Author: chris

PORTFOLIO ON REFLEXIVITY

… a reflexive critique of a film / tv / dvd / video / theatre / other production which involves matters of (for instance) commodification / authenticity / appropriation / truth / nation-making and / or counter-interpretation.

Must use media

 

Portfolio on Reflexivity

 

1. The General Aim:

The production of a reflexive critique (i.e., the student’s own presented and critiqued view) of significant matters of understanding (or knowledge-making) in terms of a ‘people’, a ‘past’, a ‘place’ or a ‘present’ which is of deep interest to the student … and which is (or has been) presented or performed on a (seen) visual medium.

2. The Specific Objective:
   • The collation of 5 pieces of text, average length 100 words, which provide insights into the student’s view of or feelings about the identified subject — perhaps a matter of heritage, or heritage tourism, or cultural inheritances — and the way it was presented / produced in the seen visual medium.

Students may find their interpretive work easier to carry out if they look for some form of coherency amongst the matters of ‘reflexivity’ they are looking at.  Such fit or complementarity may be:

• Coherency of / about the issue … e.g., Coherence of the issue in history;
• Coherence of temporality / topicality … e.g., Coherence of / about ‘a felt dominance’, today;
• Coherence of emergent feeling … e.g., Coherence of other new / fresh influences, today.

Perhaps the best way of locating these coherencies is to ask Who / What / Where / Why / When / How questions of the found issue and the found articulations.

• The provision of a short interpretation of what the felt reflexive statements they wish to make (as to why it is important) — of say 100 words (on average) per item selected.

A default approach for this interpretation could be to:

1. Explain the context (background);
2. Reveal the moment (topicality);

• Explain what the text says ‘literally’ (the concrete / the explicit);

1. Reveal what the student thinks the text says ‘metaphorically’ or ’symbolically’ (the interpretable content / the implicit).

• To provide an overall summary of say 400 to 500 words reflecting on what the 5 found items say about the local and / or global world today.

The students may wish to use the following default structure for that overall summary:

i = 100+ words on heritage;  ii = 100+ words on culture and society;  iii = 100+ words on tourism.

In that summary, the student should clearly reveal what his/her main findings is (are).

 

3. The Submitted Report:

The submitted report should be 2,000 words (+ / – 10%).  The following default structure is suggested for it:

Introduction i of ii = to the study, of say 300 words;

Introduction ii of ii = to the material collated, of say 300 words;

Item 1 exhibited, of say 100 words;   Item 1 interpreted, of say 100 words;

Item 2 exhibited, of say 100 words;   Item 2 interpreted, of say 100 words;

Item 3 exhibited, of say 100 words;  Item 3 interpreted, of say 100 words;

Item 4 exhibited, of say 100 words;  Item 4 interpreted, of say 100 words;

Item 5 exhibited, of say 100 words;  Item 5 interpreted, of say 100 words;

Summary of 300 to 500 words;

References /// Appendices … not included in word-limit.

Caveat on length of collated items:  where a student may prefer to use shorter collated items, of under 50 words (instead of the default 100 words), he / she may use the words saved to strengthen either the overall introduction or the overall summary to the report.

4. Marking:

The report should be double-spaced.  It will be graded towards a maximum score (a –> f) = 30 points, as follows:

1. Quality of the mix of selections on ‘reflexivity’ = 1 – 5
2. Quality of interpretation on / about ‘reflexivity’ = 1 – 5
3. Quality of citation-work / referencing = 1 – 5
4. Quality of presentation / appearance / format                         = 1 – 5
5. Quality of the overall introduction and summary statements = 1 – 5
6. Attractiveness (‘interest’ / ‘imagination’) in and of the material collated) = 1 – 5

 

Individual Assignment 2012-13
The McLaren Group
The McLaren Group was founded in1963 and entered Formula One racing in 1966 achieving its first victory at the Belgium Grand prix in 1968.
Today, after 181 Grand Prix victories, the group owns one of the world’s leading Formula One teams and has also expanded to include six separate companies in a variety of markets:
• McLaren Racing
• McLaren Automotive
• McLaren Electronics Systems (MES)
• McLaren Applied Technologies (MAT)
• McLaren Marketing
• Absolute Taste

Based near Woking, McLaren opened the new £40 million McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in November 2011 and expect annual production of the MP4-12C sports car to reach 4000 by 2015.

