MKT 4801 Assessment 1: Market Analysis Report: Individual Report

Provisional marks are subject to the external examiners’ approval, and they reserve the right to amend marks if it is deemed appropriate for an MBA level.

The final results will be available in June via UniHub. Please note that academic staff members are not able to release your final results.

2.      You can use your own company as the “given organisation" for this assignment. If this is not possible, or not

3.      The report should focus on external and internal marketing environment.

4.      The report should be in three parts: analysis of the external marketing environment, analysis of the internal

 marketing environment, and evaluation what impact it has had on the marketing mix.

5.      It is acceptable to focus on some elements of the marketing mix rather than all of the elements as long as it can be justified (for instance, for some service-oriented companies it might be justifiable to focus upon product, price, promotion, people, process and physical evidence but not upon place). If in doubt, seek guidance from your tutor.

6.      You are expected to use marketing-related theories, concepts, models and/or frameworks you have encountered in your studies up to this point. The report has an academic purpose as well and must reflect your learning. Please remember to reference your sources (even for well-known and frequently-used models etc.).

7.      Use a formal report structure with table of contents, page and section numbers, labels and titles for diagrams and tables, etc.

8.      Use appendices for supporting information that is not needed in the analysis (for example, lists/descriptions of products/services, if provided at all).

You will prepare a market analysis report presenting the findings and interpretation of research into the marketing environment of a given organisation and its impact on the marketing mix (Learning outcomes 01, 03, 06 and 07).

Further details (including instructions for assessment submission) appertaining to this particular piece of coursework can be given to you as the module progresses.

 Structure and

 format

·      Title page: This should include the title, your name and student ID number, and ‘MKT4801 Individual Report’

·      Executive Summary: A brief description of the contents of the managerial report (one paragraph)

·      Main body of the managerial report: use appropriate numbered sub-headings

·      Conclusions

·      Referencing: evidence of using ‘good sources’ is important and therefore, your sources must be correctly cited and fully referenced in Harvard style.

·      Font, Arial 12pt, double line spacing

Exceeding the word count, and/or submission in a form other than a Word Document will result in a penalty of 10% of your marks for your work.

O utcome(s)

Sources (references) must be correctly cited and fully referenced in Harvard style. The online help for Harvard referencing is at: www.citethemrightonline.com.ezproxy.mdx.ac.uk

Assessment Criteria

Market Analysis Report (indicative weighting out of 100%)

Submissions attracting the higher grades in the assignment will meet the following presentation criteria (10%):

·      A clear cover page with all essential information (name and student number, module name and number, assignment title, word count, and date)

·      A well-structured, formal report using a logical alphanumeric/numeric system

·      A table of contents with page numbers

·      A brief introduction to the report outlining its purpose and scope, identifying the market/product opportunity investigated (no need for Terms of Reference)

·      Correct grammar, spelling and punctuation

·      One seamless piece of writing, i.e. one editorial voice; logical development of analysis

·      Use of appropriate and properly labelled charts, graphs and tables where applicable

·      Proper in-text references where applicable (including references to databases, industry reports, company literature, trade/industry journals and/or web sources used) and a Table of References at the end with full bibliographical details in Harvard style

·      Approximately within range (1,800 - 2,200 words)

Submissions attracting the higher grades in the assignment will meet the following content criteria (90%):

Introduction (5%)

·      Structured introduction outlining and justifying the scope of the analysis

Analysis of the external marketing environment (25%)

·      Depth of analysis of the external marketing environment [type of market, competitive and economics conditions,

 political/regulatory, social and technological factors], use of appropriate tools, techniques and/or frameworks of

 analysis; evaluation of information and synthesis of results.

 Impact on the marketing mix (25%)

·      To Identify changes in the marketing environment and their impact on (selected) elements of the marketing mix; identify improvements in current marketing management practice and/or opportunities for new product/service development.

 Conclusions and recommendations (10%)

·      Conclusions based on analysis and synthesis of the findings; making sense of complexity; recommendations addressing the conclusions and supported by evidence in the report; assumptions recognised and stated (if any)

The individual assessment will be discussed in class before the term break

An optional workshop will be organised prior to the deadline to support student preparations. This session will help students contextualise coursework instructions. Additional formative feedback can be provided by organising an appointment.