02 - SIM337 - Sample Exam and Marking Guide

Sample Exam and Marking Scheme (revised July 2010)

1

Contemporary Developments in Business and Management

(SIM337)

Examination based on pre-prepared notes (three hours)

Assessment weighted at 100% assessing all module learning outcomes.

Pre-exam Preparation

a) Choose an organization or industry-sector based in or operating in a country

or countries with which you are familiar. *

b) Consider all the topics covered in the module pack and prepare notes on how

these topics relate to your chosen organization and/or industry-sector.

c) In each case consider how the various factors have impacted on or could

impact on your chosen organization and/or industry-sector.

d) Consider in greater depth one of the following themes:

a) Increased international financial integration

b) Competitive environment

e) Prepare notes in English on all of the above comprising no more than 10 sides

of A4 (minimum font size 10). Your notes should include a clearly identified

summary of your chosen organization or industry sector. (No more than 500

words) You will be able to take these notes into the examination room and

they must be handed in with your examination paper.

*In the case of a large organisation or industry-sector it is permissible to

confine your answers to part of the organisation or industry-sector.

Examination

You will be asked a series of questions based on your studies of the module pack

and factors in the broad external environment as applied to your chosen

organization or industry.

You are allowed to take into the examination your own notes (see details above),

the module pack, a textbook of your choice and a paper translation dictionary.

You should refer to your notes, the module pack and the main text but you

should not merely copy them as you will be expected to apply and expand upon

them in relation to the questions asked. Your answers should be as clear, as

applied and as up-to-date as possible. (Sample paper and marking scheme

attached.)


2

Part 1 - Answer 5 out of 10 (weighting 50%)

1. In relation to your chosen organization and/or its industry sector explain in general terms

what meant by the various PESTLE categories? Give organization/industry-specific

examples. (10 marks)

2. The main aim of the World Trade Organization is to encourage the expansion of

international free-trade. How have the activities of the WTO affected your chosen

organization and/or firms in your chosen industry sector? (10 marks)

3. How does your chosen country rank in terms of “ease of doing business” and how does

this affect your chosen organization and/or firms in your chosen industry? (10 marks)

4. Consider a major multinational enterprise (MNE) in your chosen industry. How do its

multinational operations help the firm to compete? (10 marks)

5. How do differences of culture between countries or within a country affect the operations

of your chosen organization or of firms in your chosen industry sector? (10 marks)

6. How does your chosen country score in terms of democracy and how does this affect your

chosen organization and/or firms in your chosen industry (10 marks

7. If disputes arise across national boundaries about the interpretation and/or implementation

of contracts how can they be resolved? (10 marks)

8. Consider the outcome of the Copenhagen conference on climate change (2009) from the

viewpoints of individual consumers, society in general, governments and your own

company or industry. (10 marks)

9. In relation to your chosen organization or industry sector what in your opinion are the

most important and/or difficult ethical issues. (10 marks)

10. Interest rates are the price of borrowing money. How might changes in interest rates

affect your chosen organization and/or industry? (10 marks)


3

Part 2 questions (weighting 50%)

In relation to your chosen organization or industry sector and answer all

questions in one of the following sets of questions.

Set 1, International financial integration

a) What are some of the main ways in which increased financial integration has affected

business? (20 marks)

b) Analyse how increased financial integration has impacted on your chosen organization or

industry? (20 marks)

c) Critically evaluate how your chosen organization or industry has responded to and/or

should respond to increased financial integration. (10 marks)

Set 2, Competitive environment

a) What are some of the main elements within a changing competitive environment?

(20 marks)

b) Analyse some of the main effects of the changing competitive environment on your

chosen organization or industry. (20 marks)


should respond to the effects of the changing competitive environment. (10 marks)


4

Examination Questions: Up to three hours

Part 1 Answer 5 out of 10 questions (weighting 50%)

1. In relation to your chosen organization and/or its industry sector explain in general

terms what meant by the various PESTLE categories? Give organization/industry-

specific examples. (10 marks)

[Give marks for knowledge, relevance, explanation and application.

Up to 3 marks for knowledge and relevance, up to 3 marks for explanation, up to 3

marks for application to the chosen organization or industry, and up to 1 mark

discretionary mark for the overall clarity, up-to-datedness and/or originality of the

answer.]

2. The main aim of the World Trade Organization is to encourage the expansion of

international free-trade. How have the activities of the WTO affected your chosen

organization and/or firms in your chosen industry sector? (10 marks)





answer.]

3. How does your chosen country rank in terms of “ease of doing business” and how

does this affect your chosen organization and/or firms in your chosen industry?

(10 marks)





answer.]

4. Consider a major multinational enterprise (MNE) in your chosen industry. How do its

multinational operations help the firm to compete? (10 marks)





answer.]

5. How do differences of culture between countries or within a country affect the

operations of your chosen organization or of firms in your chosen industry sector?

(10 marks)




5



answer.]

6. How does your chosen country score in terms of democracy and how does this affect

your chosen organization and/or firms in your chosen industry (10 marks

7.





answer.]

8. If disputes arise across national boundaries about the interpretation and/or

implementation of contracts how can they be resolved? (10 marks)





answer.]

9. Consider the outcome of the Copenhagen conference on climate change (2009) from

the viewpoints of individual consumers, society in general, governments and your own

company or industry. (10 marks)





answer.]

10. In relation to your chosen organization or industry sector what in your opinion are the

most important and/or difficult ethical issues. (10 marks)





answer.]


