MNG92100 Strategic Asset Management Session 1 2019

Assignment 3
Case Study Critical Analysis
Due Date: 29th of May 2019 9:00 AM

Length: Report: 3000 words maximum. Slide deck: 10 slides maximum. Discussion board: 3 substantial meaningful posts at minimum

Format: Report (Word doc. only), PowerPoint slide deck and audio, Discussion Board posts.

Weighting: 40% of total unit marks

Submission: Through turn it in the Assessment Details section of the unit Black Board site and in the Discussion Board for your tutorial group.
Referencing Harvard (provide appropriate in text citations and a reference list)

Mandatory
1. You must deliver three items:
i. A written business-style report;
ii. A brief (3 to 5 min.) oral presentation (audio) about key aspects of your report embedded in the PowerPoint slide deck (10 slides
maximum); and
iii. A group of collaborative Black Board posts within your tutorial group (at least 3) relating to your assignment. Note: Failure to
submit the audio presentation results in a maximum mark for the assignment of 40%.

The task
Consider the idea that a disaster is the last thing that happens in a series of related precursor events. For a major asset to fail, there could be
contributory aspects of that failure coming from each part of the asset life cycle. Thus, a major asset failure may have its origins in the

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MNG92100 Strategic Asset Management Session 1 2019

requirements definition phase, the design phase and the operating phase. As Asset Managers, we are charged with the responsibility of
safeguarding the community from major asset failure, however, to do so, we must manage risks emerging from every part of the asset life cycle.

In this assignment, you are required to conduct a critical analysis of a case study from a strategic asset management perspective. The combined
written business style report and PowerPoint slide deck with audio must:
1. focus on strategic asset management in an engineering context;
2. demonstrate your critical analysis of a particular case study; and
3. demonstrate your ability to design and articulate an appropriate strategic asset management plan covering the entire asset life cycle.

Hence, you will need to present a critical analysis, explain your chosen methodology and give clear and appropriate advice, based in evidence,
on how as an asset manager you would improve the asset management practices in relation to the chosen case study.

You may choose any suitable case study OR choose from the list of suitable case studies shown below:

• Deepwater Horizon disaster of 2010

• Jnaneswari Express train derailment of 2010
• Samarco Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) failure of 2015
• India Power Blackout of July 2012
• Milwaukee cryptosporidiosis outbreak of 1993
• SEQ Water’s response to the millennium drought
• The asset data management aspect of any of these cases
If you choose your own case study, you must gain the written approval of your Tutor first. You will need to satisfy your Tutor that the chosen
topic has sufficient scope and importance such that the development of a suitable strategic asset management plan would usually be the
responsibility of a dedicated engineering or asset manager.

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MNG92100 Strategic Asset Management Session 1 2019

The combined report and PowerPoint slide presentation

The written report shall be no more than 3000 words. The PowerPoint slide deck of no more than ten A4 slides will contain bullet point summary
text and illustrative diagrams, charts, tables or photographs to maximize communication effectiveness. The slide deck must focus on key issues,
key facts and key points of your conclusion and recommendations.
Format of business style report
• The report is to be written with an Introduction section and then headings and sub-headings that are similar to those which you have
used in your PowerPoint slide deck. Typically, in the written report you would use more sub-headings as you would be providing more
detail in written prose whereas in the PowerPoint slide deck that information might be summarized in dot-point format.
• The objective of the structure is to achieve the best possible communication with the reader. Use headings to ‘sign-post’ what is coming
and to provide a ‘skeleton’ of report contents. Relevant journal articles provide a clue about headings and sub-headings.
• Attach the standard cover-sheet that SCU requires all students to place on the front of all assignments.
• Commence your report with a title-page. The title-page is the front page that all authors put on the reports and submissions that they
write as professionals. The title-page contains a title, plus your name as author and the submission date.
• The Header must contain your name and your student number.
• The Footer must contain the Unit number i.e. MNG92100 and the page number. Page numbering commences after the title-page.
PowerPoint slides
• The PowerPoint slide deck must contain a title page with the title of your paper, your name and student ID.
• Include a summary page to outline the contents of your presentation in bullet point form.
• Introduce your case study in summary format including an illustrative photograph or representation.
• Compose remaining slides to take the audience through all the parts of your report. Insert relevant photos, tables, graphs, and charts.
Audio
• The audio is a communication tool that takes the place of you being able to make a face-to-face presentation. Note: Please do not import
the audio recording from another device such as a phone. We have discovered this audio cant be imported to Turnitin.