1. How has McLaren overcome the market entry barriers that are present in the mass car market? 15 marks
2. How would you define the level of diversification shown by the McLaren Group? You will need to use appropriate tools to assess the logic of the portfolio to support your conclusion. 50 marks
3. How does the McLaren approach to diversification reflect the historical perspective on corporate diversification as discussed by Goold and Luchs (1993)? 25 marks

Up to ten marks will be awarded for the executive summary and the overall standard of presentation, (including referencing).

A starting point for the assignment will be to research the McLaren Group:
http://www.mclaren.com/#/what-we-do

And then to read: Goold, M. And Luchs, K. (1993) Why diversify? Four decades of management thinking. Academy of Management Executive, 7(3), pp.7-25

. It should be a professionally written business report, suitable for presentation to a management team.
Marking Criteria
• Integrated and systematically structured document.
• Effective application of relevant concepts.
• Sound strategic analysis.
• Good linkages between sections.
• Relevant credible data sources appropriately referenced. (eg FT, Economist, Company Reports & Accounts, industry reports)
• Maximum 2000 words (this does not include appendices).
Exceeding the word count will incur a 5 mark penalty.

Imagine standing in front of St Mary le Bow on Cheapside in about the year 1500. What do you see? Hear? Smell? Taste? Feel? Imagine the same walk in 1740 and again in 1880? How has the experience changed?

Maple rockers. Ozark Furniture Company can obtain at most 3000 board feet of maple lumber for making its classic and modern maple rocking chairs. A classic maple rocker requires 15 board feet of maple, and a modern rocker requires 12 board feet of maple. Write an inequality that limits the possible number of maple rockers of each type that can be made, and graph the inequality in the first quadrant.

Read the following instructions in order to complete this assignment, and review the example of how to complete the math required for this assignment:

Read problem 46 on page 240 of Elementary and Intermediate Algebra.

Assign a variable to each type of rocker Ozark Furniture makes.

Write a linear inequality which incorporates the given information of total board feet and the board feet required for each type of rocker.

On scratch paper draw a graph of the inequality so that you have this visual to go by as you discuss the graph in your writing. A scanned copy of this graph may be attached with your essay, but is not required.

Write a two to three page paper that is formatted in APA style and according to the Math Writing Guide. Format your math work as shown in the Instructor Guidance and be concise in your reasoning. In the body of your essay, please make sure to include:

Your solution to the above problem, making sure to include all mathematical work.

A discussion on what this graph looks like. Include information about the intercepts, the type of line needed, direction of the line, and region(s) shaded to fulfill the inequality. Any details which are pertinent to know about the graph should be mentioned.

An application of the findings in this graph. For example, pick a point in the shaded area and give its coordinates, and then discuss what those numbers mean in terms of rockers and board feet of lumber. Pick a point outside of the shaded area and do the same thing. Pick a point right on the line and discuss the same details. Be specific.

An evaluation of the following: A chain furniture store faxes an order for 175 modern rocking chairs and 125 classic rocking chairs. Will Ozark Furniture be able to fill this order with the current lumber on hand? If yes, how much lumber will they have left? If no, how much more lumber would they need to fill the order?

Produce a comparative report critically comparing these 3 specific Russian companies:

1. Aeroflot
2. Kaspersky
3. Sukhoi

It is very important that you use EXACTLY these 3 companies!

And compare their effect on the Business environment in the country.

The comparison should cover:

a) Corporate Governance Code of UK and its effect on companies
b)Analyse the Business Environment in Russia, looking at areas like in Macro risk and Country’s risk rating.
c)Identify an event from the recent past relevant to risk assessment that bears some kind of risk for all these companies. This can be a nationalization of enterprises, hostile action by a government toward a specific firm or group of firms, an unscheduled transfer of power (coup, revolution, etc.), or a period of instability (unsuccessful revolt, terrorism, civil strife).
d)Gather as much evidence as possible from the year preceding the event. Decide whether news sources overestimated, underestimated, or correctly estimated the actual threat.
? If the event came as a surprise, could this event have been anticipated given the facts you have gathered? If so, explain how. If not, describe what information would have been needed to make an accurate assessment beforehand.

? If the event was merely a threat that was never realized, explain why the threat was exaggerated. What information or knowledge could have prevented the misunderstanding.

Paper- Strategic budgeting
Evaluating Strategic Budgeting Processes:
Contemporary budgeting software is needed today which supports integrity and best budgeting practices. In budget meetings, the department heads study the budget targets and operational practicality of the plan goals. This gives department heads an opportunity to provide input and develop synergy between management and senior executives.

In a research paper evaluate how the budget is a management tool and the role of effective budgeting software in insuring the integrity of the budgeting process.

