Assignment 1 - Project Proposal - 20%

Due Date: 5.00pm Friday Week 5 of Term

While your day-to-day work in your host company might be mainly task-related this is your chance to show your company the benefits of bringing in a university postgraduate. Your project should focus on the discipline of your enrolled program and should look at a problem or issue of relevance to your host company. The purpose of this proposal is to integrate the academic content of your program into a practical problem/issue in your host company and "sell” it to your supervisors/advisors- both in the company and in the University. As such, the proposal should convince both audiences of the importance and relevance of the project, while also assuring them that you can successfully complete the project with suitable outcomes and within the given timeframe.

The proposal should therefore outline the following: background to and rationale for the project (i.e., why is it important to the host organisation?); the objectives of the project; the proposed underlying academic theory/literature to be used to inform the project (should involve a minimum of 10 academic references); a time plan for completion of the project; and an indication of the information you will have to gather from the organisation to complete the project (this should include appreciation of potential ethical and access issues, depending on what kind of information you may need to gather). Note that your understanding of relevant literature sources is very important. Ten relevant literature sources, properly referenced and cited will allow a Pass mark. For higher grades, you will need more extensive referencing to relevant literature.

This proposal should have a focus on an issue of some value/importance to your host organisation. This might include, but is not limited to, the following issues:

• Competitor analysis with understanding of relative positioning
• Customer segmentation and needs analysis
• Analysis of the strategic environment
• Analysis of production facilities for possible layout improvement;
• Selected process investigations with a view to possible improvement recommendations

(You are encouraged to select other topics if these are of value to your host organisation. Please discuss your ideas with your internship and University supervisors/advisors.)

The proposal is typically written a few weeks into the placement, where you can reflect on your activities in light of the theoretical aspects of your program covered in previous courses. You should meet with your academic advisor around Week 3 or 4 to get feedback on your proposal ideas, which will depend on the nature of your work placement.

Required Words/ Word Limit: 1000-1500 words

See the Moodle site for individual rubrics for the three assessment pieces.

Assignment 2 – Progress Review, Reflective Learning and Poster (30%)

Due Date: 5.00pm Friday Week 8 of Term

This assignment will require submission of three separate documents:

1. The weekly journal statement that is signed by the employer and submitted to AI each week will form this component of the assessment - to ensure compliance by the student and the company (as per AI requirements). Each student must have a workplace mentor or supervisor and that person is responsible for their weekly work and their weekly sign-off. Comments by the AI supervisor and the workplace supervisor will form part of the assessment for this component. Students should check with their host company supervisor to ensure the progress reports are completed on time - the unit coordinator will receive these progress reports directly from Australian Internships staff. (5%)

2. A Reflective Essay on your Learning from the Internship to date (1,000 - 1,500 words) - this will be an essay in the student's own words outlining their personal learning and professional development from the internship to date (15%). Referencing is not required but can be used if you wish. Please ensure you know what is required in a reflective essay (see resources on the Moodle site and discussed in your on-campus workshop).

3. A poster providing an overview of the student's placement and portraying the benefits of the internship. Students should produce an A3 sized poster with an attractive layout including at least the following (10%):

• A picture of the student in their internship role

• An explanation of the student's background and what s/he has been doing on the internship placement

• At least four bullet points outlining the best things about the internship to date.

See the BUSN20020 Moodle site for Marking Rubrics for all Assignments

Assignment 3 - Major Report (50%)

Due Date: 5.00pm Friday of Week 12

All students are required to complete a 3,000 - 4,000 word report (or equivalent) that connects academic theory to the activities undertaken in the internship. This will focus on the applied project that was the subject of the proposal in Assignment 1. It is the intention of the project report, that the student reviews the information collected regarding the company problem or issue, considers this information in light of relevant academic theory, and provides recommendations to the organisation based on this review. It is the aim of this process that the student can demonstrate to the host organisation, how their academic knowledge can add value to the organisation.

The experience of each student will be different because of the variety of organisations Australian Internships work with, the variety of roles undertaken by the student, and the range of different Business programs involved in the internship activity. It is important, therefore, that the project is discussed and clearly scoped in conjunction with your Academic Advisor.

It is expected that a range of academic references will be used to provide a theoretical underpinning to activities that are conducted in the Placement.

Below are the components that will be used to assess the project report:

• Relevance to your CQU studies to date - you will need to apply relevant academic theory to your internship project. Identify and critique the organisation's activities in terms of the academic theory and make recommendations where relevant.
• Closing the Loop on the Proposal - Given the objectives you set in the proposal, how well did you achieve what you set out to do? If you had to take a different direction from that covered in the proposal, why, and did you still manage to deliver value?
• Academic Research, Referencing and Report Layout - You will need to undertake appropriate research that includes the identification of the problem or issue, outlining the research questions to examine, review of relevant literature, and use of appropriate research method(s). Use this 'new' knowledge you have gained to show how the organisation could improve its operations. Make reference to relevant theory in the report, and ensure the report includes correct citation and referencing using the APA method.
• Recommendations for Management - You will need to describe the industry in which your placement firm operates and think strategically to make recommendations on how the organisation can improve, using the knowledge you have gained in both your time there AND from your Literature Review. Make sure your research problem or questions, your research findings and conclusions, and your recommendations are all logically linked so the reader can understand the connections between these sections. For example, your research findings must be related to your research problem or question; and your recommendations must be related to your research findings.
• Oral Presentation of the Results - The results of the report will be presented by the student to a group of relevant academics, industry personnel and fellow students as part of a Presentation Day organised in Week 13 of the Term. In the presentation, you will need to provide the background to your project and your host organisation as well as a quick summary of your underpinning literature, your research questions and your research methodologies. The most important aspects of the presentation are your research findings, your conclusions and your recommendations. You should treat the presentation as though it was a proposal for a board of independent directors making decisions about funding allocation for your recommendations. 20mins presentation plus 5-10mins Q&A. Maximum 10-15 slides.

Required Words/ Word Limit: (3000 - 4000 words in total)

See the BUSN20020 Moodle site for full Marking Rubrics for all Assignments.