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MNG92100 Strategic Asset Management Session 1 2019

• Remember the audio is not a repeat of the content of the written report but is a spoken reinforcement of what you have on your
PowerPoint slide deck. The audio is to bring focus on key aspects of your PowerPoint slide deck and should be shaped to influence the
listener to accept your conclusions/recommendations.

Collaboration posts via the discussion board:

As part of this assignment, you are encouraged to write about your project to other participants within your tutorial group. The objective is for
you to help each other with sources of information. Each post should be substantial (at least several sentences or a paragraph – a single sentence
is insufficient). It should contain meaningful and relevant information that would potentially be of real assistance to the other participants.
Alternatively, the posts could be reflective or probing of another post in such a way that it adds value to a previous post via additional relevant
information or a new interpretation.
• Posts can share sources of information including official reports, inquiries and examinations into the original disaster.
• Posts can also share useful peer reviewed articles about asset management including “Strategic Asset Management Plans” (SAMPs) and
their implementation, asset management strategies for different parts of the asset life cycle, asset management maturity models for
organizations seeking to improve the way assets are managed and asset management strategy for particular industries such as Power,
Water or Rail.
• Participants can seek to recruit like participants by providing information to attract about a particular case study to attract other
participants.
• Another way in which participants can earn marks is to begin the discussion thread in your own tutorial group.
• Yet another valuable contribution is in the form of an intelligent question. Please be aware that a single sentence question is insufficient.
There must be several sentences to frame the context of the question.
• Another contribution to your participants could be in the form of educating your colleagues about how to record an audio in the
PowerPoint slides and to disseminate this information to your colleagues via the discussion board.
• Time will be devoted to making posts in the discussion board at our EMAS classes, so if you aren’t sure how to do it, simply come to an
EMAS class on Tuesdays in room C/5.19.

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MNG92100 Strategic Asset Management Session 1 2019

• A pass grade in this activity will be a minimum of 3 substantial posts but more posts with more meaningful contributions will earn higher
marks.
• Please refer to the marking rubric for detailed grading information.

General guiding information:

• Start writing early and start posting on the discussion board early.
• Discuss often with your Tutor and your group.
• Ensure that you visit the library for assistance and finding the best possible journals and other materials.
• You must read widely and deeply.
• Focus mainly on the current academic literature i.e. post 2010.
• Please use your imagination by providing graphs, tables, charts, and images.
• References, tables, charts, and appendices are not included in the word count.
• Please review the attached Marking Rubric so that you meet all the requirements.
• Have regard to the ‘Grasp of core unit theory’ marking criteria. For the highest marks for that criteria you must demonstrate deep,
accurate understanding. To be able to go deeply into issues and still stay within the 3000 word limit you must limit the number of issues
upon which you focus and make use of diagrams, tables and figures.
• The English expression Marking Criteria reflects business requirements. Check your work, or have another person check your work, for
errors in grammar and even those mistakes all authors make because they have been working on the same paper for ‘too long’.

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MNG92100 MNG93100 Marking Rubric: Assignment 3 (Report) Strategic Asset Management Session 1 2019
Excellent 85%‒ Very Good 75%‒ Good 65%‒ Satisfactory 50%‒ Unacceptable 0%‒
100% 84% 74% 64% 49%
WARNING!
1. Failure to meet the minimum academic references will automatically result in a maximum mark of 40% for the complete assignment
2.
Failure to include or do an appropriate audio presentation will automatically result in a maximum mark of 40% for the complete assignment
Response to assigned topic, the understanding of relevant theory, explanation of research methods and audio: (about 80% of total mark for the assignment)