 Individual Themed Essay (ITE)

Length:                    Approximately 1500 words

Due:                        Week 6;

Allocation:                30%

This assessment task is designed to develop research, critical thinking and reading skills. The themed essay is essentially about you demonstrating your understanding of ethical theories, for example, Kant, Utilitarianism, environmental ethics, virtue ethics and justice, through the development of a persuasive argument about one of the key themes (globalisation, corporate social responsibility, environmental ethics and stakeholders).

 

The ITE should include the following format:

1. Introduction
2. Discussion
3. Conclusion
4. References
5. Introduction: this section should briefly define the theme and your stance on the question.
6. Discussion: this section should develop your position in relation to the topic. In developing this argument, identify where readings have challenged your ideas about business ethics and discuss at least two ethical theories and link them to key points raised in the prescribed and recommended readings (the literature).

1. Conclusion:  this should tie the key points from your discussion together.  A higher quality essay will include some indication of the ethical implications on business practices of your argument and key points.
2. References: Use the Harvard referencing system.  The reference section should list alphabetically each reference cited in the body of your essay.  You may use other non academic journal references but these must be in addition to the minimum number of journal articles.

 

Topics: (Choose 1 of these to discuss)

Globalisation:  Globalisation is good for individuals but bad for humanity.

 

Corporate Social Responsibility:Corporations can never be moral entities.

 

Environmental Ethics: Human needs are more important than environmental needs.

 

Stakeholders:Some stakeholders are more equal than others.

 

Marking criteria

The following criteria will be used as a guide for assessing your work:

• 5 journal articles (from prescribed readings list provided on Webct and 5 additional scholarly journal articles from extended reading list or that you locate yourself)
• Clear structure and headings
• Demonstrate a sound grasp of all the relevant background knowledge (i.e. include reference to ethical theories); and apply key concepts, and evidence of critical analysis
• Consistent Harvard referencing style (ie Author, date, title, source – please consult library guide for help) and set out in the correct order, and correct in text citation style.
• Clear, grammatical expression & use of appropriate language and tone

Additional information will be provided in the seminar and on webct.

Students will be required to submit their assignment to Turnitin, for the purpose of plagiarism detection.

 

 

1- Answer about each school in a paragraph:
Why did you decide to apply to this MBA program at this school in particular [ Write something unique about each school MBA program and you can only use the university website as a source )

1- Claremont university ( http://www.cgu.edu/pages/1.asp )
2- USD ( http://www.sandiego.edu/ )
3- Pepperdine ( http://www.pepperdine.edu/ )
4- UCR ( http://www.ucr.edu/ )
5- LMU ( http://www.lmu.edu/ )

Assignment # 2 – Company List for Winter 2013
You are to pick one of the following companies as the subject of your company analysis for
Assignment # 2.
As this is an individual assignment, do not collaborate with others in completing the assignment.
Company List:
• Barrick Gold
• British Petroleum (BP)
• Carrefour
• McDonald’s
• Pepsico
• Toyota

“Organisations need strong culture”. Consider this statement in relation to how we understand and make sense of culture in the post-bureaucratic era.

Introduction
Your essay outline will start with a 200 (+/- 10%) word introduction
presenting your overall topic, take a position and explain how you plan
to use the four selected readings to demonstrate your overall argument.
Body
In the body of the essay outline you are to present the structure of your
argument, including how each reference will help you to construct your
position. For each reference provide a brief 200 (+/- 10%) word account
of the information each source provides. Approach the topic from
different angles and provide different sorts of information and
interpretation. Consider what the author wants to convey, what
assumptions are embedded in the work, whose voices are dominant or
missing, what are the implications and what are the new emerging
questions, reflect on how the ideas sit with your experience and reading
of other sources. Only use sources from the suggested course
readings.
Conclusion
You will finish your essay with a 200 (+/- 10%) word conclusion
summarising your overall argument and explaining how each of your
four references has contributed to your position

Reference that requires to be mentioned are:

Tutorial reading:

Josserand, E., Villesèche, F. & Bardon, T. 2012, ‘Being an active
member of a corporate alumni network: A critical appraisal’, paper presented to the
British Academy of Management, Cardif, UK.

: Rosen, M. 2007, ‘You asked for it: Christmas at the bosses’
expense’, Journal of Management Studies, vol. 25, no. 5, pp. 463-80.

Bolden, R. & Gosling, J. 2006, ‘Leadership competencies: Time to
change the tune?’, Leadership, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 147-63.

Almeida, S., Fernando, M. & Sheridan, A. 2012, ‘Revealing the
screening: Organisational factors influencing the recruitment of immigrant
professionals’, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, vol. 23,
no. 9, pp. 1950-65.