Duration: Up to 35 minutes (25 minutes for the presentation plus 10 minutes for class discussion)

Format: Group presentation

Weighting: 20%

Groups of students are required to carry out a presentation in class and to prepare a written report on an assigned topic. Final class numbers will determine the number of groups and topics assigned. Time will be made available in the first class for the allocation of groups and for initial assignment discussion.

All presentation questions will relate to the topics and/or key themes of the subject. Typically, the questions ask students to reflect on a practical application of a topic/theme using their own experiences in organisations. This reflection will need to be supported by reference to the theoretical material provided in the course and from the group member’s proactive research and reading.

The presentation should highlight and summarise the major issues of the topic assigned and present insights in an engaging and informative way. The presentation must be presented as a PowerPoint presentation and is designed to share information and stimulate engagement on the topic with the rest of the class. There will be additional time available for questions and discussion after the presentation. Note that asking questions is the responsibility of the audience.

The presentation should adhere to the following presentation guidelines.

15 slides maximum in 25 minutes - The first slide should include an introduction of the team members, the specific question given to the group and the agenda for the presentation. Note that if a YouTube video is used (no more than 1 video is allowed) it is preferred to be embedded in the slides rather than requiring a separate program. Any role-play should be limited to no more than 3 minutes.

It is expected that at least three members of the group will present (although all members are encouraged to present). Groups will have a maximum of 25 minutes for the presentation (time will be monitored and, where deemed necessary, enforced).

It is the responsibility of the group to ensure that their presentation file (PowerPoint file) is loaded onto the classroom computer prior to their presentation.

Submission details:

One member from each group will submit, on behalf of their group, a soft-copy of the group’s PowerPoint presentation (.ppt or .pptx files only) in iLearn. Submission date and time of the PowerPoint presentation in iLearn will be finalised by your lecturer in class.

Assessment of presentations

Overall assessment of presentations will be based on a group mark component (50%) and an individual mark component (50%). The group mark component is a mark awarded to the group and is based on an evaluation of the content and delivery of the presentation. Information about the process and criteria for evaluation of presentations will be provided by the lecturer in the first class. 

The individual mark component of the presentation assignment will be based on group member’s rating of the contribution of other members of the group in an anonymous survey. If others in your group rate you as having made a satisfactory relatively equal contribution, this will equate to you receiving the group mark. A rating of having made less than a satisfactory contribution may result in individual deductions up to 50% of the obtained group’s mark. It will also be possible to judge a group member as having made an exceptional contribution and this will lead to consideration of additional marks to the final subject’s mark. All group member assessments of individual contribution will be reviewed and considered by the lecturer in determining the final presentation assessment.

Rating of “satisfactory contribution” to the presentation

Satisfactory contribution means that a member of the group contributed to the data gathering, overall analysis and conclusions, and to the effort of developing the presentation, as well as was being supportive and encouraging of others in the group. 

Rating of “less than satisfactory contribution” to the presentation

Less than satisfactory contribution means the person did not carry out his or her share of the activity required for the presentation. This may be represented by non-attendance at agreed group meetings, lack of interaction and engagement in the group’s discussions, failure to do as he/she was expected to do, limited or poor responding to emails, dominance in his/her opinion, failing to show respect in listening to others, and/or a general lack of willingness to work within the agreed consensus approach to the topic (allowing for voicing of different perspectives in planning and analysis stages of the group’s interactions).

Rating of “exceptional contribution”

It will also be possible to judge a group member as having made an exceptional contribution and this will lead to consideration of additional marks to the final subject’s mark. No more than two people in a group can be awarded this exceptional contribution mark and this nomination must come from at least two other people in the group. Exceptional contribution means that a person has exhibited leadership of the group but not dominance. Exceptional contribution would highlight a highly energised and engaged person who other group members feel was a powerful positive influence on the group both in terms of presentation task and the collaborative and social dynamics of the group.

Details of the within-group assessment process for the presentation will be discussed in class on the first night.

Length: Up to 2,500 words maximum (word count does not include reference list or appendices)

The written assignment should outline and critically analyse the group’s findings from their research of the topic. It must demonstrate analysis of the issue and not simply be a verbatim report of the presentation or simply a summary of the literature or description only of the issue. The assignment should flow in terms of its presentation of information, with sentences and paragraphs appropriately structured and logically linked to each other.

Submission details

One member from each group will, on behalf of their group, submit a soft-copy of the Group Report (.doc or .docx files only) in iLearn. No hard-copy is needed to be submitted. Submission date and time of the Group Report in iLearn will be finalised by your lecturer in class.

