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MME101 Business Academic Skills

Trimester 1, 2013 Assignment 1 - Research Report Due Date: Week 7 Monday 22 April 2013, no later than 17:30 ELECTRONIC COPY ONLY, via the portal. 10 marks (Assessment value: 10%) 1,000 (+/- 10%) (Does not include title page, table of contents and reference list).

Marks: Word limit:

GENERAL PURPOSE OF A RESEARCH REPORT:


When you graduate and start your professional career, you may be required to write reports. These reports will require well-researched information. Reports assist senior managers to make appropriate decisions. Report content is expected to be accurate, reliable and verifiable. Your information is obtained from up-to-date sources, objectively presented and referenced correctly. Some reports you write will be descriptive and contain information. Other reports you write will include your own analysis and comment based on the arguments you present.

BACKGROUND: Marketing, as a profession, has undergone many changes over recent decades, but primary
principles are still present. When the focus shifted in the West from a production-orientation to a consumerorientation, the reasons why goods and services were being produced also changed. The consumer focus means that the needs and wants of individuals must be satisfied. Marketers have had the job of bringing buyers and sellers together in a market in order for exchanges to take place, for an agreed value. The challenge for marketers has been to deal with this process in increasingly competitive, demanding markets. Marketers however need to deal with familiar human drives in constantly innovative and creative ways.

TASK: Write a formal research report on the following topic:

Modern marketing techniques or strategies are responses to how consumers try to satisfy their needs and wants.
Present your research report by addressing the following: Describe and explain THREE (3) reasons why marketers need to develop techniques or strategies that deal with how consumers behave (in satisfying their needs and wants). You must refer to the compulsory article by Clemons and other relevant sources. Describe THREE (3) techniques or strategies that marketers can apply in response to how consumers behave. You must refer to Clemons and other relevant sources. Define Portfolio Analysis and Market-product Analysis and explain how these can affect the ways marketers respond to consumer behaviour. Refer to at least two sources. Recommend one way that marketers should respond to consumer behaviour. This should be based on your INFORMED opinion, so provide a reason for this recommendation. Your opinion must derive from your research, so citing a source would be beneficial.

MME 101 Assignment 1 Trimester 1 2013

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MME 101 Business Academic Skills Assignment 1 Research Report Tri 1 2013

Compulsory Sources: These articles provide the basis for your research report and so MUST be used in the report. Clemons, EK 2008, How information changes consumer behaviour and how consumer behaviour determines corporate strategy, Journal of management information systems, Fall, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 13 -40. Academic Search Complete (AN 34879420). McDermott, J 2013, Blackberry is no longer just for the suits, Advertising Age, Feb. 11, vol. 84, no. 6, p. 20. Academic Search Complete (AN 34879420). NB: Clemons and McDermott must be used in Assignment One McDermott will have been use in Folio 1 Clemons must be used in Assignment Two

Other Sources: Then read more widely on the topic of how marketers today respond to how consumers behave in relation to their needs and wants. Additional articles have been provided in Moodle. These should be read before you begin a search for other sources. Please note, DO NOT RELY on one or two sources for information. In fact, you will end using VERY LITTLE from each of the sources! This is the nature of academic research. Sources must include at least four (4) academic/scholarly references for this assignment, including the compulsory articles. You must use Deakin databases to research your report. All sources must be properly referenced and cited. Sources must have been written in the 21st century but since the year 2002; the more recent the better. Use of out-of-date sources will be penalised. Other non-academic sources are not to be used; in particular, do not use Wikipedia, MySpace, YouTube, blogs or any other unverifiable non-academic sources. Guide: You must apply the author-date (Harvard) system of in-text citations and referencing provided in: Gaspar, M & Shepherd, M 2011, Guide to assignment writing and referencing, 4th edn, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic. Also available electronically: <http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/studysupport/study-skills/handouts/authordate-harvard.php>. CITE CITE CITE CITE CITE CITE - CITE CITE CITE CITE CITE CITE CITE CITE CITE!

ACADEMIC WRITING AND REFERENCING RESOURCES Written assessment tasks can vary from unit to unit and even within one unit. It is important that you understand what is required of a particular writing style to maximise your chances of academic success.

