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Assessment 2: Report The written assignment is a challenging own research project taking a considerable amount of time for data gathering, analysis and write-up

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Assessment 2: Report
The written assignment is a challenging own research project taking a considerable amount of time for data gathering, analysis and write-up.
Introduction
Different companies work differently with procurement – and as you will recognize from literature and lectures this could have many reasons, e.g. type of industry, the importance of purchasing, type of products, history etc.
Purpose
The purpose of the assignment is to create an opportunity for you to meet a purchaser in practice and to have an initiated and structured discussion with him/her about how they work, and afterwards reflect on this with the course’s literature and lectures as framework.
Aim
The aim of your assignment is ”To describe and analyse a company’s purchasing function”.
Assignment and Examination
You shall undertake an interview with a procurement manager and based on this write a report where you describe how the company works today, and plan to work in the future, related to a number of areas that the course and the literature cover. You should also analyse and reflect about similarities and differences between the company’s way of working and the course literature. The report should be professionally written - when approved, it will be sent back to the company representative. The information from the interview can be complemented with other types of secondary data, for example from the company’s website.
The areas that you should address are:
• Chapter 1: Purchasing strategy & organisation
• Chapter 2: Purchasing process
• Chapter 5: Sustainable procurement
There should be an introductory chapter describing also shortly the firm and a conclusion section where you also position the company in van Weele’s development model in the core text book, Van Weele, A.J (2005, 2010 or 2014)”Purchasing and Supply Chain Management. Analysis, Strategy, Planning and Practice”, Thomson, ISBN 1-84480-024-5, p94.
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The report should be professional with regards to style, language as well as description, analysis and conclusions.
Contacts with the companies
It is important to be well prepared when interviewing company people. They have devoted time to you, and their time is limited. Hence a “semi-structured” interview guide will be of great help to keep the interview focused and professional.
When your company representative is decided, you have to contact him/her yourself to set up a meeting. Your purchasing manager has been asked to participate in one interview of around 1 hour. The contact persons are prepared to take a meeting in this period; you will have had enough time to prepare your investigation and an interview guide, and you will have enough time afterwards to write your report.
Evaluation:
The report will be evaluated based on:
• How well the given areas are discussed and described (Depth and relevance of research; 25% of the final grade)
• How well you have based your description and discussion on the literature and lectures and how well you compare and discuss theory and practice (by using models, frameworks, classifications etc.) (Application, analysis and understanding of appropriate concepts; 25% of the final grade)
• How well motivated conclusions are (based on company description and theoretical framework) (Synthesis and evaluation of data; 15% of the final grade)
• Format, layout and language (clear, professional and well-presented chapter; 15%)
• and finally, the overall report including introduction, and conclusion (20%)
• References cited must be included in a references list at the end of the report. Suggested referencing style is Harvard or APA.
• Word count: 1500 words (+/- 10%, excluding references).
• Appendices can be used if needed and they are excluded from the word count.
Description of the assessment criteria can be found in the University of Sussex Business School rubric and it is posted on the Assessment Information page (Marking) of this module’s Canvas site.
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Interpreting marks - Marking Scheme Category Mark Check List Description Outstanding 85 + Advanced knowledge of Procurement processes, principles and management. Critically reflects on established theory of Procurement management. Evidence of extensive or intensive and appropriate data collection and analysis. Well researched, written and argued in a compelling manner. Extensive research-level references. New insights emerging from reading research or student’s own experiences. The report demonstrates a mastery of the subject that goes well beyond basic reading to critically explore alternative perspectives. The analysis presented is well developed, complete and coherent, and is written in a compelling manner. Perhaps most importantly, an 80+ piece of report is characterized by a spark of creativity, or by new ideas and insights that emerge from the student’s reading and experience. Excellent 70-85 Excellent knowledge of Procurement processes, principles and management. Extensive and appropriate use of literature on Procurement processes and principles. Evidence of extensive or intensive and appropriate data collection and analysis. Well argued. Arrives at innovative understanding. The report demonstrates excellent understanding of the subject that has been gained through a thorough critical analysis of themes and issues. It draws effectively on the relevant literature and concepts to build a comprehensive and cohesive analysis. Persuasive reasoning backed up by appropriate illustrative examples. Good 60 – 69 Good knowledge of Procurement processes, principles and management. Evidence of appropriate data collection and analysis. Logically structured and argued. Demonstrates learning from the assessment. The report demonstrates proficient understanding of the subject gained from reporting with key sources. Major themes and debates in the extant literature are recognized and are at least referred to if not taken up completely throughout the assessment. Satisfactory 50 – 59 Shows understanding of most of the issues relating Procurement processes, The report demonstrates a basic competence in the subject.
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Category Mark Check List Description principles and management. Evidence of appropriate data collection and analysis but these are at the most basic level. The analysis developed in the assessment, the language used and the writing style are competent but are somewhat incomplete in places. It draws on some relevant literature, but provides only a limited critical analysis of this material. Examples are used, but without a critical, analytical context. The analysis presented has some gaps. Report of this grade is characterized by sufficient coverage of the subject, but unsophisticated understanding and analysis. Insufficient 45 – 49 There is a credible, if poor, attempt at all components of the assessment. Has read some texts but not really understood the concepts. Investigation and analysis falls short of pass standard, but could be raised to this standard if the student applies sufficient time and effort to revise their report. The analysis developed in the assessment, the language used and the writing style are not competent or incomplete. The report demonstrates only a limited degree of competence in the subject. It has some sense of academic debate and/or rational analysis. There is a tendency towards reportage rather than any form of interpretation. Report of this grade is characterized by just acceptable comprehension in all elements, but the report could be improved to achieve a pass grade if the student puts in sufficient effort. Poor Below 45 A major problem in one or more significant areas: literature, methodology, language, etc. Lack of sufficient reading. Fails to extend beyond concepts and readings already taught and examined elsewhere. Poorly designed and superficial analysis. Analysis is incoherent and/or inconsistent. The report demonstrates a lack of understanding of the subject. There are significant gaps in the interpretation of literature and relevant concepts, and the reasoning presented is flawed, inconsistent, contradictory, or incoherent. Unacceptable report is characterized by incompleteness and inadequate comprehension.