IMAT5211 Coursework Details and Marking Scheme 2018/19

Coursework Specification

Introduction
Purpose and operational details
This coursework contributes 50% of the final marks for the module. Check the
grading / assessment sheet (see last page) for how marks will be allocated. Work on
your own for all parts of the work. You are encouraged to discuss the meaning of
the tasks with other students, but the content of your answers must be your own
original and individual work. You will need access to the library, Internet, the module
blackboard site and other resources such as journals, textbooks etc.

Quotations and referencing

Your main report should have a bibliography and reference section in a recognised
academic style (e.g. Harvard referencing). List all sources, including ideas and
suggestions taken from others. All words, diagrams, etc. taken from another source
must be properly marked in the text and listed in the references. See the DMU
library site for further guidance.

What to submit
Research question and Methodology (20% of coursework, 10% of module
mark):
• Hand in maximum of three A4 pages – hard copy to Advice Centre, electronic
copy via Turnitin.

Management report (80% of coursework, 40% of module mark):

• Hand in maximum of 2500 word report (in the case of a practical realisation,
such as a system design, the expectation word count will be significantly less
than this) – hard copy to Advice Centre, electronic copy via Turnitin.
Blank grading sheet – hard copy via the Advice Centre marked clearly with your name.

Deadline
All submissions close on Friday the 31st of May 2019 at 16.00 and must be
submitted via TurnitIn as well as handed in to FOTAC before 16.00.

If you have a valid reason for late submission, apply to me before the deadline.
Appropriate 3rd party written evidence must be provided in support of all such
requests.

Return and feedback

Summative feedback and provisional grades normally within four weeks of
submission (annotated copy of report returned with grading/assessment sheet.
 IMAT5211 Coursework Details and Marking Scheme 2018/19

These should be available for collection from the Student Advice Centre around the
end of June. You will be emailed via Blackboard when these are available.
Plagiarism
Any attempt to obtain a pass by unfair means is very serious. All reports will be
checked using plagiarism detection software. Cases of copying the work of another
student or supplying solutions to fellow students will normally result in a fail grade of
zero marks for the assignment. Any other use of unacknowledged material will be
dealt with as appropriate. Formal disciplinary action, as in the University
Regulations, may be taken against plagiarists. The disciplinary panel has the power
to inflict serious penalties including expulsion from the course.

Viruses and backup

Make sure you are protected as far as possible against virus attack or other possible
loss by retaining two backup copies of your work. In particular, please ensure that
the disk or email that you submit is free of viruses.

Detailed specification of work

1. An original question about e-business that would be worth further research (20%
of total).
• This section is concerned only with defining the problem/.question.
• Include a short paragraph that explains why it is interesting and a page of plan
/ research method that shows how your question could be answered.
• Your idea can be interesting for its own sake – pure research. Or it might be
useful to a specified organisation – applied research.
2. A report to a senior manager of a real organisation on one of the following (80%
of total). Or propose a topic of your own, this may include undertaking a full
research study in your original question in 1 above – but get my approval for it
before you start work. Clearly identify which option you are answering.

Outline Marking Scheme

To help you pick a topic suitable for the coursework, first, consider choosing a
scenario type from the options below:
a. Analysis and critical evaluation of current e-business strategy and
activities. (There must already be some significant e-business activity.)
• You decide how to carry out the appraisal, using your own selection or
those techniques taught on the module.
b. Proposal and justification for a systems architecture to support e-business.
(The organisation must have little or no significant e-business activity
now).
• Summarise the applications that are needed.
 IMAT5211 Coursework Details and Marking Scheme 2018/19

• Outline their interfaces with each other, and any necessary standards.
• Explain how the applications differ from current systems.
• Identify the benefits and how they will be measured.
c. A migration plan to develop e-business capability from scratch. (The
organisation must have little or no significant e-business activity now.)
Identify impacts on the organisation and changes to infrastructure.
• Identify major benefits, with suggestions for how to measure them.
Identify major risks, with strategies to avoid or minimise them.
d. High level design for a completely new e-business application. (Must be
relevant to the needs of the organisation and not closely based on any
existing system.)
• Explain the need and justify the design decisions in a brief report.
• Design to include systems architecture, functional requirements,
technical interface requirements, data storage requirements and
sample user interfaces.
• May consist mainly of diagrams and models.
e. Proposal and justification for an e-business strategy. (The organisation
must have little or no significant e-business activity now.)
• Outline the strategy and summarise the main changes expected in the
organisation.
• Implementation plan should show how the changes will be achieved.
• Identify the benefits and explain how they can be measured. Once you
have made your choice of topic type, progress to the report, which will
contain the following two sections, addressing the specified
components in the marking scheme.
1. Research questions will be marked mainly for:-
Originality and interest of the question.
• Feasibility of the outline plan / research methodology.
2. The research or management report will be marked
for its:- Factual basis.
• Overall coherence.
• Analytical depth, logical argument, critical questioning of others (including
published sources).
• Originality of thought, synthesis, new ideas and insights.
More detailed marking criteria are shown on the grading/feedback sheet (see next
page).

Original Question - Example topic Brexit and E commerce. To what extent is Brexit
likely to impact on the legal and or security e-commerce aspects for SME businesses.
 IMAT5211 Coursework Grading Sheet 2014/2015

Coursework Grading Sheet 2014/2015 (Marking Scheme)

Student Name Overall mark:
Relative Fail/Refer Marginal Fail Average to Good Very Good Excellent
Criteria Weight F/D- < D, D+ C-, C, C+ B-,B, B+ A-, A, A+
40% 40 – 49% 50 – 59% 60 – 69% 70 – 99%
No question or
Value of question is Profound question, goes well
Research Question. 10% completely Interesting question, Good question
not fully clear beyond the obvious
unoriginal.
Suitable methodology /
Research No research Simplistic outline of
plan perhaps lacking
Comprehensive methodology /
10% Good methodology / plan
Method/plan method or plan how to proceed
some details
plan described

Report (80%)

Some critical Useful critique that Good rounded analysis Thoroughly professional
Little or no
Critical Analysis 30% evaluation but limited successfully weighs gives a sound basis for the critique gives real confidence
critical analysis
practical use. some relevant evidence. report’s conclusions. in the author’s authority.
Should not be Ideas have some Would be useful, and Practical ideas and good Creative insight could well
Practical Relevance,
20% shown to the value, but significant ideas are well-grounded insight. Could be of produce excellent results for the
Creativity, Insight
business work still needed. but not really new. significant value. organisation.
20% Some limited basis in Some method is Professional quality of
Factual Basis No useful
apparent and
Well-focused research of
research. Follows appropriate
fact; some references
(includes research research is background research is significant value to the method, and is both
are of questionable
content) presented mainly relevant. organisation. comprehensive and relevant.
value.
General coherence, Not acceptable as Generally good but Good clear structure, Excellent in almost every way.
Acceptable but needs
quality of writing, 10% a professional quality not fully presentation, language and Thoroughly professional and
a lot of work.
referencing document. consistent. referencing. convincing document.

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