6

Part 2 questions (weighting 50%)

In relation to your chosen organization or industry sector and answer all

questions in one of the following sets of questions.

Set 1, International financial integration

a) What are some of the main ways in which increased financial integration has affected

business? (max. 20 marks)

Give marks for knowledge and relevance (also clarity, up-to-datedness and

originality).

Relevance:

Up to 3.5 marks for some relevant material but mostly irrelevant material.

4.0-4.5 marks for a broadly relevant answer but with a significant amount of

irrelevant material.

5.0-5.5 marks for an overall relevant answer with a small amount of irrelevant

material.

6.0-6.5 marks for a directly relevant answer.

Knowledge:

Up to 3.5 marks for a limited understanding of a narrow range of material

4.0-4.5 marks for basic understanding of the material.

5.0-5.5 marks for a fair understanding of the material.

6.0-6.5 marks for substantial understanding of the material.

Knowledge and relevance:

14.0–20.0 marks for a directly relevant answer which demonstrates a very

good understanding of the material. An overall excellent answer with a

significant degree of up-to-datedness and/or originality at the top of the

range.


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b) Analyse how increased financial integration has impacted on your chosen organization or

industry? (max. 20 marks)

Give marks for analysis/explanation and application (also clarity, up-to-

datedness and originality).

Analysis/explanation:

Up to 3.5 marks for description rather than analysis/explanation

4.0-4.5 marks for mostly description but with some attempt at

analysis/explanation.

5.0-5.5 marks for mostly analysis/explanation but with a substantial

dependence on description.

6.0-6.5 marks for good analysis.

Application:

Up to 3.5 marks for a general answer with little application to the chosen

organization or industry

4.0-4.5 marks for an answer which is mostly applied to the chosen firm or

industry but with a significant amount of general rather than applied

material.

5.0-5.5 marks for an applied answer with a small amount of general rather

than applied material.

6.0-6.5 marks for a very well applied answer.

Analysis and application:

14.0 -20.0 marks for an analytical and applied answer which is an overall

excellent answer with a significant degree of up-to-datedness and/or

originality at the top of the range.


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should respond to increased financial integration. (max. 10 marks)

Give marks for critical evaluation (also clarity, up-to-datedness and

originality).

Up to 3.5 marks for some attempt at critical evaluation but mostly

descriptive or irrelevant material.

4.0-4.5 marks for a significant amount of critical evaluation but with a

significant amount of descriptive or irrelevant material.

5.0-5.5 marks for an overall critically evaluative answer with a small amount

of descriptive or irrelevant material.

6.0-6.5 marks for a well-focussed and critically evaluative answer.

7.0-10.0 marks for a very well-focused answer which provides in insightful

critical evaluation. An overall excellent answer with a significant degree of

up-to-datedness and/or originality at the top of the range.


9

Set 2, Changing competitive environment

a) What are some of the main elements within a changing competitive environment?

(max. 20 marks)

Give marks for knowledge and relevance (also clarity, up-to-datedness and

originality).

Relevance:

Up to 3.5 marks for some relevant material but mostly irrelevant material.

4.0-4.5 marks for a broadly relevant answer but with a significant amount of

irrelevant material.

5.0-5.5 marks for an overall relevant answer with a small amount of irrelevant

material.

6.0-6.5 marks for a directly relevant answer.

Knowledge:

Up to 3.5 marks for a limited understanding of a narrow range of material

4.0-4.5 marks for basic understanding of the material.

5.0-5.5 marks for a fair understanding of the material.

6.0-6.5 marks for substantial understanding of the material.

Knowledge and relevance:

14.0–20.0 marks for a directly relevant answer which demonstrates very good

understanding of the material. An overall excellent answer with a significant

degree of up-to-datedness and/or originality at the top of the range.


10

b) Analyse some of the main effects of the changing competitive environment on your

chosen organization or industry. (max. 20 marks)

Give marks for analysis/explanation and application (also clarity, up-to-

datedness and originality).

Analysis/explanation:

Up to 3.5 marks for description rather than analysis/explanation

4.0-4.5 marks for mostly description but with some attempt at

analysis/explanation.

5.0-5.5 marks for mostly analysis/explanation but with a substantial

dependence on description.

6.0-6.5 marks for good analysis.

Application:

Up to 3.5 marks for a general answer with little application to the chosen

organization or industry

4.0-4.5 marks for an answer which is mostly applied to the chosen firm or

industry but with a significant amount of general rather than applied

material.

5.0-5.5 marks for an applied answer with a small amount of general rather

than applied material.

6.0-6.5 marks for a very well applied answer.

Analysis and application:

14.0-20.0 marks for an analytical and applied answer which is an overall

excellent answer with a significant degree of up-to-datedness and/or

originality at the top of the range..


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c) Critically assess and evaluate how your chosen organization or industry has responded

to and/or should respond to the effects of the changing competitive environment.

(max.10 marks)

Give marks for critical evaluation (also clarity, up-to-datedness and

originality).

Up to 3.5 marks for some attempt at critical evaluation but mostly

descriptive or irrelevant material.

4.0-4.5 marks for a significant amount of critical evaluation but with a

significant amount of descriptive or irrelevant material.

5.0-5.5 marks for an overall critically evaluative answer with a small amount

of descriptive or irrelevant material.

6.0-6.5 marks for a well-focussed and critically evaluative answer.

7.0-10.0 marks for a very well-focused answer which provides in insightful

critical evaluation. An overall excellent answer with a significant degree of

up-to-datedness and/or originality at the top of the range.

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02 - SIM337 - Sample Exam and Marking Guide