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MME 101 Business Academic Skills Assignment 1 Research Report Tri 1 2013

Examples of writing styles used for assessment in the Faculty of Business and Law include assignments, essays, case studies and reports.

Referencing involves acknowledging original sources of information when producing written work. By referencing correctly, you not only give weight to any arguments or statements made in your work, but also avoid plagiarism.

Please note: it is expected that you will Referencing System.

CITE all words and ideas

that are taken from your

sources. These citations will be matched by textual details in the reference list, using the Harvard

Uncited content is viewed as plagiarism and will be assessed

accordingly.

This includes the awarding of a zero mark and possible imposition of academic

misconduct penalties. Similar penalties apply to collusion.

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MME 101 Business Academic Skills Assignment 1 Research Report Tri 1 2013

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

(FOLLOW THEM!):

Only an electronic copy will be accepted. You will use the LINK provided under Week 7 of Moodle. You will be able to submit DRAFTS before the due date and Turnitin will report back giving you an idea of areas that have been copied from sources, as well as showing you how effectively you have been paraphrasing (so it can identify PLAGIARISM AND COLLUSION!). You will then be able to make corrections to avoid these acts of misconduct. Once the due date has arrived, then any uploads will be considered final. It would be very foolish to ignore what Turnitin reports to you! Please note that a response from Turnitin can take up to 24 hours so you need to do any drafting a number of days before the Due Date.

Document formatting (required): Font size 11 or 12, using only ARIAL OR CALIBRI FONT ONLY 1.5 line spacing, 3 cm left and right hand margins, All pages are numbered correctly For the printed copy: single sided printing, stapled top left hand corner, NO folder/binder/plastic sleeve

Title page It should look like this: Staple!

Full Title here (in 14 16 pt size)


Use CENTRE

Your full name Your ID no. Unit code and name Lecturer name Assignment # Due Date

This, in 11 12 pt size Use RIGHT Justify NO PAGE NUMBER

NB: The title can be the TOPIC statement, as is. Do not include any clipart or other images.

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MME 101 Business Academic Skills Assignment 1 Research Report Tri 1 2013

ON-LINE COPY Using the link provided under Week 7 of Moodle, upload your assignment. You will NOT need to include the MIBT Assignment Cover Sheet only the title page and report with reference list.

You MUST ONLY use .doc, .docx or .pdf file formats. No Other file format will be accepted!
You must use YOUR name in the file name, eg: Billy Bragg BRBAD13 - MME 101 Assignment 1.docx Please follow the above directions CAREFULLY!

NOTES:

1. No extensions will be considered for assignment submission due dates unless a written request for an extension is submitted BEFORE the due date. The Extension Request Form can be found in the space above Week 1 of MME 101 Moodle and in the FORMS area of Moodle. 2. Any assignment submitted late without an extension being granted will not be marked.

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MME 101 Business Academic Skills Assignment 1 Research Report Tri 1 2013

RESEARCH REPORT PLAN / LAYOUT (Follow this!): Title page (as shown on page 4). Table of Contents with page numbers for each section and sub-section. Executive Summary (150 words) Summary of the complete report including simple statements of purpose, findings and recommendation (THREE short paragraphs). 1.0 Introduction (100 words) NEW PAGE. 1.1 Background statement identifying the main issue/problem 1.2 Report purpose and structure 2.0 Reasons for particular marketing responses to consumer behaviour (approximately 200 words) Introduce this section with a brief MOVE 1. Describe and explain THREE (3) reasons why marketers need to develop techniques or strategies that deal with how consumers behave (in satisfying their needs and wants). Show as 2.1, 2.1, 2.3. Cite your sources! Marketer responses to consumer behaviour (approximately 200 words) Introduce this section with a brief MOVE 1. Describe THREE (3) techniques or strategies that marketers can apply in response to how consumers behave. Show as 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3. Cite! Portfolio Analysis and Market-product Analysis (approximately 200 words) Introduce this section with a brief MOVE 1. Define Portfolio Analysis and Market-product Analysis and explain how these can affect the ways marketers respond to consumer behaviour. Show as 4.1, 4.2, 4.3. Cite! Recommendation (150 words) This is NOT a conclusion! None is required! o 5.1:- Recommend one way for marketers to respond to how consumers strive to satisfy their needs and wants. o 5.2:- Provide a SUPPORTED reason for this recommendation.