Analysis:
The Assignment demonstrated
exceptional critical analysis
techniques.
Research Method and
analysis tools explained:
Critical and comprehensive
explanation of how the case
was analysed was provided.
Response to assigned topic:
The Assignment responded
directly to the topic and to
every separate part of the topic
in an exceptionally balanced
manner with no irrelevant
material.
Grasp of core unit theory:
The Assignment demonstrated
deep, accurate understanding
of unit principles and concepts
at a very high level of
sophistication.
5 min Audio presentation:
The Audio Presentation was
clear and explained the slides
in an exceptional manner with
little to no errors.
The Assignment demonstrated
very good critical analysis
techniques.
Comprehensive explanation of
how the case was analysed
was provided.
The Assignment responded
directly to the topic and to
every separate part of the
topic in a balanced manner
with minimal irrelevant
material.
Demonstrated deep, accurate
understanding of unit
principles and concepts.
The Audio Presentation was
clear and explained the slides
in an excellent manner with
some minor errors.
The Assignment demonstrated
good critical analysis techniques
but with some errors.
Good explanation of how the case
was analysed was provided. Some
key information was missing.
The Assignment responded directly
to the topic and to every separate
part of the topic in a reasonably
balanced manner. A small amount
of irrelevant material. Some issues
not properly developed.
Demonstrated accurate
understanding of unit principles and
concepts, although a little superficial
or flawed in places.
The Audio Presentation was clear
and explained the slides in a very
good manner with some errors and
some key information missing.
The Assignment demonstrated critical
analysis techniques but with some
errors. could have been improved.
Good explanation of how the case was
analysed was provided. Some key
information was missing.
Overall the Assignment responded
directly to the topic but with some
digressions and irrelevancies. Some
aspects of the topic were not developed
properly. Some less important aspects
may have been overlooked.
Sound grasp of unit principles and
concepts, perhaps one-dimensional
and superficial in places and perhaps
some misconceptions.
The Audio Presentation was somewhat
clear and explained the slides in a
satisfactory manner with some errors
and with but some key information
missing.
The Assignment Demonstrated little critical
analysis techniques.
Little and inappropriate explanation of how
the case was analysed.
Taken as a whole, the assignment did not
respond adequately to the topic. Important
aspects were overlooked and/or much of
the material was irrelevant.
One or more important unit concepts or
principles seriously misunderstood, or no
relevant theoretical framework
established.
Failed to include an appropriate audio
presentation. This has resulted in an
automatic fail by way of a maximum mark
of 40% for the complete assignment.

Technical matters (about 20% of total mark for the assignment): Assignment must be in Font 12, 1.5 Spacing, and Times New Roman

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Structure and English
expression:
The Assignment was very
comprehensive and had
excellent structure with no
errors.
Spelling, syntax and grammar
completely correct.
In-text referencing:
Harvard referencing system
used with 100% accuracy.
MNG92100
Reference list:
Reference list comprehensive
and had no errors.
Academic Journals:
Assignment was supported
with appropriate peer reviewed
academic journals (12
minimum from 2013 to 2019)
and other quality sources.
Discussion board posts: At
least 10 substantial posts.
Mature reflection and probing
of others posts. High quality
contribution to the community.
The Assignment was
comprehensive and had very
good structure with some
errors.
Spelling, syntax and grammar
generally correct although
there were two or three minor
errors.
Harvard referencing system
used with high level of
accuracy.
Reference list comprehensive
with no omissions but some
minor errors.
Assignment was supported
with appropriate peer
reviewed academic journals
(10 minimum from 2013 to
2019) and other quality
sources.
There were at least seven
substantial and meaningful
posts to the discussion board
with reflection and probing on
others posts.
The Assignment had good structure
and appropriate content but with
some errors.
Spelling, syntax and grammar
generally correct although there
were more than three minor errors.
Harvard referencing used correctly Harvard or APA referencing used
although with some errors.
Strategic Asset Management
Reference list had one or two
omissions and/or significant errors.
Assignment was supported with
appropriate peer reviewed
academic journals (8 minimum from
2013 to 2019) and other quality
sources.
There were at least 5 substantial
and meaningful posts to the
discussion board.
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The Assignment consisted of suitable
information, had generally suitable
structure although some aspects could
have been improved.
Spelling, syntax and grammar
acceptable but there were frequent
minor or serious errors.
correctly although with some significant
errors.
Reference list had more than two
omissions and/or significant errors (but
a small number).
Assignment was supported with
appropriate peer reviewed
academic journals (6 minimum from
2013 to 2019) and other quality
sources.
There were at least three substantial
and meaningful posts to the discussion
board.
The Assignment did not have suitable
structure and information.
Unacceptably high number of minor
and/or numerous serious errors in
spelling, syntax and/or grammar.
No referencing or many serious errors in
using Harvard or APA referencing.
Session 1 2019
Reference list had numerous errors and/or
omissions (or is missing).
Assignment was not supported with the
minimum number of appropriate peer
reviewed academic journals. Failure to
meet the minimum for academic
references will automatically result in a
maximum mark of 40% for the complete
assignment.
There were less than three substantial and
meaningful posts to the discussion board