HOLMES INSTITUTE
FACULTY OF
HIGHER EDUCATION
Assessment Details and Submission Guidelines
Trimester T1 2020
Unit Code HC1021
Unit Title Interpersonal & E-Communication
Assessment Type Group Assignment
Assessment Title Evaluating the advancements in communication
strategies of International and domestic Business
Purpose of the assessment (with ULO Mapping) Students are required to perform academic research
on any nominated international company to identify
and assess the effectiveness of its cu
ent “Non
Electronic and Electronic Communication” strategies
Weight 40 % of the total assessments
Total Marks Group Report (25 marks)
Group presentation (15 marks)
Word limit Not more than 2500 words
Due Date Report (Friday in week 10 by 11:59pm)
Submission Guidelines
All work must be submitted on Blackboard by the due
date along with a completed Assignment Cover Page.
The assignment must be in MS Word format, no
spacing, 12-pt Arial font and 2 cm margins on all four
sides of your page with appropriate section headings
and page numbers.
Reference sources must be cited in the text of the
eport, and listed appropriately at the end in a
eference list using Harvard referencing style.
Assignment 1 Specifications
Purpose:
This assignment aims at applying theoretical and practical knowledge of communication to formulate
effective business communication strategies.
In groups of 4 students must:
i. Select a suitable business, company or organisation and write a formal report on their business
communication trend over the past 20 years (Note: the selected company must have been in operation
at least in the past 20 years).
ii. The nominated company must be approved by your lecturer. Each group must do their report
on different companies. This will be approved on a ‘first-come first-served’ basis.
iii. You will be required to perform academic research on the nominated companies to assess
how changes in business communication strategies have impacted the way that business is being done
today. iv. You are to make a group presentation for 5-12 minutes on the key findings from your report
using PowerPoint slides in the class during the tutorial session in weeks 10 and 11.
Assignment Structure should be as the following:
Title Page
Executive Summary
Brief Introduction and Background
Section 1: Synopsis of the key communication methods and practices that the company previously
used to engage customers, suppliers, staff members and the public.
Section 2: Overview of the cu
ent communication strategies used by the company, including websites,
social media, and electronic platforms.
Section 3: Perform a SWOT Analysis on the company’s overall communication methods and practices,
and describe your findings.
Section 4: Assess and compare the company’s previous and cu
ent communication practices
Recommendations: Provide suggestions and recommendations on how your chosen companies can
improve their business communication Conclusion
Marking Criteria
Marking criteria Marking criteria Weighting
Overall Structure, format and presentation 3 marks
Overview of the company’s communication
strategy changes over time
4 marks
SWOT Analysis of the company’s
communication strategies
6 marks
Comparison of the previous and cu
ent
company’s communication strategies
5 marks
Summary of findings and Recommendations 4 marks
Evidence of quality research and Referencing 3 marks
TOTAL Weight 25 marks
Assessment Feedback to the Student:
Marking Ru
ic
Excellent Very Good Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Overall
Structure,
format and
presentation (3)
Report is excellently
structured, with
sub-sections and
logical
paragraphing.
Co
ect layout
including Arial, font
size 12, about the
ight length.
Report is very
well-structured,
with subsections
and logical
paragraphing.
Co
ect layout
including Arial,
font size 12, about
the right length.
Report is well
structured, with
sub-sections and
logical
paragraphing
Co
ect layout
including Arial,
font size 12, about
the right length.
Report is
sufficiently
structured, with
sub-sections and
logical
paragraphing
Some elements of
layout or length
inco
ect.
No or little logical
structure of report.
Many direct quotes
and/or very little
paraphrasing.
Some elements of
layout or length
inco
ect.
Overview of the
company’s
communication
strategy changes
over time (4)
Very detailed
discussion on key
communication
strategies with
examples
Detailed
discussion on key
communication
strategies with
examples
Sufficient discussion
on key
communication
strategies with
examples
Barely adequate
discussion on key
communication
strategies
Insufficient
discussion on key
communication
strategies
SWOT Analysis
of the
company’s
communication
strategies (6)
Outstanding
indepth SWOT
analysis of company
communication
strategies
A very sound
SWOT analysis of
company
communication
strategies
A good SWOT
analysis of company
communication
strategies
A satisfactory
SWOT analysis of
company’s
communication
strategies.
A very shallow
analysis. Failed to
adapt a SWOT
analysis technique.
Comparison of
the company’s
previous and
cu
ent
communication
strategies (5)
Excellent
comparisons drawn
on the company’s
previous and
cu
ent
communication
strategies
Very good
comparisons
drawn on the
company’s
previous and
cu
ent
communication
strategies
Good comparisons
drawn on the
company’s previous
and
cu
ent
communication
strategies
Satisfactory
comparisons
drawn on the
company’s
previous and
cu
ent
communication
strategies
Little or no
comparisons drawn
on the company’s
previous and
cu
ent
communication
strategies
Summary of
Findings and
Recommendatio
n (4)
An interesting, well
written summary of
the main points. An
excellent final
comment on the
topic, based on the
information
provided.
A very good
summary of the
main points. A
good final
comment on the
topic, based on
the information
provided.
Good summary of
the main
points. A final
comment on the
topic based on the
information
provided.
Satisfactory
summary of the
main points. A
final comment
on the topic, but
introduced new
material
Poo
no summary
of the main points.
A poor final
comment on the
topic and/or new
material introduced
Evidence of
quality research
and Referencing
(3)
Co
ectly set out
eference list and in-
text citations
included. Cited
sources are all
cu
ent and relevant
Co
ectly set out
eference list and
in-text citations
included. Cited
sources are
mostly cu
ent and
elevant
Co
ectly set out
eference list and in-
text citations
included. Cited
sources are
somewhat cu
ent
and relevant
Some problems
with the reference
list and/or in-text
citations. Cited
sources are
marginally cu
ent
and relevant
So many problems
with the reference
list and/or in-text
citations. I
elevant
or poorly-selected
sources
Total Marks (25) /25