Assignment:

1. Mid-term Reflection and PDP

You are required to complete a PDP template as provided (available via GSM Learn) to support you in writing a structured reflection and a PDP that will take you through the next 4 semesters of your undergraduate studies.

Background

Reflection is one of the ways in which it is possible to extract value from learning experiences. Reflection does not come naturally to many undergraduate students and is not commonly taught in earlier training and educational experiences. This exercise is in place to encourage reflection early in undergraduate studies.

The development of self-awareness and the ability to plan for improvement in your own performance or Personal Development Planning (PDP) is an important skill to assist you in improving your employability. During this module, you will be challenged to put in place a PDP which will take you through to the development of your final semester project.

Task

• Complete the Mid-term Reflection/PDP Template provided in about 1,000 words; and ensure that you include the following:

• A Mid-term Self-Assessment Questionnaire, completed in consideration of the Initial Self-Assessment Questionnaire and Plan you undertook in Week 1.

• A reflection on your development and performance during this semester, answering the question: what have you learned about your own performance? (NB The Module Learning Objectives contained in Module Handbooks should be used as objective measures of performance)
 
• An analysis of the current situation that you face identifying behaviours which require change, answering the questions:

• What do I need to change in order to raise the standard of my performance?

• Why are these behaviours happening, and why are they impacting upon my performance?

• A PDP based upon your current performance level and the developmental changes that you will make during the next 4 semesters of your course, answering the question: how will I change the behaviours that are impacting upon my performance?

2. Oral presentation

The Topic

Present the company you have chosen to analyse in your Business Report. Your presentation should include some analysis of whether the company's decision to be more ethical is proving to be a success amongst consumers or not, providing examples of why that is the case. Do not just provide a descriptive account of the company's ethical strategy. It is NOT necessary to include a detailed description of ethical consumerism in the presentation.

The Assignment Task

Time is 10 minutes to include time for questions. You should aim to speak for 7 to 9 minutes.

The presentation must be developed and delivered using Microsoft PowerPoint. You must ensure that your presentation has been saved on a memory stick.

You should print a copy of your slides for the lecturer.

Assessment

The lecturer will assess the presentations, in class during weeks 9 and 10 of the semester.

Brief individual feedback on presentations will be provided in class during week 8.

The assessment criteria will be discussed with the classes in detail but are based upon:

• Content and Question and Answer, including analysis and research

• Language Use, including vocabulary and grammar

• Delivery, including use of voice and eye contact

• Organisation and Visual Aids, including use of PowerPoint

3. Written Report

Write an analytical business report on what ethical consumerism means for businesses.

Choose a company and explain and analyse how they operate ethically. This must take into account the ethics and values of the company you choose to focus on.

The report must be written in business report format and include the following sections:

• An executive summary which gives a brief overview of the argument in your report including key findings and conclusions.

• A contents page which lists the sections and the page numbers.

• An introduction which gives an overview of the structure of your report.

• A brief overview and analysis of ethical consumerism, identifying the examples of some of the products which fall into the ethical category. You must include a definition of ethical consumerism and arguments as to why it is a good strategy for businesses to adopt.

• A detailed review of one company claiming to operate ethically. Provide evidence as to how ethical the chosen company is linking this with their ethics and values.

• The results of a short opinion survey on what influences consumer buying behaviour, carried out by you from a small sample of 10-15 students at GSM London. You need to conduct primary research for this section.

• A conclusion which includes critical evaluation of ethical consumerism based on the evidence that you have gathered both from your primary and secondary research, focusing on the company you have chosen for detailed review.

• Recommendations as to what your chosen company should do to improve their performance in relation to ethical consumerism.

• You must include a references list after the main body of the report. Remember to use Harvard referencing where appropriate.

• A copy of your opinion survey should be included in an appendix.

Word limit: Not more than 2000 +/- 10%

Supporting material will be posted on GSM Learn, but you will be expected to undertake research using newspaper/magazine/web articles, journals and text books. There will also be input in class time to assist you with the topic.