format ensures you evenly answer the research question, analyze the findings, and match the
findings to your case study as you are required to do.
So do research. List the answers found. Cite the source correctly. Answers can be from textbook,
website, interviews, manuals, journals etc.
5
ORGANISATION OF THE RESEARCH PAPER
1. Introduction (750 – 1000 Words).
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Context (Discuss the assignment: about the case and your role in solving the organizational
problems)
Research Background And Scope – (what will you be discussing – see the syllabus)
Rationale / Purpose Of The Research (What do you hope to achieve when you conclude the
research)
Objectives (see the learning outcomes on the syllabus)
Methodology (how you conducted the research and primary and secondary sources used:
textbook, website, interviews, manuals, journals etc.)
2. Discussion (Do the task by researching the answers and applying the findings to the case).
3. Recommendations (What are the recommendations that emerged from the study to solve the
problems identified in the case – the recommendation should respond to the research objectives).
4. Conclusion (Summary of the main points discussed).
5. Reference Page.
BASIC RESEARCH RULES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
In-text citation - Use Surname and year of publication (Samuels, 2014).
In-text citation - you are citing placing the author in the front of your sentence: Samuels (2014).
In-text citation - you are citing placing the author at the end of your sentence: (Samuels, 2014).
Paraphrase, summarize or use direct quotation to cite all sources in your work.
o Paraphrasing means that you rewrite the authors’ ideas in your own words. MOSTLY.
o Summarizing means that you rewrite only the main points presented by the author. OFTEN.
o Direct quotation is when you copied any part of the authors’ work word-for-word. RARELY.
Add Reference Page at end of work that contains all sources in your work: author, publication
year, editor, city, website and date retrieved etc. (use www.citethisforme to do your reference).
Place the full stop or other quotations signs outside of your bracket, and not inside.
When there are three or more authors as the source use: eg. (Samuels et al, 2014).
If you are citing a source that is citing someone else: eg. (Bhayesh, 2014 cited by Nelson, 2015).
Plagiarism is Failure to do ANY of the above. Plagiarism is immediate dismissal from program.
THE BASIC RULE YOU MUST FOLLOW WHEN YOU USE DIRECT QUOTATIONS:
1. Use the open and closed quotation signs “ “ always to show that these are the direct
words of others.
2. Use the author's surname and the year of publication that spoke or wrote the words.
3. Use page number, paragraph number, or section number where the words are written
depending on whether it is a book or webpage.
Use direct quotation in your work ONLY for word-for-word definitions or to capture unique
quotes. This means that direct quotation should be RARELY used in your work.
6
Here is an example of how you could paraphrase and also use direct quote in your work:
Leaders have the responsibilities to themselves and others to do what is right. They must set the
direction for others to follow, inspire vision, and be innovative (Mindtools.com, 2015). Further
they expressed leadership as visionary - laying out directions for the team and organization to
succeed and for a "dynamic, exciting and inspiring experience" (sec. 3).
HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE:
Mindtools.com (2015) provided that leaders have the responsibilities to themselves and others to
do what is right. They must set the direction for others to follow, inspire vision, and be
innovative. Further leadership is presented as visionary - laying out directions for the team and
organization to succeed and for a "dynamic, exciting and inspiring experience" (sec. 3).
REMEMBER THAT:
There are two types of referencing:
(1) In text e.g. (Mindtools.com, 2015) or Mindtools.com (2015)
(2) End of Text Referencing e.g. Mindtools.com, (2015). What is Leadership?. [online]
Available at: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_41.htm [Accessed 14 May
2015].
The end-of-text referencing is not placed in your work. When you are finished writing, you
will create a reference page and post all references used in your work alphabetically on this
page.
WRITING STYLE
o Times New Romans with font size 11.
o There is no need to double space BUT put space between the paragraphs.
o Always paginate your work.
o Use block style. Do NOT INDENT your paragraphs
BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR WORK:
o Edit your work thoroughly. Also have someone proof the work for you.
o Do A Plagiarism Scan before submitting your work.
o Include the plagiarism report in the hardcopy of the work.
o Upload the softcopy of the work to [email protected].
o Bind and deliver the hardcopy of the work to: Colbourne College, 6 Hillview Ave, KGN
10.
o You must submit your work on or before the deadline.
7
Colbourne College
Term Paper Assignment Permission Form
STUDENT’S NAME:
DATE OF SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL:
ID NUMBER:
STUDENT PHONE #:
SPECIALISM:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
I have completed OR Attended:
DATE
RESULTS
Student Officer
Signature
Dated By The
(SSO)
(1) Research Skills Pdf Worksheet (Induction).
(2) Research Skills Online Test (Induction) – You
must score over 90% on the test.
(3) Submit your research score to
[email protected].
(4) Online Grammar Quiz – You must score over
70% on the test.
(5) Attend a Research Writing Session online or
face-to-face..
(6) Attend a Term Paper help session online or
face-to-face.
(7) Attend an iTutor help session online or faceto-face.
(8) Construct the two companies outlined in the
assignment term paper task.
(9) Fully complete the company background
template and submit to
[email protected].
(10) Download the company background template
at iTutor Front Page.
(11)
Download the Referencing Hand-outs on
iTutor.
Submit This Form to student services advisor and await a response to commence the term papers. Response time is
maximum two days.
 This form MUST be returned to you with all boxes approved and signed.
 You must return this form to EACH of your course lecturers to be granted the permission to submit term paper
assignments for the course.
Please ‘Upload’ the FULLY completed form at:
http://www.uscollegesandmore.org/student-services.html
8
TEMPLATE FOR THE L5 BUSINESS CASE STUDY
Business Name
Business Type:
Legal Framework
Sole Trader (
For Profit
) Partnership (
) Corporation (
( ) Not-For-Profit (
Nature Of Business
Activities:
Describe the Business
Activities
BUSINESS
ADDRESS
Company Mission
Statement
Goals Of The
Business
Vision Statement
Number Of
Departments
Number Of Staff
Sector the Business
Operates in
Market Segment:
Describe the
Customer Type?
Describe the
products and
Services Offered
Business Potential:
What makes the
Business Competitive
And Unique?
Define Four Major
Business Problems
that the Business Is
Experiencing
9
)
)