Assessment of written assignment

The assignment will be assessed in terms of:

1. Quality of the analysis of the topic and analysis of examples (as appropriate to the question)
2. Extent and appropriate use of relevant academic and popular literature (as appropriate to the question)
3. Quality of lessons, insights and/or recommendations made (as appropriate to the question)
4. Linkage of ideas presented throughout the paper
5. Readability of the paper in terms of the flow of ideas from paragraph to paragraph
6. Use of appropriate sentence structure, grammar, and expression
7. The correctness of spelling and punctuation
8. Overall appearance – all formatting instructions being adhered to
9. Appropriate use of referencing as required and appropriate use of quotations
10. Adherence to length requirement (and having indicated word length).

Each of the above criteria will be judged as Below Satisfactory – Satisfactory – Above Satisfactory – Excellent.

A PASS grade will generally require a rating of satisfactory for each criterion.

A CREDIT grade will generally require a rating of above satisfactory for most of criteria 1-6.

A DISTINCTION grade will generally require a rating of excellent for most of criteria 1-6.

HIGH DISTINCTION grade will generally be allocated for ratings of excellent for criteria 1-6.

Assessment of Reports

Overall assessment of reports will be based on a group mark component (50%) and an individual mark component (50%).

For the group mark for the report, an assessment will be made by the lecturer according to the criteria listed in this outline. Further information about the assessment of reports will be provided in class.

The individual mark of the report assignment will be will be based on group member’s rating of the contribution of other members of the group (in an anonymous survey). If others in your group rate you as having made a satisfactory contribution (relatively equal contribution), this will equate to you receiving the group mark. A rating of having made less than a satisfactory contribution may result in individual deductions up to 50% of the obtained group’s mark. It will  also be possible to judge a group member as having made an exceptional contribution and this will lead to consideration of additional marks to the final subject’s mark. All group member assessments of individual contribution will be reviewed and considered by the lecturer in determining the final report assessment.

Rating of “satisfactory contribution” to the Report

Satisfactory contribution means that a member of the group contributed to the data gathering, overall analysis and conclusions, and to the effort of developing the draft and the final submission of the report, as well as was being supportive and encouraging of others in the group. Dominance of the group so that others feel their input has been ignored or belittled is not considered a satisfactory aspect of group behaviour.

Rating of “less than satisfactory contribution” to the presentation

Less than satisfactory contribution means the person did not carry out his or her share of the activity required for production and submission of the report. This may be represented by lack of interaction in the group’s discussions, failure to do as he/she was expected to do, limited or poor responding to emails, dominance in his/her opinion, failing to show respect in listening to others, a general lack of willingness to work within the agreed consensus approach to the topic (allowing for voicing of different perspectives in planning and analysis stages of the group’s interactions), poorly analysed contribution to content of material used in the report, poorly written contributions, and use of plagiarised contributions.

Rating of “exceptional contribution”

It will also be possible to judge a group member as having made an exceptional contribution to the report and this will lead to consideration of additional marks to the final subject’s mark. No more than two people in a group can be awarded this exceptional contribution assessment and this nomination must come from at least two other people in the group. Exceptional contribution means that a person has exhibited leadership of the group but not dominance. Exceptional contribution would highlight a highly energised and engaged person who other group members feel was a powerful positive influence on the group both in terms of the tasks associated with the report as well as contributing to the collaborative and social dynamics of the group.

Details of the within-group assessment process for the report will be discussed in class.

Formatting instructions

The assignment should be in 11 point Arial font with 1.0 line spacing. Each page of the report should be numbered and have at minimum 2.5cm margins from the left and right edges and top and bottom of the page. Word count is strictly enforced. The actual word length of the document, not including references or appendices, should be clearly stated on the title page of the report.

The written assignment should have the following structure -:

1. A title page with the question, word count of the text, all student names and student numbers, and the exact contribution of each member (section and percentage contribution).
2. The body of the report structured with paragraphs and with appropriate headings and citations, with page numbers.
3. Complete reference list of material cited in the text
4. Appendices as appropriate

Referencing

Preferred referencing style should use American Psychological Association (APA) 6^th edition style. This means that when referring to an article or book etc, you indicate the author’s name followed by the year of publication (Jones, 1989). For multiple authors include all names (Jones, Smith, & Wilson, 1990). If you use a direct quote put the quoted words in “quotation marks” and include the page number with the reference (Jones, 1989, p. 76). A reference list should be presented in alphabetical order at the end of the paper. Note that APA style references are used for the reading list of articles at the end of this outline. Further information on APA style is available at

 http://libguides.mq.edu.au/content.php?pid=85232&sid=634282

Extensions and penalties:

No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved. No submission will be accepted after solutions have been posted.

Duration: 3 hours plus 10 minutes reading time

Format: Open book final examination

You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the MGSM examination timetable. The timetable will be available at https://students.mgsm.edu.au/sydney-students/units/exams/

The final examination will be open book and concern all content from unit materials, as well as exercise and group discussions. The specific format of the exam will be explained in the last class of the term. You can use books, notes and a non-programmable calculator. Notebook computers, iPads, tablets, PDAs and similar are not allowed. University final exam conditions apply.