Task Description

In this course you will be using a Journal within Mahara to write your journal entries. For this assignment you will write a journal entry related to topics from Weeks 2, 4 and 8. You will need to export your entry into Moodle as a html page for marking by the end of the following week (Sunday; week 3, last day of the first vacation break , and Week 9, respectively). Information on how to create a journal within Mahara will be provided on the Moodle site.

You will read the chapter and/or readings as listed in the weekly schedule, and complete a journal entry in your Mahara journal in the following format:

Journal Titles: (use the wording that is inside the quotation marks)

• Week 2 :"Strategic Management"
• Week 4: "Business Analysis Techniques"
• Week 8: "Relationship between organisational strategy and knowledge audit plan"

Journal format and word limit

Word limit: 350-450 words per journal entry.

Each journal entry should be comprised of the following three sections:

• Rich Picture- or concept map using CMAP or MS Visio Software, framing the ideas and concepts you are critquing in the topic.
  
• Synopsis - this is a summary of the content of the chapter and should be written with an objective viewpoint;
• Critique - how well you think the author or authors addressed the chapter topic and should be written with an objective viewpoint;
• Your reflection - how you think the chapter has assisted you in understanding the weekly course topic. This section can be subjective as you are discussing your own learning.

You must submit your assignment as per assessment instruction including correct file type (i.e. Word file) which includes the entirety of your single Mahara contents web-page copied into the required Word file for submission.

Each Journal entry needs to contain a synopsis, critique and reflection and will be assessed against the following rubric:

• Exceptional (10 marks) : The response shows insight and demonstrates an ability to compare and contrast ideas being presented. Shows an understanding of the topic and reflects upon the learning value.
• Good (7.5 marks): There is some evidence of applying knowledge and understanding to the chosen topic. The response lacks clarity,
• Acceptable (5 marks): The response lacks in-depth insight but does demonstrate an overall understanding of the topic
• Satisfactory (2.5 marks): The synopsis provided is generally accurate but no insight or reflection is offered.
• No response: (0 marks): The required weekly journal was not created and submitted.

You will need to export your entry into Moodle as a html page for marking by the end of the following week (week 5, week 8, and Week 10, respectively). Information on how to create a portfolio within Mahara will be provided on the Moodle site.

Topics:

• Week 3 topic: Creative Leadership and Knowledge
• Week 7 topic: Soft Systems Methodology
  
• Week 10 topic: Design Thinking
  

You are to conduct a search of the Internet on the topics as listed above. You should review the items you find and select a minimum of 5 items per topic and link them to your portfolio. You are not to upload files from the Internet, as you do not own copyright, and if you do, this will be plagiarism. You are to use links to your items only. You may include items from YouTube, clips from lectures and/or tutorials, and your own work that you produce in the tutorials. Your portfolio should capture rich ideas, resources and innovative practice around business analysis within the frame of the three topics listed above.
You are to write a brief discussion for each week as to why you chose the items you did, and why you thought the items chosen are appropriate to the weekly topic..
Harvard referencing format and citations are to be used to substantiate your discussion.

Portfolio format and word limit

Word limit: 500-650 words per portfolio.

Each portfolio should be comprised of the following three sections for each item:

• Title- provide an informative title identifying the item;
• Rich Picture- A diagram using Cmap software of the main ideas and themes of your reseach helping to link the different media content together. You may choose to embed your links in this picture as well as hyperlink 
  
• Link - provide 5  working links that can be followed to the original source location. eash hyperlinked or (embeded if audio or video)  to the start of the relevant discussion.  Do not upload files from the Internet to your portfolio;
• Discussion - describe how the item links to the  topic, and how the item increases your understanding of the topic. Include the citation to your item following Harvard formatting.
• Reflection - discuss how the item increases your understanding of the topic.

At the end of each e-portfolio include:

Reference list - provide a reference list at the end of each portfolio (not at the end of each item) providing the full details of each item following the Harvard Referencing format. The reference list does not form part of the word limit.

Submission

You must submit your assignment as per assessment instruction: A test "Secret URL link" to your Mahara Page  and   including correct file type (i.e. Word file) which includes the entirety of your single Mahara contents web-page copied into the required Word file for submission.

Your assignment will be marked using the following criteria:

• Rich Picture: 2 marks 
• Choice of items:  2 marks
• Discussion: 3 marks
• Reflection: 1 marks
• Reference list and in-text citations - 1 mark
• Conventions (grammar, capitalisation, punctuation, spelling) - 1 mark

The case study report will be presented in report format as per the details on the course Moodle site. In addition, your report should also contain a title page, headers and footers, executive summary, introduction and summary of your evaluation.

Use headings and sub-headings as appropriate. Your report must include in-text citations and a correctly cited list of references ordered alphabetically by surname of first author, in accordance with the Harvard style of referencing as referred to in the Guide for Students. Refer to the course website for the link to the guide.

Feel free to discuss your ideas with your student colleagues on the course discussion forum, before drawing your conclusions. Try to use pictures, diagrams, and charts in presenting your ideas.

The Case Study Report will be marked out of 100 and the scaled to 30%.

Criteria and marks available:

• Selection of articles and books - 10 marks
• Content and argument - 60 marks
• Executive summary, introduction and report summary - 10 marks
• Communication skills - 10 marks
• Referencing and formatting - 10 marks

Self and Peer Assessment - 10%

Each team will be required to evaluate the team's performance, both from a personal viewpoint and as a team member.