MGT605 Business Capstone Project

ASSESSMENT BRIEF

Subject Code and Title

MGT605 Business Capstone Project

Assessment

Assignment 1 – Project Proposal/Plan

Individual/Group

Individual

Length

1500 words

Subject Learning Outcomes

SLO a. Develop and articulate a theoretical or practical

perspective on management issues through a substantial

applied project

SLO b. Demonstrate collaborative leadership and ownership in

the preparation of a significant original body of practical or

theoretical work

SLO c. Use specialist research skills to analyse a complex

management problem and then synthesise the research,

communicating it effectively to both specialist and lay

audiences

Submission

By 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Friday of Week 3

Weighting

20%

Total Marks

20

Context:

This subject allows the student to synthesise the knowledge and skills gained from all other subjects studied up to that point. The main deliverable in the subject is a major project. In this first assessment, the project is proposed.

Instructions:

In this assessment, you are required to propose how you are going to conduct your capstone project. Before you can do that, you first need to identify a project idea on which to develop your project proposal (See Figure 1 below). Your project proposal must include the pain statement or problem statement.

The capstone project proposal serves two basic functions. Firstly, it presents and explains what your capstone project is all about. This is essential to make clear what you aim to achieve by the end of this study period.

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Secondly, how you will conduct the capstone project. This is an account of the steps you will take until you produce the final report. This includes a timeline. The timeline will help you track your progress.

With this information, your facilitator will be able to guide you concerning the suitability and feasibility of your capstone project.

Formulating a project idea

As mentioned above, before you can develop your capstone project proposal, you need to identify a problem or opportunity. Please refer to the “Broad Business Capstone Project Ideas.pdf” file for help with identifying project ideas. You can find the “Broad Business Capstone Project Ideas.pdf” at the end of the Subject Overview page in Blackboard.

Structure of the project proposal

Include all relevant content expected in a project proposal.

Cover page – provide a cover page with identification information including, your name, the subject and code, the capstone project title, date, word count, etc.

Introduction or Context – background information including a description of the country, the industry, the organisation (case unit) and the problem or opportunity. Discuss the circumstances through which the problem or opportunity has arisen.

Aim/purpose of project – the specific aim of the capstone project is to identify the problem or opportunity and to summarise what your project intends to achieve.

Method – identify the proposed sources of information or data. Also consider how your knowledge from your post graduate program will apply in your project. Ensure that the project is feasible within the available time. Also describe the relevance and significance of your capstone project.

Conclusion – a brief statement about what the project is all about, its suitability and feasibility.

Indicative timeframe – itemise what you will cover in each week.

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Word count

The 1500 words word count includes the Context down to the Conclusion. There is no tolerance on the word count. You are not expected to exceed 1500 words and penalties may apply for exceeding the word count.

Here is a suggested (non-prescriptive) allocation of word count.

Context and Aim statement – 300 words

Method – 1050 words

Conclusion – 150 words

NB: You may use dot points to present the main points of your proposal.

References

Your capstone project proposal must use and list at least six (6) references to theoretical literature sources. Identify specific data sources that you will collect data from and reference them. You may have up to ten (10) references to data sources.

Special conditions

If the project involves an industry partner, a letter of support from the partner is required in an appendix.

If your capstone project involves research on human subjects (e.g. collection of primary data through surveys), it is the student’s responsibility to obtain HREC approval for it through the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).

Except otherwise approved by the Facilitator, you may not collect and use any form of primary data for the purpose of this capstone project.

It is expected, that your capstone project is an original submission (your own work). Your project must not be a repackaged assessment from another subject you have done before.

Submission

Submit a written capstone project proposal that uses an academic style of writing including references and the recommended structure (above). Please refer to the Academic Integrity policy and the Assessment policy for more information.

Use Assessment 1 link in Blackboard to submit your capstone project proposal. Give your file a name of this format – Your name_Subject and code_Assessment number – before submission.

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Learning Rubric

Assessment Attributes

Fail (Unacceptable)

Pass

Credit

Distinction

High Distinction

(Functional)

(Proficient)

(Advanced)

(Exceptional)

Knowledge and

Limited understanding of

Knowledge or

Thorough knowledge or

Highly developed

A sophisticated

understanding (technical

required concepts and

understanding of the field

understanding of the field

understanding of the field

understanding of the field

and theoretical

knowledge

or discipline.

or discipline/s. Supports

or discipline/s.

or discipline/s.

knowledge)

personal opinion and

Key components of the

Resembles a recall or

information substantiated

Discriminates between

Uses information

assignment are not

summary of key ideas.

by evidence from the

assertion of personal

substantiated by robust

Understands theoretical

addressed.

research/course materials.

opinion and information

evidence from the

models and concepts

Often confuses assertion of

substantiated by robust

research/course materials

personal opinion with

evidence from the

and extended reading.

information substantiated

research/course materials

5 marks

by evidence from the

and extended reading.

Mastery of concepts and

research/course materials.

application to new

Well demonstrated

situations/further

capacity to explain relevant

learning.

concepts.

Difficult to understand for

Information, arguments

Information, arguments

Information, arguments

Expertly presented; the

Effective Communication

audience, no logical/clear

and evidence are

and evidence are well

and evidence are very well

presentation is logical,

structure, poor flow of

presented in a way that is

presented, mostly clear

presented; the

persuasive, and well

ideas, argument lacks

not always clear and

flow of ideas and

presentation is logical,

supported by evidence,

Well structured report with

supporting evidence.

logical.

arguments.

clear and well supported

demonstrating a clear flow

clear flow of ideas

by evidence.

of ideas and arguments.

Audience cannot follow the

Line of reasoning is often

Line of reasoning is easy to

line of reasoning.

difficult to follow.

follow.

Engages and sustains

10 marks

audience’s interest in the

topic.

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