3.0

4.0

5.0

References Separate page, with a heading References All listed sources cited in the report (and no more) Listed according to the author-date Harvard system, in alphabetical order of first named author family name. Do not guess the format! DO NOT include copies of sources! Attach the marking guide (Copy and paste the next two pages). __________________________________________________________________________________

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MME101 Business Academic Skills Assignment 1 Research report marking guide

Student Performance Level 1 Learning Objective Not acceptable Use quality sources appropriate to the task No articles are selected or the information sources selected are of poor quality/relevance. Information sources are irrelevant to the task.

Level 2 Needs improvement An inadequate range of information sources is selected and is of low quality/relevance. Some information sources are irrelevant to the task.

Level 3 Satisfactory A reasonable range of information sources is selected. Information sources are relevant to the task.

Level 4 Good A good range of quality/relevant information sources is selected. Information sources are relevant to the task.

Level 5 Outstanding A good range of high quality /relevant information sources is selected. Information sources are relevant to the task.

(max. 2 marks)

(0 marks) Analyse and information (max. 3 marks) synthesise Information provided does not relate to the task. Three major sections are not presented. The analysis is mostly descriptive.

(0.5 marks) Some information provided relates to the task, but is incomplete. Major report sections are covered in a cursory manner. Some attempt to provide a balanced analysis has been provided.

(1 mark) Information provided relates to the task but is cursory. Major report sections address the requirements satisfactorily. A balanced analysis has been provided but is cursory.

(1.5 marks) Information covers the breadth of the task, and shows some depth. Major report sections are addressed with a good understanding. A balanced analysis is present but lacks depth.

(2 marks) Information clearly covers the breadth and depth of the task. Major report sections are addressed with an insightful understanding. A balanced analysis has been provided and shows depth of knowledge and insight. (3 marks) References provided under the Harvard method are accurate. In-text citations are accurate.

(0 marks) Use in-text citations where necessary with corresponding reference list entries presented according to the prescribed author-date (Harvard) system (max. 2 marks) References do not use the Harvard method correctly. In-text citations are not utilised or inaccurate.

(0.75 marks) An attempt to use the Harvard method has been made, but is not entirely correct. In-text citations are mostly inaccurate. (0.5 marks)

(1.5 marks) References provided under the Harvard method are accurate in most cases. In-text citations are accurate in most cases.

(2.25 marks) References provided under the Harvard method are accurate (perhaps some minor errors). In-text citations are accurate.

(0 marks)

(1 mark)

(1.5 marks)

(2 marks)

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MME101 Business Academic Skills Assignment 1 Research report marking guide


Write logically and coherently (max. 3 marks)

Executive Summary has not been provided. Introduction is inappropriate. Headings are not provided and/or are inappropriate. Recommendation is inappropriate. Paraphrasing closely resembles quotes. Too much quoted material is provided and presented incorrectly.

(0 marks) TOTAL MARKS (deduct 1 mark for extensive spelling and/or grammatical errors)

Executive Summary has been provided, but is not a summary of the entire report. Introduction is cursory. Some headings are not provided and/or are inappropriate. Recommendation is cursory. Paraphrasing uses too much of the authors own words. Too much quoted material is provided, and some is presented incorrectly. (0.75 marks)

Executive Summary has been provided and mostly covers the report key points. Introduction is clear and acceptable. Heading and sub-headings are appropriate. Recommendation provides a minimal justified choice. Paraphrasing correctly portrays others ideas in students own words. Too much quoted material is used, but is presented correctly. (1.5 marks)

A good Executive Summary covers the report key points. Introduction is clear and relevant. Headings and sub-headings are instructive. Recommendation provides a satisfactory choice. Paraphrasing correctly portrays others ideas in students own words. Fewer quotations could be used, but are presented correctly.

Excellent Executive Summary is presented. Introduction is clear and comprehensive. Heading and sub-headings are instructive. Recommendation provides a justifiable choice. Paraphrasing correctly portrays others ideas in students own words. Quotations are used sparingly and presented correctly.*

(2.25 marks)

(3 marks) *NB: Quotations have not been taught prior to A1, so are not required in A1.

/ 10

ADDITIONAL LECTURER FEEDBACK (if relevant): .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

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