Instructions on Assessment:

You will be summatively assessed by 3,000 (1,500 + 1,500) words learning portfolio that will consist of the following pieces of work:

Task 1: A 1,500 words critical discussion of existing literature on SME related business and management issue of your choice (Some examples: Sustainability issues in the SME business, Application of digital marketing in the SME business, SME growth & government funding, CSR practice and impact on SME business etc.). (Hence, you have the flexibility to choose your own country or UK perspective). (50% weighting).

Task 2: A 1,500 words critical appraisal of your learning preference(s) results on the specific theories / models covered in the class.  This should include a discussion of the implications these results have for your learning development on this programme.  (50% weighting).

(Please support your evaluation with relevant academic theoretical framework/s; as well as the in-text citation of relevant academic books and journals).

Late submission of work

Where coursework is submitted without approval, after the published hand-in deadline, the following penalties will apply.

For coursework submitted up to 1 working day (24 hours) after the published hand-in deadline without approval, 10% of the total marks available for the assessment (i.e.100%) shall be deducted from the assessment mark.

For clarity: a late piece of work that would have scored 65%, 55% or 45% had it been handed in on time will be awarded 55%, 45% or 35% respectively as 10% of the total available marks will have been

deducted.

The Penalty does not apply to Pass/Fail Modules, i.e. there will be no penalty for late submission if  assessments on Pass/Fail are submitted up to 1 working day (24 hours) after the published hand-in deadline.

Coursework submitted more than 1 working day (24 hours) after the published hand-in deadline without approval will be regarded as not having been completed. A mark of zero will be awarded for the

assessment and the module will be failed, irrespective of the overall module mark.

For clarity: if the original hand-in time on working day A is 12noon the 24 hour late submission allowance will end at 12noon on working day B.

These provisions apply to all assessments, including those assessed on a Pass/Fail basis.

Word limits and penalties

If the assignment is within +10% of the stated word limit no penalty will apply.

The word count is to be declared on the front page of your assignment and the assignment cover sheet. The word count does not include:

-   Title and Contents page

-   Glossary

-   Reference list

-   Bibliography

-   Appendices

-   Quotes from interviews and  focus groups.

-   Appropriate tables, figures and illustrations

Please note, in text citations [e.g. (Smith, 2011)] and direct secondary quotations [e.g. “ dib-dab nonsense analysis” (Smith, 2011 p.123)] are INCLUDED in the word count.

If this word count is falsified, students are reminded that under ARTA (The Academic

Regulations for Taught Awards) page 30 Section 3.4 this will be regarded as academic misconduct.

The marker will stop reading when they judge that the word count exceeds the recommended word     count by more than 10% i.e. for a 3000 word essay, the marker will read only the first 3300 words and will indicate on the text where they stop reading.

The content following this point will not be read and a mark will be awarded only for the content up to this point.

Students must retain an electronic copy of all assignments (including ALL appendices) and they must be made available within 24hours of them requesting it be submitted.

Note: For those assessments or partial assessments based on calculation, multiple choice etc., marks will be gained on an accumulative basis.  In these cases, marks allocated to each section will be made clear.

Academic Misconduct

The Academic Regulations for Taught Awards (ARTA) contain the Regulations and procedures applying to cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct.

The full policy is available at: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/university-services/academic-registry/ quality-and-teaching-excellence/assessment/guidance-for-students/

You are reminded that plagiarism, collusion and other forms of academic misconduct as referred to in the Academic Misconduct procedure of the assessment regulations are taken very seriously by

Newcastle Business School.  Assignments in which evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct is found may receive a mark of zero.

Programme (Level) Learning outcomes that this module contributes to:

This assessment will address the following Module Learning outcomes: